Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Congressman Peter Welch was among those who helped open Konrad Prefab’s new manufacturing facility in the Robert S Jones Industrial Center in Springfield. Konrad Prefab specializes in the design and production of modular and display units. Their initial product line are lactation suites, which will be distributed by Burlington Vermont-based Mamava. The suites will be installed in public facilities around the country to support nursing mothers.

Congressman Peter Welch helped celebrate the opening of the new Konrad plant in Springfield on Monday. Courtesy photo.

Welch said. “It’s heartening to see a new, vibrant manufacturer in a community that’s synonymous with manufacturing globally.”

Vermont Business Magazine is preparing to publish our 30th annual Vermont 100+, a ranking of Vermont companies based on revenues. Last year we listed nearly 200 companies ranked by total revenues and also ranked by industry. The rankings will be published in our January 2017 issue. If you think your company might qualify, you should enter your 2016 revenue figure (or estimate) in the space provided and mail, fax or email back your survey. If you do not know and cannot estimate 2016's revenues, please enter the figure for the most recently completed fiscal year and note what year the figure is for.

Even if you do not wish to be considered for the Vermont 100+, you likely should be included in VBM's "Business & Manufacturers Directory," a B2B publication, which we will publish in May 2016.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power today is filing its intention to submit a traditional regulated rate case on or before April 15, 2017 -- and seeking to freeze base rates for customers until 2018, when the new rates would go into effect. Base rates for customers are currently lower than they were in 2013, and the company has delivered three bill decreases in that time. GMP wants to extend its current rate structure in order to file the new rate case. The net result of the base rate freeze will mean that customers will see more than four years of reduced rates.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) has announced the launch of SPROUT, a low-interest, deferred payment loan program for working lands entrepreneurs. The new financing program was created to meet the capital needs of Vermont farms, food producers & processors, foresters, forest products businesses and others in the start-up and early stages of operations. Earlier this year, SPROUT received start-up support from the Working Lands Enterprise Board.

SPROUT offers deferred-payment, low-interest loans of up to $60,000 at 0% with no payments for the first two years, with a 2% fixed rate thereafter. VCLF will also coordinate comprehensive business development and financial planning/management technical assistance tailored to meet borrowers’ individual needs, free-of-charge.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) called Monday for the creation of an independent, nonpartisan commission to comprehensively investigate alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. The commission would fully investigate alleged Russian cyberattacks on US political entities and election infrastructure, seek to identify those responsible, and recommend a response as well as actions the US can take to defend itself in the future.  

Modeled on other independent commissions, this body would compile all available classified intelligence and open source information, conduct hearings and interviews, with subpoena power, and report its findings to Congress within 18 months from being formed. The membership of the commission would be individuals appointed by the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional leadership.

Vermont Business Magazine Aaron Septic and Drain, LLC, a commercial waste hauler based in Arlington, is now required to pay a penalty of $15,000 for commercially hauling solid waste and sewage without a state permit. The final court decision was announced today by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Hauling permits are required for anyone intending to commercially transport trash, food waste, septage or sewage, recyclables, or regulated quantities of hazardous waste materials within the state. The permitting process is an important tool for maintaining public health and safety because it holds waste transporters accountable for practicing safe and environmentally sound transportation methods, and delivering waste materials to appropriate destinations. Aaron Septic and Drain, LLC, had been operating without a permit since 2011.

Vermont Business Magazine A new slate of elected officers will serve in leadership positions on the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) Board of Directors. "VEDA's Board is comprised of experienced and dedicated professionals," said Jo Bradley, VEDA's Chief Executive Officer. "We deeply appreciate their work in helping to advance the Authority's economic development mission." 

by Mike Smith Vermonters have waited patiently for almost nine months now — an exceedingly long period of time, according to some — for Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell to conclude his investigation into the scandal-plagued EB-5 program. It is the hope of many that it will be then that Sorrell releases pertinent state government emails he seized during his probe. Releasing these emails on a timely basis is important because they could shed light on what may have gone awry with the ongoing EB-5 program, including what obscured the view of state officials — or influenced their actions — in regard to this troubled program. Such information is crucial to an incoming administration because it helps them protect Vermonters from similar events. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Senate Saturday unanimously passed long-awaited legislation authored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to facilitate travel and commerce between the United States and Canada, the largest US trading partner.

Passage of the bill Saturday morning was one of the last actions of the Senate of this congressional session. The legislation, which will now go to the President’s desk to be signed into law, is needed to facilitate air travel – and eventually, passenger rail service – between Burlington and Canadian cities, and between other U.S. and Canadian destinations.

In March, Leahy introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act. The bill paves the way for expansion of preclearance facilities, operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, at land, rail, marine and air ports of departure in Canada, easing travel and commerce between the two countries.

Vermont Business Magazine On December 12, 2016 Vermont State Police arrested Stephen Silva, 45, of Springfield, Massachusetts.  Police received information over the weekend that Silva may have been involved in the bank robbery.  On December 12, police searched Silva's motel room and the vehicle he had been driving.  Evidence of the bank robbery, including clothing worn at the time, was recovered.

The vehicle Silva had been operating was determined to have been stolen out of Massachusetts.  The Connecticut registration plate on the vehicle was also determined to have been stolen.

Hartford Police Department personnel assisted in the investigation. Silva will currently face charges of Robbery, Aggravated Operation without Owner's Consent, and Possession of Stolen Property.

Vermont Business Magazine Phoenix Books is taking a stand against hunger this holiday season by matching customer donations - up to $5,000 - to the Vermont Foodbank between Thanksgiving and December 24th. The company - which has locations in Essex, Burlington, Rutland and Chester - has embarked on a year-long partnership with the Vermont Foodbank to raise at least $25,000 through a series of fundraisers. This matching program for December is the first of multiple events planned in partnership with Phoenix Books and Vermont Foodbank. The match is dollar for dollar so the more the community donates through Phoenix Books the more money raised for the Vermont Foodbank.

Vermont Business Magazine With the election over, it is time to contemplate the consequences of our political actions. At the 22^nd Annual Meeting of the Addison County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC), keynote speakers Matt Dickinson and Peter Matthews of Middlebury College discussed the political and economic impact of the recent elections on our state and nation. They focused on the impact of populism, the distrust of institutions and the role of the media. Matt Dickinson is a Professor of Political Science and Peter Matthews is a Professor of Economics at the College.