Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Lawson’s Finest Liquids, the Vermont craft brewery with a commitment to quality and sustainability, is expanding its lineup and bringing 19.2 oz cans of its flagship, award-winning Sip of Sunshine to coolers across the Northeast ahead of the summer holidays. Lawson’s Finest’s flagship Sip of Sunshine (8% ABV) is a lupulin-laden India Pale Ale packed with juicy tropical fruit character, bright floral aromas and delectable layers of hop flavor. Fans can find this tropical vacation in a can in a new grab-and-go format at convenience stores, grocers, and entertainment venues throughout Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this week, The Vermont Flannel Co. announced the grand opening of their permanent location at 96 Depot St. in Manchester, Vermont. A week-long celebration is taking place from Saturday, May 6 through Saturday, May 13, culminating with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 12, and a Sip & Shop experience on Saturday, May 13. The press and public are invited to celebrate the occasion and to experience the beautiful new store for an authentic Vermont Flannel experience. Through Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14, customers can take 10% off Stadium Blanket purchases in-store with code MOMSDAY10. The ribbon cutting ceremony, hosted in partnership with the Southwestern Chamber of Commerce and Manchester Business Association, will begin on Friday the 12th at 5:30 pm. Smugglers’ Notch Distillery will be offering tastings of their Vermont-made spirits. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served.

Vermont Natural Resources Council A coalition of business, environmental, and equity-focused organizations today called on the Vermont Legislature to override Governor Phil Scott’s veto of S.5, the Affordable Heat Act. This veto comes right on the heels of the Scott Administration’s release of the latest Vermont Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast. This report projects Vermont will miss its legally required 2030 emissions reductions by nearly two thirds. The data shows the largest portion of that shortfall will be driven by a lack of action in the thermal sector — one of the central components of the Affordable Heat Act.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Universal School Meals bill has reached another essential milestone toward being enacted, with the Senate giving preliminary approval to the bill with a voice vote Friday. If enacted, H.165 will continue access for more than 80,000 students to school breakfast and lunch, at no charge to their families. According to the Vermont Agency of Education, an average of 38 percent of students across all supervisory unions during the 2019–2020 school 12 year qualified for free or reduced-price lunch. The bill now returns to the House for final approval before heading to the desk of Governor Phil Scott.

Vermont Business Magazine Gravel & Shea has announced the closing of a $43 million land transaction between SP Land Company, LLC and a Toronto-based developer, Great Gulf. Great Gulf’s acquisition includes 1,095 acres of land, including the future home to the Six Peaks Village at Killington Resort. In March of 2023, Killington voters passed Article 5 on Vermont’s Town Meeting Day. The $47 million bond paved the way for a multi-phase infrastructure and development project including the introduction of municipal water and a redesigned & reconstructed Killington Road. The first residential offering will encompass more than 200 condominiums and townhomes, and extensive retail, restaurants, and amenities for year-round use at Killington Resort.

Climate Solutions Caucus Despite overwhelming Senate and House support and the addition of a “check-back” mechanism per his request, Governor Scott vetoed S.5, the Affordable Heat Act on Thursday. Recently, in just over a year, the price of fuel oil rose by $2 per gallon, and for the first time in Vermont's official tracking history, the thermal sector, which includes residential, commercial, and industrial fuel use, produced the highest amount of climate pollution of any sector tracked in Vermont’s official greenhouse gas inventory. The reality is: for both people and the planet, business as usual doesn’t work.

Vermont State Police Following next of kin notifications, the Vermont State Police is identifying the parties involved in the triple fatal car crash in Albany on Thursday afternoon as the following: June Cleveland of Albany, Linda Major of Albany and Jason Sanville of Albany were all killed; Cricket Santamore, the passenger in vehicle 2, survived and is at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in stable condition. At this stage in the investigation, it appears seatbelts were worn. The circumstances of this crash are still under investigation; however, the primary cause is considered to be vehicle 1 leaving its lane and entering oncoming traffic.

The Vermont State Police has arrested a suspect following a shooting Thursday afternoon in Montgomery that left a man with serious injuries. Robert Morrell, 77, a resident of Highland Springs Road, was taken into custody on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was ordered by the court to be released on a citation to appear for arraignment at 1 p.m. Friday, May 5, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans. The victim is identified as Kevin Temple, 54, who also lives on Highland Springs Road. Investigators have determined the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute about the maintenance of the private road where both men lived. During an argument Thursday afternoon, Morrell produced a .22-caliber revolver and shot the victim one time in the torso. Morrell remained at the scene and was taken into custody by police following investigation of the incident.

Vermont Business Magazine The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, today announced Amplify Fund grant recipients in Vermont, totaling $350,000 committed to four non-profit organizations focused on environmental justice. First announced in May 2022, the Amplify Fund is a $25 million philanthropic investment as part of the merger between People’s United Bank and M&T Bank. Powered by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Amplify Fund is a one-time supplemental charitable program to provide further support in the legacy People's United communities throughout New England and New York, to benefit low- and moderate-income communities and underrepresented populations using a racial equity and justice lens.

Vermont Business Magazine Sugarbush Resort will reopen for skiing and riding this Friday, May 5th, Saturday, May 6th, and Sunday, May 7th. Available terrain is projected to include Stein’s Run and Coffee Run, with additional terrain assessed later this week. Conditions permitting, The Valley House Quad will run 10 AM – 5 PM on Friday and 9 AM – 5 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. Sugarbush is welcoming all passholders to enjoy the weekend, with all Sugarbush passes, including midweek passes and midweek Quad Packs, valid for the weekend.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced he had vetoed, as expected, S.5, the Affordable Heat Act bill. In a letter to the Legislature, he reiterated his ongoing concerns with the cost of the law to lower-income and rural Vermonters and his view that the language of the bill is complex and confusing. Meanwhile, he did sign into law two bills related to charter changes in Springfield and Barre. "As Governor, I believe we must make Vermont more affordable by helping Vermonters keep more of what they earn, while we simultaneously make transformative, strategic investments in important areas like community revitalization, climate action, housing, childcare, clean water, and broadband. I also believe government transparency is essential to maintaining faith and trust in our democracy. When we pass laws, we must clearly communicate both the burdens and the benefits to Vermonters. From my perspective, S.5 conflicts with these principles, and I cannot support it."

Vermont Business Magazine M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB) has announced the appointment of Heidi Stumpff as the new Regional President for Vermont. With 24 years in the banking industry, including the last decade at People’s United Bank, Stumpff brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the M&T Team. In this role, Stumpff will oversee all aspects of the bank’s operations in Vermont, including strategic planning, business development, commercial banking, community markets, and community engagement. Prior to assuming this role, Stumpff was Senior Vice President and Region Manager of Commercial Real Estate at M&T and People’s United Bank. She’s also served as Vice President of Commercial Lending at TD Bank and Wells Fargo.