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Vermont Business Magazine Happy Thanksgiving from the U.S. Small Business Administration Vermont District Office! We’re thankful for the more than 78,000 small businesses across our state that power the Vermont economy and are the heartbeat of every community. 

by Kate Kampner, Community News Service Shawn Good has been working to restore muskellunge fish since 2010, when Vermont began stocking them in the Missisquoi Bay and River. But he’s had the idea to bring the species — a once-widespread relative of the pike that can grow to 5 feet long — back to prominence in Lake Champlain for close to 20 years. Following a reduction in their range to just the Missisquoi River over the 20th century, the muskellunge were seemingly wiped out after an untreated waste spill from a mill in 1979. Now, after years of releasing fish into the lake, Good and other fisheries biologists have just finished capturing and radio-tagging six adult muskies, as they’re known, to watch their spawning behavior and learn more about how successful the fish have been in reproducing naturally. 

Vermont Business Magazine NFIB State Director Shawn Shouldice is urging Vermonters to support local shops and restaurants this weekend on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30th. “In addition to creating good-paying jobs and strengthening the local economy, small businesses shape our communities by volunteering their time and financially supporting charitable organizations,” said Shouldice. “A recent NFIB report highlights how small business owners and their employees benefit their communities, beyond operating their businesses." "Every dollar people spend at a local small business helps sustain and strengthen our hometowns," continued Shouldice. It's estimated that 67 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays in the community. As we kick off the holiday season, I encourage all Vermonters to shop small, especially on Small Business Saturday, and thank a small business owner for how they enrich your community.”

Vermont Business Magazine “Winter bird feeding is a great way to observe and learn about our year-round bird residents such as black capped chickadees, nuthatches and blue jays. It’s also a great time to learn about winter visitors such as evening and pine grosbeaks.” said Jillian Kilborn, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s bird project leader. Here are some basic bird feeding tips from Vermont Fish and Wildlife: Make your own feeding mixture to maximize the number of species visiting your yard. Black oil sunflower seed is a favorite of many birds, but when mixed with “thistle” (or “nyjer”) or cracked corn you will be sure to attract a wide variety of species. Don’t forget the suet to attract woodpeckers and even chickadees; Mix up the type of feeders you use. Hopper feeders are great for large birds such as blue jays, while tube feeders are best for smaller birds.  Elevated tray feeders will attract birds that usually feed on the ground including juncos and larger bodied winter visitors such as evening grosbeaks.

Vermont Business Magazine In collaboration with Vermont Rail System, the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce (OVRCC) is excited to announce the launch of the Okemo Valley Holiday Express, a magical holiday excursion train and a highlight of the festive season. On December 21st and 22nd, the Okemo Valley Holiday Express will take passengers on a scenic journey through the heart of South-Central Vermont, surrounded by breathtaking winter landscapes and the magic of the holidays. This special excursion train will offer five rides per day, filled with fun entertainment and festive cheer for all ages. 

Vermont Business Magazine The White River Valley Chamber of Commerce has named John Baumann, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of DuBois & King, Business Executive of the Year for 2024. The Business Executive of the Year designation recognizes professional success and exemplary contributions to a business’s growth, vitality, financial health, success, and sustainability. Based in Randolph, the Chamber is made up of businesses and organizations in eleven communities in central Vermont. An award ceremony will be held in early spring 2025. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Lake Monsters are honored to be recognized for the third time in four years as the Futures League Organization of the Year.  Below is the official Futures League media release announcing the award. The official reveal of Futures League annual award winners concluded Tuesday as the Vermont Lake Monsters were named the 2024 Organization of the Year. Commissioner Joe Paolucci presented the award during the Futures League’s Fall Organizational Meeting, which was held last month in Worcester.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.12 per gallon, up 2 cents per gallon from last week, down 4 cents/g from last month and down 34 cents/g from last year, according to AAA. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.79/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 50.0 cents per gallon. Prices in Bennington and Rutland counties were the lowest, while prices in Washington, Lamoille and Franklin counties were highest. The national average price of gasoline is up 1 cent per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.07/g today.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says its Hammond Cove public shooting range in Hartland and the West Mountain Wildlife Management Area public shooting range in Ferdinand will close December 14.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) this week led Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Representatives Becca Balint (VT-At-Large) and Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) this week in calling on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the extent to which the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s  Rural Development (USDA RD) office has sufficient funding and staffing levels to implement its programs in rural communities. Rural America is home to about 14% of the U.S. population and covers 97% of the country’s landmass. Rural areas face a variety of challenges, including natural disasters caused by a changing climate, economic pressures, and housing insecurity. USDA RD connects business owners to new markets; helps modernize infrastructure and community facilities; and provides resources for both renters and homeowners. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s General Fund and Transportation Fund exceeded their respective monthly consensus cash flow target, as adopted by the Emergency Board at its July 2024 meeting, while the Education Fund missed its target. For the month of October 2024 the General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $295.0 million, exceeding the $268.6 million monthly consensus tax revenue target by $26.4 million, or 9.8%. While the personal income tax had another robust month, the rooms and meals tax was again soft against expectations. The R&M is an indicator of tourism activity, which has lagged since the beginning of the summer. Lottery revenues were also down.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) led Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in urging U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to apply the Leahy Law to Israel amidst gross violations of human rights by Israeli security forces. The Senators reiterated their request for answers from the Department regarding the Biden Administration’s failure to effectively and consistently apply the law to Israel.