Current News

VermontBiz Vermont employers have been steadily filling unfilled jobs. It’s been a challenge because of Vermont’s low unemployment rate. At times, there were as many as three job openings for each person looking for work.

Nevertheless, employers have succeeded in finding workers to fill the vacancies. In January 2023, employers had just over 332,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, 7 percent of them unfilled. In April of this year, there were almost 330,000 nonfarm jobs, and the share that were unfilled had dropped to 4.5 percent.

VermontBiz Dismas of Vermont, founded in Burlington in 1986, has proudly been selected as part of the 2024 Lowe’s Hometowns program, a five-year, $100 million commitment to rebuild and revitalize community spaces nationwide. Since launching in 2022, the signature grant program has renovated 149 community centers, affordable housing facilities, shelters and food pantries; refurbished 15 first responder and veteran/military family facilities; and built and improved 54 community gardens, parks and playgrounds – among many other projects.

VermontBiz Agri-Mark, Inc./Cabot Creamery Cooperative announced today that it will transition to a 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) packaging for its flagship 8-ounce cheese bars later this year. This decision follows the completion of a comprehensive sustainable packaging study initiated in 2022 and will result in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and fuel requirements by up to 25%, alongside significant water savings during manufacturing of their 8-oz bar line. Study findings will be made available industry-wide with hopes of broadening the positive impact of the grant research.

VermontBiz U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) this week joined local leaders, participants of Derby’s Senior Summer Day Camp, and members of the community to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Derby Park project, which will convert acres of unused land into a new community outdoor park. Sen. Welch nominated and secured federal funding for the project through the FY22 Community Project Funding (CPF) process during his last year in the House. 

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies Waterbury-based NOMAD Transportable Power Systems, Inc. (NOMAD) is one of the nation’s most promising energy storage system (ESS) companies. Founded in 2019, NOMAD offers transportable battery systems designed for rapid deployment and operation. These systems alleviate grid constraints, modernize disaster response efforts, and provide electric vehicle (EV) charging at events and in remote locations. Most importantly, these solutions can be powered by renewable sources like wind and solar.

Vermont Business Magazine Registration is now open for popular tours of Kingdom Community Wind in Lowell, Vt. to learn more about wind power. Each summer, experts from Green Mountain Power (GMP) host dozens of visitors at the site. This summer’s tours will be at 10:00 a.m. on July 10th and July 17th. Each tour takes about 90 minutes. Tickets are free. Space is limited, so make sure to pre-register. You can sign up for free tickets on GMP’s website.

VermontBiz Today, the White River Junction community celebrated the official grand opening of 42 new affordable apartments downtown with a ribbon cutting and an apartment tour. The apartments, named Riverwalk Apartments, were developed by DEW Braverman with an agreement to sell the building to Twin Pines Housing and Evernorth. The apartments will remain affordable forever.

VermontBiz Today the City of Burlington's Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) Office held an unveiling of Embrace and Belonging, a monumental public art installation dedicated to the city's commitment to racial equity, located in Dewey Park. 

The monument project was a cross-department collaborative effort with input and staff support from Burlington City Arts and Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront. 

VermontBiz The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Norwich University a grant in excess of $5,300,000 for cybersecurity research, education, and training. This generous funding, allocated over the next five years, enables Norwich to offer scholarships to students that will enhance learning and research opportunities into cybersecurity threats, artificial intelligence, and machine learning through an integrated B.S./M.S. program.

VermontBiz The Attorney General’s Office announced that Giselle Fichter (charged as Jarrod Fichter), 35, of Bellows Falls, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Windham Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

VermontBiz Today, Let’s Grow Kids Action Network (LGKAN) endorsed 107 child care champions for the upcoming Vermont primary election. The slate of candidates is made up of incumbents in the State Legislature who have demonstrated their commitment to solving the state’s child care crisis by voting for Act 76, making the 2023 Child Care Bill law. Today’s list includes 87 candidates in the Vermont House of Representatives and 20 from the Vermont Senate, representing every county and all major parties – Democrats, Progressives, and Republicans, as well as an Independent. Topping LGKAN’s endorsements are House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Senate President Phil Baruth, who both played pivotal leadership roles in the passage of Act 76 last year.

VermontBiz Today, the Colorado SecureSavings Program announced a partnership with Vermont’s public retirement program, Vermont Saves. The new partnership adds Vermont to the Partnership for a Dignified Retirement, an interstate consortium including Delaware and Maine. With more assets and accounts under management, the consortium will increase returns through economies of scale and reduce costs for savers. The partnership will also enable Vermont Saves to launch faster than anticipated, with an expected launch by the end of 2024.