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by Jack Hoffman, Public Assets Institute We have the means to reduce poverty. What we need is the political will. That is the conclusion of a massive real-world experiment that took place during the Covid pandemic of 2020-2022. Now that the emergency has subsided, we are beginning to see the effects of actions—and the dangers of inaction—taken by political leaders to help people meet their ongoing basic needs.

Vermont Business Magazine Waffle cones just got a little sweeter. For two weeks, starting today, fans can feel even better about indulging in a Ben & Jerry's scoop with Waffle Lotta Good, an inaugural scoop shop program supporting organizations that work in communities around the country to advocate for social justice. For every waffle cone fans purchase in a Ben & Jerry's scoop shop from October 3 to 17, the Vermont ice cream maker will donate $1 in support of this year's recipient, the Advancement Project, a multi-racial civil rights organization, working to progress human rights and build power in local communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Marking a significant achievement in wine education, the National Wine School (NWS), based in Shelburne, Vermont, has unveiled its latest innovation: online Advanced Sommelier courses. For the first time, wine aficionados and industry insiders alike can earn their Advanced Sommelier Pin without leaving their homes, rendering in-person sessions and long-distance travel a thing of the past. NWS, a beacon in wine training, has optimized its exclusive virtual learning platforms to introduce this pioneering program. Originally developed for digital wine courses at tertiary institutions, these systems are now setting new benchmarks in wine education.

VermontBiz Governor Scott has proclaimed that Saturday, October 7, 2023 as Ageism Awareness Day in Vermont. Most people, without even thinking about it, use language that describes aging as a negative experience. Ageism is a serious challenge in our culture and communities, and it is manifested in unconscious thoughts, actions and behavior, and institutional policies and systems. Ageism refers to stereotypes (how one thinks), prejudice (how one feels) and discrimination (how one acts) toward others based on age, and it is the most widespread and socially accepted form of prejudice. An estimated 183,157 older adults – those over the age of 60 – live in Vermont, which makes this group our fastest growing demographic in the state and for whom this prejudice of ageism is lived daily.

VermontBiz As directed by their respective legislatures decades ago, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark and New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella today met on the Norwich, Vermont-Hanover, New Hampshire bridge spanning the Connecticut River to “perambulate” the sister states’ border. The Attorneys General also enjoyed a short boat ride in the Connecticut River to inspect the border.

New Hampshire and Vermont laws require state officials, in consultation with the Attorneys General, to meet periodically to “perambulate” the border between their respective states to assure that all markers and monuments of the boundary between the two states are properly renewed and maintained. The last perambulation occurred in 2012. For over 20 years, Vermont and New Hampshire litigated over where the boundary line between the states should be located.

VermontBiz U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) on Friday led 18 of their Senate colleagues, including every Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat, in a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee leaders emphasizing the importance of correcting a shortfall in the Federal Defenders budget. Noting that approximately 90% of federal criminal defendants require court-appointed counsel, the Senators urged that adequate funding be provided for Defender Services in both chambers’ Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) legislation. The current proposed funding levels are projected to result in hundreds of layoffs in Federal Defenders offices across the country, slowing the administration of justice, limiting the right to counsel, and ultimately increasing costs. The letter follows recent reporting on the potential impacts of these cuts.  

Vermont Business Magazine BETA Technologies, an electric aerospace company based in South Burlington, opened the doors on Monday to a large-scale production facility at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) in Vermont, where it will manufacture and assemble its all-electric aircraft. Production has begun with the installation of assembly tooling and the initiation of various system production lines, marking a significant milestone along BETA’s path to delivering its all-electric aircraft, the ALIA CTOL and the ALIA VTOL, to military and commercial customers. BETA’s facility is designed to be net-zero, equipped with state-of-the-art sustainability technology. The 188,500-square-foot production facility will ultimately be capable of producing up to 300 aircraft per year and it is expected to create hundreds of jobs. BETA is planning for a steady ramp up to maximum production rates and delivery to its diverse base of customers across cargo, medical, defense, and passenger industries. 

VermontBiz The Vermont State Police is investigating a suspicious death that occurred Thursday afternoon, October 5, 2023, in Castleton.

Police responded at about 4:30 p.m. to the Rail Trail near 1587 South Street after receiving a call regarding a deceased female. Arriving troopers discovered a woman deceased at the scene.

A witness in the area reported a possible suspect was northbound on the rail trail walking towards the Castleton Campus after gunshots were heard. The witness described the male as a white male approximately 5'10", short dark-colored hair, last seen wearing a dark gray t-shirt and carrying a black backpack.

VermontBiz Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today introduced legislation to de-link the development of renewable energy from oil and gas leasing. The Comprehensive Legislation for Expanding and Advancing Nonrestrictive (CLEAN) Energy Act and the Nonrestrictive Offshore Wind (NOW) Act will help the United States address the climate crisis, protect public lands and coasts, and expand new clean energy jobs and projects across the United States.    

VermontBiz This is the final week for Vermont residents affected by July’s severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides to apply for FEMA assistance.

The deadline to apply is October 12, 2023.

If you had storm-related expenses and live or own a business in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham or Windsor County, you should apply as soon as possible. FEMA assistance can provide grants and U.S. Small Business Administration loans for housing, home repairs and other disaster-related needs.

VermontBiz The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) is pleased to announce this year’s Sally Laughlin Award recipient, Dr. C. William “Bill” Kilpatrick.

The Sally Laughlin Award for the Conservation of Endangered and Threatened Species is selected annually by the Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources based on recommendations from Vermont’s Endangered Species Committee. The award is given to a person who has shown leadership in advancing knowledge, understanding and conservation of endangered and threatened species and their habitats in Vermont.

VermontBiz Montana is the worst state for drink driving deaths, new research has revealed. 

The study, by California-based criminal defense law firm Simmrin Law Group, analyzed the latest available data from FARS on the number of drivers involved in deadly crashes who were under the influence of alcohol. 

It revealed that out of the 1,187 drivers who were involved in fatal accidents between 2017 and 2021 in Montana, 373 were found to be under the influence of alcohol. That translates to 31.42% of drunk drivers in deadly vehicle crashes in the state – the highest rate in the nation, with no other state seeing a rate higher than 30%.