Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Mobius, Vermont’s Mentoring Partnership is excited to announce that, effective immediately, the organization has changed its name to MENTOR Vermont. This refresh of name and logo are intended to more clearly express the mission of the organization, which remains to provide resources and support to youth mentoring programs in Vermont so they can meet the needs of young people in their communities.

“Changing our name to MENTOR Vermont was a great opportunity for our organization and the mentoring field in the state of Vermont,” said Chad Butt, Executive Director of MENTOR Vermont. “We remain an independent non-profit, and now our new name will enable us to better clarify our role and the work we do.”

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University officials have named the new $1.6 million Cybersecurity War Room located in the recently dedicated Mack Hall the Thaddeus Buczko ’47 Cyber War Room in honor of retired civil servant and prominent Massachusetts Judge Thaddeus Buczko, in a dedication ceremony held on Saturday, November 10.

Vermont Business Magazine For the first time, farmers growing fresh fruits and vegetables have a new resource to better understand Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) requirements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued comprehensive draft guidance that includes recommendations and examples on how to comply with PSR requirements in a newly released document. Vermont’s Produce Program at the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is asking farmers, producers, educators and service providers to contribute.

“As we work to grow the Vermont produce industry, we encourage farmers, educators and service providers to take a look at the draft guidance provided by the FDA and weigh in. This will be an important tool to help our farms comply with the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule,” said Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food & Markets, Anson Tebbetts.

Vermont Business Magazine Erin Fernandez, executive director of Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, the nationally recognized year-round organization offering daily adaptive sports programs to people with any disability, announced today that the organization is officially underway with the final phases of its Home Sweet Home Permanent Homes Campaign and plans to break ground on a new state-of-the-art $1.7 million adaptive sports facility at Mt Ellen at Sugarbush Resort in Spring 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Ship-builder Austal USA delivered the Expeditionary Fast Transport ship USNS Burlington (EPF 10) to the US Navy during a ceremony onboard the ship at the company’s headquarters in Mobile, AL, on Thursday, November 15, according to a press release. This is the fourth ship Austal has delivered to the Navy this year. The EPF program provides the Navy with a high-speed intra-theater transport capability. The 338-foot long Burlington is an aluminum catamaran capable of transporting 600 tons, 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots, and is designed to operate in austere ports and waterways, too shallow and narrow for the larger ships in the surface fleet, providing added flexibility to US warfighters worldwide. The ship's flight deck can also support flight operations for a wide variety of manned and unmanned aircraft, including a CH-53 Super Stallion.

Vermont Business Magazine Castleton University recently announced two new collaborative agreements with SUNY Adirondack and Greenfield Community College for degree completion. These agreements ensure that a Castleton education remains both accessible and affordable for students who otherwise might not have continued their educational pursuits. The collaborative agreement with Greenfield Community College allows graduates to seamlessly enroll at Castleton. Graduates of GCC are eligible for the Maple Award and can attend Castleton at the Vermont in-state tuition rate.

Greenfield Community College is a fully-accredited, not-for-profit institution located in Greenfield, Massachusetts, offering more than 50 programs leading to an associate's degree or certificate.

Vermont Business Magazine Philadelphia-based landscape photographer Richie Graham and Burlington, Vermont-based 1% for the Planet have announced a unique partnership designed to use fine art landscape photography as a tool to drive support and awareness for environmental conservation across the globe. 1% for the Planet Photography Ambassador Richie Graham has committed to donating 100 percent of profits from the sale of his landscape photography prints to select 1% for the Planet nonprofit members focused on the conservation of water, land, climate, food, wildlife and pollution. These select organizations include The Freshwater Trust, National Forest Foundation, The Rainforest Trust, National Young Farmers Coalition, Working Dogs for Conservation and Surfers Against Sewage.

by Vermont Labor Commissioner Lindsay Hill Kurrle In Vermont, and across the country, registered apprenticeship programs are quickly gaining popularity. For employers, the registered apprenticeship model provides the opportunity to create customized training programs that fit their business and growth needs, while lowering recruitment costs and employee turnover. Jobseekers appreciate this model because they are “earning while they learn” – receiving a paycheck from day one, receiving one-on-one mentoring, enjoying progressive pay raises, and gaining a nationally recognized credential at the completion of their program. In today’s tight labor market, it’s no wonder this centuries-old job training program is making a comeback.

Vermont Business Magazine Strolling of the Heifers will host a Holiday Pop-Up Gift Shop in the River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro) on Friday, November 23 from 1-5 pm and Saturday, November 24 from noon-4 pm. Products from over 40 local artisans will be available for purchase. “There are so many talented artists, crafters and food makers in our region,” said Vicki Friedman, one of the Pop-Up’s organizers, “And with over 40 of them all in the River Garden, this is a great chance to start holiday shopping, while supporting local businesses.”

Vermont Business Magazine A new slate of elected officers will serve in leadership positions on the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) Board of Directors. "VEDA is fortunate to have such an experienced and dedicated Board," said Jo Bradley, VEDA's Chief Executive Officer. "We welcome the Board's newly-elected leadership, and deeply appreciate their work, and that of the entire Board, in helping to advance the Authority's economic development mission."

The newly elected VEDA Officers are:

Vermont Business Magazine The Putney Craft Tour, a Top Ten Vermont Winter Event, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the oldest continuing crafts studio tour in North America and has served as a model for the Vermont Crafts Council when it put together its own statewide tours.

“Governor Scott’s recognition of the Putney Craft Tour is a testament to the importance of the arts and crafts industry in Vermont. Quality craftsmanship, local talent, and artist entrepreneurship exist in abundance throughout our rural communities and we couldn’t be happier to receive this recognition," said Pick. The 25 working studios include glass blowers, potters, jewelers, weavers, painters, woodworkers, photographers – even artisan cheesemakers, winemakers and custom bicycle makers –discover, ask questions, sip hot cider and buy that one-of-a-kind gift direct from the artisan who made it.

Vermont Business Magazine Food services company Sodexo organized and hosted the first-ever Taking Root Student Symposium to demonstrate the organization’s commitment to buying locally-sourced products in Vermont and to teach college students in the state what it means to chart a career in food. The symposium, which was held in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and Vermont’s Farm to Plate, was just one of many strategies aimed at advancing Vermont’s local food economy through the Sodexo initiative, Vermont First. In 2017, Sodexo’s Vermont First program spent over 2.5 million dollars on locally-sourced food from approximately 195 local producers within the state.