Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday a letter was sent to Vermont state senators from a coalition of Vermont businesses, organizations, and individuals in support of investment in Vermont’s cellular infrastructure. While supporting the state's significant investment and effort in expanding broadband Internet service, the coalition is asking lawmakers to also support investments in wireless connectivity this session "so that Vermont can start addressing the unserved and underserved areas of our state."

Vermont Business Magazine The Small Business Administration is hosting a free webinar at noon April 5 about its guaranteed loan programs. SBA guarantees loans making it easier for small businesses to get the funding by reducing lender risk. Funds can be used for most business purposes, including long-term fixed assets and operating capital. Amounts range from $500 to $5.5 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the National Institute of Innovation and Technology (NIIT), the leader in developing the nation’s semiconductor talent pipeline, and GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS), one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, have established a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at GF’s site in Essex Junction, Vermont. This program leverages the initial pilot established at GF’s site in Malta, NY, making it the first national, multi-site RAP in the semiconductor industry. It is designed specifically to meet GF’s technician workforce needs and to provide the skills necessary to progress into higher level positions over time.

Vermont State Police Around 4:26PM, a canine search team from New England K9 Search and Rescue located the body of the missing teenager, Rebecca Ball, in Weybridge. Her body was found in a wooded area on the west side of Otter Creek north of Beldens Falls. Her body will be transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Per standard protocol, the death is being investigated by a detective trooper with the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations. The death is not considered suspicious.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jeremiah Smith, 44, of Burlington, was sentenced yesterday to 46 months of imprisonment in the United States District Court by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III. Smith previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. Judge Sessions also ordered that Smith serve three years of supervised release after his term of imprisonment. According to court records, on November 3, 2021, Burlington Police received a report of a pickup truck being stolen from Pine Street in Burlington. The owner of the truck also relayed that a 9mm firearm had been in the truck at the time it was stolen. Burlington Police located the truck on Pearl Street in Essex, Vermont. Essex Police Officers responded to the location of the vehicle and observed Smith as the sole occupant. Smith refused to roll down his window or exit the vehicle after repeated requests.

Vermont Business Magazine Mascoma Bank has announced that two new members have joined its Board of Directors. The new members are Mohamed Basha, Founder/CEO of TLC Nursing Associates, Inc. and Jeff Chu, Co-Founder and Partner of Features Capital. "We’re thrilled to welcome Mohamed and Jeff to the Board of Directors. They both have a wealth of experience and interest in supporting our communities and the people within them in innovative and responsible ways,” shared Deirdre Goodrich, Board Chair. “They will be valuable contributors to Mascoma Bank as we continue to build our reputation as a forward-thinking community bank that keeps customers and reinvestment in our communities at the center of our decisions.”

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) on Tuesday visited Community Health Center in Castleton, VT, a primary care center serving Vermonters throughout Rutland County. Sen. Welch highlighted Community Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program and celebrated the Center’s community-based outreach programs. His visit coincided with National Public Health Week, which celebrates the contributions of health care providers like Community Health. These providers are particularly essential in rural states like Vermont, where health care access is more limited and consistent access to primary care is vital.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Carl Martin, 37, of Colchester, Vermont, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court in Burlington to 48 months of imprisonment following his June 2022 conviction at trial on drug charges. United States District Judge William K Sessions III also ordered Martin to serve four years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. According to public records, in February 2018, Carl Martin was involved in a shooting in front of the Nectar’s Bar on Main Street in Burlington. Just before the shooting, Carl Martin punched Rashad Nashid in the face and pointed a firearm at him. In return, Nashid fired his own gun in the direction of Martin. The gunshot hit an innocent bystander who was seriously wounded. In connection with the shooting, Nashid received a 150-month sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Carl Martin was never charged for his involvement in the shooting.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $62,283,000 to Vermont to fund essential drinking water infrastructure upgrades through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Thanks to a $6 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is increasing the investments available to rebuild the nation’s water infrastructure. “Every Vermonter deserves clean and safe drinking water. I fought for improvements to Vermont’s water infrastructure in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and am proud to see these funds come to our state,” said U.S. Senator Peter Welch. “I look forward to working with the EPA and our local partners to put this major investment to good use.”

Vermont Business Magazine In an effort to reduce Vermont’s recidivism rate and support workforce development, the Community College of Vermont (CCV) is partnering with the Vermont Department of Corrections to deliver the Corrections Post-Secondary Education Initiative (CPSEI). Supported by a federal grant from the Department of Justice, the program provides tuition-free college courses to Department of Corrections staff and Vermonters who are incarcerated. CCV and the Department of Corrections express their gratitude toward Senator Sanders’s Office for securing funding for the program as part of a $38 million package to support initiatives that strengthen Vermont communities.

Vermont Business Magazine For the past eight months, the Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op of Middlebury has been marketing shares in a proposed community solar project, Acorn Energy Solar 4 (AES4), to be located on the closed Hinesburg landfill in Vermont Electric Cooperative’s (VEC) service territory. However, only about a third of the available units in the project have been spoken for as of April 1, 2023. Acorn has agreed with its builder, Aegis Renewable Energy of Waitsfield, that unless Acorn is able to complete the sale of at least 75% of AES4 shares to investors by Thursday, April 20, Acorn will cease its AES4 marketing efforts. Given the time constraints, Aegis has indicated that it intends to exercise its option on April 20th if Acorn cannot find enough investors by then. Aegis must complete project construction by July 6, 2023, to satisfy the CPG.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas has hired Kevin Rushing to be the Office of Professional Regulation’s (OPR) new director. Kevin served in the Federal government for 38 years, at both the U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Department of State. He was in high-level management positions that oversaw the United States’ national security and diplomatic interests, economic and social development programs, humanitarian efforts, and disaster assistance in developing countries. He also trained as a veterinarian, is a former deputy sheriff, and has most recently supervised a security team at Rutland Regional Medical Center.