Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Phil Scott and the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) today announced $6 million in funding  will be available to support communities across the state to strengthen their local outdoor recreation economies, including support for communities to recover flood impacted outdoor recreation resources and projects to expand outdoor equity. The VOREC program – established by Governor Scott in 2017 and jointly led by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) – has opened the 2023 VOREC Community Grant Program and is now accepting applications.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is holding a series of public meetings around the state to get input for a Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Coordination Study. Findings from the study will be used to make recommendations to the Legislature for improving emergency medical services in Vermont. The Health Department is asking members of the public, as well as EMS and public safety professionals, hospital and local officials, and other stakeholders to share feedback and ideas on a host of regional EMS issues, including costs of service, existing and alternative funding models challenges and opportunities related to emergency response coordination, and the overall EMS district structure, authority, duties, and number of districts.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard destination in Eastern North America and a POWDR resort, announced today that tickets for the 2023 Stifel Killington Cup will be available for purchase starting October 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET at killington.com. Taking place November 24-26, the Audi FIS Ski World Cup will once again bring the women’s giant slalom and slalom races to Vermont. The event is expected to attract Stifel U.S. Ski Team superstars, including five-time Stifel Killington Cup slalom victor and winningest alpine skier in history Mikaela Shiffrin, and former University of Vermont skier and 2023 world champion Paula Moltzan. 

VermontBiz The Leave No Trace organization has selected Mt. Philo State Park as a 2023 Spotlight site. As outdoor areas all over the country are being impacted by record use, this new initiative from Leave No Trace shines a light on communities rising to meet this challenge with multi-day, onsite education and stewardship programs. From October 13-15 a Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Team will be in Charlotte, VT at Mt. Philo State Park to work with the community and local land agencies to deliver Leave No Trace education as well as to partner on restoration and stewardship projects.

VermontBiz The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is reminding hunters of a regulation designed to help keep Vermont deer healthy by banning the use of any deer lure containing deer urine or other deer bodily fluids.

The infectious agent of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal disease of deer, is a mutant protein or “prion” that can be passed in urine.  Prions can bind to soils and remain infectious for many years.  Nearly all urine-based lures are produced in captive deer facilities, where CWD is most likely to occur.  There is no accepted way to test live animals, and infected animals can spread CWD for years before showing any symptoms. No amount of testing or special certification program can eliminate the risk of spreading CWD through urine lures.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Green Mountain Power (GMP) awarded over $160,000 in funding and incentive payments to help Ben & Jerry’s purchase two new electric vehicles for its factories in St. Albans and Waterbury. These electric vehicles, called yard trucks, will help improve air quality and reduce Vermont’s carbon footprint. DEC awarded Ben & Jerry’s almost $135,000 towards the new St. Albans yard truck. This award was part of the Vermont Diesel Emissions Reduction Financial Assistance Program, which provides technical assistance and incentive funding for projects that reduce diesel emissions from engines, vehicles, and equipment in Vermont. This award marks the first non-road vehicle electrification project funded by DEC through the program.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association Button Up Vermont will be in Island Pond this Saturday for the “NEK Weatherization for All” event. Join NVDA and Energy Partners from across the NEK for this FREE, FUN & ENERGIZING event! Take a trip to scenic Island Pond, explore the Town of Brighton and explore smart + affordable energy strategies for EVERYONE. Representatives from Efficiency Vermont, HEAT Squad, NETO, NEKCA, RuralEdge, VPPSA, and VEC will provide information on incentives, rebates, grants, and programs for homeowners, renters, and landlords, alike. This is the opportunity to ask questions such as “How can I afford to weatherize?”, “Is it worth the time and cost?”, and “Where do I start?” Local, seasonal refreshments, door prizes, and raffles will be provided. Guests have the chance to win a free home energy audit from HEAT Squad, gift cards to local hardware stores to encourage DIY weatherization, and more. After the main event, all guests are invited to explore Island Pond and the breathtaking fall foliage display at its peak.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Bristol community celebrated the official grand opening of Firehouse Apartments with a ribbon cutting and an apartment tour. Co-owners and co-developers, Addison Housing Works and Evernorth partnered to develop Firehouse Apartments which will serve 20 low- and moderate-income households in downtown Bristol, close to amenities, recreational opportunities and community services. The Firehouse Apartments represents a critical component of a public/private partnership bringing municipal services, business incubation, and mixed-income housing to the growing community of Bristol on the Stoney Hill property. These all electric, high-performance homes were designed and constructed to the standards of the Enterprise Green Communities certification, resulting in resilient, healthy, efficient, and environmentally responsible housing connected to transportation, critical services, and a wide range of quality-of-life amenities.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan received formal approval from the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation to affiliate and work together across both companies. The affiliation enables both organizations to begin sharing resources and expertise to broaden health plan and service offerings available through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont.

The Vermont State Police is releasing an artist’s sketch of a person of interest in the Oct. 5 killing of Honoree Fleming in Castleton. The sketch depicts an individual who was seen on the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5. The sighting occurred just prior and close to the location where passers-by discovered the body of Dr. Flemming, 77, on the rail trail. Witnesses have described the person of interest as a white man in his 20s with short red hair, standing about 5 feet 10 inches tall, and last seen wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack. Anyone who might recognize the individual in the sketch should call the Vermont State Police’s Rutland Barracks at 802-773-9101, or provide an anonymous tip online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

Vermont Business Magazine CVFiber has connected its first customers to high-speed, fiber-optic Internet. CVFiber leadership, state, and local officials joined in a ribbon cutting today in Calais celebrating the communications union district’s (CUD’s) first connected customers.  Additional customers in Calais will be connected next, followed by parts of Worcester and East Montpelier. Construction will continue throughout 2023, and more customers will be connected in 2024. 

Vermont Business Magazine Otter Creek Communications Union District (CUD) was awarded a $9.9 million grant from the Vermont Community Broadband Board. The grant will help fund construction of a multi-gigabit fiber network through a partnership with Consolidated Communications. When complete, more than 4,100 homes and businesses will have access to fiber internet by 2025.