Current News

Vermont Business MagazineOn August 21st Governor Phil Scott will issue a proclamation declaring Clean Water Week for the State of Vermont. We invite you to join us in celebrating Vermont’s waters, and the efforts of businesses, organizations, and communities to protect and restore clean water statewide.Vermonters and visitors alike drink, swim, fish, boat, and admire the scenic beauty of Vermont’s waters. Join us and be “All In” for clean water!

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Trustees of the troubled New England Circus Arts, in an attempt to save the institution, has reached out to coaches and the recently fired founders and announced that both the president of the board and the executive director of NECCA have resigned. The letter is dated Friday and indicates that they are attempting to appease these people and the community at large, which was shocked by the news of the firing of the founders, twin sisters Elsie Smith andSerenity Smith Forchion, on Wednesday.Michael Helmstadter, executive director, was not named in the letter nor was president Elizabeth Harris-Warner. Mel Martin, a long-time supporter, is coming back to the board as president.

Vermont Business Magazine Hunger Mountain Co-op in Montpelier is now accepting grant applications in support of local businesses and organizations whose work enriches our central Vermont community and furthers the Co-op’s mission of building a dynamic community of healthy individuals, sustainable local food systems, and thriving cooperative commerce.

Hunger Mountain Co-op began its community fund endowment in 2005. With support from Co-op member-owners, Twin Pines Cooperative Community Fund, and the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, the fund has grown steadily. Since 2012, the Co-op has awarded grants annually, resulting in nearly $40,000 in charitable giving. Last year’sgrants totaled just under $10,000 and benefited Another Way, Barre Senior Center, Bethany Church, Calais Agriculture Committee, Central Vermont Council on Aging, and the Good Food Good Medicine Program (A Food Justice Program of Highgate Non-Profit).

Vermont State Police July 14, 2017The Vermont State Police - StAlbans Barracks was notified of an embezzlement circumstance involving the Isle La Motte Volunteer Fire Company funds/account and a former treasurer for the Fire Company. The former treasurer was identified as Scott Newman, 56, who had been involved with the Isle La Motte Fire Company for more than fifteen years. As of the transfer of his treasurer responsibilities in January 2016, he has no longer been involved with the Fire Company.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University welcomes 36 Vermont high school students on Sunday, July 16, for its inaugural Governor’s Institute on Architecture, Design & Building, a brand new Governor’s Institute of Vermont (GIV) program. The institute offers a residential week of hands-on learning in working with concrete, masonry and wood across the disciplines of architecture, engineering, and construction management with an emphasis on regional materials and best practices of sustainable design and craft.

Vermont Business Magazine DIY Networkheads north to New England and the shores of beautiful Lake Champlain for the first-everUltimate Retreat, which has been reimagined after ten successful years as DIY Network Blog Cabin.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Public Utility Commission today opened an investigation into whether Vermont Gas Systems violated its 2013 permit by burying its pipeline at a depth of less than 4 feet in 18 locations in New Haven. The company's Certificate of Public Good (CPG), issued on December 23, 2013, authorized the construction of the pipeline from Chittenden County to Addison County and required that the pipeline be buried at least 4 feet deep within electric transmission corridors for safety reasons.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday, July 10 Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos was chosen by a bi-partisan group of his peers as President-elect of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) at the Summer Conference in Indianapolis. NASS serves as a medium for Secretaries across the country to share ideas and best practices in the development of public policy as it relates to elections and voting, business services and policy relating to state archival work and records management.

Vermont Business Magazine The Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday approved legislation to fund the Veterans Affairs Administration (VA), staving off “devastating” cuts proposed by the Trump Administration to a facility in Vermont and securing additional resources for Vermont veterans. It was the first markup session on one of the 12 annual Appropriations bills that fund the government to be co-led by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in his new role as Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Vermont Business MagazineThe Agency of Natural Resources announced Thursday that Blakeman’s Towing and Recovery, an automotive towing and recovery business located in Tunbridge, was fined $25,000 for operating in violation of state salvage yard and land use laws, and hazardous waste management regulations. Salvage yards provide important waste management services to Vermonters by reusing and recycling a range of materials from automobiles and scrap metal to hazardous waste like battery acid and vehicle fluids. Hazardous materials can have severe impacts if released to the environment, including contaminating soils, groundwater and drinking water, and degrading public health. Because of this risk, salvage yards are responsible for operating in compliance with laws that protect public health and the environment.

Vermont Business Magazine New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) recently donated $2500 to the Williston Community Food Shelf (WCFS) for the Summer Bag Program. The donation will cover all the expenses to provide two additional bags of “kid friendly” food per month to families with children during summer vacation. The extra bags of food are meant to help bridge the gap created when free breakfast and lunch programs available at the schools become unavailable during the summer.

“The Williston Community Food Shelf is very grateful to have you, and NEFCU, as our Community Partner. Together, we are making a difference,” noted WCFS President, Virginia B. Morton, in a letter of thanks.

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group’s fourth annualDo Good Fest, presented by The Point, will feature alternative rock bandGusterand three other bandson Saturday. Burlington-basedKat Wrightwill kick off the free music festival at4 pm, followed byDwight & Nicolealso of Burlington at 5, and New England fan favoriteThe Adam Ezra Groupat6 pm.Guster takes the stage at7:30 pmand the show will close with a spectacular fireworks display.