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by Jake Claro, Farm to Plate Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs FundWhen you ask people their definition of the Vermont food economy, they’ll often talk about farms, farmers’ markets or CSAs. What’s often missing from the conversation are the supply chain of local businesses such as distributors, food processors and manufacturers, and seed, feed, and equipment dealers.

Vermont’s local food economy not only extends well beyond the farm, it’s also an important part of our state’s economic engine. Sales from food and beverage manufacturing and wholesale distribution in 2012 totaled $9.1 billion. In terms of employment across the food system—spanning farm inputs (seed, feed, fertilizer), production, processing, distribution, and retail—64,000 Vermonters are employed in the food economy.

In Vermont, local food is considered to be anything produced or processed in Vermont plus 30 miles.

Vermont Business Magazine NG Advantage LLC, based in Colchester and majority-owned by Clean Energy Fuels (NASDAQ:CLNE), has announced that William Hill has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer, continuing nearly 30 years of senior financial management to companies throughout Vermont, from banking and manufacturing to outdoor equipment and craft beer. He previously was with the former Eastern Bancorp (Vermont Federal Bank) in Williston, Otter Creek Brewing in Middlebury and Ibex Outdoor Clothing in White River Jct.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger joined Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Chapin Spencer, Champlain Elementary School Principal Dr. Dorinne Dorfman, and Dealer.com Senior Manager of Operations Grace Ciffo near the new sidewalk outside Champlain Elementary School to recognize DPW’s progress on its Sustainable Infrastructure Plan projects, and the launch of a new “projects portal” that will help keep residents informed on current and future projects. This work represents the beginning of implementation of the multi-year Sustainable Infrastructure Plan’s reinvestment in the city, approved overwhelmingly by voters in November 2016. This season, DPW has been focused on road repaving, sidewalk reconstruction and upgrading the City’s aging water infrastructure along multiple streets.

Vermont Business Magazine TRORC recently adopted a new Regional Plan and has also received approval from the Department of Public Service on its Energy Implementation Plan. On July 26, 2017, the Woodstock-based Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission Board unanimously adopted a new Regional Plan. The Regional Plan charts a course for land use, economic development, conservation, transportation, housing, and emergency management for the 30 towns within its region. The Regional Plan has a life of eight years, is consistent with state planning laws and is used in regulatory proceedings.

Vermont Business Magazine David Daigle ‘89, the chairman of the University of Vermont’s Board of Trustees, and his wife Beth Daigle ’89 have pledged $1 million to UVM’s proposed Multi-Purpose Center project. Their gift will be directed toward new facilities that will enhance student health and wellness on campus, as well as programs that encourage all UVM students to lead healthier lives.

The proposed Multi-Purpose Center will feature dramatic upgrades and a five-fold increase in the space dedicated to health, wellness and fitness facilities for the entire campus. The project also includes a spectacular new events center that will serve as the home for Catamount Men’s and Women’s Basketball while hosting a variety of campus and public events. Iconic Gutterson Fieldhouse will remain the home of UVM Men’s and Women’s Hockey, but with vast improvements for both players and fans.

Vermont Business Magazine FirstLight, a leading fiber-optic bandwidth infrastructure services provider operating in the Northeast, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of 186 Communications, based in Nashua, NH. This latest acquisition marks the Company’s fourth successful acquisition in the past year. FirstLight previously completed the acquisitions of Oxford Networks, Sovernet Communications of Bellows Falls and Finger Lakes Technologies Group (FLTG). Financial terms of these transactions were not disclosed.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Tech offers a unique learning experience dedicated to focused, hands-on, applied learning taught by faculty who are experts in their field. The Office of Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD) brings this style of education to a wide range of professions and professionals.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) celebrated 30 years of grant making at an event at Shelburne Farms, then held a Board meeting two days later, making grants totaling almost $5.2 million to support major affordable housing developments in four communities and to protect farmland in Franklin and Caledonia Counties.

The 30th anniversary celebration at Shelburne Farms, attended by nearly 300 people, highlighted VHCB’s partnerships with dozens of organizations and communities resulting in protection of 265,000 acres of working forests, recreational lands, and natural areas; conservation of 162,000 acres of farmland; development of 12,500 units of affordable housing; restoration of 67 historic properties for community use; lead paint abatement in 2,500 homes; and business planning assistance to 550 farm and forestland owners.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will use $3.6 million in new federal funding to purchase conservation easements on farmland. The funds come from the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), a Farm Bill initiative.

Vermont Business Magazine A Vermont farm and its champion cow is celebrating taking the top prize at the World Dairy Expo. “Blexy,” a classic black-and-white Holstein, was selected as the top bovine of all the dairy breeds at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. With more than 2,300 entries, the dairy show is considered the Kentucky Derby of the cow world.

Vermont Business Magazine A majority of college administrators in a new survey say that more students believe marijuana to be "safe," drawing concern that changing attitudes about marijuana might have downstream effects on college campuses. Administrators say the number of students with marijuana-related problems has either increased (37 percent) or stayed the same (32 percent), while almost none say such problems have lessened. And while they report a variety of negative impacts of marijuana use, and acknowledge the need to address the problem, they are also dealing with gaps in information and policy. A Presidents' Panel with the associated presentation event includedUniversity of Vermont President Tom Sullivan.

Vermont Business Magazine Utopus Insights has announced that Vermont Electric Power Company executive Kerrick Johnson has joined the leadership team of Utopus as Chief Ecosystem Officer. Johnson has almost 20 years of experience in the electric utility industry. A well-known figure politically and in the electric industry in Vermont, he will be responsible for developing a network of industry connections, partnerships, and related communication and marketing activities. Based inValhalla, NY, Utopus Insights is a new company started in February 2017 that was formed by IBM and VELCO to help plan for the next generation of the electric grid.