Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Scott and ACCD Secretary Lindsay Kurrle shared the latest BEGAP numbers Wednesday, while encouraging businesses to continue to apply as funding remains available. Here are the highlights. Among the 351 successfully submitted applications: 70% are currently being reviewed or in the queue to be reviewed; 30% are completed and approved for a BEGAP grant; A total of $397,136 has been paid out to date, with an average award amount of $13,694. Many incomplete applications due to missing documentation or estimates continue to be submitted, prolonging the review process and delaying awards. If business owners are having trouble finding a contractor to give them an estimate, use the new Contractor Estimate Tool. It includes several types of repairs from installing drywall and flooring to plumbing and heating work. 

Vermont Business Magazine The flood events of July 2023 have had a significant impact on aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) in homes and businesses across the state. ASTs include basement and home heating oil tanks that hold heating fuel such as #2 oil or kerosene. The State of Vermont Spill Response Team has received over 100 calls about ASTs that released heating fuel into structures or the environment as a result of the July floods. Releases were also common during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. When an AST becomes surrounded by floodwater, they often become buoyant, turn over and float on one side. Indoor ASTs float in the basement, while outdoor ASTs float in floodwaters and can be carried some distance away.

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger and Burlington Electric Department (BED), joined today by partners from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and Burlington City Councilor Hannah King (Ward 8), unveiled the state’s first all-electric bucket truck. The new truck, with its unique white and green colors and “all electric – powered by 100% renewable energy” tag line rather than the traditional orange color, constitutes another important step along the path to Burlington becoming a Net Zero Energy city. It will reduce BED’s annual diesel fuel usage by an estimated 1,650 gallons and reduce engine idling by an estimated 1,500 hours. 

Vermont Business Magazine Technology for Tomorrow Inc, a non-profit based in Williston, has announced that it will be working with Microsoft TechSpark to foster inclusive economic opportunity, job creation, and innovation in Vermont. This ties in well with the organization’s mission to bridge the digital divide and create a brighter future for all in Vermont. This opportunity includes funding a TechSpark Community Engagement Fellow, who will spearhead local efforts, working with local partners to extend digital literacy classes to underserved populations here in Vermont. This fellowship represents the first time Microsoft TechSpark has worked in the State of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce and the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center are partnering to strengthen supply chains to benefit the Vermont manufacturing industry. VMEC’s CONNEX Vermont platform is a powerful online manufacturer-supplier database and connectivity tool provided as a no-cost resource for all Vermont manufacturers and suppliers. The Vermont Chamber’s annual Manufacturing Summit brings OEMs & Prime buyers, suppliers, and partners together from the U.S. and Canada for virtual and in-person networking. Together, these opportunities create a well-rounded environment for Vermont businesses to connect with suppliers and buyers both locally and abroad.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced recipients of $3.6 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding. $2.6 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) federal funding was awarded through the Vermont Community Development Program, as well as $500,000 in Recovery Housing Program (RHP) funds, and $500,000 in CDBG CARES Act (CDBG-CV) monies. This funding will leverage $44 million in other funding including state, federal and private sources. The funding will support nine projects throughout Vermont including mixed income housing developments, recovery housing and the revitalization of community facilities. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are up slightly to $3.80/g, an increase of 1 cent per gallon from last week, up 19 cents/g from last month and down 37 cents/g from a year ago. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.43/g in Ludlow while the highest was $3.93/g in Arlington. The national average price of gasoline is down 5 cents from last week, also averaging $3.80/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine Before homeowners in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor counties repair damage from the July storms, they should make sure to get all the permits needed to start work. Permits may be required for nearly every part of your home – from roofs, walls and siding, to plumbing, septic and heating/air conditioning systems. The first thing to do is to meet with your local building officials. They can work with you to ensure that any permits you need are properly filed, and the necessary inspections are completed.

Vermont Business Magazine Presenters and Board Members participate remotely through Microsoft Teams. Members of the public can attend board meetings by using the links or call-in phone numbers listed below. All Board meeting presentation materials are available on the GMCB website.

Vermont Business Magazine AARP Vermont, the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) are excited to announce the conclusion of the “Great Housing Hunt” photo contest, in which Vermonters were invited to share photos of “missing middle” housing, which includes backyard cottages, attached and detached in-law apartments, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and more. The contest brought in 72 photo entries of these diverse housing types found throughout the state. Congratulations to the six winners of the contest, who each received a $50 gift card to the local business of their choice!

Vermont Business Magazine ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, today released its third-quarter 2023 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report showing that 1.3 million (1,277,612) residential properties in the United States are vacant. That figure represents 1.3 percent, or one in 79 homes, across the nation – the same as in the second quarter of this year. Vermont has the third lowest vacant property rate, behind New Jersey and New Hampshire. The highest rates are in Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, Indiana and West Virginia. The report analyzes publicly recorded real estate data collected by ATTOM — including foreclosure status, equity and owner-occupancy status — matched against monthly updated vacancy data.

Vermont Business Magazine Longtime friends and loved ones gathered on the Gifford Green on Saturday afternoon to hear the 18th annual Last Mile fundraising total, a record-breaking $198,000 to support end-of-life patients and their families. Participants, together with sponsors and donors, raised the money as they prepared to ride, run or walk in Last Mile events held over the last two weekends. This year’s total exceeds last year’s by $11,000, and brings the grand total to $1,576,023 raised since the first Last Mile in 2006.