Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Finding the right senior care options for a loved one, especially after a hospitalization or health change, is daunting. From the individualism of independent living, the security of assisted living, and even specialized memory care, the options can feel overwhelming, especially when time is of the essence. CarePatrol’s senior care advisory services offer tailored support to find high-quality senior care solutions at no cost to the families and older adults they help. New owner Chris Foran understands the challenge firsthand from personal experience with a family member.  This inspired him to help more families, and CarePatrol is the perfect way to do this. Chris is both honored and humbled to give Vermont families peace of mind during a stressful time of transition in their lives.  

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.22 per gallong, down 3.7 cents per gallon from last week's $3.26/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.76/g while the highest was $3.49/g, a difference of 73.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 1.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.16/g today. The national average is down 18.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 67.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Public Assets Institute Vermont median household income rose to $81,211 last year—a 5.4 percent increase, after adjusting for inflation. Half of Vermont’s 280,000 households earn less than the median and half earn more. The rebound followed a drop in real income—that is, a loss of buying power after adjusting for inflation—in 2022. The one-year increase led the other states. Vermont also saw growth of 7.8 percent in median household income from 2019, before the pandemic, through last year—the nation’s greatest rise during that period.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Corey Martin, 26, of Pownal, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Bennington Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The Court, Judge Kerry Ann McDonald-Cady presiding, sentenced the defendant by agreement to 10 years of probation with conditions that restrict his access to the internet and contact with minors, and require him to successfully complete sex offender programming. If Mr. Martin violates the terms of his probation, he may face up to 3 years in jail. Mr. Martin is also required to register as a sex offender until 10 years have elapsed after the completion of his sentence.

VermontBiz U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement in response to both Chambers of Congress reaching a bipartisan agreement on a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR), which would fund the government through December 20th but excludes significant additional disaster recovery funding:  

“For months, bipartisan members of Congress from states devastated by floods, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes and other climate disasters have asked their colleagues to step up and help in their time of need. I have come to the Senate Floor to advocate for Vermont’s flood victims, met with my colleagues, and asked Congressional leadership and the Administration for the assistance needed.   

VermontBiz The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is now accepting applications for the Farm to Institution Market Development Grant. Vermont farm or food businesses, Vermont producer associations, and supply chain facilitators (non-profits, economic development authorities, food hubs, food brokers, etc.) may apply for grants of $10,000 to $30,000. 

VermontBiz The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At-Large) introduced the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act, legislation that extends the boundary of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to include the neighboring King Farm, which is currently owned by the Vermont Land Trust.  

VermontBiz Temperature, precipitation, wind speed—the U.S. government has plenty of ways to measure our climate. But how do we measure the impacts of climate on our communities, economies, and ecosystems? The new Climate Measurements Center of Excellence (CMeC) at the University of Vermont (UVM) will answer this need, thanks to a $2.7M investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.

VermontBiz Vermont Smoke & Cure, a rural smokehouse maker of premium meat products, and WhistlePig Whiskey, acclaimed for its exceptional rye whiskey, announce their groundbreaking collaboration: Maple Old Fashioned Smoked Meat Sticks, a limited time offering. This innovative product marks a creative partnership in the premium meat sticks category, combining Vermont's rich culinary traditions with the artistry of craft cocktails.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Grant funds are available through the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) to provide business support services to Vermont agriculture, food, and forestry businesses, and to strengthen Vermont producer associations in these sectors. The Service Provider & Producer Association Grant has $370,000 available to award to service providers and producer associations. Service provider grant projects should provide direct or indirect services to support Vermont-based working lands businesses. Producer association grant projects may also provide these services to their members, or the project can support association governance and operations. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) is opening applications for the Service Provider & Producer Association Grant, which aims to provide business support services to Vermont agriculture, food, and forestry businesses, and to strengthen Vermont producer associations in these sectors. The application portal is open from September 20th through November 7th, 2024.   

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies In 1998, Mike Lane co-founded Dealer.com, a digital marketing company for the automotive industry. He served as the COO for 16 years before Dealer.com sold for $1.1B in 2014. Now, Mike is CEO/Co-Founder of Fluency, a tech automation platform which is nearing 100 employees. In this Q&A, Lane discusses his entrepreneurial spirit, his close ties to VCET, and his love for Vermont.