Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Scott Tighe, Technical Director for the Advanced Genome Technologies Core, Julie Dragon, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, and Kirsten Tracy, Ph.D., senior scientist in the Vermont Integrative Genomics Resource Core (VIGR), are set to spearhead a payload mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Kennedy Space Center on the evening of November 9, 2023, pending favorable weather conditions. The payload will dock and be delivered to the ISS the on the morning of Saturday, November 11. Known as the µTitan (pronounced “micro-Titan”) project, it has two primary objectives: benchmarking the use of hermetically sealed microgravity compatible extraction cassettes for automated DNA extraction in space and investigating the efficacy of a novel DNA sample preservative to help eliminate the need for cellular-based samples to be returned to Earth in cold storage.

Vermont Business Magazine In 2022, Vermont gained nearly 3,000 new residents who moved from other states, according to an analysis of recently published U.S. Census Bureau by the Treasurer’s Office. The data, which is published annually in October, is an important estimate of Vermont’s demographic trends, which have a direct impact on Vermont’s workforce, economy, and credit rating. Vermont’s 2022 net migration of 2,981 people is slightly above average compared to the past decade, but sharply lower than 2021 when Vermont saw a net migration of 14,548 new residents. The combined net migration from the last two years, however, exceeds the net migration from the prior ten years combined (+17,529 for 2022-21 vs. +16,067 for 2019-10). 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.58 per gallon, down 1.7 cents per gallon from last week's $3.60/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.15/g while the highest was $3.99/g, a difference of 84.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 7.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.38/g today. The national average is down 32.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 40.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine The Small Business Technical Assistance Exchange grant program is launching on 11/6 and is being administered by Shaneall Ferron and Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation. This program is made possible with the active participation from all 12 regional development corporations of Vermont, along with 5 “Outreach Reach” partner agencies that have distinct connection and access with the businesses this round of the program is intended to support. The two previous rounds of the program had been Federally funded and Covid-19 responsive. This third round of grant funding for small businesses prioritizes those from historically disadvantaged backgrounds on a first come first served basis. In this third round, the State has funded $1.25 million into the 183 awards that will be made to small businesses.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP) deadline has been extended to November 11th to give applicants more time to apply following harvest/seasonal delays due to flooding and wet weather. CEAP assists producers with purchasing new or used equipment that will improve Vermont's water quality, mitigate greenhouse gases, reduce odors from manure application, and reduce costs to farmers. CEAP provides up to 90% cost share to awarded grantees. Examples of equipment include grain drills, manure injection toolbars, wastewater irrigation equipment, no till planters, and more. 

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group, one of the fastest-growing life insurers in the U.S., and NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and IT services, announced an extension of their longstanding strategic partnership for five more years. This extension of 20 years of partnership continues National Life’s digital transformation encompassing people, processes and technology across the Application, Data, Infrastructure and Security ecosystem. National Life and NTT DATA celebrated the 20-year anniversary of their strategic partnership with an event in Montpelier, Vermont.

The Vermont State Police is investigating the death of Dennis Mayotte, 37, of North Springfield, Vermont, who had been incarcerated at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield. The Department of Corrections notified the Vermont State Police at about 1:45 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, that Mayotte had died in an apparent suicide inside the facility. Department of Corrections staff attempted life-saving measures while emergency medical services responded to the facility. Arriving first responders pronounced Mayotte deceased at the scene. An autopsy will be performed at the Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington to determine the cause and manner of death.

by Camila Van Order González, Community News Service The MINT is Rutland’s multifaceted makerspace, supplying the tools and materials necessary for almost any project an artisan wants to pursue. This July, the nonprofit expanded its Quality Lane space from 14,000 square feet to 22,000 square feet. Part of the expansion includes a playing field to train and practice robots — ones used by high school teams across the country in tournaments like the FIRST Robotics Competition. The events involve students pitting robots in some sort of physical game. 

Vermont Business Magazine William (Bill) Cleary, owner of Powderhorn Outdoor Sports in Williston, and a resident of Westford, was recently presented the Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award, for his support to now-former Vermont Army National Guard soldier, (Sergeant) Kevin Eng, of Cambridge. Eng moved unexpectedly from “Inactive” to Active Guard status for multiple deployments, and all the while the company maintained his vacation pay. 

Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of November 6, 2023. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.      

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Semiconductor, a Burlington-based design house involved in AI-related circuit design initiatives since 2014 and specializing in Custom Analog, Digital, and Mixed Signal Design with a focus on Memory (DRAM, SRAM, and Emerging NVM), has achieved a groundbreaking milestone on behalf of their client by unveiling an innovative AI processor architecture. This pioneering architecture boasts over 1000 cores, each equipped with its own memory, revolutionizing traditional Von Neumann computing paradigms and advancing the realm of ultra-low power in-memory computing. This milestone came about through Green Mountain’s work in support of New Hampshire based client company, Non-Von LLC, and their patented innovative chip design.

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc (NYSE: BHLB), parent of Berkshire Bank with branches in southern Vermont, has reported results for the third quarter of 2023. Berkshire Hills has also announced that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per common share to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 16, 2023, payable on November 30, 2023. Third quarter operating earnings were $21.5 million, decreasing $2.4 million linked quarter.  Net interest margin of 3.18 percent decreased 6 basis points linked quarter, which improved from the 34 basis point decrease posted in the prior quarter. Net interest income decreased $2.4 million, as funding cost increases outpaced loan yield expansion and average earning assets decreased 2%. Operating non-interest income advanced 2 percent quarter-over-quarter while operating non-interest expense was flat. GAAP non-interest expense included $2.6 million in non-operating restructuring charges primarily for branch consolidations.