Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting education and honoring the sacrifices of military families by partnering with the National Guard Association of Vermont (NGA-VT) to award $1,000 scholarships to four deserving area students. This year, the scholarships were awarded to Avery Feeley, Abigail Gagnon, Colby Galipeau, and Bennett Bridges, who were selected from a pool of applicants that included students or family members of those serving in the Vermont National Guard.

Lake Champlain Committee Stormwater runoff poses a major challenge for water quality in Lake Champlain. When rain falls on impervious surfaces, it does not have the chance to infiltrate into the ground and instead flows over roofs, parking lots, and roads—collecting pollutants and nutrients along the way—until it eventually reaches the lake, untreated. Runoff from developed land contributes more phosphorus to Lake Champlain than any other land use type per area. As the intensity and frequency of heavy precipitation events increases with climate change, efforts to mitigate stormwater runoff are increasingly critical. LCC has done extensive work on stormwater reduction at schools over the years including producing a stormwater education manual, conducting storm drain stenciling projects with educational facilities and municipalities, undertaking “Ahead of the Storm” stormwater assessments, and collaborating with Lake Champlain Sea Grant (LCSG) to develop the Soaking Up Stormwater Curriculum Guide.

Vermont Business Magazine Repeated storms in recent months have challenged the Vermont Electric Co-op, causing several back-to-back power outages across our territory. These strong and damaging wind and snow events – a phenomenon we expect to continue – have put a spotlight on power reliability and resiliency. How is VEC planning for the future? Join us Thursday, March 28 from 12-1 pm for a conversation with experts about the changing weather and VEC’s strategic investments in reliability and resilience. What impacts are changing weather patterns having on the reliability of VEC’s electricity system? What investments is VEC making on behalf of our members to protect our system from the effects of these more frequent, intense storms? How will we pay for these investments?

Vermont Business Magazine The ACLU and the Twin Valley School District have settled a complaint filed with the Vermont Human Rights Commission (HRC) on behalf of C.B., a Black student who was subjected to racially motivated bullying and harassment by classmates during the 2020-2021 school year. The ACLU filed the complaint with the HRC against Twin Valley Middle High School in December 2021, alleging that school administrators took no meaningful action to protect C.B.—the only Black student in the school at the time—from derogatory racial slurs, references to white supremacy, and threats of physical violence. Fearing for her safety, C.B. did not participate in school sports, her grades declined, and she developed anxiety and depression. Ultimately, C.B. was forced to transfer schools, just weeks before the school year ended.  

Vermont State Police On March 20, 2024, at approximately 1024 hours, Vermont State Police dispatch received multiple 911 calls for reports of a TT unit that jack-knifed on Interstate 89 at mile marker 79.6 in the town of Williston blocking the flow of traffic. Preliminary investigation indicated that the operator was going too fast for road conditions. The result of this crash caused several other vehicles to initiate emergency stops. This resulted in several other crashes including a sprinter van into a TT unit, a dump truck going off into the median, a passenger vehicle into a TT unit and lastly a separate TT unit jack-knifed. One individual was transported to UVM Medical center for suspected minor injuries. 

Vermont Department of Economic Development It’s mid-March and we are in the throes of the legislative session. The dearth of housing across the economic spectrum is our greatest barrier to affordability and growing our economy. I know some of you have offered jobs to out-of-state candidates who can’t take them because they can’t find adequate housing at a reasonable price in Vermont. We need to increase our housing stock to keep the workers we have, bring in those who want to move here, and to entice our children to stay in the Green Mountains. We didn’t get here overnight. Vermont has been underbuilding for decades.  So, the Scott Administration is offering several ways to ramp up production; reform land use laws and permitting processes to incentivize housing development in areas where we want it, and make targeted investments in programs like the Vermont Housing Improvement Program that has created 535 affordable units since 2020. Right now, the legislature has two bills that deal with housing and land use.  In the Senate, S.311 is in the Natural Resources Committee. Meanwhile, House bill H.687 is a land use bill that doesn’t address housing at all. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, US Senators Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced the Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act, legislation to give relief to those who have been victims of fraud, scams, thefts, accidents, and other personal casualty losses. The legislation reinstates the tax deduction for personal casualty and theft losses that were stripped away by the 2017 GOP tax law, forcing victims of scams, robberies, storms, and fires to pay taxes on stolen assets, further wiping out their hard-earned savings and financial security.  

by Will Guisbond, Community News Service Vermonters got word last October that JetBlue Airways would leave Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, a significant blow considering the airline’s lone route to New York’s John F. Kennedy International carried about 10% of all traffic coming in and out of the field. The airline, in a statement to local media at the time, cited air traffic controller shortages in the greater New York City area as the primary driver behind its decision. Those labor challenges appear to have hit other airlines in Burlington too: Delta Air Lines revealed around the same time that it would reduce service on its own route to New York’s Kennedy airport. But more was going on behind the scenes at JetBlue. Interviews with former congressional and airport staff — and airline schedule data analyzed by the Community News Service — show the New York-based airline was mulling a break with the Burlington airport almost five years earlier and had been struggling with revenue there for years. 

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, news media reported that transgender teenager Nex Benedict’s tragic and senseless death in Oklahoma was deemed a suicide. As details continue to emerge, one thing remains clear: the bullying and hate that led to Nex’s death is a call for all of us to stop physical and emotional violence against LGBTQIA+ youth, and to educate children and adults that all people are to be valued. Every young person deserves to feel safe and supported, especially at school. They also should be free to be who they are. But the reality is that queer and transgender youth across the country, and in Vermont, often do not experience the freedom to be their authentic selves.    

Vermont Business Magazine Patients and physicians can now experience a new level of Diagnostic Imaging at Springfield Hospital. A breakthrough in nuclear medicine technology is enabling high diagnostic accuracy and low radiation dose capabilities. Springfield Hospital has announced the reopening of its Nuclear Medicine program in early March. Symbia Pro.Specta X3 is a multi-purpose single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) system that makes it possible for Springfield Hospital to extend a wide range of advanced imaging exams to patients. The system is designed with specialized tools optimized for oncology, cardiology, neurology, and other medical fields. 

Pomerleau Real Estate has announced that Sparkle Klean has leased 1,300 SF in the stand alone building in the St Albans Shopping Plaza. Kendra Kenney represented both the owners, Pomerleau Real Estate, and the Tenants. Pomerleau also welcomes Wilder Art Studio to the Bailey Building in Montpelier. The Art Studio will be taking over the former first floor salon space, occupying 1,300 SF of prime retail frontage on Main Street! Kendra Kenney represented both the owners, Pomerleau Real Estate, and the Tenants. 

by Robert F. Smith, The Commons Plans are falling into place to make sure that a restored and reopened historic diner installed downtown 80 years ago heads into its next 80 years on a strong and sustainable foundation. Literally. Over a year ago, the citizen's group Rockingham for Progress Inc. signed a purchase-and-sale agreement with former owner Brian McAllister, for the Miss Bellows Falls Diner, on Rockingham Street. The 1941 Worcester Lunch Car has been closed for over three years. Rockingham For Progress, a civic organization formed in 2016, had been mostly inactive the last few years until it decided that restoring and renovating the diner would be a worthy next project. Board members include Bonnie North, Jeff Dunbar, Kristen Fehrenbach, Doug Anarino, and Charlie Hunter.