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Vermont Business Magazine A new study has revealed the states with the most Olympic gold medal wins, with Vermont taking the top spot. Online casino review site Lucky Gambler analyzed data from Team USA to find the number of Olympic gold medals won by American athletes in the Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics and Paralympics since the first Olympics in 1896. Each gold medal win was categorized by the birth state of the athletes who won them. The total number of gold medals in each state was weighed against the population to calculate wins per 100,000 residents. The states with the highest rate of gold medals determined the ranking. Vermont ranks top, with 2.63 Olympic gold medals per 100,000 people. The state has a total of 17 gold medals, five silver medals and four bronze medals. Vermont lands the top spot mainly thanks to Sarah Will, an alpine skiing champion with 12 gold medals to her name.  

Vermont Business Magazine Walmart has announced it is starting a new annual bonus program for eligible full- and part-time hourly associates in stores, including hourly associates in the pharmacy and optical departments. Associates in Vermont and elsewhere must be employed with the company for one year to be eligible - that means approximately 500 of the hourly store associates in Vermont are eligible for this new bonus.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Williston-based iSun Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, June 3. Also, the SEC delisted iSun as a publicly traded stock. This comes after a significant financial loss in 2023, multiple shakeups in leadership in April, which included the hiring of a restructuring officer, and the canceling of a reverse stock split. Seven Days was first to report the bankruptcy filing. The assets, if approved by the court, would be acquired by an affiliate of Texas-based energy investment firm Siltstone Capital. The iSun subsidiaries include SolarCommunities, which does business as SunCommon, the solar panel installer based in Waterbury. iSun is the former Peck Electric, which has grown into a firm that reported to VermontBiz in 2023 that it has 275 employees on $95.7 million in revenues. It also reported a 2023 net loss of $19.4 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Saturday, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) will host the annual Women’s Economic Opportunity Conference, which includes interactive workshops on growing economic opportunity, cultivating new audiences, and improving skills. The conference will open with remarks from Vermont-born stand-up comedian Tina Friml, Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Senator Welch. The conference will be held in Randolph on June 8th. The Women’s Economic Opportunity Conference was created by Senator Patrick Leahy and his wife Marcelle and has been a Vermont tradition for decades. Senator Welch and his wife Margaret Cheney are pleased to continue this tradition of bringing Vermonters together to learn, network, and build economic opportunity for women in Vermont and across the country.  This event is held in partnership with the Vermont Women’s Fund and the Vermont Community Foundation.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Windham Foundation announced today the appointment of Dan Lerner, Ph.D. as its new Executive Director, effective mid-June 2024. Lerner succeeds Bob Donald who retires this summer after 14 years as CEO/CFO. The Windham Foundation is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the vitality of rural communities in Vermont. Under Lerner's leadership, the Foundation aims to continue its work in grantmaking, community development, and fostering connections among rural areas to ensure their sustainability and growth.

Vermont Business Magazine More than 500 people gathered in Bellows Falls for back-to-back conferences celebrating efforts to revitalize Vermont communities. About 300 people attended the 2024 Vermont Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference on June 5 and 200 went to the 2024 Creative Sector Convening on June 6. Both events were made possible by a partnership between the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, Preservation Trust of Vermont, and Vermont Arts Council. The biannual Vermont Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference kicked off at the Bellows Falls Opera House with remarks from members of the Abenaki Tribe, Preservation Trust of Vermont Executive Director Ben Doyle, and State Treasurer Mike Pieciak. Congresswoman Balint shared some thoughts via a video.

Vermont State Police The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles was requested by Vermont State Police in Westminster to conduct a crash investigation for that involved a school bus. The crash occurred at approximately 7:15 a.m., VSP arrived at approximately 8:45 a.m., and DMV Inspectors arrived at approximately 10 am. The bus was traveling with seven school students when the driver lost control and went off the road. All students and the driver were able to get off the bus and onto another bus that was in the area and prior to police arrival. No injuries were reported. A post-crash inspection was conducted of the school bus, and no pre-crash defects were found. DMV was assisted by Reeds Towing and the Town of Athens.

Vermont Business Magazine Wednesday evening, US Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) took to the Senate Floor to call for an end to the United States’ support for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s war strategy that has not only caused massive death and destruction but has failed to achieve Netanyahu’s objectives of eliminating Hamas and releasing the remaining hostages. In his remarks, he commended President Biden’s support for the current ceasefire proposal, and discussed the urgent need for this war to come to an end.  

Vermont Business Magazine Director Heather Simons announced that she will be leaving the Vermont Police Academy effective June 7, 2024.  Named as the Executive Director on April 12, 2021, Simons worked collaboratively with the Vermont Criminal Justice Council to strengthen and expand law enforcement training in Vermont. Deputy Director Christopher Brickell will assume the duties of Executive Director. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott signed nine bills into law Thursday, as passed by the General Assembly, including: H.622, An act relating to emergency medical servicesH.870, An act relating to professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional RegulationH.876, An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the corrections laws.

Vermont Business Magazine Fidium Fiber is expanding service of its all-fiber internet network to more than 1,600 homes and businesses in Cambridge and Jeffersonville, as well as locations in Belvidere and Waterville, Vt. Construction is scheduled to begin as soon as June 7. Through fiber expansion in these and other local communities, thousands of residents and business owners will have access to Fidium’s multi-gig speed fiber internet service. Fidium expansion in these communities comes through its partnership with Lamoille FiberNet Communications Union District. In addition to Cambridge, Jeffersonville, Belvidere and Waterville, construction is also underway in Eden, Johnson and Stowe, and fiber expansion will begin soon in other CUD communities, including Elmore, Hyde Park, Morristown, and Wolcott.

Vermont Business Magazine UVM Health Network – Home Health & Hospice’s annual Jiggety Jog 5K fundraiser will be held on Saturday, June 8 at Malletts Bay School in Colchester. Registration will begin at 8am and the run/walk will begin at 9am. All are invited and encouraged to participate in the 5k run/3k walk, and enjoy lawn games, music and more. This annual fundraising event is the single largest fundraiser for the McClure Miller Respite House, Vermont’s only Medicare-certified hospice home. Every dollar raised goes directly toward providing room, board, personal care, and special services for residents, regardless of their ability to pay.