Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Chicago-based Reinhart Foodservice, LLC announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Earth Brothers, Ltd to purchase substantially all of the assets of the rapidly growing Black River Produce distribution business. Black River Produce is a multi-regional distributor serving more than 2,000 accounts across Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and New York. Founded in 1978, Black River Produce is owned by Mark Curran and Steve Birge and is based in North Springfield, where it and the employees will remain under the Black River name.

Vermont Business Magazine Buyers of meat from Gregory Finch’s Vermont’s Family Farm in Enosburg Falls thought they were buying anti-biotic free Vermont pork, and consumers paid a premium price for it. But Finch cannot prove his pigs were born and raised in Vermont or were anti-biotic free for their entire lives – and the Attorney General’s evidence indicates otherwise. So Finch, who is no longer farming or living in Vermont, and the Attorney General have settled for a civil penalty of over $140,000.

“Vermonters are willing to pay extra for meat raised in Vermont. We won’t let their money pad the pockets of those making fake claims,” said Attorney General Bill Sorrell.

Vermont Business Magazine Members of the Burlington Education Association voted Thursday to authorize a strike beginning October 20 if a negotiated contract agreement isn’t reached. Mediator Ira Lobel has called both the union and the board to a negotiating session that is to begin October 19.

Vermont Business Magazine Employees from the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation are working with the Bolton Fire Department to contain a small forest fire on Robbins Mountain. The Department said in a statement today that the fire was first spotted on Thursday, October 7. Over the last week, the Bolton Town Forest Fire Warden and volunteer firefighters from the towns of Bolton, Huntington, Hinesburg and Richmond along with state forestry staff have been working to control this deep burning fire, situated along a steep ridge visible from US Route 2 and Interstate 89.

A portable water tank has been set up at the end of Happy Hollow Road in Huntington and water is being pumped uphill over one‐quarter mile to the scene of the fire.

Vermont Business Magazine Twenty entrepreneurs throughout Vermont completed a seven-month executive education series October 12 at Vermont Technical College in Williston. The "graduation" celebrated businesspeople from across the state. Emerging Leaders is the only federal training specifically tailored for small business executives poised for growth. The free program includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time, connects small business owners with a network of industry experts and peers, and supports the creation of a three-year strategic growth action plan. 

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims rose last week in large part to layoffs in Services and Construction, which is typical of the season. Overall, claims have edged down over the last two months. For the week of October 8, 2016, there were 448 claims, up 120 from the previous week's total and 10 more than than they were a year ago. By industry, claims slightly increased again for Construction, but much more so for Services, with 115 new claims or 61 percent of the total. Services typically register the most claims in any month, but this week's total is a higher percentage than usual. Manufacturing fell marginally by 13 claims or 8 percent of the total, which remains relatively low.

Altogether 2,981 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 92 from a week ago, and 90 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont will host an event highlighting the innovation and entrepreneurship of its students, faculty, staff and alumni on Monday, October 17 at 9:30 am in the Livak Ballroom in the UVM Davis Center. The activities include an "Innovation Slam" and a keynote address by UVM alumnus and trustee Briar Alpert, CEO of Winooski-based BioTek. The UVM events kick off BTV Ignite’s Innovation Week, October 17 through 21, a series of events held in locations around the city that highlight Burlington’s emerging status as a hub of entrepreneurship and technological innovation. The event will open with the Innovation Slam. Six UVM-affiliated innovators will each have five minutes -- and one slide -- to tell the stories of their new companies and products in a lightning round of talks.

Vermont Business Magazine US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Thursday announced his support for the re-election of US Senator Patrick Leahy and US Representative Peter Welch. Sanders also endorsed Sue Minter for governor, TJ Donovan for attorney general, Beth Pearce for treasurer, Doug Hoffer for auditor of accounts and Jim Condos for secretary of state. Sanders previously endorsed David Zuckerman for lieutenant governor.

“Sue Minter understands that the key for Vermont's economic future is opening up higher education to all Vermonters, regardless of income,” Sanders said. “That’s why, if elected governor, she will work to make community colleges and Vermont Tech tuition free,” he added.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) is leading a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 56 members of the House and Senate, including Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D), urging Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shaun Donovan to free up safety net funds to help dairy farmers in Vermont and across the nation who are struggling with declining milk prices. In a letter sent Thursday, Leahy and his partners request that Donovan do all he can to support Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in using existing authorities to expand and maintain US domestic markets, encourage the domestic consumption of dairy products, and help dairy farmers through the ongoing financial crisis.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Electric Department General Manager Neale Lunderville today announced that Darren Springer, Chief of Staff to outgoing Governor Peter Shumlin, will join the leadership team at Burlington Electric as Manager of Strategy and Innovation and Chief Operating Officer. Springer, a resident of Burlington’s New North End, has more than a decade of experience in energy and will begin his new position in January 2017 after completing his service to Governor Shumlin and the State of Vermont through the gubernatorial transition.

Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery The Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery has partnered with a number of other organizations - Vermont Association of Area Agencies of Aging, NAMI-VT and Vermont Care Partners – in developing the topics and questions related to home and community-based health care services. Here are the responses from Republican candidate Phil Scott and Democratic candidate Sue Minter. The surveys are informational. There is no rating of the candidates.

Vermont Business Magazine Spruce Peak at Stowe has completed of its highly anticipated $90-million-dollar Village Center development, which the resort says is revolutionizing the Northeast ski experience. The resort development, an estimated $500-million-dollar project, began in 2003 with Stowe Mountain Lodge, the Mountain Cabins and a 21,000 square-foot spa. As of this 2016/2017 winter season, Spruce Peak at Stowe presents a luxurious alpine village with a new 20,000 square-foot Alpine Clubhouse with Club Residences, 30,000 square-foot Adventure Center and boutique shops that are centered around a 10,000-square-foot ice skating rink.