Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Dairy farmers across the Northeast can now apply for the Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant through the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC). With a total of $950,000 in funding, this grant will support a wide range of projects aimed at improving farm viability, economic sustainability, and climate resilience. Grants will range from $15,000 to $100,000 with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match contribution. This grant will support projects that modernize outdated systems or try new and innovative solutions, with the goal of enhancing farm viability, reducing climate impacts, improving milk quality or value, improving worker conditions, and strengthening the farm’s ability to respond to challenges. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Corrections released the following statement from Commissioner Nick Deml: “Recently, the Department of Corrections conducted a routine case review of Harley Breer, a currently incarcerated individual, to determine the appropriateness of his release on Community Supervision Furlough. This process initially resulted in a recommendation for release. As part of our standard procedure, the Department notified the Essex County State’s Attorney of this initial recommendation on November 19, 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine On December 23, 2024, the Board of Directors of Community National Bank and Community Bancorp. promoted Christopher L. Caldwell, age 59, to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Bancorp. And Community National Bank effective January 1, 2025. Kathy Austin retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Bancorp. and Chief Executive Officer of Community National Bank on December 31, 2024, but will continue to serve on the boards of the Company and the Bank. 

by Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts & Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore As we shared earlier this fall, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has directed Vermont to make changes to its water quality regulation of farms. Specifically, EPA is requiring the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) to assume a greater role in inspections and compliance monitoring, and to issue permits to farms that are discharging to state waters. The Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (AAFM) will continue to issue permits and regulate farms that are not discharging to state waters. EPA has determined that this change is necessary to fulfill our obligations under the federal Clean Water Act. We are committed to keeping the agriculture community informed of this work as it goes forward and so are reaching out to provide some additional information. 

Vermont Business Magazine Pomerleau Real Estate, based in Burlington, has reported their fourth quarter 2024 commercial real estate transaction. FP (Free People) Movement will be joining the retailers on Church Street. FP Movement has leased 3,300 SF at 98 Church Street. Kendra Kenney represented the building owners, Pomerleau Properties, and McDevitt represented the Tenant.

Vermont Business Magazine For aspiring entrepreneurs, there’s no better New Year’s resolution for 2025 than to make your business dreams a reality. The SBA is your resource for navigating the ins and outs of starting your own business. Learn what you need to do before you open shop. National Technology Day is January 6th. Innovators: Advance your game-changing tech with help from America’s Seed Fund, the nation’s largest source of early-stage R&D funding! Through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, America’s Seed Fund awards non-dilutive funding to develop your technology and chart a path toward commercialization. The federal government invests in your solution and gives you the freedom to run your business according to your vision. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO) partners with BETA Technologies (BETA) and Champlain College’s Emergent Media Center (CCEMC) to create Flight Test, a new live concert experience of music, projections, and innovation on March 1, 2025 in South Burlington, Vermont. Flight Test features VSO’s 40-voice chorus, pianist Mary Jane Austin, violinist Brooke Quiggins, and cellist John Dunlop in an immersive soundscape curated and led by Matt LaRocca, VSO’s Artistic Advisor and Project Conductor.  The concerts include video projections by CCEMC, concluding a three year educational partnership between the two organizations, and take place inside BETA’s original airplane hangar with the audience surrounded by BETA’s electric airplanes and equipment.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on December 19, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Joshua Hartness, age 45, of Colebrook, New Hampshire, with possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Hartness entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on December 20, 2024 before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Hartness be released on conditions. According to the indictment, Hartness allegedly possessed one or more images of CSAM between May 22 and August 26 in 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today announced he will join the powerful Senate Committee on Finance in the 119th Congress, and continue serving on the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry; Judiciary; and Rules and Administration. Senator Welch released the following statement on his assignments for the 119th Congress: “We are in the midst of a brutal affordability crisis. I will use my seat at the table of the Senate Finance Committee to help level the playing field for Vermont families and all hardworking Americans. I will focus my work on the Finance Committee on lowering costs, expanding economic opportunities for working families, and protecting the programs folks rely on and deserve to know are safe—like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act."

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.09 per gallon, down 1 cents/g from last week, down 3 cents from last month and down 19 cents/g from this time last year. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.60/g while the highest was $3.35/g, a difference of 75.0 cents per gallon. The lowest prices in the state are in Bennington County with prices rising going north, with Orleans County average highest. The national average price of gasoline is up 1 cent per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.03/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine Since the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, or HPAI, in Texas dairy cattle this past March, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) has worked to promote awareness and prepare for the possibility of the disease’s arrival in our state.  To date, this has not occurred.  USDA recently mandated bulk milk sampling throughout the country, including Vermont, to proactively identify any currently unknown infected dairy cattle.  The goal is to test all milk that is eligible to cross state lines (Grade A) so any unknown infections can be identified and HPAI can be contained. Beginning today, VAAFM employees will sample unpasteurized milk on all Grade A milk producing farms in Vermont each month.

The Vermont State Police is investigating a fire that occurred Wednesday morning, Jan. 1, 2025, at a home in the Bennington County town of Sandgate. Two people were killed in the blaze, and another two were injured. The fire was reported at about 11:30 a.m. on Chunks Brook Road. Numerous fire departments from Vermont and New York responded to the scene and eventually were able to bring the fire under control. The two injured victims were transported to hospitals in New York for treatment; the extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.