Current News

Vermont Business MagazineWhite River Jct-basedgroSolar,CMS Energy,Dairyland Power Cooperative, andPrice Electric Cooperative, have beguncommercial operation of the 3.4-megawatt (MW DC)Flambeau Solar projectin Flambeau, Wisconsin. The Flambeau Solar Project features single-axis trackers that track the sun from east to west throughout the day, greatly increasing the efficiency of the project. Throughout the design and construction of the project, groSolar utilized numerous local contractors and small businesses to assist in the development of the project.

Vermont Business Magazine Kroll Bond Rating Agency, Inc (KBRA) has donated $2,500 to the Vermont Foodbank in lieu of conference giveaway items at the Vermont Captive Insurance Association Annual Conference taking place August 8-10. KBRA is a global credit rating agency committed to setting a standard of excellence and integrity. “At KBRA, we take our social responsibility very seriously, not just in our work but in our effort to support our business communities as well. We accomplish this with the assistance of our employees through KBRA Cares, our social responsibility initiative,” said Tina Bukow, senior director in KBRA’s business development group.

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, June 21, members of the central Vermont community, with CVHHH staff, management, and board members, gathered at the Country Club of Barre for the 21st Annual Hospice Memorial Golf Tournament & Silent Auction. This was a record year for the tournament, with over $30,000 raised in sponsorships and donations. All proceeds from the event will support CVHHH’s hospice program.

Vermont Business MagazineVermont Teddy Bear is proud to announce its newest initiative, The Vermont Cub Project. The goal of the project is for every four-year-old in Vermont to receive his or her very own Vermont Teddy Bear. Vermont Teddy Bear recognizes the importance of giving back to Vermonters and being socially responsible, which it has striven to do during its 36 years in business.

“We love living and working in Vermont,” says Bill Shouldice, CEO of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company. “Not only are we surrounded with views of the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain, we are also surrounded by an amazing community filled with the friendliest people. We are constantly looking for ways to give back to our fellow Vermonters, which is why we are so excited to announce our newest effort.”

Inspiration for the Vermont Cub Project came from watching children in the Bear Shop making teddy bears and starting new friendships.

Vermont Business Magazine Mach7 Technologies, Inc has namedMichael Jackmanas itsnew Chief Executive Officer to help accelerate Mach7's vision for the future of enterprise imaging, it repoted in a statement. Jackman is an accomplished executive with nearly 30 years' experience of energizing teams, building brands and creating value in highly successful global healthcare IT businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine Land O'Lakes, Inc, the new owner of Vermont Creamery,today reported quarterly net sales of$3.7 billionand net earnings of$113 millionin the second quarter endingJune 30, 2017compared to net sales of$3.5 billionand net earnings of$134 millionfor same period in the prior year. Year-to-date net sales totaled$7.3 billionwith net earnings of$223 millioncompared to net sales of$7.1 billionand net earnings of$238 millionfor same period in the prior year. Year-to-date results include an unrealized hedging loss of$4 millionas compared to an unrealized hedging gain of$26 millionfor the same period in 2016.

"As a company focused on growth, I am pleased with the first half of the year. We are up in volume in most of our key categories," statedChris Policinski, Land O'Lakes, Inc. president and CEO. "We continue to be in a position to deliver strong full-year performance."

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced Wednesday that Vermont organizations have been awarded three highly competitive National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) matching grants totaling $270,000. The grants, to a Brattleboro history project, the University of Vermont, and the Vermont Farmers Market Education Center, will fund projects for humanities research and public engagement.

Leahy said: “Grants like these help us foster and conserve the rich and cohesive communities that we want. These funds will help fund programs, art and stories that bring together Vermonters and give us a better understanding of our great state. I have fought hard on the Appropriations Committee to protect funding for the humanities from the drastic cuts proposed by the Trump Administration, whose priorities do not match Vermont’s priorities, or the priorities of the American people.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources announced today that Central Vermont Motorcycles, Inc, a powersports dealer and service center in Rutland, is now required to pay a fine of $23,062 for multiple violations of Vermont Hazardous Waste Management Regulations. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recognizes that many businesses and important industries in Vermont generate some amount of hazardous waste during the normal course of business.

Vermont Business MagazineLedyard Financial Group, Inc(ticker symbol LFGP), the holding company for Ledyard National Bank, today reported record quarterly earnings for the second quarter of 2017. Ledyard is based in Hanover, NH, with a branch in Vermont. Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2017, was $1,121,791 or $1.09 per share compared to $1,062,432 or $1.05 per share for the same period in 2016, an increase of $59,359 or 6%. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $2,128,460 or $2.08 per share compared to $2,067,477 or $2.02 per share for the same period in 2016, an increase of $60,983 or 3%.

In a statement, Ledyard said the strength ofitscore businesses continues to drive improvement in operating results and returns to shareholders.

Vermont Business MagazineThat motorcycle gang you might find roaring around Vermont this week is in search of the best entrepreneurs in Vermont.Road Pitch was founded in 2014 by Cairn Cross, co-founder and managing director of FreshTracks Capital. The event is a multi-day motorcycle trip around Vermont where a pack of motorcycle riders with investing, entrepreneurial/business and business advisory experience ride together and stop in small towns where “Local Hosts” have organized a pitch session for entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to the group.The “pitcher” who is voted the Riders’ Choice Award will win a $500 cash prize from the statewide sponsor, Fresh Tracks Capital, and will be invited to participate in a “pitch off” event in October and which the winners at all 10 stops will repeat their pitches and have the opportunity to win an additional cash prize and a full year of no cost mentoring.

Vermont Business Magazine Wells + Associates today announced that it has acquired Burlington-based BreakShuttle, the largest provider of charter trips for college students departing and returning directly to campus during academic breaks. BreakShuttle began in Vermont in 2012 with funding from VCET and Fresh Tracks. W+A is a national transportation consulting firm with a mission to plan and modernize transportation networks, based in Virginia.

Vermont Business Magazine VPR has announced several changes to its news and digital staff that bring new leadership to Vermont Edition, integrate digital and broadcast content and focus on podcast development. Sam Gale Rosen has been named Managing Editor of Vermont Edition. A producer on VPR’s daily newsmagazine program since 2015, he replaces Executive Producer Patti Daniels, who is stepping down after more than 10 years.

“I'm incredibly excited to be stepping into a leading role on Vermont Edition,” Gale Rosen said. “Under Patti’s leadership, Vermont Edition has earned deep trust in our region over the last 10 years, and I'll do my best to build on that strength. We want the program to be a conversation for all Vermonters, and we hope to go even further in including more voices, issues, priorities and positions.”

Investigative Reporting