Current News

by Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts Farmers are always facing change. Change is challenging. From wild weather swings to global market forces, farmers are always riding stormy seas. Change was the primary theme recently at a Dairy Summit in Jay. The two-day summit brought together more than 240 people from Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and New England. All those attending the summit, including more than 100 dairy farmers, were intentional in their desire to make positive changes to the industry.

Leonine Public Affairs The majority of the conversation in the State House last week focused on the money bills, paid family leave, minimum wage, the abortion rights bill, the 24hour waiting period for handguns and the cannabis tax and regulate bill. These issues have been high profile throughout the 2019 session. There has been ongoing speculation there is a deal in the works that would ensure the paid family leave and minimum wage bills will be signed into law by Governor Scott. But, with a week or more to go in the session it's unclear whether such a deal will be finalized.

With only one week left until the scheduled adjournment, it's unclear whether the 2019 General Assembly will be able to complete its work by then. At this time of year the rumors really start to fly making it difficult to determine what’s reality and what’s political misdirection.

Vermont Business Magazine Runamok Maple, a maker of all-natural, organic maple syrup that is produced from maple trees located along the northwest slopes of Vermont’s Mount Mansfield, partnered with Vermont-based Norwich Solar to convert its 55,000-square-foot production facility to operate exclusively on solar energy. The transition stems from the company’s dedication to developing an environmentally sustainable operation.

Vermont Business Magazine A machine learning algorithm can detect signs of anxiety and depression in the speech patterns of young children, potentially providing a fast and easy way of diagnosing conditions that are difficult to spot and often overlooked in young people, according to a new study by University of Vermont researchers published in the Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Forty-three thousand, six hundred and nine people call Windham County home. Their average commute time is 24 minutes, pointing to a labor market that lives in one town and drives to another for work. Living locally and acting in a regional economy is a trait the residents and their county share. It is also a trait that points to Windham County’s growth potential, despite its, at times, lackluster economy.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Supporters of a self-governance pilot program modeled after West Virginia’s say it would allow towns to take a more flexible, creative, and responsive approach to their daily business.

If passed, S106 (its counterpart is H241) would establish a 10-town self-governance pilot program. This program would grant the participating municipalities more local authority. The initiative is being spearheaded by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, but had its genesis in Brattleboro.

First, why would municipalities crave such a bill? It could expand their ability to create local solutions to local problems. In most cases, before making a change on the local level, municipalities need to turn to the state for permission or go through the process of creating an ordinance.

For example changing a road’s speed limit.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine A new dental clinic, called the Windham County Dental Center, focusing on providing care to low-income Vermonters, will soon open in Brattleboro thanks to a collaboration between the United Way of Windham County and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.

Going on nine years, the United Way of Windham County has offered Adult Dental Care Day. The all-day event gives people without dental insurance – or the ability to pay – access to a dentist. Last year, 71 medical and non-medical volunteers provided care to more than 100 Windham County residents. According to the United Way of Windham County, combined, the following dental offices provided over $53,500 of pro bono dental care: Connecticut Valley Oral Surgery, Deerfield Valley Dental Care, Dental Health, Estey Dental, Professional Dental Care, Dr. Suzanne West, and West River Family Dental.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest mountain resort in Eastern North America and a POWDR company, today announced the 2019 Cooler in the Mountains Concert Series featuring Wild Adriatic, Hayley Jane and the Primates and more.

Vermont Business Magazine On April 6, almost 400 students in grades 5 through 12 brought history to life at the Davis Center at the University of Vermont (UVM) during Vermont History Day, organized by the Vermont Historical Society. Local historians, educators, and other professionals judged the entries and chose winners in 10 categories, along with handing out 16 special prizes. Vermont History Day is an exciting education program that encourages students to develop research and critical thinking skills through the study of history. Vermont History Day is affiliated with National History Day. 

Outright Vermont On Saturday, 200 students from 50 middle and high schools in 72 towns across Vermont are coming together for the 13th annual Queer and Allied Youth Summit in Chester. The Youth Summit, co-hosted by Green Mountain Union High School (and in Windsor County for the first time), is themed “Coming OUT soon!” emphasizing the power and complexity of visibility within LGBTQ+ identities, and the importance of creating our own narratives.

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine Whether hemp and marijuana are able to replicate Vermont’s successful craft beer industry will depend on a number of factors, some of which are out of the state’s control. 

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine Shayne Lynn is at the forefront of one of the most sought after medicinal products to come along in quite a while: CBD. That’s short for cannabidiol – a non-intoxicating cannabis extract made from hemp used to treat a variety of medical issues.