Current News

Vermont Business MagazineStarting on Monday, April 24, the College Street Garage will be closed as it undergoes necessary structural repairs. Work will begin under the management of Structure Preservation Systems, LLC. Over the next four months $2.1 million in repairs and improvements will be completed at the College Street Garage. The City of Burlington expects to preserve the garage to allow for at least 20 more years of use as a parking facility as a result of this investment.

Vermont Business Magazine Darn Tough Vermont, the fastest growing American manufacturer of premium performance outdoor and lifestyle socks, announced today that its multi-quarter growth run continues with first quarter revenue up 28 percent year-over-year. Company performance increased across all categories, the company said in a press release, indicating that the brand’s unconditional lifetime guarantee and Vermont, USA-based manufacturing continues to resonate with consumers demanding quality socks.

Vermont Business Magazine An initiative of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority (RRA) and the City of Rutland to improve aesthetics and safety along one of the key gateways into downtown is ready to commence. The Gateway Improvement Project construction contract has been awarded to Parker Excavation, of New Haven, VT. Work is set to begin in mid-June and is expected to be completed by the end of August.

Vermont Business Magazine Throughout the legislative session, Governor Phil Scott has repeatedly pointed to opportunities to save money in the Education Fund through the Vermont Education Health Initiative (VEHI). New VEHI health plans for school employees will cost substantially less than the old plans. The Governor has developed a policy proposal – through collaboration with the Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA) and the Vermont Superintendents Association (VSA) – that ensures up to $26 million in annual savings from these plans are returned to taxpayers or invested in other education priority areas and that teachers will not pay more for healthcare premiums.

Vermont Business Magazine TransCanada Corporation (TSX: TRP) (NYSE: TRP) announced in a press release today that it has completed the sale of its hydroelectric generation assets to Great River Hydro, LLC, an affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC for US $1.065 billion. The sale includes 13 hydroelectric facilities, stations and associated dams and reservoirs on the Connecticut and Deerfield Rivers. The assets are located in New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts with a total generating capacity of 584 megawatts (Vermont Yankee's output was 605 MW). The bulk of this generation is on the Connecticut River.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s K-12 schools are at the forefront of implementing the Universal Recycling law and using food education and local resources to cut down on food waste. They are successfully reducing waste, managing recyclable materials and creating food scrap diversion programs in exemplary form. “In their classrooms and cafeterias, Vermont’s youth are learning important hands-on lessons about how simple and routine it can be to reduce waste, rescue food, recycle materials, and compost. It becomes natural,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Emily Boedecker. “Schools are jumpstarting the market and demanding the pick-up, recycling and composting services we need to revamp our waste management system.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Education today awarded Flexible Pathways Expansion Grants to 13 supervisory unions and school districts through Vermont. These awards will be used to support 14 projects to expand SUs/SDs’ capacity to provide meaningful, personalized learning opportunities and better clarify flexible pathways for students in Vermont. These grants represent the continued effort to support schools and communities in their efforts to implement the Flexible Pathways Initiative – Act 77.

Vermont Business Magazine Ahead of Saturday’s Earth Day celebrations around the state, Vermont Gas announced its support of the Intervale Center’s efforts to plant trees throughout Vermont this spring. With support from Vermont Gas and other partners, the Intervale Conservation Nursery, a program of the Intervale Center, will plant 28,000 native trees and shrubs this year as part of conservation projects aimed at improving water quality statewide. Vermont Gas, as part of its CARE initiative, will also join the Nursery and Friends of the Winooski River in May to help plant 200 of these trees in Williston as part of its commitment to conservation and education.

Vermont Business MagazineGovernor Phil Scott Thursday morning honored electrical lineworkers from Vermont’s electric utilities. The Governor hosted a recognition event in his State House ceremonial office during which he praised Vermont’s lineworkers for their hard work and dedication and presented aproclamationhe signedon Tuesdayin recognition of National Electric Utility Lineworker Appreciation Day.

Vermont Business Magazine Vail Resorts is extending its reach into Vermont. In March it announced it was buying the ski operationis at Stowe Mountain Resort for $50 million and Wednesday said it has named Inntopia, the hospitality resevation service based in Stowe, as a key partner to offer guests more real-time booking, lodging options and dynamic pricing across Vail’s brand websites. Inntopia offers the most flexible and robust advanced reservation system in existence. Vail Resorts, said, it will launch the use of Inntopia’s inventory distribution network this summer.

“We are very excited to be working with Vail Resorts, the leading global mountain resort operator,” said Trevor Crist, founder and chief executive officer of Inntopia. “The partnership will help Vail Resorts to continue to deliver exceptional service throughout the vacation booking journey and the complete vacation experience.”

Vermont Business MagazineThroughout February and March, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets held aListening Tourto gather feedback and ideas about farming in our state. Over the course of six weeks, the Agency hosted meetings in Lyndonville, Brattleboro, Middlebury, StAlbans, and Montpelier. More than 300 farmers and community members attended. Today, the Agency is announcing a plan to address the Listening Tour feedback.

“The suggestions and ideas shared by participants were insightful, and covered a wide range of topics,” said Ag Secretary, Anson Tebbetts. “The feedback was diverse, but four main themes emerged.”

On the whole, here’s what was shared, and how the Agency of Agriculture plans to address it:

The Next Generation

Vermont Business MagazineComposting sometimes gets a bad rap. Some fear that it's smelly. And many composters are, shall we say, less than easy on the eye. But one, groovy-lookingWorm Farm Compostersold in the USby Gardener's Supply Company, is being recognized with an international design award. Thousands of products were vying for the "Red Dot Award," and the Worm Farm Composter has achieved this coveted design recognition.