Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) on April 19 released a set of proposed rules that set the stage for growing the Vermont hemp industry and the state’s economy.

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont offers a non-credit course in cannabis science and medicine. Program Director Monique McHenry, PhD, responded to e-mailed questions about the program and its future. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott took the following action on bills between May 1 and May 10, 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine A local small business that makes traditional Nepalese food is being recognized for its financial success and community involvement. Sherpa Foods, founded and owned by Nurbu Sherpa, has been named the 2019 Vermont Microenterprise of the Year by the Small Business Administration. By SBA standards, a microenterprise is a sole-proprietor business with five or fewer employees. Sherpa Foods specializes in making momos, a Nepalese dumpling, and momo sauce, a Himalayan style hot sauce.  Sherpa says all of his company’s food is made locally and with fresh and natural ingredients.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment numbers fell steeply last week by more than 300 claims. Claims had spiked to nearly a 1,000 in April. Claims for the week of May 4, 2019, totaled 380, down 283 from last week. Claims were 53 fewer than they were at this time last year. Altogether 4,255 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 839 from a week ago, and 326 fewer than a year ago. For most weeks of 2017 and 2018 claims were lower than the year before, but have been up and down in 2019. Vermont, like the nation as a whole, is locked into a historically low period of unemployment and a tight labor market.

Vermont Business Magazine Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP) and the Lamoille County Planning Commission (LCPC) recently hosted their Housing Solutions Summit, a discussion-based forum that gathered local community leaders, decision makers and members of the public to discuss and propose locally focused, collaborative, actionable solutions to the Lamoille region’s housing opportunities and challenges.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House on thursday gave preliminary approval to S.96, the Clean Water Bill, on a vote of 124-14. The legislation focuses on the watersheds of Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog, with a later goal of protection for the whole state.

Vermont Business Magazine The “first-of-its-kind” Northern Tier Dairy Summit was held April 1-2, 2019 at Jay Peak Resort. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) organized and convened the summit to develop actionable next steps to help a dairy industry impacted by a fifth year of record low prices, a volatile export market, and an oversupply of milk. The initiatives include proper labeling of dairy products and putting higher-fat milk back on the school menu. The event was attended by 240 participants with 115 dairy farmers present from across New England.

Vermont Business Magazine Windham Grows, a program of Strolling of the Heifers, is accepting applications for its Summer/Fall 2019 cohort. Windham Grows is a food and agriculture business accelerator, connecting entrepreneurs with mentors, industry contacts, and support.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University will celebrate its bicentennial commencement and commissioning with ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday, May 11-12, in Shapiro Field House. Both events are free and open to the public. Graduates include future military officers, law enforcement officers, and many who will go on to graduate school, jobs in the federal government, athletic training, construction management, and numerous sectors of public service.

Vermont Business Magazine The Town of St Johnsbury has been awarded $35,000 in cleanup funding to create the Three Rivers Path Trailhead Center. The Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s Brownfields Program is sub-granting the monies from its Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, which was originally capitalized through grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant is earmarked to cleanup asbestos and lead at the site. 

Vermont Business Magazine During National Nurses Week, the UVM Medical Center recognizes all of its nurses and members of the patient care team for providing high-quality, compassionate patient care, and positively impacting the lives of patients and their families. In addition, the hospital recognizes several nurses who have received special awards in recent months.