Current News

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.

Champlain Housing Trust and their development partner Evernorth will redevelop three vacant buildings in Colchester recently purchased from St Michael’s College, who used them as dorms and offices. These beautiful buildings, part of the Fort Ethan Allen Historic District, were initially constructed as military barracks and CHT plans to convert them into 65 affordable one-bedroom and studio apartments, sizes identified as critically needed in this area. 

Vermont Business Magazine Engineers, contractors, landowners, and scientists will gather at 1pm on August 22nd for the post-construction meeting and site walk for the removal of Connolly Pond Dam in Shrewsbury Vermont. At this time, construction is complete, the dam has been removed, and the channel is free-flowing. The dam was removed in the interest of public safety to reduce flood risk and reconnect and restore a headwater tributary to the Mill River, which ultimately flows to the Otter Creek and then Lake Champlain.  In 2020, the Vermont Dam Safety classified the dam as in poor condition with a Significant Hazard potential dam rating. The Dam Safety Inspection, stated that “Failure could result in damage and economic losses due to shallow flooding of property and overtopping of multiple road crossings.” 

Northeastern Vermont Development Association Join us for an afternoon of FREE family-friendly fun, live music and energy education. Celebrate the start-up of the new 150kW Community Solar array providing renewable electricity to Peacham Town buildings, as well as participating homes, farms and local businesses from surrounding communities. Learn about strategies for community resilience and an affordable, clean energy future. Find out how you, too, can get involved in renewable energy, improve the efficiency of your home or business, live more comfortably, and save money.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says bear hunting season starts in September and reminds hunters about the bear hunting regulations. Vermont has two bear hunting seasons.  The early season, which requires a special bear tag, starts September 1, and continues through November 10 with one exception.  Nonresident hunters using dogs cannot start bear hunting until September 15.  The late bear season begins November 11 and continues through November 19.  A hunter may only take one bear during the year. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation announced today that a new grant program will provide up to $10,000 directly to farmers affected by the devastating flooding this summer. The Farm Disaster Relief Grant Program will be funded with up to $1 million from the VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund 2023, which has raised more than $6.1 million and awarded more than $2 million since it was created by the Vermont Community Foundation last month. The Farm Disaster Relief Program is designed to help farms that sustained damage stay in production or return to production. More than 18,000 acres of farmland was affected by flooding that washed away soil, spoiled crops, and damaged greenhouses, barns, and equipment. The disaster threatened a way of life and an economic sector that is the backbone of many rural communities.  

Vermont Business Magazine The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB), today launched the second phase of its Amplify Fund which provides support to nonprofit initiatives in legacy People's United communities that benefit low- and moderate-income communities and underrepresented populations. This new request for proposals (RFP) seeks nonprofit collaboratives focused on advancing equity using a racial equity and social justice lens in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, southern Maine, Long Island, and New York's Westchester County.

Vermont Business Magazine Disasters often bring out criminals looking to prey on survivors who appear to be easy targets for their scams. Survivors should be aware that fraud and scams can occur anytime. FEMA encourages survivors to be alert and report any suspicious activity or potential fraud by scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals. Anyone who suspects fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement involving disaster relief should call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, email [email protected] or write to: FEMA Fraud and Internal Investigation Division, 400 C Street SW Mail Stop 3005, Washington, DC 20472-3005.

by Brian Lowe, Executive Director, Vermont Council on Rural Development The Vermont Council on Rural Development is a tremendous organization, and it has been a privilege to lead the organization for two years. The work supporting people and communities across the state is always important, the VCRD team is talented, dedicated, and thoughtful, and the Board has outstanding leaders who bring valuable perspective to the mission. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Department of Economic Development (DED) in Berlin today announced that businesses and nonprofits that suffered physical damage from the July floods have been awarded $400,000 in Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) grants to date. The $20 million BEGAP program is intended to support the reopening of businesses impacted by the floods. The governor also announced that the two "Vermont Strong" license plates will be ready to order by early next week and will include an incentive from Darn Tough Socks. FEMA also will be sending temporary housing units to Vermont to assist flood victims. And the governor reminded everyone that Saturday is Recovery Clean Up Day.

Vermont Business Magazine Black Knight, Inc (NYSE:BKI) today reported its "first look" at July 2023 month-end mortgage performance statistics derived from its loan-level database representing the majority of the national mortgage market. Vermont remains below the national average in non-current mortgages and has seen the second fastest decline in non-current mortgages in the US. Vermont hit its lowest level in 2004 (2.24%) and its highest in 2012 (9.63%). While the national delinquency rate edged up 9 basis points in July to 3.21%, it was down 12 basis points year over year and remains within 12 basis points of March's record low. Meanwhile, serious delinquencies (90+ days past due) continued to improve, falling to 468K – the lowest level seen since the pre-Great Financial Crisis housing market peak and down 161K (-26%) from July 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Arts Council has awarded more than $40,000 thus far in emergency relief to individual artists whose livelihoods were significantly and adversely affected by the summer’s downpours that flooded basements, homes, and studios. A total of 21 eligible applications were received during the first round of the Council’s special flood relief grant program. The Council was able to offer at least partial funding to all eligible applicants, a total of $35,259 in grants. In addition, a special grant of $5,000 was awarded to Clemmons Family Farm to distribute funding directly to impacted artists in its Vermont African American/African Diaspora Artists Network.