Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP) has commenced work on the Jeudevine Limited Housing Partnership, a $2 million rehabilitation project updating 18 units of affordable housing, plus one commercial space, in Hardwick. Work began this week at one of the three included properties, Highland Avenue.

Vermont Business Magazine Magic Hat is partnering up with Vermont musician and cartoonist James Kochalka to announce a new addition to the Humdinger Collection of bold, limited-edition beers: a Farmhouse Saison with a hometown collaboration dubbed Local Rocker. This classically Belgian-style beer is floral and peppery with light citrus notes and a dry finish. Much like a true rocker, this beer is known for its expressive and forward character. Local Rocker is an ode to the local rock stars of the world, those who bare their souls on stage night after night. They don’t burn out or fade away. They rock on.

The new release will be available for a limited time from July through September in 4-packs of 16oz cans and on draught at select bars.

Vermont Business Magazine Professional tennis returns to Vermont for its second year as the Stowe Mountain Lodge Classic hosts some of the top men's tennis players coming to Stowe to prepare for the US Open, which takes place the following week in New York. The second-year event builds on the success of the 2017 tournament, won by world #22 Albert Ramos, and has continued its partnership with luxury mountainside community, Spruce Peak and Stowe Mountain Lodge, to host the eight-player exhibition event this August 18–22.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has selected Valid USA, Inc to provide Vermont residents with securely issued driver licenses and identification (DL/ID) cards. Valid will manufacture and issue approximately 200,000 annual secure DMV documents for five years with two one-year extension options under the contract's terms. The total value of the contract could be over $6 million.

According to the Vermont Department of Transportation, the contract with Valid is a per card issued contract, so the exact value is unknown at this time. The actual value will be dependent upon both the number of credentials produced as well as the type. The maximum spending authority authorized under this contract is $6,296,598.

Vermont Business Magazine The Very Reverend David Cray, SSE, a Boston native and 1968 Saint Michael’s College graduate who has ministered in Canada, Europe and the American South until coming to Vermont in 2003 to be pastor at Catholic parishes in Hinesburg and Charlotte, VT, was elected July 12 to be the new Superior General of The Society of Saint Edmund, founding religious order of Saint Michael’s.

He succeeds the Rev. Stephen Hornat, S.S.E., as superior general. Fr. Hornat, who served a four-year term, likely will continue to serve as pastor of St. Stephen Church in Winooski as he has done during his term as superior general. The “Edmundites” held their General Chapter meeting, which happens every four years, from Monday through Thursday, July 9-12 on the Saint Michael’s campus, voting on new leadership and tending to other business.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington City Council on Monday approved the recipients of the City’s awards to support the expansion of high-quality childcare in Burlington for children from birth to three years old. These awards are the City’s first step in supporting the growth of high-quality childcare, which has been demonstrated to help prepare children for school, narrow the opportunity gap, improve future health and education outcomes, and reduce future public spending. Mayor Miro Weinberger presented the awards at the City Council’s July 16, 2018 meeting.

Vermont Business Magazine Brattleboro-based Green Mountain Creamery announces the launch of ‘Berry’ Creamy Yogurt, a month-long campaign promoting New England community farmers and advocating for real, simple and healthy ingredients. From July 16 to August 13, residents of each New England state are invited to share photographs of Green Mountain Creamery’s yogurt topped with berries, by posting images to the Green Mountain Creamery Facebook page or by tagging Green Mountain Creamery on Facebook or Instagram. Entrants are asked to share what state they are enjoying their taste of Vermont from in the photo caption, celebrating Green Mountain Creamery’s mission to bring the flavors and quality of Vermont products across the nation.

Vermont Business Magazine Have you made something? Invented something? Modified something to be better? If so, you are a Maker and eligible to sign up as an individual or group to “show and tell” at the 7^th annual Champlain Mini Maker Faire. It’s Vermont’s Flagship Maker Faire and you don’t want to miss it! The new one-day format is Saturday, September 22, 2018. A kid- and family-friendly day program (11:00 – 4:00) will be followed by a new Makers in the Dark program (6:00 – 9:30) designed for adults at the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms.

Vermont Business Magazine Rights & Democracy is announcing the endorsement of 17 candidates—from U.S. Senator to the Vermont House of Representatives—for the 2018 elections. These 17 candidates were endorsed by a vote of the Rights & Democracy (RAD) Board of Directors to show support for candidates who have championed key legislative issues such as raising the minimum wage, workers’ rights, universal health care, and racial equity, among other top concerns facing Vermont communities and families. Several of these candidates were backed by RAD in 2016 and not only won their election, but pushed hard for legislation that improves the lives of Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine In April 2018, the Burlington Board of School Commissioners accepted the Burlington High School (BHS) ReEnvisioning Committee’s recommendation to partially demolish, expand and renovate the current BHS facilities. Now, the Burlington School District (BSD) is inviting members of the community to tour these facilities and to experience first-hand why the ReEnvisioning Committee and the BSD are asking City Council for their support to place a bond for this work on the November 2018 ballot.

Stakeholders can visit www.bsdvt.org to sign up for the tours. Tours will be led by a student and a member of the District’s property services team, will take place on three separate dates, and are expected to last about 90 minutes:

Vermont Business Magazine Today the Vermont Public Utility Commission (“PUC”) made appointments to four of the five public seats on the Vermont System Planning Committee. The VSPC was established in 2007 to improve coordination among Vermont’s utilities in the transmission planning process, and to consider both transmission and nontransmission alternatives to meet the state’s needs. In addition to the appointments made today, membership includes all 17 electric utilities, the state’s electric energy efficiency utilities, and VELCO.

The eight new members include one primary member and an alternate representing each of the following four interests:

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Insurance Company ("National Life") on Monday announced that holders of 10.50% Surplus Notes due 2039 (the "Existing Surplus Notes") may tender Existing Surplus Notes in principal amounts equal to minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof in National Life's previously announced offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Existing Surplus Notes held by Eligible Holders for National Life's 5.250% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Surplus Notes due 2068 (the "New 2068 Surplus Notes").