Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) has awarded the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) $150,000 through the Windham County Economic Development Program (WCEDP) to design and deliver its Pipelines & Pathways Project, which will provide personal learning plan engagement opportunities for Windham County’s four public high schools. The goals of the Pipelines & Pathways Project are to create workforce-oriented curricula, expand classroom relationships with local employers, and to develop clear learning and career pathways accessible to all students.

Vermont State Police On 06-28-2018 at 07:33 am Vermont State Police responded to the report of a two car motor vehicle crash on Interstate 91 in the Town of Hartland. The crash occurred in the area of mile marker 60 north bound near Exit 9. Investigation revealed that the 2008 Chevy truck being operated by Joshua Rondeau of Charlestown, NH, was traveling south bound on I91, lost control and crossed the median striking the 2007 Toyota Matrix head on which was traveling north bound. The operator of the Toyota Matrix, 36 year old Laura McNaughton of Perkinsville, VT was pronounced dead at the scene, her 8 year old child, Isaac McNaughton sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. The operator of the Chevy truck and two juvenile occupants, 8 year old Makayla Rondeau and 11 year old Shane Esh were also transported to DHMC with non-life threatening injuries.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Futures Project has announced that Laura Pierce has joined its Board of Directors. Pierce currently works as the Senior Director of Information Services at Rutland Regional Medical Center.

Pierce said, "I first learned about the Vermont Futures Project while attending the Vermont Young Professionals Summit and was immediately impressed by the vision and research-based approach of the organization. I'm dedicated to the mission of the organization and I'm excited to join the Board of Directors and have the ability to contribute my perspective and energy."

Laura Pierce, RRMC

Leonine Public Affairs The 2018 Special Session of the Vermont General Assembly effectively came to an end late Monday night when Governor Phil Scott announced he would let the third iteration of the FY19 budget bill become law without his signature. The House and Senate plan to return to Montpelier on Friday, June 29, and are expected to pass a motion to adjourn sine die, which in Latin means “without a day” or indefinitely. This will be one of the latest legislative adjournment dates in state history.

Vermont Business Magazine Nozomi Networks Inc, a leader in real-time cybersecurity and operational visibility for industrial control systems (ICS) today announced Vermont Electric Cooperative is among this year’s annual customer awards winners. The awards recognize Nozomi Networks customers who are leading their respective industries with advanced strategies and cutting edge technologies in the fight against escalating cyberthreats to their operational networks.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures in the 90’s and Vermonters will be looking to cool off. Green Mountain Power is reminding customers that you need to be careful around all waterways, and while those around hydroelectric facilities are beautiful, there can be additional hazards. Public waterways around GMP facilities have some great recreation areas providing access to rivers and reservoirs. Vermonters need to be aware that conditions in waterways associated with hydroelectric facilities may change rapidly. Pay attention to warning signs and markers as some spots are off limits to the public for safety reasons. Recent low water conditions have exposed many areas in rivers and streams that are usually not accessible.

Vergennes hydro. GMP photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Continuing to lead the charge in the Senate Appropriations Committee in the fight against the opioid epidemic, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Thursday steered $10 million to a new research program in the Department of Defense to study alternatives to opioids for chronic pain management. Despite a number of programs meant to help the service community understand and address the potentially harmful effects of long-term opioid abuse, the Department of Defense does not have a comprehensive strategy to research and understand alternatives to opioids to manage chronic pain. Because of this, members of the military rely on these potentially dangerous and highly addictive drugs, which has had severe consequences.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Colleges System Board of Trustees has agreed to shift a portion of its endowment funds into fossil free investments starting this July. At its summer meeting on June 21^st, the Board approved moving 20 percent of its endowment, or approximately $5,700,000, into investments that are screened to be fossil-free.

Vermont Business Magazine Encore Renewable Energy is pleased to announce that two highly experienced clean energy leaders have joined its Board of Advisors. The addition of Jon Anda along with Dr. Peter Jansson further bolsters the significant expertise which resides within the Company’s Board of Advisors.

Vermont Business Magazine Liz Bankowski, President and CEO of The Windham Foundation, announced today that Ruth Flore has been appointed CEO of the Grafton Village Cheese Company, a subsidiary of The Windham Foundation, effective August 20, 2018. Presently Flore manages marketing and business development of several partner brands for Norseland Inc. - the sales and marketing agent for Jarlsberg and other specialty cheeses. She has over two decades of experience in the industry including early in her career with Vermont Creamery.

Bankowski said: “Ruth has played a significant role in developing the specialty cheese sector in the United States. Her deep and broad experience makes her an ideal leader to help GVCC capitalize on new opportunities and to strengthen our core business.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Retail & Grocers Association will announce the winners of their 2018 Merchant Awards in September of this year. The Merchant Awards were introduced to recognize and reward the incredible work of Vermont businesses across the state in the face of an increasingly competitive market. All businesses are eligible for the awards and do not have to be a VRGA member to be nominated. There are three different categories businesses can be nominated under:

• Merchant of the Year: Merchant of the Year recognizes the store with the highest level of innovative retailing excellence. The winning store will demonstrate that they hold their staff accountable to the highest standards possible; develop relationships with customers; implement innovative merchandising; and develop staff to help them reach their career goals.

Vermont Business Magazine As the US Department of Agriculture prepares guidelines for labeling products that contain genetically modified ingredients, a new study from the University of Vermont reveals that a simple disclosure can improve consumer attitudes toward GMO food. Led by Jane Kolodinsky, an applied economist in UVM’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the study compared levels of consumer opposition to GMO foods in Vermont – the only U.S. state to have implemented a mandatory labeling policy – with consumer attitudes in the rest of the U.S. The analysis showed opposition to GMO food fell by 19 percent in Vermont after the implementation of mandatory labels.