Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement & Safety Division and the Vermont State Police have concluded their joint investigation into a June 1 fire that destroyed a natural-gas tanker truck and damaged a portion of US Route 7 in Ferrisburgh. DMV conducted an extensive Level 1 Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program inspection on the truck and trailer. The inspection determined the cause of the fire was a mechanical failure somewhere in the rear axle area of the trailer. Due to the amount of damage, the origin and exact cause of the fire is undeterminable. The tractor-trailer was a total loss in the fire. There was no explosion. 

Vermont Business Magazine In a report released in March, Vermont Auditor Doug Hoffer offered a sobering review of the state's efforts to bring broadband Internet service to residents and businesses across the entire state. Vermont policymakers have struggled for nearly 20 years with the challenge of ensuring high-speed internet reaches every home and business in the state.  Unsurprisingly, the report staes, efforts to serve those the national corporations have ignored have been hampered by the lack of a dedicated source of funding at the level needed, estimated to be between $600-800 million. Multiple waves of COVID-related funding to states, however, has now helped mitigate the cost challenge.

Vermont Business Magazine The Morrisville community on Tuesday celebrated the official grand opening of Village Center Apartments with a ribbon cutting, apartment tours, ice-cream and face painting. Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP) and Evernorth partnered to repurpose an infill lot and develop this highly energy efficient, multifamily apartment building in downtown Morrisville, close to amenities, recreational opportunities, and community services. Village Center Apartments includes 24 new affordable homes for low- and moderate-income residents, including 6 apartments that are reserved for households facing homelessness, right in the heart of downtown Morrisville. 

Vermont Business Magazine T-Mobile just named 25 more recipients of its Hometown Grant program, marking 200 towns supported throughout the United States since the start of 2021. The initiative is part of the "Un-carrier’s" greater effort to connect rural areas and empower communities. Burlington, Vermont, was a recipient for its Champlain Street Park renovation. Mayor Weinberger on Tuesday accepted a $50,000 check Tuesday from T-Mobile on behalf of city.

Vermont Business Magazine Cathedral Square’s Bayview Crossing community in South Hero received a Welcome to the Neighborhood Award at Vermont Housing & Conservation Board’s 35th anniversary celebration earlier this month. The award was presented to Cathedral Square, Champlain Islanders Developing Essential Resources (CIDER), and the Town of South Hero for “your extraordinary dedication over many years to develop housing in the Lake Champlain Islands and for your diligence, resulting in securing a prime location that strengthens the village center of South Hero."

by Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger It’s shameful that, until this moment, there has been nothing in the way of a statewide strategy to end homelessness. When the State opened motels to homeless community members in the early days of the pandemic many Vermonters, myself included, breathed a sigh of relief. We knew that extended stays for these vulnerable households would offer new stability and lower risks from COVID. As time marched on we heard growing concerns over the effects of isolation and lack of direct services for people living in motels. Eventually it became clear to me and mayors across Vermont that this beleaguered program needed to end when its federal funding ran out – so we called for an orderly and collaborative wind down plan.

Vermont Business Magazine Vernal Biosciences, an innovative mRNA and LNP Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (“CDMO”) announced today the completion of a $20MM funding round, led by Ampersand Capital Partners and Charles River Labs with participation from Dynamk Capital and the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies. The company will use the funding to complete its first state of the art GMP manufacturing facility, scheduled to be online July 2023, and support expanded manufacturing and capabilities in support of cGMP manufacturing.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) joined ECFiber, Vermont’s first Communications Union District (CUD), to celebrate the completion of its mission to build broadband in 23 rural Vermont towns throughout East Central Vermont. The project started during a Town Meeting Day in 2008 when over 20 towns voted to join together to bring broadband to their communities. Eventually, this model would be replicated across the state and known as a CUD. ECFiber brought its last broadband ‘hub’ in White River Junction online today during a large ceremony that included several Vermont leaders and longtime advocates for rural broadband access.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation has announced that retired US Senator Patrick Leahy and his wife Marcelle Leahy have established a charitable fund at the nonprofit organization to continue their life’s work of helping Vermont and Vermonters thrive. The Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Fund for Vermont will benefit the state for years to come, the former Vermont senator said in a video announcement. The message was broadcast to an audience of several hundred people attending the Community Foundation’s annual meeting at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland on Thursday, June 22. The new fund is being created with a $500,000 donation from Leahy’s remaining campaign funds.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported June 21, 2023, that COVID-19 hospitalizations remain largely unchanged at a low level (11). COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. There were 2 COVID-related deaths in the last week for a pandemic total of 979 as of June 17 (this is the most recent update). Fatalities have slowed. VDH reported 15 COVID-related deaths in March, 19 in April and 10 in May (the fewest since the summer of 2021) and 4 so far in June.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public in Colchester announced today that Connor Cyrus has resigned from the public radio, television and online service. Cyrus joined the station in 2021 as co-host and senior producer of the weekday public affairs radio program Vermont Edition. Additionally, he has hosted political debates, Vermont This Week, events and produced video features during his time at Vermont Public.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police is undergoing a reorganization process focused on long-term leadership continuity and development. The comprehensive, phased approach also will allow the state police to review the potential of professional staff rather than sworn personnel to take on leadership roles, and to reduce the overall number of command staff positions.