Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) is releasing a second revised draft of the Medium Farm Operations General Permit (MFO GP). The Agency is initiating a second public comment period, which begins on April 23, 2018 and will conclude on May 4, 2018. The MFO GP sets standards for MFOs in the State of Vermont generating animal waste to ensure they do not have a discharge of waste to the waters of the State and operate in accordance with their Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). Unless otherwise given notice by the Agency, all farms meeting the definition of a MFO in the State of Vermont are required to operate under the coverage of this General Permit (GP). All MFOs must follow the Required Agricultural Practices in addition to requirements outlined in the MFO GP.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University has announced the names of 78 individuals who will be memorialized on the Bicentennial Stairs as part of Norwich’s 200^th anniversary. As part of Norwich’s Bicentennial, stairs will be constructed between the southeast corner of the Upper Parade Ground and the Sullivan Museum and History Center. The 78 names selected for this monument include Norwich’s leaders, distinguished alumni and others from military and civilian careers and those who represent ‘firsts’ at the university.

Leonine Public Affairs House and Senate committees scrambled to finalize work on policy bills this week as the Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Institutions committees moved closer to wrapping up the state spending bills. With the gun safety debate in the rearview mirror many expected the level of intensity to diminish in the statehouse. This was not the case when Governor Phil Scott vetoed S.103, a chemical regulation bill, setting up the first override standoff of 2018. The Senate moved quickly and was able to override the veto with a Democratic super-majority. This sets up a vote in the House, where they do not appear to have the votes to override Governor Scott’s veto. The vote in the House is scheduled for this Wednesday.

Vermont Business Magazine A rally Monday evening in Montpelier is intended to press Governor Phil Scott to commit to signing two pieces of legislation that are key for a “Movement Toward a Moral Economy:” raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour and establishing a paid family and medical leave insurance program for the state of Vermont. The event was organized by the Vermont Interfaith Action. The VIA and allied organizations have worked for two years and maintain that these two initiatives are at a critical point in the legislative process and are marching towards a goal of getting the governor’s signature.

Vermont Business Magazine In a razor-thin finish, Vermont has beaten out Montana in a beard competition to benefit the Make-A-Wish chapters of their respective states. After learning of the annual Vermont Beardies, a competition to find the best beard in Vermont, Make-A-Wish Montana’s CEO challenged Vermont that Montanans could grow better beards and put a case of bison steaks on the line. He even recruited the mayor of Missoula to deliver the message.

Photo courtesy of Dillon Mears of Barre Town

Vermont Business Magazine Plans for restoring Amtrak Vermonter passenger rail service to Montreal, electric vehicle initiatives, and other critical Vermont-Quebec border transportation projects made headway today, driven by a long-standing partnership between the governments of Vermont and Quebec.

Vermont Agency of Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn, Premier of Quebec Phillip Couillard, Minister of Transport Andre Fortin, and other Canadian delegates and members of the business community toured Montreal’s Electric Vehicle Show and continued dialogue on specific initiatives to establish an electric car charging corridor between the two territories and to promote transportation electrification. Premier Couillard’s participation in today’s conversations reaffirms the transportation partnership and expansion of efforts proposed for the Cooperation Agreement between the State of Vermont and the Province of Quebec.

by Bruce Edwards Vermont Business Magazine Sonnax Industries Inc, a maker of automatic transmission parts in Bellows Falls, was sold in early April to Marmon Holdings, Inc, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway. Sonnax was an employee-owned company, whose ESOP was sued by the US Department of Labor, as first reported by VBM in January 2017.

According to a press release and email, the new company will operate as Sonnax Transmission Company. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. The company will remain in Vermont.

Sonnax has been one of Vermont’s fastest growing manufacturers with three plants in Bellows Falls. Revenues over the last 10 years have nearly doubled.

At the end of last year, Sonnax had 246 employees with 200 in Vermont and 46 in New Jersey. In 2017 it reported to VBM that revenues were $67.5 million.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for March was 2.8 percent. This reflects no change from the revised February rate. The national rate in March was 4.1 percent. As of the prior month’s preliminary data, the Burlington-South Burlington Metropolitan NECTA was fourth lowest unemployment rate in the country for all metropolitan areas. Overall, Vermont’s unemployment rate was tied for the fourth lowest in the country for the same time period.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University’s Architecture Design Build program, called 802LAB, has partnered with Montpelier’s Union Elementary School (UES) and the community to design and build an outdoor classroom/playhouse as part of the school’s planned playground renovations.

​Vermont Business Magazine The sixth annual Vermont’s Greenest Building Awards, hosted by the Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN), recognized seven projects and design/build teams. The projects received awards for achieving the highest standard of demonstrated building energy performance for residential and commercial buildings, and were judged based on an expanded definition of “green” building.

by Adam Grinold Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation Each summer college students search for opportunities that allow them to apply their education and gain hands on experience. Internships are also important to businesses, especially in Vermont’s Windham region where low unemployment means employers compete hard to secure talent. The BDCC & Six College Collaborative Internship program works to partner currently enrolled college students and recent college graduates with local Windham County businesses through paid work opportunities. The BDCC Paid Internship program benefits both intern and employer. Almost 25% of interns have stayed on to accept a permanent position.

Vermont Business Magazine Seven Days, Vermont’s free and independent weekly newspaper, is excited for the 9th Annual Vermont Restaurant Week, a celebration of the state’s vibrant food scene presented by the Vermont Federal Credit Union. For 10 days, April 20 to 29, 115 restaurants from Brattleboro to St. Albans will offer special prix-fixe dinners at three price points — $20, $30 or $40 per person. Lunch, brunch and breakfast specials at select locations will also be available. The diversity in cuisine and participating restaurants will whet the appetites of diners across the state. The full list of menus can be found at vermontrestaurantweek.com.