Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that the University of Connecticut’s (UConn) Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) is open and accepting requests from communities and organizations across New England for technical assistance to help address local environmental justice challenges. UConn will partner with the New England Rural Health Association in Barre, Vt., to engage with local communities across New England. EPA selected UConn to establish one of 18 TCTACs across the country and awarded UConn $10 million to support this work for five years. UConn’s TCTAC will provide critical support to overburdened communities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and federally recognized Tribes in New England. The assistance will help local communities navigate the federal grant application process, strengthen their capacity for community engagement, and ensure they can benefit from funding opportunities from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Vermont Business Magazine The DeltaClimeVT climate economy business accelerator is seeking innovative start-up and seed stage ventures offering innovative products and services aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing resilience in an effort to help Vermont meet its climate goals. During Energy 2025, entrepreneurs will work directly with Vermont utilities who are ready to work directly with Vermont utilities to contribute to Vermont’s Comprehensive Energy Plan (90% renewables/efficiency by 2050), Vermont’s Climate Action Plan, and Burlington’s Net Zero by 2030 goals. Over three months, the program includes intensive work sessions, two online and two in-person intensive sessions (each 2-4 days in duration), weekly assignments and bi-weekly webinars as well as frequent 1:1 engagement with mentors.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Each year RTP offers the opportunity for Vermont municipalities, non-profits, and other governmental entities to receive funds to develop, restore, and maintain public recreational trails.  RTP is a reimbursement program funded by the Federal Highway Administration and is expected to administer approximately $500,000 in this year’s round. Award amounts are dependent on each project’s merits and needs, with a maximum grant award of $50,000 for Standard RTP projects. Grantees must commit to securing a minimum 20% match. 

Vermont Business Magazine Hunters are gearing up for the start of Vermont’s traditionally popular 16-day regular deer season that begins Saturday, November 16 and ends Sunday, December 1. A hunter may take one legal buck during this season if they did not already take one during the archery deer season.  The definition of a legal buck depends on the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU).  A map of the WMUs is on pages 24 and 25 of the 2024 VERMONT HUNTING & TRAPPING GUIDE available from license agents statewide. 

Vermont Business Magazine The national Citizens Business Conditions Index (CBCI) moderated to 50.04 in the third quarter but remained in expansionary territory. The second consecutive reading above 50 indicates that business conditions continue to be solid. Vermont leapt ahead to 53.43, slightly above the regional average according to Citizens Financial Group data – increasing almost 12% since this time last year. See attached or below for more, including a graph on the latest economic findings. (The national index moderated to 50.04 in the third quarter but remained in expansionary territory. The second consecutive reading above 50 indicates that business conditions continue to be solid.) Citizens’ proprietary data showed a continuation of positive company revenue trends across most industries and geographies in the third quarter. Consumer trends also remained resilient against the backdrop of a strong labor market. 

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today reported its financial results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024. Net income was $5.8 million for the quarter, down $(12.4) million, or down (68.2)%, as compared to $18.2 million for the same period in 2023. Revenues were $411.6 million for the quarter, up $58.9 million, or up 16.7%, from the same period in 2023. Casella also acquired six businesses year-to-date with over $200 million in aggregate annualized revenues, including Royal Carting and Welsh Sanitation on October 1, 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine The Brattleboro Retreat announced today that its Board of Trustees has voted to appoint Steve Cummings as Chief Executive Officer, following his tenure as Interim CEO since April 2024. With a distinguished career that blends clinical expertise and healthcare administration, Cummings brings a unique perspective and commitment to advancing patient care and supporting the Retreat’s mission. Cummings has over 40 years of healthcare experience, starting as a registered nurse in neuro and pulmonary care, then moving to ICU critical care before earning an MBA from Babson College. He then embarked on a career spanning hospital administration, consulting, and working with electronic health record (EHR) vendors. "I've been on all sides of the table—hospital, vendor, and consultant—so I understand the complexities and can navigate them effectively," he said.  

The Department of Tourism and Marketing is conducting a year-long Visitor Profile Study of visitors to Vermont led by Downs & St. Germain Research. The goal of this study is to gather a better understanding of the characteristics, perceptions, and behavior of Vermont visitors to support VDTM’s research-driven approach to destination marketing and development strategies. While people are currently on the ground conducting the in-person intercept survey, we are encouraging tourism properties and attractions to help spread the word that online surveys are also being collected. Downloadable posters are available for any tourism businesses willing to post a flyer to help us reach more visitors.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant round. This reimbursement program enables municipal entities and state agencies to develop large-scale outdoor recreation projects across the state. LWCF funds are apportioned through the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Parks Service. Eligible LWCF projects include acquisition of land for parks and public outdoor recreation; development of new outdoor recreation facilities; and renovation of existing outdoor recreation facilities. Recreation spaces acquired or developed using LWCF assistance must be maintained and remain open for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity. The recommended request range is $25,000 to $1,000,000. LWCF requires a 50% non-federal match, which means total project costs should range from $50,000 to $2 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, the largest nonprofit in Vermont to provide year-round sports and recreational programs to people with disabilities, was awarded the prestigious 2024 Bill McCollom Community Award by the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, recognizing its transformative contributions to Vermont’s skiing and riding community. The award celebrates Vermont Adaptive’s commitment to accessibility, and empowering youth and adults with disabilities to experience outdoor sports and recreation. The award ceremony took place during the museum’s Hall of Fame induction at Killington Resort’s K-1 Lodge Saturday, Oct. 19.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has announced CSWD as the recipient of this year’s Environmental Leadership Award for Outstanding Program with its solar glasses collection and partnership with Astronomers Without Borders (AWB). In all, CSWD’s collection program diverted 115,020 solar eclipse glasses from the landfill, following the April 8th event. Instead of being discarded, these glasses will be reused by AWB at future eclipse events all over the world. In the past, AWB has sent glasses to folks in Africa, Asia, North and South America who may not otherwise have a way to view lunar and solar eclipses safely. In addition to CSWD’s six Drop-Off Centers, local schools, businesses, town libraries and community groups participated as collection sites for the glasses. A team of volunteers and the CSWD staff spent approximately three weeks sorting, quality-checking, counting, and boxing the 115,000 glasses for their next destination.

Vermont Business Magazine Sarah Waring, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Rural Development (RD) in Vermont and New Hampshire, announced today that NEK Broadband received $2,847,276 through the Community Connect Grant program. The fiber infrastructure project will provide more than half the residents of Groton, Vt., a town of roughly 1000 people in Caledonia County, with reliable access to high-speed internet. Christa Shute, NEK Broadband’s Executive Director, hosted Senator Peter Welch and other project partners at the organization’s fiber warehouse in Island Pond to celebrate the announcement as well as previous USDA broadband investments.