Current News

by Noelle MacKay, Department of Housing and Community Development commissioner and resident of Shelburne Vermont residents and businesses showcased their resourceful, self-reliant, community spirit in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene. While many communities and individuals continue to grapple with the consequences of Irene, the conversations have shifted to how we address our long-term vulnerability to future storms and flooding.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets has announced $49,000 of available funding for Vermont schools interested in Farm to School programing. Any Vermont school, consortium of schools, or school district interested in a Farm to School grant can find more information and download applications at www.agriculture.vermont.gov. All Vermont Farm to School Program applications must be received by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture no later than 4:30 pm on Tuesday, October 28, 2014.

The state of Vermont has appropriated nearly $775,000 over the past seven years to support Farm to School programming. Since its creation, the Vermont Farm to School grant program has awarded 70 schools or supervisory unions throughout the state funds to support the integration local foods in school cafeterias, classrooms and communities.

PC Construction is giving away a total of $15,000 to nonprofits in the town of Waterbury. The South Burlington, Vermont-based general contractor announced Wednesday the 10 finalists for the second round of its 2014 charitable giving program: “Building Communities: PC Construction Gives Back” in which the public is asked to decide which organizations will receive $10,000, $3,000 and $2,000 in donations. The 100 percent employee-owned company started the crowdsourced giving program in 2013.

Waterbury was selected in part because of the devastating impact on the town during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. Last year, PC Construction began work on the largest construction project ever awarded by the State of Vermont, the reconstruction of the Waterbury State Office Complex in the center of Waterbury on the banks of the Winooski River.

The foliage progression has intensified with near-peak to full color change throughout northeastern Vermont and along the spine of the Green Mountains from north to south. Vibrant colors are also emerging in the higher elevations of southern and central Vermont as well as blossoming in central Vermont valleys. Veteran foresters report an exceptional "hyper-vibrancy," calling the colors "practically neon," and note excellent viewing throughout much of the state at this time. As Addison County Forester, Chris Olson says, "Awesome colors are rolling down off the Green Mountains, into the western foothills and the Champlain Valley."

The US Small Business Administration reminds Private Non-Profit Organizations (PNPs) in Vermont that Oct. 29 is the deadline to submit Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications. These loans are available from the SBA as a result of severe winter storms on December 20-26, 2013. Loans are available to PNPs in Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orleans counties in Vermont.

The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help eligible non-critical PNP organizations meet their working capital needs such as ongoing operating expenses. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers and colleges.

The first woman to serve as President of the Vermont Association of Broadcasters and two legendary news reporters will be inducted into the VAB Hall of Fame later this year. Candis Leopold has worked in radio sales in Vermont since 1981, starting at WNCS in Montpelier. She later worked for Vermont Broadcast Associates stations WKXH and WSTJ in the Northeast Kingdom before being named Sales Manager for Hall Communications stations WIZN and WBTZ in 2010. She served more than 12 years as a member of the VAB Board, including four straight years as president, the first woman to hold that position. She continues to serve as a Legislative Liaison for the VAB.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a filmmaker and advocate for women and girls, challenged nearly 400 Vermont business, government and non-profit leaders to use their voices to create cultural change surrounding women in the workplace. Newsom spoke provocatively about “What’s Holding Back Women in the Workplace.” She spoke for 45 minutes and took questions from the audience before meeting with Vermont media. She then participated in a private panel discussion, “Becoming Women of Influence,” with 75 students from five Vermont colleges and universities, including the University of Vermont and Middlebury College, and two high schools, Rock Point School and South Burlington High School. Other panelists included former Governor Madeleine Kunin, Green Mountain Power CEO Mary Powell, and commando founder and CEO Kerry O’Brien.

Among Newsom’s messages for Vermonters:

HNI Corporation (NYSE: HNI) and its Hearth & Home Technologies business announced the acquisition of the Vermont Castings Group, a leading manufacturer of free standing hearth stoves and fireplaces. The Vermont Castings Group, headquartered in Paris, Kentucky and with plants in Randolph and Bethel, Vermont, has annual revenue of approximately $100 million. According to Vermont Business Magazine, Vermont Castings has about 170 employees in Vermont.

An HNI spokesperson told VBM in an email: "At this point, we will run the Vermont Castings Group as a standalone business unit for a period of time, during which we will focus on bringing our lean manufacturing and logistics expertise to their business, and VCG products will continue to be manufactured at their current locations."

Green Mountain Power is lowering rates effective Wednesday, October 1, 2014. Electric rates for residential and commercial customers decrease by 2.46 percent. The rate decrease is the second decrease by GMP in three years and is part of the company’s mission to deliver reliable, clean and cost-effective power to customers. The rate decrease was approved by the Vermont Public Service Board and comes at a time when other energy companies in the region are seeking double-digit rate increases to meet customer demand.

GMP President Mary Powell. Vermont Business Magazine file photo.

The 24 million dollar renovation of Brattleboro’s Brooks House will be celebrated on October 3 at 5pm in the Brooks House Atrium in downtown Brattleboro. Speakers will include Governor Peter Shumlin along with Brooks House Development Bob Stevens and Larry Cassidy. Additional speakers include Joyce Judy, president of CCV and Dan Smith, president of VTC. A ribbon cutting will follow the speakers and CCV and VTC will be giving tours.

A nationally recognized University of Vermont program bringing innovative, technology-rich teaching practices to Vermont middle school students will expand dramatically across the state thanks to a $5 million gift from the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation. The gift is the second $5 million pledge the foundation has made to the Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education, housed in the University of Vermont’s College of Education and Social Services. The earlier gift launched the institute in 2009. The foundation also funded a pilot version of the program from 2006 to 2009.

Institute co-founders Rich and Deb Tarrant joined UVM President Tom Sullivan to make the announcement at a press conference Wednesday morning sponsored by the University of Vermont Foundation.

Governor Peter Shumlin formally proclaimed October as “Manufacturing Month” in Vermont in conjunction with National Manufacturing Day, October 3. “Manufacturing is critically important to Vermont’s economy,” said the governor. “I encourage all Vermonters to learn about the innovation of Vermont’s manufacturers, and particularly for young people to pursue careers offering quality jobs here in our state.”

A wide variety of events are being held across the state on Friday, October 3rd in Vermont including: