Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens, with branches in Vermont, has announced the launch of Citizens Cash Flow Essentials, a complete online and mobile cash management platform, and Digital Invoicing, a solution that allows small businesses to enhance their cash flow quickly and securely within the Citizens online banking platform. These expanded capabilities allow customers to manage the movement of cash into and out of their accounts more easily. They also join a new Digital Account Opening feature, recent enhancements to Zelle for small businesses and mobile deposit and added digital resources for small business owners as Citizens strives to give them more time to focus on their business.

Vermont Business Magazine Price Chopper/Market 32 is once again playing host to the Salvation Army’s “Red Kettle” holiday campaign at all 130 of its stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The Salvation Army and Price Chopper/Market 32 have been collaborative partners in the communities they serve for more than 35 years. Last year’s “Red Kettle” campaign at Price Chopper and Market 32 stores raised nearly $500,000 in donations directly benefitting those in need throughout the communities where the funds were collected.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Historical Society and Vermont Covered have announced the Vermont 250th Community Planning Grants program as part of work in support of the Vermont 250th Anniversary Commission. The grants are available to select communities in areas of limited broadband and wireless connectivity around the state to help support activities in planning and preparation for the US Semiquincentennial (250th) in 2026. The Vermont 250th Anniversary Commission (VT250th), tasked by Governor Phil Scott, is working to create opportunities for Vermonters to mark this anniversary. 

The Vermont State Police is identifying the victim of Wednesday night’s shooting in Hardwick as Robert Marquis, 52, who owns the home at 76 Elm St. where the incident occurred. Marquis remains hospitalized as of 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, where he is listed in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. The suspect in the shooting is Donald Brochu Jr., 55, who was renting a room in Marquis’ home.

Vermont Business Magazine It was announced today that the Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA) has secured a Venture Challenge grant via the US Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build to Scale program. NVDA worked with Do North Coworking, an entity of Vermont State University, and the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) to apply for this grant as part of CORI’s 2023 Rural Innovation Initiative, a technical assistance program empowering rural communities to develop inclusive tech economies that support scalable entrepreneurship and tech job creation. With the $1,501,427 million provided by the Venture Challenge Build grant and matching funds, NVDA and Do North Coworking plan to launch the InnovateNEK initiative.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Life Group Board of Directors has approved an estimated payment of approximately $25.5 million in dividends to eligible participating policyholders in 2024. This payment represents National Life’s ongoing commitment to its policyholders and continues the proud heritage of having paid a dividend every year since 1855.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS), have notified the Addison County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC) that they were awarded $59,322 for seven Addison County businesses through the Building Communities Grant Program for projects in Bristol, Goshen, Middlebury, Ripton, and Vergennes. Thanks to annual appropriations by the Vermont General Assembly, the Building Communities program annually awards $900,000 in matching grants statewide to municipalities and nonprofit organizations for capital costs associated with capital investments in the following categories: human services, health care and education, recreation, and economic development. Organizations in Addison County were awarded a total of $99,213 in all four categories for the fiscal year 2024 funding round.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College Online on Thursday reported the results of a new survey exploring how perceptions of online higher education have changed over the last five years. More than 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18-55 were polled about their attitudes and opinions on the value and application of online higher education. The collective results from the 10-question survey show that online degrees are perceived as more credible and more broadly accepted than in the pre-pandemic period, with 84% of adults thinking employers are more accepting of online degrees today than pre-pandemic and 72% of adults believing online education is a more reputable way to get a degree than it was five years ago. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, the University of Vermont and Vermont Public launched a joint search for a new faculty position to oversee student opportunities in all aspects of public media. The new role marks the expansion of a successful partnership between the two organizations, which began in 2022 with a mission to provide students immersive opportunities in local news and to expand the range of voices on Vermont Public airwaves. The new faculty position will be part of the English Department in the UVM College of Arts & Sciences. A committee of UVM faculty, staff, and Vermont Public professionals will collaborate on the hiring process. The anticipated start date is July 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine Springfield Regional Development Corporation (SRDC) continues to offer the Springfield Area Revolving Loan Fund, which is a source of debt financing for small and medium-size companies in Southern Windsor County, as well as those looking to start a business. The Springfield Area Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) utilizes funds from the Economic Development Administration to complement other funding sources in helping area companies to create and retain jobs as well as stimulate the creation and relocation of new businesses. 

Vermont Business Magazine With growing reports of horrific anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and racism occurring on college campuses and in schools across the U.S. since October 7, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Wednesday released the following statement: Given the horrific war taking place in the Middle East, we are seeing a significant increase in bigotry and in hate crimes here in the United States. This is unacceptable, not what this country is about, and all of us have a responsibility to end this growing crisis.

Vermont Business Magazine The October 31 deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance has passed, but that does not mean FEMA is leaving. FEMA will continue working with Vermont Emergency Management to help survivors and communities recover. If you applied for FEMA assistance due to damage from the July 7-21 storms, FEMA encourages you to keep in touch. By staying in touch, you can track the progress of your case, notify the agency of changes to your mailing or email addresses or phone numbers, and report insurance settlements or additional damage you may have discovered since your home inspection.