Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Northwest Vermont REALTOR® Association (NVRA) is hosting its annual food drive collecting money and tangible donations for Feeding Chittenden, Champlain Islands Food Shelf, and the Enosburg Food Shelf. The NVRA Food Drive will be accepting financial contributions through PayPal and food item donations of non-perishables from February 14 through March 31.

Vermont Business Magazine Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) held orientation for its newest Corporators on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Because Corporators are key links between members of the community and the hospital, they are an invaluable source of wisdom and perspective for hospital leadership.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets NOFA-VT has grant funds for projects that will improve long-term resilience on farms. NOFA-VT's definition of "resilience" is framed broadly around their mission: to promote organic practices to build an economically viable, ecologically sound, and socially just Vermont agricultural system that benefits all living things. Applications are reviewed anonymously by a committee of Vermont farmers and farmworkers. The maximum grant amount is $2,500. For 2023, NOFA-VT is accepting multi-farm applications.

by Wendy Wilton It turns out the real long-term cost of The Affordable Heat Act, S.5, proposed by the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, is $5 billion over a 5-year period as demonstrated in a detailed financial analysis by the Ethan Allen Institute. Most of that cost will be on the backs of low- and moderate-income Vermonters who will pay for it through increased fuel costs in the range of $5 per gallon. Worse, hoped-for long-term energy savings will not occur. The Ethan Allen Institute analysis supersedes the administration’s previous estimate of $1.2 billion overall cost and a fuel increase of $0.70 to $1.00 per gallon to pay for it.

Vermont Business Magazine New research by bike experts icebike.org analyzed the 50 states based on a review of multiple factors related to mountain biking to establish the best state, with Vermont finishing at the top. The study looked at the number of trails, the percentage of hilly terrain, the number of national parks, the state's bikeability score and the number of top destinations per state. The study revealed that Vermont ranks number one as the best state for mountain biking. Aptly named the ‘Green Mountain State,' Vermont has a total of 2,520 bike trails which equates to 402 trails per 100,000 people, the highest of any state, and 80% of the state has hilly terrain, second to West Virginia with 88%.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are largely unchanged over the last month and today stand at $3.47 per gallon, the same as last week and one cent lower than a month ago. Gas prices are 10 cents/g lower than at the same time last year. The US average is $3.37. Also nationally, diesel has fallen in price which is expected to lower transportation costs.

Vermont Business Magazine Polly, the Williston-based leader in embedded insurance for automotive retail, today announced “Get It Together” a new visual identity and brand campaign developed in collaboration with TBWA\Chiat\Day LA. The company, which rebranded from “DealerPolicy” in early 2022 to better engage consumer audiences, allows dealers to provide access to insurance choice during the car buying process through Polly’s software. The new visual identity and campaign represent the next major steps in the company’s commitment to substantial investment in communicating its brand and value to consumers in partnership with its dealership and automotive partner network.

by Kelly Nottermann “If you look online, you can find Chinese food, Italian food, and so many ethnic cuisines, but not African. 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, Damaris Hall emigrated to the United States in 1991 with her now husband and business partner, Mel. The couple settled in Quechee, Vermont, with dreams of starting their own business. As the couple explored ideas, Damaris found herself nostalgic for familiar foods, such as tagines, samosas, and curries spiced with the flavors of home, so she began to cook. Inspired, Mel and Damaris began selling African food at summer events, which led to vending contracts at larger festivals, such as the Reggae Festival and Bread and Puppet. “People had no idea what they were eating, but they loved it,” said Damaris.

University of Vermont In recent years it has become increasingly common that on some of the hottest days of the summer, the freshwater lakes and ponds that we rely on to cool down are closed due to dangerous cyanobacterial blooms. Beyond this effect on recreation, blooms also have a significant, negative impact on freshwater ecosystems—they release toxins, block light needed by other organisms, and deplete oxygen. Much research has been done and attention has been paid to better understanding conditions that promote cyanobacterial blooms, but most of the focus has been on warm and hot conditions. As global temperatures rise and all seasons in the northeastern US get warmer due to climate change, this focus is understandable; but it doesn’t tell the whole story. There is increasing evidence that cyanobacterial blooms can also occur in cold-water temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit), including ice-covered conditions.

Vermont Business Magazine KeyBank’s Key4Women will present “Grit and Grace”, a free, one-hour virtual event on Wednesday, March 1, at 12pm eastern standard time. The webinar will kick off Women’s History month with guest speaker, Cheryle Jackson, Founder of Grit and Grace, The Movement and current CEO of MyOwnDoctor, a groundbreaking telehealth company. This lively webinar will discuss why practicing grace along with grit is the answer to not only sustaining success but walking in your brilliance to live a life you desire.

Leonine Public Affairs Committees in both chambers advanced major policy initiatives this week. The Senate Natural Resources and Energy committee voted 5-0 to approve S.5, the Affordable Heating Act. The House General and Housing committee voted 9-3 to approve H.66, the paid family and medical leave bill. Both S.5 and H.66 will be referred to other committees for consideration before they reach the floor. On Thursday, the House Education committee received an introduction to H.258, a bill that restricts public dollars to independent schools. Among other provisions, H.258 requires a school district that does not maintain an elementary or high school to designate up to three public schools to serve as the public school of the district. The bill would essentially prohibit most independent schools from receiving public dollars.