Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Board of Trustees Committee of the Whole today voted to remove the name of Guy W Bailey, UVM’s 13^th president, from the main university library. The resolution is still subject to formal action by the Board at its meeting tomorrow morning. Upon Board approval, the official name for the building, previously Guy W Bailey/David W. Howe Memorial Library, will be David W Howe Memorial Library.

This decision was reached following a recommendation by the university’s Renaming Advisory Committee, established in March of this year. Composed of current, emeriti and student trustees (some UVM alumni), and faculty members, the committee followed a process and set of principles developed at Yale University, which includes the opportunity for members of the community to comment.

Vermont Business Magazine Recognized as New England’s premier event exploring clean energy innovation and climate solutions, Renewable Energy Vermont’s 18^th annual Conference and Exposition, REV2018, themed REVitalize: Transforming Energy Further, Faster, Together convened more than 525 people last week for two days of collective re-envisioning of New England’s energy needs.

The conference also served as an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of individuals and organizations progressing climate and renewable energy in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Thursday in Randolph, Agency of Commerce & Community Development Secretary Michael Schirling announced the launch of the ThinkVermont Innovation Grant Program during the second annual Innovation Spaces Conference at Vermont Technical College. The ThinkVermont Innovation Grant Program, proposed by the Scott Administration and passed in partnership with the Legislature, was created to respond to the growth needs of Vermont small businesses with 20 or fewer employees by funding innovative strategies that accelerate small business growth. The grant program will allow the State to invest in projects with grants that can be accessed more quickly and with fewer restrictions than traditional federal initiatives. The appropriation for this program is $150,000.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Retail and Grocers Association is pleased to announce four different insurance plans available to existing and prospective members. VRGA has partnered with Business Resource Services in an effort to expand access to health insurance to small businesses and their employees.

Vermont Business Magazine In FY 2018, VEDA closed a record number of financings -- a total of $167.8 million. This amount is 1.8x the largest previous annual volume in the Authority's history. The amount of private capital leveraged in the projects financed was $93.3 million. These and other FY2018 contributions to Vermont's economy by the Authority will be presented today at VEDA's 44th Annual Meeting in South Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims increased again last week and have been rising slowly the entire month. For the week of October 20, 2018, there were 391 claims, 19 more than than they were the previous week, but 81 fewer than they were a year ago. For most weeks of 2017 and 2018 claims have been lower than the year before. Vermont, like the nation as a whole, is locked into a historically low period of unemployment despite small increases over the last month.

Vermont Business Magazine The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) has announced the 2018 Crystal Family New Hope Award recipients. This year, there will be two awards of $500 granted to Masiti Mohamed, and the Adhikari family, owners of the Everest Market in Essex Junction. Everest Asian Market, LLC is owned by the Adhikari family who came to the United States as refugees in March 2009. The market is primarily run by two brothers, Damber and Prakash, but the whole family is involved. In 1992 the family fled to Nepal from Bhutan where the political situation was worsening. They lived in a refugee camp in eastern Nepal for 17 years before immigrating to the United States.

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday, October 30 at 2pm Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos will hold a media availability for members of the press and members of the public to ask questions about election cyber security and Election Day administration in advance of the November 6, 2018, General Election. This event will take place at the Vermont Secretary of State’s office, located at 128 State Street in Montpelier.

Secretary Condos will begin the media availability with a brief overview of the elections process, and the protections in place which ensure the integrity and security of Vermont elections. He will also discuss current voter registration data and early voting numbers before taking questions.

Secretary Condos will be joined by Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters, Elections Director Will Senning, and Vermont Secretary of State IT Manager Jon Welch.

Vermont Business Magazine Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, will join thousands of sites around the nation taking part in National Drug Take Back Day Saturday, October 27. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 16th opportunity in eight years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to either Dartmouth-Hitchcock Pharmacy location, in the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center or in Centerra Office Park, both in Lebanon. (Like DEA locations, D-H cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Vermont Business Magazine Comcast has announced that it is the nation’s largest provider of gigabit broadband, with the ultra-fast Xfinity Gigabit Internet and Comcast Business Gigabit services now available to nearly all of the company’s 58 million homes and businesses passed in 39 states and the District of Columbia. This availability includes nearly 100 percent of Comcast Internet serviceable households in Vermont, based on FCC 477 Broadband Deployment filing.

Vermont Business Magazine The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 108th annual dinner on Wednesday, October 24. Four awards were presented recognizing businesses and business leaders for their accomplishments and contributions to our community. The Chamber also welcomed its incoming Chair of the Board of Directors, Don Baker and thanked outgoing Chair, Stephanie Taylor, with REM Development, for her service. Don Baker is the Vermont market President of KeyBank.