Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine The Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Montpelier will be “Wearin’  the Green” on Friday March 15 as the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce congratulates, recognizes and thanks Norwich University President Richard Schneider for his leadership and contributions to Central Vermont. Dr Schneider has will be honored at The Chamber’s Third Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Breakfast. The event is open to the public.

Vermont Business Magazine North Star Leasing Company, a leading provider of equipment financing solutions based in Burlington, has announced they will be reaching a major milestone in 2019. On June 29 of this year, the company will have successfully helped businesses grow for 40 years.  Since its inception in 1979, the company has funded over 49,000 transactions totaling over $500 million.

by Steven Killoran, Vice President Business Development, Maple Capital Management, Inc As we indicated last month, the Fed has paused its campaign of raising rates each quarter after a plethora of negative developments in financial markets late last year caused financial conditions to tighten. This pause is refreshing for those who feared this Fed was going to repeat the mistakes of the past and go too far by bringing the growth cycle to an end.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bank NA recently presented Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) with a $17,500 donation as part of a challenge grant pledged in December. The bank partnered with CVOEO to raise money for the organization’s WARMTH program by matching WARMTH donations dollar for dollar during December, up to a total of $17,500. Statewide, overall donations totaled more than $120,430 to help low-income Vermont families stay warm this winter. All funds will be distributed by CVOEO for use by all five community action agencies statewide for the emergency-based WARMTH program to help offset home heating bills. One hundred percent of donations will be used for WARMTH client services.

Vermont Business Magazine United Way of Rutland County (UWRC) and Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (SVCOA) have teamed up to launch Rutland County’s first “Peanut Butter & Jam Slam,” a friendly, competitive food drive challenge designed to help local food shelves during low supply months.

by Brandon Arcari, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont National Guard, at a Change of Command ceremony at Camp Johnson in Colchester today, celebrated the installation of new Adjutant General Greg Knight. He assumes command from Major General Steven Cray. Along with the passing of the command, much of the 80-minute ceremony was dedicated to honoring Cray, who is retiring from the Air Force and resuming his civilian life as a pilot for American Airlines.

Vermont Business Magazine The sweetest season is here. Vermont Governor Phil Scott and US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue kicked off sugaring season in Vermont by tapping a maple tree in Milton. This annual tradition was hosted this year by Georgia Mountain Maples and the Harrison Family.

Vermont Business Magazine Today the State of Vermont and the Vermont Journalism Trust (aka VTDigger) announced a settlement in the matter Vermont Journalism Trust vs. State of Vermont, Docket No: 6-1-19 Wncv. The litigation involved two public records requests by VTDigger related to Jay Peak’s EB-5 program, which were denied because the state continues to be engaged in active litigation concerning the EB-5 program. Under terms of the settlement, the State of Vermont agreed to provide VTDigger the originally requested documents as well as additional agreed-upon Jay Peak records.