Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Associated Builders and Contractors New Hampshire/Vermont has announced that Matt Wheaton, executive vice president of DEW Construction, has been named 2023 Chair of the Board. Wheaton oversees estimating, business development, preconstruction and marketing at DEW Construction. His successful career in the construction industry began even before college as a carpenter’s apprentice, where he was first exposed to all facets of residential construction. He went on to pursue the field of architecture, graduating with honors and receiving a Master of Architecture degree from Norwich University. Wheaton has served on the ABC NH/VT board of directors since 2018.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) is beginning a robust public engagement process to identify opportunities to help Vermont chart a path forward to protect the long-term viability of forest-based businesses and the many benefits they provide to the state’s environment, economy, and quality of life. To launch the project, FPR is asking all users of Vermont forest products to complete a survey to help understand their perspectives and opinions about key topics shaping the future of the forest economy and forest products sector in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) wishes to remind all Vermont farmers of Act 135 of 2022. This new law established that beginning January 15, 2023, any Vermont farm which withdrew 10,000 gallons or more of surface water within a 24-hour period in the preceding calendar year, or 150,000 gallons or more of surface water over any 30-day period in the preceding year, shall file a report with VAAFM. Farm surface water withdrawal reporting forms are due to VAAFM by January 31, 2023.

National Holiday to Honor the Iconic Civil Rights Leader

Vermont Business Magazine Post Offices across Vermont will be closed on Monday, January 16, as our employees pause to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Street delivery on Monday will be limited to guaranteed overnight parcels and there will be no collection of mail.

Full retail and delivery operations will resume on Tuesday, January 17.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College will honor and celebrate Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a week-long series of short talks, films, and events starting Monday, January 16. These events will encourage students, faculty, staff, and community members to add their voices to the discussion of MLK's contributions, legacy, and the challenging work that remains for us all. A highlight of the day will be a keynote address by Neil Phillips, Chief Diversity Officer of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), who will speak on celebrating human value: grace and renewal. Phillips is a nationally renowned speaker and entrepreneur who brings visibility to the most pressing issues of our time. A Harvard University graduate and former professional basketball player, he now creates opportunities to elevate human value in education, business, and the public/private sector.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont has announced the appointment of Katharine Shepherd, Ed.D., as dean of the College of Education and Social Services (CESS) effective Jan. 15. Shepherd is the Levitt Family Green and Gold Professor of Education who served as interim dean of the college since July of 2021. In addition to her extensive teaching record, she has held numerous leadership positions, including Special Education Program coordinator, vice chair of the Department of Education, interim associate dean for academic affairs and research, associate dean for academic affairs, and interim dean of the college.

Leonine Public Affairs Lawmakers settled into their new committees this week and began the process of familiarizing themselves with the areas of government they oversee. Administration officials from agencies and departments across state government provided the legislative committees with overviews of the work they do and started to lay the groundwork for Governor Phil Scott’s priorities, which will be detailed in his budget address next week.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Mayors Coalition (VMC) have announced their 2023 Legislative Agenda and its commitment to collaborate on and advocate for these areas of common interest for their cities. The Coalition’s priorities include housing, homelessness, support for substance use and mental health, public safety, childcare and public transportation. The Vermont Mayors Coalition was created in 2013 by Vermont’s eight mayors. Six mayors must concur on any recommendation for the Coalition to take a position.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont gets millions in new Appropriations as Leahy casts final vote; November tax revenues surge ahead of targets; Vermont’s unemployment rate increases to 2.5% in November; Governor Scott launches voluntary paid family and medical leave; ‘Visionary’ Vermont entrepreneur Will Raap dies, 73; Blue Cross to halt relationship with OneCare Vermont in 2023; GlobalFoundries cuts 148 from Vermont plant.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) has announced the results of its December 6, 2022 annual election of VMEC Advisory Board members. Newly elected to the VMEC Advisory Board for two-year terms were Melissa Bounty, Assistant Director, Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (Montpelier) and Cristin O’Donnell, Director of Training and Development, Cabot Creamery Cooperative/ Agri-Mark Inc. (Waitsfield). Dr. Parwinder Grewal, Ph.D., President, Vermont State University (Randolph Center) was designated an ex-officio Advisory Board member.

Saint Michael’s College students planning careers focused on the environment – or those hoping to better understand humans’ impact on the natural world – will directly benefit from federal funding included in the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, thanks to the hard work of alumnus and now-retired Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy ‘61. The approximately $6.5 million funding – the largest direct grant ever received by the College – will fund the continued growth and development of the College’s Center for the Environment. The Center, which was officially launched in 2019, creates and supports interdisciplinary, project-based, and place-based education in, for, and about the environment.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s state-wide Free Ice Fishing Day is Saturday, January 28, 2023.

Free Ice Fishing Day is held annually on the last Saturday in January. The day is geared toward giving new ice anglers an opportunity to try ice fishing before purchasing equipment, but any angler may ice fish on any waterbody open to ice fishing statewide without a fishing license on Free Ice Fishing Day.

To celebrate, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is holding an Ice Fishing Festival at Silver Lake State Park in Barnard—its first since the start of the pandemic. The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages as well as families with kids.