Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The 18th Annual Renewable Energy Vermont Conference and Expo today announced its lineup of speakers for REV2018, themed REVitalize: Transforming Energy Further, Faster, Together. REV2018, northern New England’s premier event exploring clean energy innovation and climate solutions, convenes Thursday, October 18th through Friday, October 19th at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington. The event typically hosts more than 500 attendees and is already on track to exceed previous years’ attendance.

The two-day conference will feature keynote speaker Gordon van Welie, President and CEO of ISO New England on its first day and Katherine Hamilton, known for her podcast The Energy Gang from Green Tech Media, on the second day.

Vermont Business Magazine In a petition to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan challenged a decision by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to exempt several large categories of mercury products from inventory reporting. Mercury exposures at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and immune systems of people of all ages, and mercury in the bloodstream of developing babies and young children may harm their nervous systems and ability to think and learn.

Vermont Business Magazine Hunting can be a valuable tool for private land conservation but managing hunters can be intimidating, particularly if you are not familiar with hunting. To help, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is holding a free seminar in Manchester for landowners interested in learning more about hunting and managing hunter access.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Small Business Administration announced that $18 million in funding has been awarded to 47 State international trade agencies through SBA's competitive State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), to support export growth among US small businesses. The Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development will receive just over $400,000.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s congressional delegation announced on Wednesday that firefighters throughout Vermont have received $991,958 through nine federal grants. The awards are part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, which helps fire departments and fire academies purchase critically needed equipment to better protect the public and first responders. This year’s grants will help buy a range of equipment, including air packs, vehicle extrication tools and a pumper truck.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Futures Project today announced its first set of policy and initiative recommendations to address Vermont’s annual need for 10,000 more workers. The Vermont Futures Project, established two years ago, looks to develop a long-term, statewide effort to provide sustainable prosperity for everyone in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday, Governor Phil Scott, along with other governors and private employers around the nation, joined the White House in its initiative to support America’s workers through workforce development and training opportunities. On July 19, President Trump established the President’s National Council for the American Worker to “foster an environment of lifelong learning and skills-based training, and cultivate a demand-driven approach to workforce development."

“I’m pleased to join leaders across the country in committing to our workforce, providing for the skills and training needed for Vermonters and all Americans to succeed in the 21^st Century economy,” Scott said.

Vermont Business Magazine An innovative initiative that will use a public health approach to inform opioid prescribing policies will be launched in northern New England thanks to a new $339,000 grant to the Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research (NNE-CTR) Network from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The program, titled “Hospital Utilization for Opioid Overdose: A Community-Engaged Multidisciplinary Approach to Measure the Impact of Policy Change and Inform Interventions,” will help address a critical health crisis in the region and nation.

by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Social Security is one of the most popular and successful government programs in the history of our country. For more than 80 years, through good times and bad, Social Security has paid out every benefit owed to every eligible American on time and without delay. Not once over more than eight decades of operation - not even during our worst economic downturns - has anyone received a letter or phone call from the Social Security Administration saying: “Sorry, we’re going to have to cut your benefits.” At a time of massive economic instability, this is a record that should make every American very proud.

Vermont Business Magazine Vital Communities has received a $2,500 sponsorship from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. These funds sponsor the fall Business Leaders Housing Breakfast being held on October 26, where more than 100 people will gather for a housing update and to discuss solutions to the shortage of affordable workforce housing in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Congressman Peter Welch joined Springfield Regional Development Corporation (SRDC) and the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) to announce $1M raised for a new economy initiative in Springfield. The Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC) will bring together digital job training, computer science education and an entrepreneurship center to create innovation jobs.

Vermont Business Magazine In recent years, hospital leaders, physicians and patients have discovered that art and music in the hospital environment can help patients deal with their illnesses more effectively and possibly return to full functioning earlier. The Great Hall, in celebration of Springfield Hospital’s 105th Anniversary is pleased to present, “Healing: The Transformative Imagery of Art,” a group exhibition of 12 artists. Drawing on personal, in some cases tragic experiences, they have created inspirational art to share with the viewer. The exhibition will open Thursday, September 27.