Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Wednesday sent a letter to University of Vermont (UVM) President Suresh Garimella in support of the nearly 650 graduate student workers attempting to form a union and win a seat at the bargaining table. “In my view, it is more than appropriate that graduate students exercise their constitutional right to organize and achieve long needed improvements to stipends, benefits, and working conditions,” wrote Sanders. “For far too long, the trend in our higher education system has been going in the wrong direction: student workers are required to work longer hours for lower pay with weaker job security, all while taking on more and more debt. Too many graduate student workers have to take on two or even three jobs just to get by. In my view, stronger unions and worker protections are a key part of solving this crisis in our colleges and universities.”

Vermont Business Magazine ECFiber, Vermont's first communications union district, has obtained a BB rating for its 2023 Series A bonds from S&P Global, the nation’s preeminent credit rating agency. With the rating effective November 8, the District will issue a Series 2023A bond for $7.53 million. The proceeds will be used for ECFiber’s $30 million network completion plan, about 25% of which is in progress, and for which the Vermont Broadband Board has issued or approved about $16 million in ARPA-based grants. ECFiber intends to complete the network before the end of 2025, at which time it will have brought world-class broadband to more than 25% of the 80,000 unserved or underserved addresses in Vermont in 2012. This brings the District’s total bond issuance to $71.83 million.

Vermont Business Magazine The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce hosted their inaugural "Heart of The Shires Luncheon," in collaboration with Coggins Auto Group and Fidium Fiber at the Bennington Museum’s Ada and Paul Paresky Wing on Wednesday, November 8. The luncheon honored exemplary nonprofits, social sector organizations, government agencies, and community leaders for their contributions to community well-being, public health, and civic service. Over 90 area nonprofit and community leaders attended the luncheon. 

Vermont Business Magazine Hunters are gearing up for the start of Vermont’s traditionally popular 16-day regular deer season that begins Saturday, November 11 and ends Sunday, November 26. A hunter may take one legal buck during this season if they did not already take one during the archery deer season.  The definition of a legal buck depends on the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU).  A map of the WMUs is on pages 22 and 23 of the 2023 VERMONT HUNTING & TRAPPING GUIDE available from license agents statewide. 

Vermont Business Magazine With high moose numbers in northeastern Vermont contributing to the abundance and negative impact of winter ticks, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has reported on the results of a successful, regulated 2023 moose hunting season. The department issued 180 moose hunting permits this year, resulting in 78 moose harvested between the October 1-7 archery season and the October 21-26 regular season.

Vermont Business Magazine The annual state-wide Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is underway in Vermont.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invites students from pre-K to 12th grade to create designs featuring ducks, swans, or geese in their natural habitats.  Designs are judged in four age categories, with awards for first, second, and third places and honorable mentions. Entries must be received by March 15th, 2024. The judging of the artwork will occur on March 28th, 2024 at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee, Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine As the year comes to a close, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking annual reports on surface water use. Under the newly enacted Act 135 of 2022, any person withdrawing surface water must file an annual report with DEC by January 15, 2024. The purpose of Act 135 is to collect baseline data on the use of surface waters such as rivers, streams, brooks, creeks, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Vermonters can fill out an online form to register and report withdrawals of 10,000 gallons or more of surface water within 24 hours – or 150,000 gallons or more over 30 days.

Vermont Business Magazine Individuals in Vermont with complex care needs who struggled with in-state nursing facility placement will soon have another option in Vermont, subject to final state approval. The Department of Disabilities, Aging, & Independent Living (DAIL) issued a Request for Proposals in September 2022 for vendors interested in providing specialized care to Vermonters with complex care needs. Approximately 100 Vermonters are in hospitals, correctional facilities, or out-of-state facilities awaiting placement in a licensed nursing facility in Vermont. These individuals are currently unable to secure in-state placement due to their challenging and complex care needs and/or social or judicial history.

Vermont Business Magazine ZymoChem, creators of Carbon Conserving (C2) technology that converts renewable feedstocks into high-value materials in an environmentally sustainable fashion to replace petroleum-based ingredients in everyday consumer goods, has announced that it is the recipient of a $4.0 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). This funding is in support of the DOE’s Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap, which seeks to decarbonize the nation’s industrial sector via emission reductions and by positioning the U.S. industrial sector as an innovation leader globally.  Since its founding in 2015, ZymoChem has used their patented technologies to replace petroleum-based ingredients in items we use every day – from personal hygiene items to textiles – without compromising cost, performance, scale, or sustainability.  

Vermont Business Magazine Now in its second year, the McClure Foundation’s promise to all Vermont high school students in the classes of 2023-2026 of a free degree through the state’s Early College program is reinforcing that when college is affordable, young people enroll. More than 235 high school seniors from 90% of Vermont’s high schools and tech centers enrolled in Early College at the Community College of Vermont (CCV) this fall knowing they are eligible for a free degree. That number marks a 70% increase in CCV’s Early College enrollment since the Free Degree Promise was announced in April 2022 and includes nearly double the number of first-generation college students as well as increased participation among low-income students and students of color. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) and Breeze Airways, U.S.’ only NLCC, or “Nice Low-Cost Carrier, today announced new, nonstop service to Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) with Breeze Airways. Flights to Tampa will begin January 31, 2023 and flights to Orlando will begin February 14, 2023. The flights will be twice a week and year-round to both destinations.

Vermont Business Magazine Dairy processors across the Northeast are receiving an important investment intended to build resiliency and spur industry growth in our region. The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announced today 35 businesses have been selected for over $12 million in awards through the Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant. With total funding of $12,287,001 across eight states, individual awards range from $25,852 to $1 million.  Those selected for awards represent processors of all sizes: from farmstead creameries to multi-state businesses and co-ops.