Current News

Vermont Business Magazine FreshTracks Capital announces the return of Peak Pitch, a start-up business pitch event on the slopes, scheduled for Thursday March 28th. Now in its fourteenth year, Peak Pitch brings aspiring entrepreneurs and investors together for a unique version of the classic "elevator pitch." At Peak Pitch, a shared chairlift ride gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch and tune their business plans with venture capitalists, individual investors, commercial lenders and other entrepreneurial advisors during a day of skiing and snowboarding at Sugarbush. 

Peak Pitch combines business networking with fun on the slopes, and the pitch contest also creates an opportunity for new business plans to get funded. Entrepreneurs and investors should register early since space is limited. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Commissioning Committee for the VERMONT (SSN 792) has been formed and has begun planning and fundraising activities to support the commissioning ceremony for this new submarine, which is currently under construction at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, CT.  

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) is now accepting nominations for three awards designed to encourage and showcase the growth of socially responsible business activity in Vermont. Awardees of the VBSR Inspiration and Innovation Award, the VBSR Young Changemaker Award and the Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement will be recognized among their peers at the 18th Annual VBSR Award Ceremony & Dinner this September at the Basin Harbor Club.

Vermont Business Magazine Norovirus is one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis. There have been many recent cases in the Rutland community, as well as confirmed cases at Rutland Regional Medical Center. It is extremely contagious with an incubation period of 24 to 48 hours. It is important that the Rutland community know how to protect themselves and each other from contracting it. 

Symptoms

• Nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, low grade fever, fatigue, and headache.

Seek medical attention if any of the following apply

• An elderly or infant/child with symptoms
• Immunocompromised patient with symptoms
• Concerned about dehydration; decrease in urination/dry mouth or throat
• Bloody diarrhea
• Altered mental status (new confusion)
• Lightheadedness/dizziness

Prevention

by Sophie Leggett, an 11th-grade student at Woodstock High School In Sweden, a 16-year-old girl named Greta Thunberg is stirring up international awareness of the current climate crisis. In a country that values rules, Greta stands out by striking from school every Friday to protest the current inaction on climate change and demand that attention is brought to the issue by policymakers and the general public alike. On Friday, March 15, Woodstock will follow suit along with other schools in Vermont in unison with the international climate strike movement.

​Vermont Business Magazine Some of the common youth misconceptions surrounding e-cigarettes are:“It’s just flavoring.” “It’s just water vapor.” “My vape says it’s nicotine-free. There’s no way I’ll become addicted.” “I don’t have an addictive personality – I won’t get hooked on vapes.” “Nicotine isn’t that bad for me.” “Just because I vape doesn’t mean I’m going to smoke cigarettes.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth is a newly launched fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. As the Foundation increased its engagement in the Bennington County region over the past two years, the organization heard a recurring theme: middle and high school youth are looking for more opportunities to pursue interests and build skills, and businesses cannot keep or recruit the best talent for Bennington-area jobs unless families know their children and youth can thrive.  It is clear that youth development programs play a vital role in keeping and attracting families in the Southshire. 

Public Assets Institute Vermont lost 1,200 jobs in January 2019. But revised figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that 2018 was better than previously reported. The state added more than 3,000 nonfarm payroll jobs between January and December, an improvement over data released during the year, which had shown a loss of almost 1,000 jobs. The BLS releases revised data each year in March.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Cheese Council (VCC), an organization dedicated to the production and advancement of Vermont Cheese, announced that 5 cheese companies, all members of the Vermont Cheese Council were awarded 20 ribbons including 5 Best in Class at the United States Championship Cheese Contest in Green Bay, WI. The United States Championship Cheese Contest is the premier technical cheese, butter, and yogurt competition. 2019 marks the 20th biennial edition, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association with over 2303 entries from across the US. 

Vermont Business Magazine According to household data, the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for January was 2.5 percent. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised December rate. At 2.5 percent, this is the lowest monthly estimate for the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for Vermont since the US Bureau of Labor Statistics online historical series started in 1976. Vermont’s unemployment rate is tied for third lowest in the nation behind Iowa and New Hampshire (2.4 percent).

Vermont Business Magazine Chittenden County artists and members of the creative sector are invited to a Vermont Creative Network ‘mashup’ event highlighting opportunities to work together for improvement of the creative sector in the region: Thursday, April 11, at Darkroom Gallery, 12 Main Street, Essex Junction, from 10am to noon. Presented by the Chittenden County Zone of the Vermont Creative Network and hosted by Kristin Humbargar, founder of the Essex Hub co-working spaces, the free mashup brings together local hospitality and lightning presentations, including the reveal of an upcoming statewide creative sector strategic planning initiative facilitated by the Vermont Creative Network.

Vermont Busines Magazine Governor Phil Scott will proclaim March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Vermont at a proclamation signing ceremony on Tuesday. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 101,420 new cases of colon cancer and 44,180 cases of rectal cancer in the U.S. in 2019, and that 51,020 deaths from colorectal cancer will occur in 2019.  In Vermont almost 300 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year and more than 100 will lose their lives this year because of this disease.

What: Declaring March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Vermont and discussing how to take lifesaving steps to help address colorectal cancer

Who: Governor Phil Scott accompanied by a colorectal cancer survivor

Where: Vermont State House, Governor’s Ceremonial Office, 115 State Street, Montpelier VT

When: Tuesday, March 12 at 11:00 a.m.