Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) invites all to Harvest New England Day, this Friday September 29th. This exciting event, with thirty-eight Vermont businesses, takes place from 10am to 5pm on the Avenue of States at the Big E in West Springfield, MA. During Harvest New England Day you’ll find vendors set up to serve you inside and outside of the historic Vermont Building. Additionally, you can visit each New England state on the Avenue of States to answer trivia questions about agriculture in that state and get a passport stamped. Get a stamp from each state and get a free gift.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) awarded $58.9 million in grants to Vermont’s Communications Union Districts (CUDs) this summer. The construction grants were approved to expand broadband in five different CUDs across the state, bringing broadband to at least 13,000 currently underserved homes and businesses. The most recent grants were approved earlier this month. They include a $13.59 million grant to Lamoille FiberNet. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont have been oscillating within a narrow range for several weeks and are $3.80 per gallon, unchanged from last week. They're 1 cent per gallon higher than a month ago and 14 cents/g higher than the same time last year. The lowest price in the state is $3.59/g at several stations in southern Vermont (https://www.vermontgasprices.com/) while the highest was $3.99/g in Wolcott. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.81/g today.

Vermont Business Magazine If you were affected by Vermont’s July storms, apply for FEMA assistance by October 12. FEMA can help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster related needs. Apply by October 12. To apply, visit a Disaster Recovery Center, go online to disasterassistance.gov, download the FEMA APP, or call 800-621-3362, 800-621-3362.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor is issuing a final reminder to all eligible individuals regarding the deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) applications. Individuals have until 4:00PM on Friday, September 29, 2023, to open a claim for disaster-related unemployment benefits. Friday’s deadline is only for the opening of new claims and does not prevent already eligible Vermonters from continuing to receive weekly DUA benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine The Snelling Center for Government has announced the Vermont Leadership Institute Class of 2024. The Vermont Leadership Institute Class of 2024 embarked on their leadership journey last week during a couple exciting days together during their Opening Retreat. Under beautiful blue sunny skies, the cohort began building the relationships that will be the foundation for their next nine months together. These local leaders will delve into topics such as personal leadership adaptation; complex systems thinking and innovation; and leadership paradigms that support diversity, equity, and inclusion for all Vermonters. 

Vermont Business Magazine Saskadena Six Ski Area, the historic ski resort owned and operated by the Woodstock Inn & Resort, introduces the creation of a new connector trail, “Duane’s Drop,” as a tribute to a long-term member of the skiing community. Once a backcountry route that ski patrollers created to get to from one side of the mountain to the other, the new trail allows dedicated access to the southern side of the mountain. It is now a lasting memorial to the late Joe Duane, a beloved ski patrolman who served the mountain for two decades, most recently as Ski Patrol Director. The name celebrates his enduring legacy and notes his significant contributions to the ski patrol team and the wider “S6” skiing community.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) seeks fiscal year (FY) 2024 service provider proposals to build executive and marketing business skills for working lands enterprises (farm, food, and/or forest products). In using the terminology executive and marketing business skills, WLEB refers to the core skills that are associated with strong business acumen and management of an entrepreneur’s business. The WLEB invests in business and technical assistance service providers who work directly with working lands enterprises to support them as they grow, pivot, and adapt to an ever-changing context.

Vermont Business Magazine Wink, Inc., an industry analyzer, named National Life Group #1 in indexed life sales for the past 10 quarters, since the beginning of 2021, through 2022 and Q2 of 2023. Announced in an August 31 news release, Wink states: “Noteworthy highlights for total non-variable universal life sales in the second quarter included National Life Group retaining the #1 overall sales ranking for non-variable universal life sales, with a market share of 13.1%.” In addition, LIMRA, an industry trade group, placed National Life as #1, as of the end of the second quarter, for Indexed Universal Life up from #2, as of the end of Q1. National Life moved up from the #11 writer of individual life insurance to the #9 position.

Vermont Business Magazine The dropping temperatures and shorter days of fall bring some of the year’s hottest fishing action on Vermont’s lakes, ponds and streams, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. While the hot temperatures of summer can sometimes make fishing slow, the autumn months represent a transition time when fish become more active and easier to catch.  This increase in feeding activity can be attributed to fish boosting their reserves of essential nutrients in order to sustain themselves during winter when their metabolism slows and they feed less. 

Vermont Business Magazine As September marks Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Howard Center is dedicated to shedding light on this critical issue and providing vital resources for the community. Suicide is an indiscriminate crisis, affecting people from all walks of life. If you or someone you know is grappling with suicidal thoughts, there is help and hope available. There are individuals who genuinely care who are available to provide support, and a wealth of resources designed to guide individuals through these challenging times.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s annual spiny softshell turtle beach cleanup day is Saturday, October 14, and the department is looking for volunteers to help. Participants are asked to arrive at North Hero State Park at 10:00 a.m.  After finishing at North Hero, the group will carpool to another site in Swanton. Volunteers will pull up vegetation on nesting beaches to prepare turtle nesting sites for next year. They may also find a few hatchlings that occasionally remain in nests underground this late in the year.  In addition to threatened spiny softshell turtles, these nest sites are also used by map turtles, painted turtles and snapping turtles.