Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement Thursday in reaction to overnight floods that caused damage to homes, businesses, and farms across Vermont: “It is beyond heartbreaking to see more devastating floods in the same communities exactly one year later—yet, this is our new reality. So many homeowners, farms, businesses, and communities are still working to recover from last July’s flood, and this will only set Vermont’s recovery back. Climate change is wreaking havoc on our state. 

Vermont Business Magazine Organizers from Barre Up, a community-led long term recovery effort that mobilized after last year’s flooding, on Thursday morning are coordinating supplies, food, and water while waiting for communication from local and state officials. “Barre Up has boots on the ground and will be responding to immediate needs of residents as soon as they come in,” said Shawna Trader, a spokesperson for the group. Trader and others from Barre Up will be distributing disaster preparedness and recovery supplies—water pumps, sump pumps, hoses, and fuel—out of City Hall Park in the coming hours. They are also organizing food and water to be distributed from the Rainbow Bridge Community Center, located at 81 North Main Street.  

VermontBiz ZymoChem, a leading biotech company dedicated to creating sustainable materials for everyday products, has announced the launch of BAYSE, the world's first scalable, 100% bio-based, and biodegradable Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP). This groundbreaking innovation is set to revolutionize the $145 billion global hygiene industry and pave the way for a more sustainable future. BAYSE is a drop-in replacement for traditional, fossil fuel-based SAPs, which are a key component in disposable, absorbent hygiene products such as infant diapers. Unlike petroleum-derived, polyacrylate counterparts, BAYSE is made from renewable resources, maintains a lower carbon footprint, and is readily biodegradable, addressing the environmental concerns associated with the 300,000 diapers that enter landfills or are incinerated every minute.

Vermont Business Magazine Rigorous Technology, a Williston-Vermont robotics company, has announced the development of a new collaborative robot solution tailored towards first-time robotics operators. The Box Order Bot, or B.O.B. for short, is designed for ease-of-use and flexibility to empower small to medium-sized Vermont manufacturers in their automation journey. A Deloitte report predicts 2.1 million unfilled US manufacturing jobs by 2030. Vermont faces similar challenges with labor shortages and rising costs. These issues are felt across industries, geographies, and business size. The largest manufacturers build or acquire dedicated robotics teams to automate production. The other 99% of U.S. companies widely vary in their experience with robotics and automation. Rigorous Technology has a mission to increase access to automation for small to medium-sized businesses, making robots accessible, affordable, and easy to implement. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Shelburne Museum hosts an annual outdoor concert series in a small community south of Burlington along the shores of Lake Champlain, where the commitment to environmental protection is as strong as its support for the performing arts. When Higher Ground Presents booked alternative-rock icons and sustainability pioneers Guster for a show at the museum in late June, they wanted to ensure the concert met Guster’s commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of their performances. Guster’s Adam Gardner is Co-founder and Co-director of REVERB, an environmental nonprofit committed to creating a more sustainable music industry and empowering artists, industry leaders, and millions of fans to take environmental action since 2004.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Melvin Hill, 45, who formerly lived in Tignall, Georgia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Rutland following his trial conviction on five drug and gun charges. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford sentenced Hill to 180 months of imprisonment, to be followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Hill has been held without bail since his arrest in March 2022. According to court records, in January 2022, a confidential source told Burlington narcotics investigators that they could buy narcotics from Hill. In February and March, this source made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Hill in transactions that were recorded and surveilled by police officers. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont National Guard will support Vermont Emergency Management prepare for possible flash flooding response this afternoon and evening. A total of approximately 15 Soldiers from the Garrison Support Command’s National Guard Reaction Force will stage high water vehicles to support Vermont Urban Search and Rescue Teams ahead of the storm in areas of likely impact.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) today announced an investigation into Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility (MVRCF) Superintendent Sharon Nykiel. Per standard DOC practice, Superintendent Nykiel was placed on paid administrative leave while the Vermont Department of Human Resources conducts an independent investigation.  The Department launched the investigation following an unspecified allegation of misconduct. Assistant Superintendent Michael Dounetos will oversee daily operations at MVRCF until an Interim Superintendent appointment is made in the coming days. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak announced the appointment of Jessica Brown, Esq. as Burlington’s next City Attorney. Brown most recently served as the Director of the Center for Justice Reform at Vermont Law and Graduate School, where she is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Law and Constitutional Criminal Procedure. “I am proud to appoint Jessica Brown to serve as Burlington’s next City Attorney.” said Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak. “Jessica is eminently qualified, and will bring sound and supportive leadership, a strong willingness to collaborate, and a deep commitment to equity and justice to the role of City Attorney.” “I am truly honored and humbled to be considered for appointment as the Burlington City Attorney because I fully understand the enormous responsibility of the position.” said Jessica Brown.

by Katie Spring, Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center At the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-), we support dairy farmers and processors through grants, access to technical services, education, and events that promote the development, production, marketing, and distribution of regional dairy products. Our goal: to create resiliency and long-term sustainability for Northeast dairy businesses. Among these grants is the 2023 Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant, which saw 10 Vermont dairy processors awarded between $25,850 and $1 million. This one-time grant program provided a catalytic infusion to support regional processing capabilities that are vital for the overall dairy sector.  

Vermont Business Magazine Abridge, the leader in generative AI for clinical documentation, announced an enterprise-wide agreement with The University of Vermont Health Network. UVM Health Network, an integrated academic health system serving over 1 million patients in Vermont and northern New York, selected Abridge following a robust vetting process with 50 primary care providers evaluating multiple solutions. Clinicians at UVM Health Network have already been using Abridge’s generative AI solution for 4 months. The enterprise rollout will soon expand to cardiology, endocrinology, and other specialties.

Vermont Business Magazine Breeze Airways, the premium leisure low-cost carrier offering point-to-point service from 58 U.S. destinations including from Burlington International Airport, is today introducing the “Triple Threat” campaign offering 35%* off roundtrip base fares using the promo code ‘TRIPLE’ at checkout on www.flybreeze.com or on the Breeze app, for travel from August 14 through February 4, 2025. The campaign celebrates Breeze’s high scores in Comfort, Service and Value from the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine as the carrier is again named Top 5 U.S. Domestic Airline for the third consecutive year in the magazine’s World’s Best Awards.