Current News

Vermont State Police On November 15, 2023, the Vermont Drug Task Force, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Vermont State Police Field Force Division, and the Bennington County Sheriff’s Department, arrested Bryan J. Kenyon, Jill M. Lebert, and Richard L. Bump in Bennington. The arrests stemmed from a two-month drug investigation into Bryan Kenyon’s distribution of cocaine and fentanyl in the town of Bennington. The investigation into Kenyon’s drug distribution involved the use of a confidential informant who purchased cocaine base and fentanyl from Kenyon. At the time of the investigation, Kenyon was on probation for previous charges of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Fentanyl Trafficking. Kenyon was wearing an electronic monitoring device as part of his probation sentence.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America and part of POWDR, is pleased to receive a positive snow control announcement from FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation), the governing body of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup. With this announcement, Killington Resort can assure international race teams and ski racing fans traveling to central Vermont for Thanksgiving weekend that both the giant slalom and slalom races will take place as scheduled on November 25 and 26. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark and Department of Financial Regulation Commissioner Kevin Gaffney announced today that Vermont, along with five other states, has reached a multistate settlement totaling $6.5 million with Morgan Stanley over two incidents that compromised the personal information of millions of Morgan Stanley customers. Both incidents occurred due to Morgan Stanley’s failure to erase unencrypted data in certain computer devices that were decommissioned, exposing millions of consumers’ personal information left in those devices. Vermont will receive over $595,000 from the settlement, with approximately $89,000 going to the Vermont Financial Services Education and Victim Restitution Special Fund to help compensate victims of securities violations. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII), announced a donation of more than $100,000 to off-road vehicles (ORV), all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and snowmobile organizations across the United States and Canada as a part of its TRAILS GRANTS program, including Sno-Bees Snowmobile Club Inc in Barre. The TRAILS GRANTS program focuses on promoting safe and responsible riding, supporting trail preservation, and helping protect the environment and natural resources that are a part of the off-road trail systems. Combined with the 14 2023 Spring TRAILS GRANTS recipients announced in April, Polaris has awarded 25 organizations in 19 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces a total of nearly $250,000 through this year's TRAILS GRANTS program.   

Vermont Business Magazine Kenley Dean Squier, owner of the WDEV (Radio Vermont Group) in Waterbury, the founder of Barre’s Thunder Road, the Motor Racing Network, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, a sports broadcaster (including the Daytona 500, world golf and regional sports) and auto racing impresario, died Wednesday at 88. Governor Phil Scott, who has often raced at Thunder Road, today issued the following statement: “Today, we mourn the loss of a true Vermont legend and dear friend to me and so many others."

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), in collaboration with Efficiency Vermont and its Energy Excellence Network, is launching an advanced business assistance program for Vermont energy professionals. Starting in January 2024, a cohort of competitively selected energy services business owners and entrepreneurs will work directly with experienced business coaches to receive advanced business assistance in a new program called, “Tools of the Trade – Business Fundamentals for Energy Pros.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) will host two public meetings in December 2023 to present a draft long-range management plan for the Worcester Range Management Unit (WRMU). A presentation of the draft plan and public comment opportunity will be held: December 13, 6-8pm, Doty Elementary School, 24 Calais Road, Worcester, VT; December 19, 6-8pm, Stowe High School, 413 Barrows Road, Stowe, VT. These 18,500+ acres of state-owned land, located in north-central Vermont, are in the towns of Worcester, Middlesex, Stowe, Elmore, and Waterbury. The WRMU includes five separate parcels. The C.C. Putnam State Forest and Elmore State Park are managed by the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation. The Middlesex Notch Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Middlesex WMA, and Worcester Woods WMA are managed by the Fish and Wildlife Department.

Vermont Business Magazine Stowe Electric Department has received the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Smart Energy Provider (SEP) designation for demonstrating commitment to and proficiency in energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, and environmental initiatives that support the goal of providing safe, reliable, low-cost, and sustainable electric service. The SEP designation, which lasts for two years (December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2025), recognizes public power utilities for demonstrating leading practices in four key disciplines: smart energy information; energy efficiency and distributed energy resources programs; environmental and sustainability programs and initiatives; and communication, education, and customer experience. 

Vermont Business Magazine Burger King and Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc has opened a new restaurant in Bennington, which is part of a next step in the brand’s “Reclaim the Flame” strategy announced in September 2022. From modernized restaurants and service to high- quality menu offerings and everyday value, the new strategy will allow Guests to experience these enhanced offerings the moment they step foot into the new restaurant, allowing them to “Have it Their Way.” Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce will host an official public ribbon-cutting event the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 17.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University has been awarded $487,000 in federal appropriations funding to support the university’s commitment to helping Vermont be at the forefront of modern nursing education and propel workforce development efforts in this critical sector. The funding was made available thanks to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, who submitted a wide range of Congressionally Directed Spending requests for Fiscal Year 2023, including one for Norwich University’s enhancement of a new state-of-the-art virtual nursing lab. The appropriation was one of fifteen of Senator Sanders’ requests in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies category selected for funding.

by Megan Sullivan, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Last year at this time, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce shared that “amid a nation more divided than ever, Vermont remains a leader in unity, particularly when it comes to agreeing on the top issues facing our state. If we can agree on the problems, we are confident we can find balanced solutions. Vermonters agree on the ‘what,’ and we look forward to working together to find common ground on the ‘how.’” As we approach the second half of the biennium, this sentiment remains true. Businesses statewide trust the Vermont Chamber to prioritize collaboration and uphold the core values that define our state. Our team meets with legislators and businesses year-round because our work to advance the Vermont economy never stops. 

Vermont Business Magazine Thanks to the hard work of Sugarbush’s snowmaking team and a little cooperation from Mother Nature, Sugarbush Resort is opening a day early this season on Friday, November 17th. The resort will be operating the Gate House Quad from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM providing access to a groomed Pushover, Slowpoke, Lower Pushover, and Sugarbear Road. The first 200 guests to show up will receive a limited-edition Opening Day hat, as well as a free breakfast sandwich. Given the time of year, early season conditions are to be expected. Starting Friday, Sugarbush will begin operating seven days a week for the 2023/24 winter season.