Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Public Board of Directors has announced the selection of Vijay Singh as the organization’s next chief executive officer following the completion of a national search. Singh began as a documentary filmmaker before spending much of his career at the forefront of digital innovation in public media. He has served as head of product at KPCC, the NPR member station in Los Angeles, and then as director of product and strategy at Capital Public Radio in Sacramento. Singh will formally begin his role as CEO of Vermont Public on October 1, 2024.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont General Fund tax revenues again had a strong month, with July revenues exceeding targets by more than 10 percent, or by nearly $17 million. Corporate returns and the Other category (interest income) were particularly strong and the Personal Income tax continues to surpass expectations. The state’s General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $256.1 million, exceeding the $246.8 million monthly consensus target by $9.3 million, or 3.8%. The Rooms & Meals tax and the Gasoline tax were the most notable of those line items that did not reach their targets. They are also related in part to tourist activity. This could be related to the flooding and rain storms early in the month.

Vermont State Police On August 22nd, 2024, at approximately 2106 hours, Troopers from the St. Albans Barracks were dispatched to a reported single vehicle crash in the area of 370 Huntville Road in the town of Fairfax. Troopers responded to the scene and located a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle which sustained damage from the roadway. Preliminary investigation determined that the operator was Randy Paquette, age 59, of Fletcher. Paquette succumbed to the injuries sustained from the crash. 

Vermont Business Magazine V/T Commercial Real Estate in Burlington has released its transactions from the May to July period. Transactions include: Yves Bradley, on behalf of Grandview Farms, leased 1,100 square feet at 84 Church Street to Insomnia Cookies, Bradley assisted both parties in this transaction; LInda I. Letourneau and John Beal have assisted Hillside East Corporation in the ongoing lease with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for 37,000 square feet at 312 Hurricane Lane, Williston; Seasonal Grams, Inc. (Pajama Gram, et al) leased 4,944 square feet at 128 Lakeside Avenue, Burlington from the Fortieth Burlington, LLC, Yves Bradley represented the landlord in this deal.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Human Services Secretary Jenney Samuelson today announced the appointment of DaShawn Groves as the new commissioner of the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA), effective September 3, 2024. Groves most recently worked as the Special Projects Officer to the Medicaid Director at the Department of Health Care Finance for the District of Columbia, where his work focused on embedding system improvements and health equity into departmental priorities. Prior to that, he was a Lead Project Manager at the Health Care Reform and Innovation Administration, where he designed and tested innovative models of care and payment among Medicaid providers.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Housing and Community Development and the Natural Resources Board have released the Act 250 Interim Exemption Map to help developers and investors create and improve housing that is more affordable. This new interactive map is an exceptional planning tool and shows potential areas where housing may be built today without triggering Act 250 review. The interim Act 250 exemptions displayed on the Act 250 Interim Exemption Map will be in place until 2027 when the larger Act 181 reform begins to be implemented. Act 250, Vermont's landmark land use and development law, will be modernized over the next five years as part of Act 181, which passed during the 2023/2024 legislative session. Before Act 181 takes full effect in 2027, the public will have opportunities to engage and shape its implementation.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today celebrated major investments by the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs to support public safety and rehabilitation community projects in Vermont, totaling over $3.1 million. The announcements include funding from the Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, which provides support for initiatives that improve the criminal justice system, prevent young adults from offending, and help victims of crime. Funding will support projects across the state, including a grant of $1.9 million to the Vermont Department of Public Safety, $979,000 to Youth Services to enhance restorative interventions, and $300,000 to the City of Burlington.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Johan Green, 53, of Williamstown, Vermont, was arraigned on 11 counts of felony Medicaid Fraud. The charges brought against Mr. Green are the result of an investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU), which found that Mr. Green had falsely billed Medicaid for services that he did not provide, defrauding Vermont Medicaid of over $70,000 in public health care funds.

Vermont Business Magazine It is with great pleasure to introduce the 2024 Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductees. With over 20 years of history and over 100 inductees, the Ag Hall of Fame is an honored tradition among Vermont farmers and growers, service providers, and dedicated employees. Over the last few years the categories have been expanded to include an Emerging Leader under the age of 40, an Ag Innovator and up to three inductees in the Lifetime Achievement category. The thoughtfulness of each nomination makes for competitive judging each year. The 2024 inductees will be celebrated during the Champlain Valley Fair. The ceremony and lunch for the Ag Hall of Fame will be held on Wednesday, 8/28 @ 12PM in the beer tent.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.39 per gallon, down 1 cent per gallon from last week, down 7 cents/g from last month and down 41 cents/g from last year. The lowest priced county in Vermont, according to AAA is Rutland at $3.30, while the highest is $3.46/g in Orleans County. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.38/g today.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Killington Resort, the largest mountain resort in Eastern North America, today announced Killington Resort & Pico Mountain are being sold from POWDR "to a passionate group of local passholders." In a statement, the sale was described as a landmark purchase that represents a commitment to keeping Killington and Pico in the hands of those who know and love it, with plans to increase capital investment while preserving the mountains’ unique character and community. The lead investors of the new Great Gulf group are Phill Gross and Michael Ferri.  Financial terms were not released. Killington and Pico will remain on the Ikon Pass and there will be no changes to the management or front-line teams, ensuring continuity and stability in our operations. Long-serving President Mike Solimano will continue to lead the local operation.

Vermont Business Magazine When natural disasters occur, it's common for some people to try and exploit the situation by pretending to be official disaster aid workers. FEMA encourages survivors to be aware of fraud and scams. FEMA also encourages survivors to report any suspicious activity or potential fraud from scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals. Survivors should also be aware that this kind of situation doesn’t happen only at the beginning of the response to the disaster when people might be more vulnerable. It can happen any time. It’s important to know that FEMA does not endorse any specific commercial businesses, products or services.