Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation is accepting applications for projects to receive a total of more than $5.8 million in funding through two different programs. Under the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), more than $4.3 million of grant funding is available for all eligible activities as described in the Vermont Transportation Alternatives Fall 2023 Application Guide at the link below. Approximately 50% of TAP grant program funds are reserved for pollution mitigation projects relating to stormwater and highways, including eligible salt and sand shed projects. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced his office will distribute $920,823 from the Higher Education Trust Fund to support Vermonters seeking a higher education degree. The General Assembly established the Higher Education Trust Fund in the Office of the State Treasurer in 1999 to provide non-loan financial aid to Vermont students attending the University of Vermont, the Vermont State Colleges, and other Vermont post-secondary institutions through the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC). 

Vermont Business Magazine Rural Vermonters and people in marginalized communities will have greater access to higher education and career advancement in the coming years, thanks to a $1.2 million award from a federal partnership between the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and the U.S Department of Labor that will support workforce education at the Community College of Vermont (CCV). The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities initiative. Funding will support CCV’s Career Pathway Entry Program Plus, designed to prepare Vermonters for high-wage, high-growth careers. 

Vermont Business Magazine NEK Broadband announced today that it has added new addresses in Waterford to its fiber network, delivering on its promise to bring high-speed internet to underserved communities in the Northeast Kingdom. The Waterford network has been funded by a combination of federal grants through the Vermont Community Broadband Board and the town’s contribution of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. High-speed internet via NEK Broadband is now available in some areas of Waterford that previously did not have access to cable internet service.

Vermont Business Magazine On September 28, 2023, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce hosted an exclusive event featuring Chris Graff and Garrett Graff at the Flynn Space in Burlington Vermont. The father-son duo took the stage at “An Evening With the Graffs” to discuss the intricate relationship between the media and politics. Both Chris and Garrett Graff are esteemed journalists, authors, and political commentators with deep Vermont roots. The event focused on the ramifications of a rapidly changing media landscape nationally, and right here at home in Vermont. In particular, the Graffs focused on how social media and the 24-hour news cycles have influenced public opinion and impacted civic engagement as well as examined the rise of opinion-driven journalism and the proliferation of misinformation.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The Organic Certification Cost Share Program deadline has been extended from November 1st to December 15th. If you are a certified organic producer or handler who have paid certification fees to become newly certified or re-certified, you may be eligible for cost-share reimbursement. Certified organic operations may receive reimbursement of up to 75% of their direct certification costs paid annually, not to exceed $750 per certification scope. There are up to four eligible certification scopes (crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling), which must be individually inspected for organic certification to be eligible for reimbursement. Reimbursement is available on a first come, first served basis.

The Vermont State Police is aware of ongoing bomb threats to various critical infrastructure and key resource sectors in the State of Vermont. The threats are received via email and report, “The bombs will blow up in a few hours. Many people will die.”  These emails are sent from various accounts originating from @skiff.com.  Affected groups are encouraged to report these incidents to local law enforcement in their area. No suspicious items or authentic threats have been discovered at this time.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont congressional delegation on Saturday voted to keep the government funded and replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund with $16 billion. The House voted by a 335-91 margin Saturday afternoon and the Senate followed with a vote of 88-9. President Biden then signed the measure Saturday, which provides 45 days of stop-gap funding.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont was a very different place before the midsummer rain came — and  with it, unrelenting floodwaters,  the likes of which have not been seen in the area for several decades. Suddenly and without warning, a go-go period for the construction industry was stopped in its tracks as the state began the task of cleaning up and dealing with the devestation. “It’s kind of funny," said Richard Wobby Jr., executive vice president and director of safety training and member services at the Associated General Contractors of Vermont. “Two months ago, everything was planned. We knew everything that was coming down the pike, and we knew what we had to do. “Now, two months later, you have seen a major catastrophe affect roughly 50% of the state.”

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine More than six weeks after historic rainstorms pelted Vermont and other areas of the Northeast, state officials were still dealing with the damage to state roadways and transportation infrastructure. Michael Booth, district transportation administrator at the Agency of Transportation, said calculating the miles of damaged roads is difficult to determine. “We had a total of 1,130 damage sites, including our railroad infrastructure."

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s construction professionals are retiring faster than new workers are joining the industry, according to many experts in the field. Demographics are part of the issue. The outgoing age cohort is bigger than the ones replacing it. For the past two years, AGC/VT has partnered with career centers to attract more young people to the industry. The organization is also helping other companies develop internal training programs. Kingsbury Companies, a general contractor in Middlesex, for example, is four years into an in-house internship program.

Vermont Business Magazine Girls on the Run Vermont will host its annual fall benefit, The Sneaker Soirée, on Saturday, October 14th at Burlington Beer Company from 6-9pm. A fundraiser like no other, it will surely be the most comfortable cocktail party in town. Suggested attire is semi-formal and of course… your favorite sneakers!  The event will be held in BBCO’s brand new event space.  This event benefits GOTRVT’s participants and will raise critical funds to support the program in the 2024 season so that all girls can participate regardless of financial barriers.