Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Arts Council announces $1,931,000 in awards to 85 creative sector organizations and businesses in its final round of funding through the Creative Futures Grant program, marking the end of this unprecedented investment in Vermont’s creative sector. The program has distributed more than $8.8 million to 233 organizations and businesses across the state since December 2022.  Supported by funds from Vermont’s share of ARPA, the program aims to provide relief to one of the state’s economic sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding of up to $200,000 was available to Vermont-based creative economy nonprofits and for-profit entities, including sole proprietors, demonstrating economic harm caused by or exacerbated by the pandemic.  

Vermont Business Magazine Federal assistance can help Vermonters recover from the July 7-17 severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. Here are ten facts to know about the help that may be available to you, including: You won’t be taking money away from someone else by applying. FEMA will distribute funds to every eligible applicant regardless of how many people apply. FEMA assistance is available to homeowners and renters, including owners and renters of mobile homes. And eligible homeowners and renters will receive FEMA assistance as grants that do not have to be repaid.

Champlain Housing Trust The new Braeburn Apartments on Williston Road in South Burlington are poised to open at the end of September. Crafted out of the former Ho-Hum Motel, these 20 apartments will soon be home to people who previously had no permanent housing as part of our efforts to address the significant homelessness challenges Vermont faces. CHT acquired the Ho-Hum back in the fall of 2020 with a grant from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund administered through the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. CHT operated the property as a quarantine and isolation motel for about two years before beginning the transformation to permanent housing last winter.  One of the benefits of this conversion was being able to create these 20 apartments at a lower cost. At less than $185,000 per apartment, they are much less than half of the price of what a newly built apartment would cost.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.80 per gallon, up 0.5 cents per gallon from last week's $3.79/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.60/g while the highest was $3.90/g, a difference of 30.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 4.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.83/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine Porter Medical Center in Middlebury announced last week that Tom Thompson will step away from his role as President and Chief Operating Officer as of today, September 18, in order to focus his time and energy on a pressing family health matter. Porter is a member of The University of Vermont Health Network. Effective September 18, Bob Ortmyer will begin serving the UVM Health Network in a dual role as Porter’s Interim President and Chief Operating Officer, in addition to his current role as President and at The University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) wants to hear from you. VCBB has released Vermont’s Draft BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) Initial Proposal Volume 2 and wants your comments. This draft is the second part of the draft proposal to explain how the state will spend Vermont’s $229 million federal allocation to expand high-speed internet access. Volume 2 outlines the process Vermont will use to select the Internet Service Providers who will receive BEAD money to build out unserved and underserved addresses and details the requirements these providers must meet to be eligible for funding.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Virus has been detected in mosquito pools collected in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties. One horse death associated with these detections was reported. The Vermont Department of Health and The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets are evaluating response options. Industries that have employees that work outdoors can take steps to minimize employee exposure to this disease. There is no approved vaccine for people or preventive medicine. The best way to prevent EEE is to prevent mosquito bites.

by Joy Choquette, Vermont Business Magazine Billed as a wonderful spot for outdoor adventurists, Franklin County sits on the northwestern tip of the state. It borders Quebec and is less than an hour from New York state. The county has a long history of agriculture. It still produces a great deal of milk and maple syrup, but has several other industries too. One of these is tourism. Another is manufacturing. Small retailers and specialty food establishments along with health care round out the area’s business landscape. The largest employer is the county’s hospital, Northwestern Medical Center, followed by pharmaceutical manufacturer Viatris, Ben & Jerry’s, chocolate producer Barry Callebaut, and men’s and boys’ clothing manufacturer Peerless Clothing. All reside in the county seat, St. Albans. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police investigation is continuing Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, into a fatal shooting that occurred Friday night in Waltham. The victim is identified as Michelle Kilbreth, 48, a resident of McKnight Lane. An autopsy was completed Saturday at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington. The medical examiner determined the cause of her death was gunshot wounds to the torso, and the manner of death is a homicide. According to evidence and witness statements, the situation unfolded when Ms. Kilbreth got into a physical altercation with another woman who also lived in the neighborhood. Ms. Kilbreth had a handgun in her possession. At some point, Ms. Kilbreth lost possession of the gun, and a juvenile picked up the weapon and fired it, striking Ms. Kilbreth multiple times.

Vermont Business Magazine A group of local organizations concerned about Vermont’s sustainability, wellbeing, and prosperity is now exploring a potential law to do exactly that. This week, the Vermont Prosperity Project will host Sophie Howe, the first ever “Future Generations Commissioner” of Wales from 2016 to 2023, who will speak at the University of Vermont and with legislators. The role of Future Generations Commissioner results from Wales’ landmark Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, which became law in 2015 after widespread public consultation asking: “What kind of Wales do you want to leave for your children and grandchildren?” The Vermont organizers believe that such a law makes sense here. They say they are further inspired by last month’s landmark Montana court decision that youth have a constitutional right to a healthy environment.

Vermont Business Magazine On Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, the town of Bennington, Vermont, was transformed into Garlic Town, USA for a day-long celebration of all things garlic and the last days of summer. Over 7,200 residents and visitors from across the country gathered to savor the pungent delight of garlic in its many forms, making this year's event a great success. Organized by the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Garlic Town, USA 2023 aimed to not only celebrate garlic, but to focus on agriculture, arts and community. With more than 125 vendors, various cooking demonstrations, live music, two main bars, kids’ activities and an array of garlic-infused activities, the festival exceeded expectations. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Concert Artists Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation recently awarded $120,000 in grant funding to support live classical music performances in Chittenden County. The grant awards, to be paid over two years, support programming from June 2023 to June 2025. The fund was formed in 2005 with the goal of supporting and encouraging live classical music in Chittenden County. The program has awarded over $950,000 to classical music organizations performing in Chittenden County since its launch.