Current News

by Chuck Ross, Secretary, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets Agriculture is critical to our communities, our economy, our landscape, and our way of life here in Vermont. As Vermonters, we have grown accustomed to a vital and robust agricultural lifestyle. But when I leave our state, in my travels as Secretary of Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, I am always reminded that our local agriculture here in Vermont is special, and serves as a model for others.

Vermont Business Magazine Radio stations 1071 Frank-fm, Froggy 100.9 and 105.7 The Beat announce that the Stuff-A-Truck Food And Funds Drive for the Central Vermont Salvation Army Emergency Food Shelf returns to 802 Cars next to the Berlin Mall on November 17th.  The Stations will attempt again to stuff a Bellavance tractor trailer with canned food and will also be accepting monetary donations in the Salvation Army’s signature red kettles.  

by Jennifer Surat The Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) will hold its 40th Anniversary Gala on Tuesday, October 25, at the Capitol Plaza from 5-7:45 pm. This year’s event will celebrate our past and honor the business leaders and companies that have made this region a vibrant economic leader in Vermont. CVEDC has played a significant role in support of our regional businesses for four decades.  In that time we have seen entrepreneurs grow small ideas into international industry icons.  We have helped communities plan for their future, and recover from natural disasters.  At the Gala we want to take this opportunity to recognize a number of our local businesses for the important contributions they make to the health and quality of this region.

The evening celebration will begin with a networking opportunity from 5:00-5:45PM, which will include a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres, and music. 

Vermont Business Magazine Northern Power Systems Corp (TSX: NPS), a next generation renewable energy technology company based in Barre, has confirmed the continued performance of its remote fleet with turbines performing through both Hurricane Matthew in the Caribbean, as well as Typhoon Chaba in the Jeju region of South Korea. Northern Power turbines at Over Yonder Cay in the Bahamas have now performed through three hurricanes without damage, most recently, experiencing winds of over 135 miles per hour and at least one direct lightning strike with no damage sustained. Throughout the storm the turbines performed as designed, shutting down in high winds and restarting when conditions were safe, all without human intervention.

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.