Current News

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.

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.