Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Lawson’s Finest Liquids, the award-winning Vermont craft brewery with a commitment to quality and sustainability, is now accepting applications for its 2024 Sunshine Fund. Created to assist nonprofits that support the environment and the people of Vermont, the Sunshine Fund is at the heart of the brewery’s Social Impact Program, known as the SIP. A total of 24 local organizations will be recognized by Lawson’s Finest’s Sunshine Fund awards in 2024. Each Sunshine Fund awardee becomes the partner “On Tap” in the brewery’s Waitsfield taproom for two weeks during the year and receives 100% of Sunshine Fund donations during that period. Vermont-based, tax-exempt nonprofit organizations who have not been selected as Sunshine Fund recipients in previous years are eligible to apply now through August 31. 

Vermont Business Magazine New research has revealed the best states for business growth, with Georgia taking the top spot. Business consulting firm Venture Smarter analyzed data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to discover the business growth rate in each state based on the number of establishments in December 2021 compared to December 2022. Top of the list is Georgia, with a business growth rate of 13.50%. Montana and Vermont are in joint fourth place, with both states seeing a business growth rate of 10.20%. Vermont citizens can take advantage of several business incentives, such as flexible profit distribution, which allows companies registered as LLCs to choose various ways to distribute profits. 

The Vermont State Police has identified a suspect in the March 30, 2023, shooting death of 21-year-old Tamico Williams of Hartford, Connecticut. The shooting occurred inside a residence at 14 Birge St. in Brattleboro. An arrest warrant on a charge of second-degree murder has been issued for Elias J. Lopez, 18, of Hartford, Connecticut. He is currently in custody at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans on an unrelated federal charge. The Windham County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont will coordinate service of the arrest warrant. Lopez has been jailed since Thursday, Aug. 17

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and non-profit partners Center for Whole Communities (CWC), Rights and Democracy Institute, and the Vermont Law School Environmental Justice Clinic recently released an Environmental Justice Community Engagement Report. The report presents on-the-ground community research and data collection that will support DEC and other state agencies and non-profits in conducting their community outreach with an environmental justice lens.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement today following Guatemala’s presidential election: “This weekend, the Guatemalan people cast their ballots in a runoff election to determine their future president and the future of their country. I am encouraged that Sunday’s election was carried out in a peaceful, orderly manner. Despite flagrant attempts by some government institutions to interfere in the electoral process, Bernardo Arévalo, who ran on an anti-corruption platform and pledged to tackle poverty and injustice in the country, won overwhelmingly."

Vermont Business Magazine Tickborne diseases are illnesses that can spread to humans by the bite of infected ticks. Ticks usually feed on the blood of animals, like mice, shrews, chipmunks and deer, but they will also feed on humans. When they bite, ticks can sometimes pass on bacteria, parasites or viruses that can make people sick. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tickborne disease in Vermont. Symptoms of Lyme disease do not begin right away. It can take 3 to 30 days after a tick bite before someone might feel sick. Lyme disease can cause fever, headache, joint pain and swelling, muscle aches, and fatigue. One unique sign of Lyme disease is a distinctive rash that often appears and expands gradually from the site of the tick bite. Over 99% of all tickborne diseases reported to the Vermont Department of Health are caused by the blacklegged tick.

Vermont Business Magazine The fast-approaching start of a new year of early child care and afterschool programming for the Greater Burlington YMCA includes the continued, generous support of NorthCountry Federal Credit Union. For more than a decade, NorthCountry has been the Y’s Community Partner for Youth Development, providing over $1 million in support, including this year’s gift of $50,000. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is now accepting grant applications for the FY 2024 Mobility and Transportation Innovation (MTI) Grant Program. The program is designed to support innovative strategies and projects that improve mobility and access to services for transit-dependent Vermonters, reduce the use of single-occupancy vehicles, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The grant applications are open to municipalities, local and regional planning agencies, transit agencies, school districts and schools, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups focused on providing public transportation resources.

Vermont Business Magazine Thanks to VMEC's Supply Chain grant, you will have Vermont access for life on CONNEX Vermont from the day you register your company. And if you sign up by November 20, 2023, you will receive a FREE YEAR OF FULL NATIONAL ACCESS. Part of the nationwide MEP National Network and hosted by Vermont State University since 1995, VMEC operates as a not-for-profit with a primary mission, “to strengthen and empower Vermont manufacturers.” A local resource and trusted adviser to manufacturing enterprises of all sizes, the VMEC team brings expertise in consulting, coaching, hands-on implementation support, training and education for leaders and workers. 

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of the Dartmouth Health system, announced that it earned an “A” rating and garnered the distinction of “most socially responsible” in Vermont by the Lown Institute, a nonpartisan health care think tank. The only annual ranking to fully integrate racial inclusivity, community investment, and pay equity with traditional outcomes measures, the 2023-24 Lown Index for Social Responsibility evaluates more than 3,600 hospitals in the U.S. and uses 53 metrics to create the Index. The Index indicates the health system's dedication and commitment to healthy patients and the surrounding community.

Vermont Business Magazine State Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced that up to $53.5 million of State of Vermont Citizen Bonds will be offered for sale on August 24. It’s the state’s first bond offering in more than two years. Vermont residents and businesses will be given first priority to the bonds. Maturities will range from one to 10 years, with proceeds going toward previously issued state debt. Bonds may be purchased in $1,000 increments and must be transacted through a registered broker or dealer. The Treasurer’s Office does not sell the bonds. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Mental Health (DMH) is proud to unveil the Suicide Prevention Platform to address the urgent issue of suicide prevention in Vermont. The Platform, created in collaboration with the Center for Health and Learning, will be available to the public as an accessible tool containing resources and information on suicide prevention initiatives distilled into one comprehensive document.