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Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) is working to build resilience and capacity in the region's dairy supply chain. One critical aspect of this work is investing in regional processing. To that end, NE-DBIC has two dairy processing grants that are open now: $12 million in funding is available to help processing facilities located in the Northeast expand utilization of regionally sourced milk, with a focus on acquiring specialized equipment needed to increase processing capacity through volume expansion and existing product line expansion. Open to dairy processors in the Northeast, there are three tiers of funding available to accommodate processors of all scales.

Vermont Business Magazine New England’s annual capacity auction closed with sufficient power system resources to meet peak demand in 2026/2027, and preliminary results indicate the clearing price was among the lowest in the auction’s history. Nearly all of the new resources securing capacity supply obligations were wind, solar, energy storage, or demand-reducing resources. ISO New England Inc. runs the auction each year to procure the resources needed to meet consumer demand for electricity three years later. Held this year on March 6, the 17th Forward Capacity Auction (FCA 17) closed after four rounds of competitive bidding.

Almost 750 MW of new renewable energy, energy storage, and demand-reducing resources secured obligations in FCA 17.

by Joy Choquette, Vermont Business Magazine Sprawling down the eastern side of Vermont, Windsor County boasts a variety of industries in its 977 square miles. As the pandemic winds down, area business leaders and association executives weigh in. Bob Flint, executive director of Springfield Regional Development Corporation, said that demographics and workforce participation are “ongoing challenges” that the county faces. “There needs to be continued work on barriers to sustainable employment,” said Flint, “as well as investments in education and training.” He noted that this comes in the form of career and technical education, both for secondary students and adults. Alongside the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation, the SRDC is collaborating with the Working Communities Challenge projects.

by Kelly Nottermann "If you look online, you can find Chinese food, Italian food and so many ethnic cuisines, but not African,” said Damaris Hall, co-founder of Global Village Foods. “So, we thought, ‘Why not?’ We will be the pioneers of African cuisine, and we’ll do it from Vermont.” A trained chef in Kenya, Hall emigrated to the United States in 1991 with her now-husband and business partner, Mel. The couple settled in Quechee, with dreams of starting their own business. “We always talked about what kind of business we would open,” said Mel. “Even before we left Kenya, we knew that’s what we wanted to do.”

Vermont Business Magazine Rootstock Publishing has announced that three books–and two by Vermont authors–from their 2022 publication year have been named finalists in the 25th annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. All Men Glad and Wise, a mystery by Laura C. Stevenson of Wilmington, Vermont, placed in the Mystery (Adult Fiction) category. Alzheimer’s Canyon: One Couple's Reflections on Living with Dementia, by Jane Dwinell of Burlington, Vermont, placed in the Health (Adult Nonfiction) category. Pauli Murray’s Revolutionary Life, a young adult biography by author Simki Kuznick of Bethesda, Maryland, placed in the Juvenile Nonfiction category.

Vermont Business Magazine How do you improve the ultimate comfort food? Add the remarkable flavor of Guinness! That’s right, when the world’s most popular stout meets Cabot Creamery Co-operative’s World’s Best Cheddar, you get a rich velvety Macaroni & Cheese that is simply irresistible. Guinness Boxed Macaroni & Cheese contains no alcohol and is a bold and magnificently malty flavored take on one of the world’s most popular comfort foods, Mac & Cheese. And it doesn’t disappoint. The Guinness stout-flavored blend is made with award-winning extra sharp Cabot Farmers’ Reserve ready-made cheese sauce combined with organic radiatore pasta. Each box contains approximately three 3.7-ounce servings and takes about 15 minutes to prepare.

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility In late 2022, VBSR, Vermont, and our global changemaker movement lost two very bright stars. As we were penning a remembrance of beloved founding Board member Bruce Seifer, VBSR received the news that Will Raap had passed, sending a wake of shock, reflection, and gratitude through our community and the many others that these two outstanding leaders touched. Both Bruce and Will had a tremendous impact on VBSR and our work to leverage business as a force for good. They shaped individuals, businesses, communities, and our broader movement, and losing them has left a gaping hole in both our hearts and our collective work.

Vermont Business Magazine Switchback Brewing Co, home to Vermont’s iconic Switchback Ale — has released their Roasted Red Ale and Karsten Premium Lager in 16oz cans for the first time. “With the recent addition of a new Quadrel Techline high speed labeler, the brewery now can create out-of-the-box labels that truly fit the personality of each beer,” says Brewery Founder and Brewmaster, Bill Cherry. “The new equipment eliminates color and print limitations of mass-produced pre-printed cans which we used to have to order by the truckload.” Switchback’s graphic designer, Interrobang Design Collective, whom they have worked with since the Brewery’s founding, utilized many of the creative features that Amherst Label offers to make dynamic cans that come alive as you rotate them.

Vermont Business Magazine VermontJobs.com Spring Job Fair will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at the University Mall in South Burlington from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The fair will take place throughout the main thoroughfares of the mall. The job fair is a great opportunity for job seekers of all ages to seek out a new job or even a new career. The VermontJobs.com Job Fair provides access to employers from a wide variety of companies, organizations and industries who are seeking committed and enthusiastic employees to fill hundreds of positions.

Vermont Business Magazine BHAKTA Spirits, the world’s preeminent House of Vintages, has launched its inaugural whiskey vintage — marking a milestone in the portfolio’s boundary-breaking evolution into vintage spirits, a burgeoning category widely seen by experts, collectors, and consumers as the next frontier of craft spirits. This landmark single-year whiskey curated from the global cellars of Whistlepig Whiskey Founder Raj Peter Bhakta signals the beginning of BHAKTA Spirits’ ‘Drink Vintage’ campaign; his first-ever bourbon, this singular vintage release symbolizes the tycoon’s return to his infamous métier — whiskey — which vaulted him to prominence as an iconic progenitor of the American craft spirits movement.

Vermont Business Magazine Kühler Technologies, Inc in Brookfield has launched their handheld performance-enhancing device: Kühler. Kühler accelerates core temperature cooling during exercise by rapidly extracting heat from the hand. As discovered by Stanford researchers, the palms of hands function as radiators, designed to dissipate excess body heat quickly. Active palm cooling greatly accelerates core temperature cooling, restoring the enzyme activity required for peak muscle contraction, and promoting greater strength, better endurance, and faster recovery.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported March 8, 2023, that COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations were largely unchanged over the last week. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. Hospitalizations increased by 6 cases to 43 last week (they were as low as 30 last fall). Total cases fell to 346 (from 350). There were 4 COVID-related deaths in the last week for a pandemic total of 929 as of March 4.