Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Many Vermonters remember the 2011 Irene flood like it was yesterday. Yet, in the seven years since the flood, towns and individuals have made enormous progress to build flood resilient communities. This weekend, scientists from the National Park Service (NPS) and Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are inviting the public to the Working Woodlands Workshop in Woodstock to learn about what it means to be ‘flood resilient’, the importance of vegetation along our streams and rivers, and how to accurately assess water quality.

Vermont Business Magazine Join the Vermont Tree Farm Program on Saturday, September 15 from 8:30 am- 2:30 pm for our Tree Farmer of the Year Tour! We will be touring the historic Old John Vinton Hill Farm with Peter and Julie Parker, the 2018 Vermont Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year. The Old John Vinton Hill Farm is a 560 acre Certified Tree Farm (VT Tree Farm #1042) in Granville. The event begins at 8:30am, and tours depart at 9:30am. At11:30am there will be a networking around the tent as well as a provided lunch. Following lunch at 1:00pm there will be an awards ceremony and presentations.

by Seth N Blanchard There’s no question that Social Security is a cornerstone of retirement income for many Americans. Yet, deciding when to take Social Security benefits is something that many people struggle with. As with most financial decisions, the right move depends on a variety of factors unique to each individual. If you are contemplating when to pull the trigger on Social Security benefits, read on for answers to some common questions.

Vermont Business Magazine Caledonia Spirits, the distillers of Barr Hill, officially breaks ground Thursday at 3 pm at 116 Gin Lane, the site of their new 26,000 square foot Montpelier distillery, tasting room, and visitor center. The official “Ground Breaking & Cocktail Party” is open to the public. Governor Phil Scott and congressional representation from Sens. Leahy and Sanders and Rep. Welch’s offices will join the Caledonia team in the ceremony.

Vermont Business Magazine The annual Rabies Bait Drop, a cooperative effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the rabies, starts on August 8. The approximately week-long bait drop is part of a nationally coordinated effort to halt the fatal disease. Rabies vaccine, in the form of a sweet-smelling oral bait that is attractive to raccoons and skunks, will be dropped in rural areas from low-flying aircraft and placed by hand in residential centers. Approximately 450,000 quarter-sized blister packs containing rabies vaccine will be distributed in more than 110 Vermont communities in nine counties. The airplane co-pilots control where the bait falls by using an on/off switch. This allows them to avoid dropping the bait on roadways, near homes and other places where people are most likely to be.

Vermont Business Magazine Eight Vermont agriculture, food, beverage, forest, and fiber product associations that provide support to the development of Vermont’s economy and the viability of our working landscape businesses will implement marketing projects with $2,000 grant awards. Meghan Sheradin, Executive Director from the Vermont Grass Farmers’ Association (VGFA), said: “these grants are really helpful because they support the consumer education marketing efforts we need to engage in, but have difficulty finding funding to support”

On a recent site visit by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM), Highgate grass-fed, organic dairy farmer, Matt Choiniere of Choiniere Family Farms spoke of his appreciation for VGFA’s commitment to provide critical support to the development of Vermont’s economy and the viability of its working landscape, by educating consumers about the benefits of grass-fed products.

Vermont Business Magazine On August 7, 2018, Barre-based Northern Power Systems Corp (TSX:NPS) announced that Ciel R Caldwell, the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer and current interim Chief Financial Officer, announced her intention to resign as president and chief operating officer of Northern, effective immediately, but indicated she would remain with the company to focus exclusively on carrying out her role and responsibilities as chief financial officer. In connection with Caldwell’s resignation as the company’s president and chief operating officer, Caldwell, on August 7, 2018, provided the company with notice of her resignation from its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Caldwell has served on the Board since 2016.

Vermont Business Magazine US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) are beginning an environmental investigation to determine the presence and extent of underground chemical vapors in an area along Elmwood Avenue in Burlington, including near the local elementary school. The joint EPA and VT DEC effort is being performed in coordination with the Vermont Department of Health, City of Burlington and the Burlington School District.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s congressional delegation announced on Tuesday a combined $18.97 million from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Vermont’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The CWSRF program is a federal-state partnership that provides communities a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects. The DWSRF is a federal-state partnership to help ensure safe drinking water.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said: “These EPA clean water programs are so important to towns in Vermont and to communities across the country. A high priority for me on the Appropriations Committee continues to be to secure strong funding for both the EPA Clean Water and EPA Drinking Water programs this year, and our success in this year’s budget is reflected in these investments coming to Vermont.”

Vermont Business Magazine Democratic gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist has announced that her campaign is returning the four corporate contributions taken early in the campaign.

The Cities of Winooski and Burlington will be performing structural repairs on the Winooski River Bridge (US Route 2/7 Bridge over the Winooski River) beginning on August 27, 2018. The goal of this project is to make minor repairs to some sections of sidewalk and to complete regular maintenance of the bridge railing on the eastern side of the bridge.

Rights & Democracy is announcing its member-approved endorsements of 17 candidates for the Vermont 2018 elections.

These candidates were endorsed by an electronic ballot sent to nearly 500 active members of Rights & Democracy Vermont.

“A Rights & Democracy endorsement is a signal that a candidate is already a community leader on the issues that reflect RAD’s values and will champion those causes in the Legislature,” said Alison Nihart, Co-Chair of the Rights & Democracy Board. “A RAD endorsement comes with the expectation that elected candidates will work with RAD members on legislation of shared interest to their community. In that way, it’s more than just an election year activity–it’s the start (or continuation) of a working relationship.”