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Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Creamery, renowned for its exceptional artisanal dairy products, is proud to announce its outstanding achievement at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards (ICDA). The company has received an impressive total of twelve awards, further solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.  The ICDA, recognized as a prestigious global competition, celebrates excellence and innovation in the dairy industry. Vermont Creamery's exceptional products were recognized across various categories, reflecting the brand's commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Among the notable achievements, Vermont Creamery's Chocolate & Cherry Goat Cheese made a remarkable debut by securing its first-ever award.   

Vermont Business Magazine What happens when you bring together hundreds of Vermont technologists, CEOs, professors, artists, authors, and government leaders for two days of far-reaching discussion about achieving a brighter economic future for our region? Partnership. Exploration. Collaboration. Creativity. And a whole lot of networking. Last week, the University of Vermont opened its campus to the region’s business leaders, entrepreneurs, and economic development organizations with the first Research, Innovation, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Summit, introducing an intensive new partnership approach to building a bright and prosperous future for Vermont and the region.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has vetoed legislation designed to update and substantially expand the scope of the state’s popular beverage redemption program, commonly known as the Bottle Bill. The proposed legislation passed last Tuesday when the House of Representatives concurred with a version of the bill approved by the Senate last month. The House action came during a special one-day veto override session.   

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed the emergency housing bill, H.171, that had been hammered out as a compromise with legislative leaders in the days before last week's "veto session." The bill updates the General Assistance "hotel/motel" homeless program into next year, as well as provides additional money and guidelines going forward. Also today, Governor Scott vetoed an updated "bottle bill," as expected, which would have greatly expanded the beverage container redemption law. In doing so he said it was too expensive and onerous for wholesalers and retailers and, in any case, not necessary with the success of the "zero-sort" recycling program. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association (aka CATMA) and Bird, a leader in environmentally friendly electric transportation, are teaming up to bring a shared electric assist bike system to the region. CATMA is part of a longstanding commitment to expand affordable, sustainable transportation choices. They are joined by the cities of Burlington, South Burlington and Winooski, and its institutional partners at the University of Vermont (UVM), Champlain College and the UVM Medical Center. These electric assist bikes will provide another option for people to travel, whether it be going to work, appointments, the gym, errands, or activities. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are unchanged from last week at $3.60 per gallon. They're down 5 cents/g from a month ago and down $1.33 cents from a year ago. The lowest price in the state is $3.30/g in Middlebury, while the highest is $4.95/g in Bloomfield. The national average price of gasoline is down 7 cents/g from last week, averaging $3.51/g today.

Vermont Business Magazine At an event Wednesday in Waterbury, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S Regan announced a $7 billion grant competition for rooftop and residential solar that will increase access to affordable, resilient, and clean solar energy for millions of low-income households in Vermont and across the country. Sanders and Administrator Regan were joined at the announcement by Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont), SunCommon’s cofounder and president, and other community leaders.

Vermont Business Magazine ISO New England has joined with two other power grid operators in support of a proposal from eight Northeast states to facilitate the clean energy transition through enhanced transmission planning across regional borders. The officials said the proposed partnership between DOE, the states, and the three affected Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) could help “strengthen our power grid, drive down consumer costs, and accelerate the deployment of clean energy,” particularly offshore wind.

Vermont Business Magazine As many Vermonters head for the water this Fourth of July weekend, it’s a good time to know what cyanobacteria blooms look like so you can avoid them. Cyanobacteria blooms can be harmful to your health and have already closed some beaches recently. Cyanobacteria (sometimes called blue-green algae) are tiny microorganisms that are a natural part of fresh water ecosystems. Under certain conditions, cyanobacteria can multiply quickly, creating blooms on the water’s surface that can also wash up along shorelines. Blooms can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation is issuing an air quality alert for Vermont beginning at 10 AM on Thursday, June 29, 2023 through midnight. Wildfire smoke from Quebec is expected to elevate concentrations of fine particles to code Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (i.e. people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children) on the Air Quality Index. Particle pollution may be Moderate on the Air Quality Index for the morning hours and worsen later in the day.

Vermont Business Magazine To provide cleaner transportation options for residents to curb greenhouse gas emissions and meet daily trip needs, the State of Vermont has re-opened the nation’s first statewide incentive program that offers pre-paid vouchers for electric bicycle (e-bike) purchases. The Vermont eBike Incentive Program, which first launched last July, is a limited-time offering available to income-eligible Vermonters on a first-come, first-served basis. Starting now, incentives will be available until the $150,000 in funding authorized this year is exhausted.

Vermont Business Magazine Coombs Family Farms, a seventh-generation producer of pure and organic maple and the number one organic maple brand, today announced it has completed the transition to 1,200 solar panels on the rooftops of its production facility for final grid interconnection to a 500 kW AC system. Annually, the system is expected to generate over 760,000 kWh, or roughly enough energy to provide 105 homes with electricity per year. The energy will cover more than 75 percent of Coombs Family Farms’ annual electric needs for production.