Current News

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine The more you learn about Janice St. Onge, the president of the Flexible Capital Fund, the more you understand why some Vermont things are truly unique and special: It's the people. St. Onge, 61, is a true pioneer in the investment community, one who has been working quietly to improve the economy for several decades. She created the for profit Flex Fund, as it is called, in 2011, at the request of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF). Its specialty: providing flexible risk capital, including revenue-based financing, for young companies in Vermont's food system, forestry and clean technology spaces.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and members of his cabinet will be in Orleans County on Wednesday, September 25 for its Capital for a Day 14-county tour. Governor Scott first launched this initiative in June 2018, and he and his cabinet visited all 14 counties over the following 10 months. Capital for a Day gives local constituents, municipal government leaders and other partners the opportunity to connect directly with state leadership and staff. In addition to the public schedule listed below, Governor Scott and members of his cabinet will participate in meetings to discuss municipal flood response and recovery, public safety, and challenges business owners are facing which are not open to the general public.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of September 24, 2024. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Foundation is pleased to share that the Addison Community Athletics Foundation and Middlebury Indoor Tennis have been named 2024 Organization of the Year by the U.S. Tennis Association of New England. The award recognizes the quality and diversity of youth programs at the nonprofit facility and its commitment to making programs accessible and affordable to the local community. David and Eleanor Ignat of Ripton opened Middlebury Indoor Tennis in 2001. It’s now owned and operated by the Addison Community Athletics Foundation, which they established at the Vermont Community Foundation. Its mission complements the Vermont Community Foundation’s commitment to build philanthropic resources that sustain healthy and vital Vermont communities now and into the future.  

Vermont Business Magazine Lawson’s Finest Liquids announces the release of Deaf Glow IPA (7.2% ABV). Part of the brewery’s Good Brews for a Cause program, Deaf Glow will be released during the month of September, Deaf Awareness Month, a time to advocate for inclusion, accessibility, and promoting the rights of Deaf people. Join us on Sept. 21 for a party at Lawson’s Finest’s destination brewery and taproom in Waitsfield to celebrate the release of Deaf Glow. Dry-hopped with Mosaic, Galaxy and Simcoe, this IPA has a golden hue, brimming with dank, fruity character. Deaf Glow was crafted to benefit two local organizations, the Vermont Association of the Deaf and the Yolande Henry Community Foundation, which provides interpretive services that are not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Vermont State Police Brian Crossman Jr., 22, of Granville, New York, made an initial appearance Friday afternoon in Warren County Court in Lake George, New York, on a charge of being a fugitive from justice. The charge relates to an arrest warrant for him obtained by the Vermont State Police on three counts of aggravated murder arising from the Sept. 15, 2024, triple homicide of his father, stepmother and stepbrother in Pawlet, Vermont. Crossman Jr. was remanded to the Warren County Jail without bail pending another hearing in New York court next week. Arrangements for his extradition to Vermont remain pending.

Vermont Business Magazine New Chapter, a Vermont-based vitamin and supplement company with a mission to deliver the wisdom of Nature to nourish mind, body, and soul, has released its first-ever Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) product. Available exclusively on NewChapter.com, the New Chapter Organic Holy Basil Booster Powder is produced using the pinnacle of organic agricultural standards. This launch marks a significant milestone in New Chapter's journey, reflecting the company's dedication to advancing regenerative practices and setting a standard in the vitamin and supplement industry.

Vermont Business Magazine Barr Hill Gin, America's most awarded gin and creator of Landcrafted spirits, is thrilled to announce the winner of its second annual Royal Jelly Cocktail Competition. Chef Shintaro Eleazar Tozzo of Bar Moga (New York, NY), took home the top prize with his cocktail, the “Bee Bop.” Lauren Simmons took second place honors for her cocktail, the “Bugs Hunny.” The competition, held on August 25, 2024, at Barr Hill's James Beard-nominated Bar and Distillery in Montpelier, Vermont, showcased the talents of eight remarkable semifinalists from across the Northeast. Competitors were tasked with creating the best Bees' Knees-inspired cocktail using Barr Hill Gin, lemon, and honey, while highlighting the importance of sustainability in the spirits industry.

Vermont Business Magazine Temperature, precipitation, wind speed—the U.S. government has plenty of ways to measure our climate. But how do we measure the impacts of climate on our communities, economies, and ecosystems? The new Climate Measurements Center of Excellence (CMeC) at the University of Vermont (UVM) will answer this need, thanks to a $2.7M investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. The new Center at UVM will advance U.S. climate impact assessment and planning by providing national, state, tribal, and local governments with standardized methods and metrics, addressing a lack of standards in regional climate change measurement.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for August was 2.2 percent. This reflects an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. There were only marginal changes in the major metrics. However, the increase in the number of unemployed outpaced both employment and the labor force. Vermont still has the second lowest jobless rate in the nation, behind South Dakota (2.0%). Nevada is highest at 5.5%. The United States rate in August was 4.2 percent, a decrease of one-tenth.

VermontBiz is proud to announce the winners of its Rising Stars recognition award. The list is comprised of 40 winners under the age of 40. Award recipients were selected by a panel of judges for their commitment to business growth, professional excellence, and involvement in their communities. “We are thrilled by the response to this initiative to recognize these up-and-coming leaders nominated by the Vermont business community. This is our 15th year,” said VermontBiz Publisher. “We received over 180 outstanding nominations this year. The total number of honorees over the past 14 years now totals 681."

The Vermont State Police on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect in the killings of three people last weekend in Pawlet. Brian Crossman Jr., 23, of Granville, New York, faces three counts of aggravated murder arising from the fatal shootings of his father, 46-year-old Brian Crossman Sr.; his stepmother, 41-year-old Erica (Pawlusiak) Crossman; and his 13-year-old stepbrother, Colin Taft. Evidence shows the killings occurred early Sunday morning, Sept. 15, inside the family home on Vermont Route 133 that Crossman Sr. shared with his wife and stepson. After the issuance of the Vermont arrest warrant, the New York State Police located Crossman Jr. and took him into custody. He is being detained without bail pending an appearance before a New York judge and the initiation of proceedings for his extradition to Vermont.