Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office announced that James Mailhiot, Jr., 56, of Rutland, Vermont, pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court in Rutland to a charge of federal income tax evasion. U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier released Mailhiot on conditions pending sentencing, which is scheduled for March 27, 2025. On November 14, 2024, the United States Attorney filed a one-count information charging Mailhiot with evading a significant portion of the income taxes he owed to the United States for Tax Years 2019 through 2022. Yesterday, Mailhiot pleaded guilty to that information. 

Vermont Business Magazine Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) announced today its Regional Project Prioritization List for 2025.  This list ranks the region’s top ten priority projects as determined by a joint committee of members from both CVEDC and Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC). Melissa Bounty, Executive Director of Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation, spearheaded the call for applications and development of this year’s list. “We were able to draw our most diverse set of applicants ever this year,” says Bounty. “I’m impressed by the full list of 22 applicants, ranging from a project to purchase and install hospital generators to larger infrastructure projects. Even those that did not make it to the top 10 have incredible merit and show the great range of ideas and action being taken in Central Vermont.”

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.12 per gallon, down 1 cent per gallon from last week and last month, and down 31 cents from last year. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.63/g while the highest was $3.25/g, a difference of 62.0 cents per gallon. Prices were lowest in Bennington ($3/g) and Windham ($3/g) counties and highest in Essex ($3.30) and $3.21 in Lamoille and Washington counties. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.03/g today. The national average is down 7 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 19 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to AAA.

Vermont Business Magazine A new study by tire experts at Tires Easy analyzed each state’s number of electric vehicle (EV) registrations, charging points, state EV incentives, and eagerness to transition. With several states adopting zero-emission vehicle mandates and goals, the study produced an index based on the four aforementioned factors, revealing the states most likely to transition to EVs soonest. Vermont ranks as the second most EV-friendly state in America behind California. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) announces the awardees for the fourth competitive round of the Climate Catalyst Innovation Fund. The funding supports projects that make a meaningful, community-scale impact. VCRD received more than $224,000 in requests and was able to fund 24 projects totaling $85,000 to support local climate solutions in Vermont. Projects are practical and creative efforts that expand community resilience, reduce energy use, and create new approaches to challenging problems. Projects funded this year include solar generators, a farmer resilience network, youth climate projects, and many more. This year, the Climate Catalyst Innovation Fund grew to $85,000 following three successful prior rounds. An interactive map is available showcasing recipients, location and project descriptions. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Chair of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy and member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, introduced the Electrifying Rural Transportation Act (ERTA), legislation to create a new grant program to help rural transit agencies and local governments transition to electric fleet vehicles. Senator Welch’s bill would create the Rural Public Transportation Electrification Program, which would award grants through the Department of Transportation, for the purchase of new electric buses or other fleet vehicles, existing or new electric charging infrastructure, and to help with operational assistance for electrified routes. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont boasts over 1,400 miles of lakeshore, and nearly half is developed in a way that impacts water quality and wildlife habitat. Ahead of construction season, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is holding a free training course on best practices to develop and manage shorelands. The Natural Shoreland Erosion Control Certification (NSECC) course is a great training opportunity for engineers, landscapers, designers, contractors, consultants, project managers, and other site workers. The all-day training will cover lake ecology, permitting and regulations, landscape design, design and engineering, bioengineering case studies, and other shoreland best practice concepts. This training is being offered both online and in person. The in-person training will be on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier.

Vermont Business Magazine Coldwell Banker Classic Properties has announced its merger with Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman, combining two highly respected and successful real estate firms in Vermont. This partnership with a shared commitment to providing exceptional service to home buyers and sellers across the region, further strengthens the services and tools available for both consumers and agents.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association Implementation Grant Awards have been announced for the Vermont Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP). NEK communities have been awarded over $11.4 million for energy efficiency and resiliency measures across 85 municipally-owned buildings! View all MERP awardees on the BGS website. These projects include HVAC improvements, weatherization work like air sealing and insulation, LED lighting & equipment upgrades, and solar panel & battery back-up installation. Implementing these upgrades will enhance building systems and comfort to occupants, while lowering their daily operational costs. For example, Albany received funds to upgrade their historic Town Hall, which will create a year-round, comfortable gathering space for community events while lowering heating and maintenance costs. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT-NDCAP) will hold its final regular meeting of 2024 on Monday evening, December 9, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. In addition to receiving updates from NorthStar and Vermont State Agencies regarding recent Vermont Yankee (VY) decommissioning activities, the Panel will review and approve its 2024 Annual Report to the Vermont Legislature and Governor.  Elections for 2025 Panel Officers will also be conducted. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) today called on Troy Miller, Acting Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to immediately return the hours of operation for six Land Ports of Entry (LPOEs) in Vermont, to pre-pandemic levels, following the agency’s recent reduction of hours at a total of 38 crossings along the U.S.-Canada border. The Delegation expressed concern about how reduced hours of operation at border crossing facilities in Vermont will negatively impact public safety, the local economy, and the availability of workers in critical industries. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Pre-proposal portal is now open, officially opening the VT-BEAD Subrecipient Selection process. BEAD is a federal program that provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs in all states and territories. Vermont’s allocation of those funds is almost $229 million. Internet service providers (ISPs) interested in submitting an application for the VT-BEAD Program must submit a Pre-proposal through the Pre-proposal portal between now and January 9, 2025, at noon.