Current News

Vermont Business Magazine - The University of Vermont's Board of Trustees was presented with a new concept to house a new Multipurpose Event Center on campus. Plans were considered to move the Event Center off campus to either downtown Burlington or to So Burlington's new downtown location.

According to a press release submitted by UVM's communications office, the need to upgrade and expand our facilities to better accommodate UVM’s health, fitness, wellness, academic, cultural, social, athletic, events, and related programs has been discussed for years.

In 2007, the UVM Board appointed its own Campus Life Task Force to conduct a detailed assessment of what is needed.

Contribution Supports VT Small Businesses with Financial Consulting & Training

The Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) has been awarded a $5,000 contribution from Citizens Bank in support of VCLF’s Microlending Technical Assistance Program.

Vermont Business Magazine United States Attorney Eric Miller has announced his resignation, effectiveFebruary 10, 2017. In 2015, Miller was appointed to his position by President Barack Obama on the recommendation of Senator Patrick Leahy and was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate. Since then, he has led the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, which has 45 employees, including 20 attorneys, who enforce all federal criminal and civil laws in the state.

Vermont Business Magazine -Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) joined Senate Select Committee On Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-Va.)Thursdayin introducing legislation that will clarify the permanent membership of the National Security Council (NSC). The introduction follows the unprecedented reorganization of the NSC by President Trump, which diminished the permanent roles of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence and extended NSC membership to Steve Bannon, a top campaign and political advisor.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims have been edging down the last four weeks and are running slightly lower than last year. The holidays produce wild swings in these numbers, as retailers, especially, hire then lay off workers in short order. But that dynamic has played itself out. By industry, Construction reported the most claims last week at 37 percent of all claims, and were slightly lower in actual number than the previous week. In an average week, Services usually record the most claims.

For the week of January 28, 2017, there were 575 claims, down 36 from the previous week's total and 60 fewer than than they were a year ago. Year-to-year claims have been lower the last several weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of the Vision 2020 strategic plan that the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce unveiled last week at their Annual Dinner, the Chamber has launched one of their main promises, a new website. “This new website is a complete overhaul of the former website,” said Matt Harrington, executive director at the Chamber. “We modeled this off of many modern and relevant websites that we’ve been admiring for some time now. The important part of any website these days is the ability to combine beautiful design and strategic function. The visitors have to be wowed by the imagery and energy of the website, while still being able to navigate and find the answers they’re looking for. I think this website is a step in the right direction.”

Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) has announced a new 3-day innovation fundamentals course that teaches you how to Work Smarter RIGHT NOW - no matter your skill, title or experience. This training is designed to ignite innovation within the people, projects, and cultures of businesses and organizations. Anyone who wants to learn how to create, pitch, test and implement new ideas for products, services, customers and markets, processes, business models, and systems - faster and smarter - should attend. The Innovation Engineering Quick Start course will be held February 27 through March 1, 2017 at GlobalFoundries in Essex Junction. The course will be taught by well-known international innovation expert and entrepreneur, Doug Hall, Founder and CEO of Eureka!Ranch in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Vermont Business Magazine About 56 Vermont employers, representing nearly 20,000 employees from across the state, gathered at the Capital Plaza Hotel yesterday for the launch of Vermont’s Early Childhood Business Council. The event, which included remarks by Governor Phil Scott, was emceed by Emerson Lynn, editor and co-publisher of the St. Albans Messenger, and featured presentations by business leaders who believe that high-quality, affordable child care is an economic driver.

Vermont Business Magazine Representatives Matt Trieber (D-Bellows Falls), Sam Young (D-Glover) and Sarah Copeland-Hanzas (D-Bradford) will file a bill today that would create a statewide family and medical leave insurance program for all working Vermonters. The insurance plan would be separate from insurance one has from an employer. The bill has more than 40 cosponsors, including House Majority Leader Jill Krowinski, Assistant Majority Leader Tristan Toleno, and Deputy Assistant Majority Leader Emily Long, as well as five committee chairs. The proposal would give Vermonters up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave to welcome a new child or care for a seriously ill loved one or themselves.

Vermont Business MagazineApplications are now being accepted for the 2017 Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence. The annual award honors the actions taken by Vermonters to conserve and protect natural resources, prevent pollution and promote sustainability.

Vermont Business MagazineHill Farmstead Brewery has been named Best Brewery in the World for the year 2016, as well as Best Brewery in the United States and Vermont, by RateBeer, the world’s largest, most popular beer review and rating website. This is the third year in a row and the fourth time in the past five years that the brewery has been honored as Best Brewery in the World, United States and Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine FairPoint Communications has announced the completion of broadband expansion projects in 20 Vermont towns that extend and enhance FairPoint’s approximately 17,000 mile fiber optic network, which is the largest, fully-owned and managed fiber-based network in northern New England. As a result of these completed projects, improved broadband speeds are available to more than 5,100 locations in Vermont -- in some areas for the first time.