Current News

This fall and winter the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) is presenting a series of free workshops for entrepreneurs and businesses around the state. The sessions are geared toward those who are developing new technologies and would like the know-how to bring their ideas to the marketplace. Scott Holson, VtSBDC’s technology commercialization advisor, will host several two-hour sessions in Springfield, St. Johnsbury, Middlebury and Winooski. He will cover topics including how to commercialize an idea, how to protect intellectual property, and how to find out if your idea is “fundable” through a variety of grant programs.

Following the workshops, attendees can take advantage of free one-on-one advising in making grant submissions and looking for funding options for research and development.

Vermont is one of six states new to the top 10 list in afterschool programs in 2014, according to America After 3PM, which conducted a national survey of parents. A strong afterschool participation number (24 percent, the national average is 18 percent) and an increase in the average time children spend in afterschool programs are contributing factors to Vermont’s fourth-place ranking. Strong parent satisfaction with their child’s afterschool program overall, the quality of care, and program cost are also drivers of Vermont’s entry into the top 10. Despite the fact that 95 percent of Vermont parents are satisfied with their child’s afterschool program and 88 percent of parents support public funding for afterschool programs, unmet demand for afterschool programs in the state is high.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters can expect a winter similar to last winter. While it seemed many locals complained about its severity, the ski resorts enjoyed a good early- and a great late-season to post 4.5 million "skier days," which was the third best on record. AccuWeather reports that while parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic had a gradual introduction to fall, winter will arrive without delay. According to the weather service, cold air and high snow amounts will define the season. Farther south, ice storms and snow events will threaten the Tennessee Valley and parts of the southern Plains.

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, based in Kansas City, MO, has announced that through a wholly-owned subsidiary it signed a definitive agreement to acquire five to-be-constructed solar power facilities throughout the state of Vermont. The deals were developed by Green Lantern Capital LLC, a successful solar developer and will be constructed by leading Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) firms during 2014 and the first six months of 2015. The cost of the fully constructed facilities will be approximately $9,222,000, plus closing costs. Greenbacker was assisted in its acquisition by Black Emerald Group, a leading renewable energy advisor. The Green Maple Portfolio, when operational, will consist of ground mounted solar facilities and will sell electricity under long term Power Purchase Agreements to utility, municipality and commercial off takers.

by John Herrick vtdigger.org A new, improved model for predicting the weather could help prepare for severe storms, aid power restoration efforts, and save customers money, the state’s transmission utility announced on Wednesday. Vermont Electric Power Co. (VELCO) is building a Vermont Weather Analytics Center, a high-resolution forecast tool that aims to provide accurate, localized weather predictions. The two-year project will cost $16.6 million.

by Meredith Angwin New England electricity is too dependent upon natural gas-fired power plants. And we are about to pay a lot for that dependence. In recent days, several New England utilities have announced major price rises for electricity. In Massachusetts, National Grid said that its customers can expect a 37 percent rate increase in November. Liberty Utilities in New Hampshire announced that there will be a 50 percent rate increase, and Unitil, which serves Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire, announced a price rise that will add over $40 a month to the average home electricity bill. These companies explained that the rate increases are due to the increasing cost of power on the grid.

It's no secret digital technology is taking over our lives, and face time with friends and loved ones is decreasing because of it. The 2014 Keurig Coffee Connections Survey found that more than one-in-four Americans (26%) use social media, text or email to communicate sensitive information to friends or family when they could have talked to them in person. Even more people (30%) state that without social media, they would have a hard time keeping in touch with friends and loved ones at all. Despite this, Americans still consider being together in person a favorite way to stay in touch. In fact, if given the chance to have a coffee date with anyone, Americans would much rather connect with a long-lost loved one (64%) than the President (7%) or their favorite celebrity (6%).

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) have announced $629,966 in grants to support efficient and renewable energy initiatives in the Green Mountain State. The grants were awarded by the US Department of Energy as part of $5 million in funding to 13 states to advance innovative approaches for local clean energy development through the State Energy Program. The program aims to reduce energy bills for families and businesses, reduce carbon emissions and increase energy security.

Johnson State College has been designated a "Military Friendly School" because of its demonstrated commitment to supporting student veterans on campus and in their careers. JSC is one of approximately 1,600 American colleges and universities that have earned the "Military Friendly(r)" designation from Victory Media, a veteran-owned business that assesses schools on their programs and services for veterans and bestows the designation on qualifying schools at no cost.

JSC also appears in the company's online "Schools Matchmaker," which allows student veterans and prospective military students to review more than 4,000 schools approved for Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition benefits, as well as schools that have earned the Military Friendly(r) Schools designation.

Founded in 2001, Victory Media helps educators and employers attract high-quality veterans as students and employees, comply with regulations and develop leading practices in military programs.

Darn Tough Vermont, American manufacturer of the fastest growing collection of outdoor performance socks, celebrates their 11th year of business. With outstanding year-over-year growth since the company’s inception, the Vermont hosiery manufacture was too darn busy to celebrate the traditional ten-year milestone. “As we maintain momentum in our second decade of business, it’s gratifying to be surrounded by such talented employees – many of which have been with us since the beginning – who have played a significant role in Darn Tough’s success. From day one, we’ve worked hard to make sure Darn Tough is a brand customers can count on. Today, we’re able to see how far we’ve come with continuous growth in our topline year after year. We’ve been so darn busy making the best socks on the market, we haven’t even had time to celebrate the company reaching ten years of successful business,” explains Ric Cabot, President and CEO of Darn Tough Vermont.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) on Wednesday announced Vermont law enforcement agencies and related justice programs received grants totaling more than $2.4 million from the US Department of Justice. The grant awards were included in Fiscal Year 2014 spending and will support local and state efforts to reduce crime and tackle the state’s substance abuse problems. Among the grant awards is funding provided through the Leahy-authored Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program.

The Vermont Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday released a preliminary draft of the rule to implement Act 120, the law requiring the labeling of food produced with genetic engineering (GMO). The draft rule is posted on the Attorney General’s website. In passing Act 120, the Legislature tasked the Attorney General with developing the regulations that will implement the labeling law. These regulations will provide clarity on the scope and reach of the law, including the specific requirements for labeling food. While the Attorney General will later solicit official public comments on the proposed rule, the upcoming public meetings and emailed comments will serve as an important opportunity for the Office to obtain input from producers, retailers, and consumers.