Current News

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont for the week of June 5, 2023. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it. 

Vermont Business Magazine Six years into their new venture, the Keenes were named the 2023 Vermont Small Business Persons of the Year by the US Small Business Administration. In announcing the award, the SBA cited the center’s employment growth, recent expansion and community-oriented mission. Join VermontBiz and US Small Business Administration as we celebrate the 2023 Vermont SBA Award Winners on June 15.

by Dan Smith, President & CEO Since 1986, the Vermont Community Foundation has been a source of enduring philanthropy that supports the strength of Vermont communities. The ability to work over decades offers an important perspective on how conditions change over time. Given that scope of work, the question we try to stay focused on is what makes for strong communities today and in the years to come? 

Vermont Business Magazine KEEN Utility, a leader in safety footwear and the work boot division of KEEN Inc, has announced the six recipients of its 2023 She Builds Grant Program, including Vermont Works for Women. Launched by KEEN Utility in 2021, the She Builds Grant Program was created to help advance the empowerment of more women entering the skilled trades. Between 2021 and 2026, the program has pledged $1 million in product and financial support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and Canada that are leading the way to provide tradeskills education and support for the next generation of tradeswomen.

Vermont Business Magazine As spring turns to summer and the sun’s rays beat down, it’s tempting to relish afternoons splashing in warm waters – comfortable for an afternoon dip, but life threatening for wildlife. The eastern wild brook trout thrives in water up to 65* and can tolerate a few degrees more. 75* kills. Last year some of Vermont’s major waterways hit 79*. Too easily dismissed as an uncontrollable effect of climate change, shockingly warm waters are more so the result of how we all treat the land – the hundreds of dams that trap bathtub-warm water and the riverside lawns, fields, roads, and parking lots that deprive banks of shady trees. 

Vermont Business Magazine At the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge (NFWR), we welcome people of all backgrounds and abilities to participate in recreational hunting and fishing as priority public uses of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Silvio O. Conte NFWR selected Alternative A with minor modifications for its final 2023 Hunting and Fishing Plan as outlined in the supplemental Environmental Assessment which was released for a 30-day public comment period on April 24, 2023. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express are announcing the 25 historic small restaurants that will each receive $40,000 in grants through the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program.” We’re excited to share that local Lyndonville restaurant Freighthouse Market & Café, is being recognized with a grant to support the growth of their business. This marks the third installment of the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program,” which awards $1 million in grants, administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and funded by American Express, to 25 historic small restaurants throughout the country.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association NVDA is the recipient of $2 million for Brownfield Assessments of contaminated properties in the Northeast Kingdom. The award also includes Revolving low-interest Loan Funds to aid local communities or businesses as they clean up sites for redevelopment. NEK Broadband receives more than $17 million from USDA ReConnect Program. On May 22nd, a portion of St Johnsbury's Summerville neighborhood received designation as a Neighborhood Development Area. Designation benefits include Act 250 considerations, tax credits, relief from certain ANR fees, special permit and tax exemptions, and priority consideration for state grants.

Vermont Business Magazine In 2020 Vermont River Conservancy (VRC) received Clean Water Funding from the Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation for a river design project in Bennington. The objective was to analyze river dynamics and develop engineering plans to restore a section of the Roaring Branch along Route 9 in Bennington.  The end goal of this important project is to implement the engineered plans and restore the floodplain to allow the Roaring Branch to move and shift without constraint, which will reduce erosion and flood hazards downstream as well as build flood resiliency to keep communities safe, and improve aquatic and wildlife habitat.  

Vermont Business Magazine Walmart’s Live Better U (LBU) education program is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Over the past five years, the company has saved associates  nearly half a billion in education costs, reflecting the company’s commitment to create a path for  everyone to learn and grow. This year, Walmart will add the University of Arkansas to its  academic partner list and expand LBU to its associates in Canada. To date, more than 104,000  Walmart and Sam’s Club associates have participated in LBU in the United States. In Vermont, 85 Walmart associates took part in the LBU program. Walmart has six retail stores across the Green Mountain State and employs more than 1,200 associates.

Vermont Business Magazine The Saint Michael's community threw a farewell party Thursday afternoon in Dion Family Student Center's Archway Lounge for President Lorraine Sterritt, who is retiring at the end of June after five years at the helm of the College through challenging times including a pandemic. Guests mingled spiritedly starting ta 3:30 p.m. with high-end culinary treats from Cloud Nine caterers and a variety of beverages including wine, beer, cider, seltzer and soft drinks. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Wednesday continued to explain his reasoning behind his veto of the budget and his ongoing concern for taxes and fees in bills on which he has yet to act. On Thursday he then vetoed charter change bills for Brattleboro and Burlington, while allowing a gun bill to become law without his signature because of constitutional questions. The Legislature has scheduled a three-day "veto session" beginning June 21 to review vetoed bills. Several will be voted on and the budget must be resolved. The fiscal year begins July 1.