Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Forecasters and energy experts predict heat and humidity will drive up power demand on the New England grid Tuesday and Wednesday this week, and Green Mountain Power is pushing to save customers even more money by partnering with them for "a laser-like focus on crushing the peak" between 4 and 7 pm on both days – without comprising safety or comfort. This partnership, GMP said in a statement Monday, can also radically reduce carbon output, an objective important to Vermonters, and the globe.

ISO-New England, the grid operator uses the annual peak hour of energy to calculate what each utility in the region pays for the coming year, so strategically reducing demand during that key time can create big savings for customers. The regional peak so far this year was set Aug. 6, and GMP used stored energy to save customers $600,000.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University and Community College of Vermont (CCV) have signed a US Air Force Crosstown Agreement allowing CCV students to participate in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Norwich. The ROTC program allows students pursuing a bachelor’s degree the opportunity to commission into the Air Force as Second Lieutenants after graduation. There are also scholarship opportunities for ROTC students who meet certain qualifications.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is encouraging members to conserve energy tomorrow, Tuesday, August 28, and Wednesday, August 29 between the hours of 4 pm and 8 pm each day. This is when demand for electricity is expected to spike as a result of high temperatures throughout New England.

Vermont Business Magazine Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs today released the results from their recent Vermont small business economic outlook survey. The survey revealed that while business owners’ attitudes about the Vermont economy have become more neutral, with less negative sentiment, there is less optimism in the US economy than there was just six months ago, but this is still greater than in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation announced that it has entered into a Cornerstone Partnership with Vermont Afterschool, a statewide nonprofit working to ensure that all Vermont youth have access to high quality out-of-school learning opportunities. As part of that partnership, the Community Foundation is awarding Vermont Afterschool a three-year $180,000 grant to strengthen afterschool and out-of-school time programming for older youth in Vermont.

The Community Foundation’s Cornerstone Partnerships are designed to help launch growth-phase statewide organizations whose work is critical to closing the opportunity gap to their next stage of development. The partnerships include multi-year grant funding and an invitation to inform the Foundation’s local grantmaking and community investment strategies.

Vermont Business Magazine People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, N.A., today announced that it awarded $113,000 to Vermont non-profits during its second grant cycle of 2018. Funding was allocated to 23 non-profit organizations in support of activities that ranged from basic needs services and affordable housing initiatives, to education and workforce development programs.

Vermont Business Magazine The Working Lands Enterprise Board announces the 2019 Service Provider request for application release dates. Types of technical assistance provided for Service Providers may include: Market development, marketing plans, and sales; Business and financial planning; Succession planning; Access to capital; Manufacturing efficiencies or process flow; research and development; and/or pilot programs.

• Request for Applications Released: September 4, 2018
• Letters of Intent Due: September 27, 2018
• Applicant Notification of Acceptance/Denial (Letter of Intent): October 19, 2018
• Invited Applications Due: January 3, 2018
• Applicant Notification: End of January 2019
• Estimated Project Start Date: February-March 2019

FY 2019 Program Year

Vermont Business Magazine Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on the death of Senator John McCain (R-AZ): Marcelle and I are saddened by this loss, and we send our love and our respects to Cindy and their entire family. I think of the last time we met and said goodbye. We both were hopeful that it would not be the last time.

He loved his country, and we also both respected and were willing to defend the Senate’s special and independent role in American government.

In the Navy and in his public service, his goal was not to bide time, but to make a difference. I know that he felt, as I do, that the Senate can rise to the occasion in difficult moments to become the nation’s conscience. We must never allow an erosion of the Senate’s ability to do that.

Vermont Business Magazine Due to the voters’ passage of the Sustainable Infrastructure Plan in November of 2016, the City of Burlington, in a press release Friday, said it has been making major investments in Burlington’s streets, sidewalks, and water mains this summer construction season. The Department of Public Works (DPW) is on target to pave over 6 miles of roadways, reconstruct over 3 miles of sidewalks, install a half mile of curb, and renew 3 miles of water mains.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger has announced that Human Resources Director Susan Leonard has resigned her position with the City of Burlington effective October 6, 2018, after nine years of service. Leonard’s tenure included the restructuring of the HR department to provide additional support for the City’s departments and the implementation of numerous employee policies and trainings, with a particular focus on increasing the diversity of and equity among the city workforce, and modernizing our application and recruitment systems for new employees.

Leonard served as a member of the City’s collective bargaining team and helped steward the City’s positive relationships with its four union and non-union employees, Weinberger said in a statement.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Jim Condon (D-Colchester) passed away Thursday evening. He served in the Legislature since 2005, but announced last spring he would not seek another term. Condon had battled esophageal cancer. He might be best known as a local radio personality on WKDR-AM or the former proprietor of the Radio Deli on Pearl Street in Burlington.

Vermont State Police On August 24, 2018 at approximately 0345 hours, Troopers from the Vermont State Police – St Albans Barracks were notified of a single motor vehicle crash located on Frontage Road in the Town of Highgate, Vermont. It was reported that the driver was unresponsive and the passenger was stable.

Investigation determined that the operator, Megan Fregeau (19), was operating a 2008 Honda Civic. Fregeau lost control of the vehicle and went off the road striking a group of trees. Fregeau was not seat belted in the vehicle.

Fregeau was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The passenger, identified as Colby Hakey, 19, of Swanton, was wearing a seat belt. He was transported to Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans with a laceration to his arm, and was treated and released.

Members from the Highgate Fire Department and rescue assisted at the scene.