Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct comprehensive reviews of completed cleanup work at six National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund sites in Vermont this year. Each individual site will undergo a legally required Five-Year Review to ensure that previous remediation efforts at the sites continue to protect public health and the environment. Once the Five-Year Review is complete, its findings will be posted to EPA’s website in a final report. In 2024 EPA will conduct Five-Year Reviews at the below listed sites. The included web links provide detailed information on site status as well as past assessment and cleanup activity.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM), in partnership with the A. Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund, is proud to announce the opening of the Vermont Barn Painting Project to new applicants for the 2024 painting season.  The Vermont Barn Painting Project has been revised as a micro-grant opportunity funded through the A. Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund, reimbursing active farm owners for barn painting projects that they undertake themselves, up to $8000.  Despite the difficult weather, the 2023 painting season was successful as a trial run of this model, with four barns painted. The project will open the application portal on February 1, 2024 and will begin accepting applicants for the 2024 barn painting season then.  The application period will close on March 31.  Funding is limited.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.20 per gallon, up 4 cents per gallon from last week. They're down 7 cents/g from last month and down 32 cents/g from the same time a year ago. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.94/g in Rutland while the highest was $3.49/g in Londonderry and Wilmington. After edging lower for several months, gasoline prices here and across the nation are expected to head back up well into the spring. The national average price of gasoline has risen 6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.15/g today.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont recently won a key victory in its lawsuit against a multinational pharmaceutical manufacturer. On January 22, 2024, Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford of the U.S. District Court for Vermont issued a ruling largely denying Teva Pharmaceutical’s motion to dismiss a putative class action brought by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. The ruling brings Blue Cross VT and the putative class one step closer to economic relief for harms flowing from the anticompetitive tactics of Teva Pharmaceuticals alleged in the lawsuit. On August 22, 2022, Blue Cross VT filed suit against Teva, the manufacturer of Copaxone, a brand-name drug that alleviates the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). After learning of Teva’s years-long anticompetitive scheme to reap excessive profits from Copaxone, Blue Cross VT petitioned the court to recover the excessive costs payers across the country paid on behalf of members as a result of Teva’s illegal and anti-competitive conduct.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) is pleased to announce that both Niquette Bay State Park in Colchester and Alburgh Dunes State Park in Alburgh achieved the Lake Wise Award in 2023. These awards recognize the parks’ lake-friendly management strategies and their work to preserve the water quality of Lake Champlain. They join Lake Carmi State Park in Franklin, Ricker Pond State Park in Groton, and Brighton State Park in Island Pond in earning this award.

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, February 2, Vermont State University Castleton Men’s Hockey team will host the third annual Breaking the Ice on Mental Health event as they take on Southern Maine in a 7pm game at Spartan Arena. The Castleton Men’s Hockey team, led by head coach, Kyle Richards, is made up of a diverse team of players from around the world who are establishing strong ties in our local region.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association Kyle Dwyer has joined NVDA staff as Regional Planner. Kyle grew up in Connecticut, graduated from UConn and earned a Master's degree at the University of Michigan where he studied environmental policy and planning. He joined the NVDA team in January and in addition to assisting with NVDA's active EPA Brownfields program, he'll work to update the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for northern Vermont. Kyle enjoys hockey, skiing, and playing the piano. He's also a big UConn basketball fan and supporter of Boston sports! Welcome to the Northeast Kingdom, Kyle.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) New England Office recently awarded four 2023 Regional Wastewater Treatment Awards to Vermont wastewater treatment plant operators to recognize them for their commitment to improving water quality. The EPA Regional Wastewater Awards Program recognizes personnel in the wastewater field who have provided invaluable public service managing and operating wastewater treatment facilities throughout New England. 

Vermont Business Magazine Nominations are now open for the 2024 Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame through www.VTAgHallOfFame.org. Nominations will be accepted in three categories: Emerging Leaders, Ag Innovators, and The Lifetime Achievement Award. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, March 8th, 2024, at 5 PM. With over 100 Vermonter’s recognized in the last 22 years, the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame is ready to accept YOUR nominations for 2024! All are welcome to submit a quality nomination at a chance to honor Vermont farmers, producers and people dedicated to supporting Vermont’s working landscapes.

Vermont Business Magazine Concepts NREC, based in White River Jct, has acquired RBTS, Inc, a Pennsylvania company renowned for its expertise in rotordynamics engineering and software solutions. This strategic move reinforces Concepts NREC's leadership and position as the most comprehensive turbomachinery solutions provider in the world today. Founded in 1986, Rotor Bearing Technology & Software, Inc. (RBTS) provides engineering services and software for the analysis of rotating machinery dynamics, bearings, bearing systems, and their structural components. Customers of both Concepts NREC and RBTS will experience the immediate benefits of this union, gaining access to an expanded pool of expertise and software capabilities that transcends traditional boundaries and leverages the strengths of both companies. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Chair of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy, visited with business leaders at the Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC) in Springfield to learn about new programs and progress on the Park Street School renovation project. The project aims to revitalize Springfield’s town center by developing infrastructure to support technological innovation and prepare the coming generations of Vermonters for a modern workforce. 

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Join VBSR and The University of Vermont – Grossman School of Business Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) program February 8 as we network and connect while social responsibility experts share their mission-driven projections for the year – for Talent, People and Culture, ESG, Climate Resiliency, Supply Chain, and more. The "2024 Forecast: What Can We Expect for Purpose-Driven Businesses?" panel promises to be a robust way to ground your organization in best practices as the year begins. Also, VBSR, Champion Members Seventh Generation and SunCommon, and VPIRG will host the annual Businesses for Climate Action Lobby Day at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, February 1 in Montpelier.