Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), member of the Senate Commerce Committee, in conjunction with the U.S. Travel “Travel Works” program, hosted an event at Richmond Mountain Trails’ (RMT) The Driving Range, the first fully accessible trail network, located in Bolton. The event included a hike around RMT’s new adaptive-ready trail system, and a discussion with U.S. Travel, Vermont Tourism, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and State, local and industry leaders on tourism and outdoor recreation in Vermont. Participants talked about the challenges and issues facing the travel and outdoor recreation industry, including accessibility issues, cross-border travel and business, infrastructure repairs, immigration policy reforms, rural development, and the need for outdoor recreation marketing and development funding.  

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University, the nation’s only private military college and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), has been at the forefront of progressive military education since its beginnings in 1819. Founder Captain Alden Partridge envisioned educating both women and men as citizen-soldiers, but it took 155 years for that to come to fruition. On September 19-22, Norwich University will celebrate a milestone in the institution’s 205-year history: the 50th anniversary of women living on the Northfield campus and joining the Corps of Cadets. The celebration will take place as part of the annual Homecoming Weekend.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Brewers Association (VBA) is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the Vermont Craft Brewers  conference presented by TripleSeat Event Management. The conference will take place from November 11-12, 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington. This year’s conference is expected to attract over 300 professionals from Vermont and beyond, coming together to advance and celebrate the craft beer movement.

Vermont State Police Early Saturday morning, the Vermont State Police St. Albans Barracks was notified via Apple Crash Detection of a motor vehicle crash in the area of Highgate Rd near Bushey Road in Swanton, VT. Missisquoi Valley Rescue and the Swanton Fire Department also responded to the scene. Upon responder arrival, a single vehicle was found at a position of rest off the roadway into trees. The operator was found to be deceased on scene.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) has concluded its annual review of hospital budget submissions for fiscal year 2025. This year's decisions reflect a careful balance between ensuring access to high-quality, affordable healthcare for Vermonters, maintaining financial sustainability of hospitals, and responding to the evolving healthcare landscape. The GMCB also took corrective action against The university of Vermont Medical Center and the Rutland Regional Medical Center for exceeding their budgets in FY2023. The GMCB reviewed budget proposals from all 14 regulated hospitals across the state, taking into consideration each institution's financial health, projected revenue needs, cost containment efforts, and patient care priorities. As part of this process, the Board engaged in a series of public hearings, incorporating feedback from stakeholders, hospital administrators, healthcare providers, the Vermont Health Care Advocate, and community members.

Vermont Business Magazine Fifty years ago, Gail and Mark Horne took a drive through the Champlain Islands and fell in love with South Hero, where they decided to buy a “little” grocery store and raise their family. Wendy, born three years later, took an interest in the store after college and is now a co-owner of the family business. Over the years, Keeler’s Bay Variety Store has earned the designation, “The Heart of the Island”, where customer service and community matter. KBV is like a general country store, only bigger with the largest 802 Spirits liquor store in the Champlain Islands. There is a grocery, deli, meat department with an instore butcher, bakery, beer cave, and gas pumps—where one can find everything from hand-cut steaks to fishing licenses.

Vermont Business Magazine Langrock Sperry & Wool, LLP is pleased to announce that The Best Lawyers in America – the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession – named eleven local partners for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2025 list. In addition, William A. Vasiliou was named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the area of Criminal Defense: General Practice. This award recognizes attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. 

Vermont Business Magazine American whiskey needs a shakeup. Bourbon drinkers are bent over the barrel by boring brands and overpriced “me-too” bottles. But an antidote to bourbon boredom has arrived at last, promising all the honest fun and whole-hog value this great nation so richly deserves. Spirits maverick Raj Peter Bhakta announced today the launch of Hogsworth Batch 1 Blend #9 (SRP $50), the first release of an entirely new brand portfolio. The revolutionary drinks entrepreneur who founded BHAKTA Spirits and WhistlePig Whiskey—the latter of which he built into the most successful American whiskey brand since Prohibition—still has that magic pig in him.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell last week to a very low level and their lowest levels since mid-August. For the week ending September 7, 2024, new claims were 187, which is down 33 claims from the week before and 35 more from last year. Meanwhile, unemployment claims and hiring have stalled nationally, and the stock market recovered after stumbling as the Federal Reserve Bank decided not to lower interest rates in early August. The Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated since then that the time has come to cut rates as employment nationwide has slowed. The Fed will meet again this Wednesday.

Vermont Department of Economic Development The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) portal is officially open and applications can now be submitted to receive grant funding for 2023 and/or 2024 flood damage. If your business or nonprofit has damaged property, I strongly encourage you to visit our BEGAP page to learn more. Our team also pre-recorded a webinar that walks applicants step-by-step through the application process and answers several FAQs. Additionally, September is National Preparedness Month, and the flooding in recent years has underscored the importance of making sure we are ready when a disaster strikes. To help prepare in the event of a disaster, you can use the U.S. Small Business Administration's new Business Resilience Guide. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce announced today its participation in the Employee Wellness Partnership, a statewide initiative coordinated by Workplace Compliance and Wellness Vermont (WCWV). The program brings together companies, organizations, and resource providers to reduce suicide and overdose deaths in Vermont by promoting a culture of care and empathy within workplaces and communities. As a member of the Employee Wellness Partnership, the Vermont Chamber joins The Associated General Contractors of Vermont, Ski Vermont, Jenna’s Promise, Sana at Stowe, Invest Employee Assistance Program, and the Vermont Department of Health, to highlight the health and wellness of employees across the state. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT-NDCAP) will hold its second regular meeting of 2024 on Monday evening, September 23, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:45 PM.  At this meeting, NorthStar and Vermont State Agencies will provide updates on recent Vermont Yankee (VY) decommissioning activities.  Recent activities of the Panel’s Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Committee will also be discussed.  A discussion regarding deadlines for meeting presentations availability prior to Full Panel meetings may also occur.