Current News

by Aly Richards, Board President of Let’s Grow Kids Action Network This election confirmed child care continues to be a top issue for Vermonters. Election results show that voters elected 118 Let’s Grow Kids Action Network-endorsed child care candidates from across the political spectrum – Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, and Independents – to congressional, statewide, and legislative offices who are committed to prioritizing child care while in office. With these results, child care champions retain a strong majority in the Vermont House and Senate. In the leadup to Election Day, candidates in every corner of the state were talking about child care as both a workforce and economic issue. The message from voters everywhere we went was the same: Vermonters want to build on the progress we’re making and continue to invest in a quality, affordable child care system that strengthens our economy and benefits everyone. 

Vermont Business Magazine Thompson Street Capital Partners (TSCP), a private equity firm based in St. Louis, today announced the acquisition of the assets of Vermont Elevator Inspection Services (VEIS) by ATIS, a TSCP portfolio company and premier provider of elevator and escalator safety inspections, consulting, and managed services across North America. Founded in 2005, VEIS is a leading provider of elevator inspection services across the state of Vermont. With the backing of ATIS’ team and resources, VEIS is well positioned for accelerated future growth, while continuing to provide high quality services to its customers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont has opened submissions for the 2025 Vermont Pitch Challenge, an extraordinary opportunity for high school entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and drive impactful change. This prestigious competition, inspired by the renowned ‘Shark Tank’ format, offers talented young visionaries the chance to win a full-tuition scholarship to UVM and receive crucial support for their groundbreaking ventures. Building on the success of its inaugural year, the Vermont Pitch Challenge submissions will be accepted through Feb 15, 2025. High school students in grades 10 – 12 worldwide are invited to submit their business proposals online at no cost, focusing on ideas that make a positive impact on the world.

Vermont Business Magazine The much-anticipated 14th Annual Manchester Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade is set to take place on Saturday, December 7th, 2024, at 5:30 PM in the heart of Manchester, Vermont. Coordinated by Dead River Company, Manchester Business Association, and the Town of Manchester, this beloved holiday tradition features dazzling displays of lights, festive floats, and holiday cheer, as tractors and their decorated trailers parade through the streets. The parade, a highlight of the local holiday season, has become a cherished event for families, visitors, and residents alike. This year’s parade promises to be bigger and brighter than ever, with more than 30 decorated tractors and floats expected to participate.

by Noah Diedrich, Community News Service If the assembly of tents outside Wilson Castle on a mid-October night was any indicator, the old brick mansion’s reputation for being haunted is not without merit. Perhaps it’s the chill that pervades every room, the antique music box that is said to occasionally play on its own accord or the ornate Gothic statues that would make even Shirley Jackson quiver. Since its completed construction in 1885, Wilson Castle has changed hands several times, eventually being purchased by Herbert Lee Wilson, a former radio engineer and the castle’s last permanent resident, who died in 2010. Since then, the castle’s Addams Family–esque halls have been vacant. Or have they? Rumors swirl of ghostly residents haunting the castle halls — the jury is still out — but the castle is still very much alive with visitors, paranormal or otherwise. 

Vermont Business Magazine MatrixLabX, a pioneer in AI-driven marketing solutions, today announced the launch of its Symphony AI suite, a powerful collection of 42 purpose-built AI agents tailored to meet the diverse needs of modern marketers. The Symphony suite redefines marketing automation by delivering insights, streamlining workflows, and driving high-impact results for small and mid-sized companies. Symphony’s AI uses a compound AI agent architecture designed to integrate multiple specialized AI agents into a cohesive system, enabling the execution of complex tasks through coordinated interactions. This approach enhances the capabilities of individual AI models by allowing them to work collaboratively, thereby addressing multifaceted challenges more effectively.

Vermont Business Magazine The proposed housing community on Alice Holway Drive in Putney is cleared to move forward. That was the ruling from the Vermont Supreme Court on November 15, 2024, siding with Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, owner of the property. The ruling by the state’s highest court affirms the Environmental Court’s decision earlier this year rejecting a third appeal that claimed the project was subject to an ACT 250 review. It marks the final step in a lengthy legal process that began in March of 2022 when a first appeal was filed after the Putney Development Review Board approved the site plan. In the planning stages since September of 2019, the Alice Holway Drive development is planned to be 2 new buildings that will provide 25 mixed-income, highly energy efficient and accessible apartments in Putney Village.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of a Windham County state’s attorney and two appointments to the Vermont Criminal Justice Council (VCJC). The Governor has appointed Steven M. Brown, Jr. as the state’s attorney in Windham County, filling a vacancy created when Tracy Shriver retired in July. Brown, who has served as interim state’s attorney since Shriver’s retirement, was sworn into office on Wednesday. Governor Scott also appointed William (Bill) H. Clements as chair of the VCJC, and approved the appointment of Christopher Brickell as executive director. Both began their service earlier this fall. The Council supports municipalities, counties and the state with rules, policies and standards for certification and training designed to ensure the State is served by quality law enforcement officers.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education released the first “topical report” from its Listen and Learn Tour. The Vermont Education Funding Report provides an explanation of how Vermont funds schools and how the system compares to other states. The report offers a plain language explanation of Vermont’s complex funding system and situates Vermont within the national context to assess the benefits and drawbacks of the current approach. The full, 37-page report is available on the Agency’s website.

The Vermont State Police and the Montpelier Police Department are investigating a suspected double homicide that occurred late Friday morning, Nov. 15, 2024, in Montpelier. The incident was reported at about 11:30 a.m. at a private home on Gallison Hill Road. First responding police officers located two people dead at the scene and detained one man. Everyone involved in this incident is believed to be accounted for, and there is no identified threat to the community.

Vermont Business Magazine United Way of Northwest Vermont joins United Way Worldwide and local United Ways across the globe to announce a refreshed brand reflecting United Way’s local impact and global reach, helping 48 million people annually, including 60,000 helped last year by United Way of Northwest Vermont’s local programs and partners. United Way of Northwest Vermont is an independent local organization proudly serving Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties. United Ways around the world mobilize communities to action so all can thrive and yet each local United Way has unique focus areas and programs tailored to the needs of the communities they serve.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) joined Senate Judiciary Democrats in urging the House Ethics Committee to preserve and transmit to the Senate Judiciary Committee all relevant documentation on former Congressman Matt Gaetz, including the report that the House Ethics Committee was reportedly prepared to vote to release Friday. The letter follows Mr. Gaetz’s resignation from Congress yesterday after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Mr. Gaetz to serve as Attorney General.