Vermont Business Magazine The first round of Working Lands Enterprise Initiative applications for fiscal year (FY) 2023 is launching! The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) is releasing two requests for applications (RFA) totaling $140,000 that will allow Vermont working lands service provider organizations and producer associations to invest in projects focused on governance and leadership and building workforce development and executive business skills. The application submittal period will begin August 12. The deadline for application submittals is September 23.  

Vermont Business Magazine Bank of Burlington has received a certificate of insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Company (FDIC) and a Certificate of Authority from the State of Vermont Department of Financial Regulation effective August 2, 2022. Bank of Burlington is the newest Vermont Charted Bank since 1989. Bank of Burlington offers custom lending solutions to Vermont businesses and a full suite of deposit products/services to individuals and businesses. Bank of Burlington is a community bank that is looking toward the future; both in the use of technology and differentiating products.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, the Brattleboro, Springfield and White River Junction communities will come together to honor breastfeeding, chestfeeding and lactation. The annual global celebration will highlight this year’s theme of “Step up for Breastfeeding — Educate and Support,” emphasizing the idea that we need to restore support systems to pre-pandemic levels and strengthen their capacity. The Vermont Department of Health supports and encourages breastfeeding because of its important health benefits for both the person who is lactating and the baby.

Vermont Business Magazine The annual Rabies Bait Drop is scheduled to begin on August 5, 2022. The week-long bait drop is part of a nationally coordinated effort between the State of Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to prevent the spread of rabies – a fatal disease. Rabies vaccine — in the form of a sweet-smelling oral bait that is attractive to raccoons and skunks — will be dropped in rural areas of Vermont from low-flying aircraft and placed by hand in residential centers. Pilots are able to control the release of bait in order to avoid residential areas. When an animal bites into the bait, it takes in the oral vaccine and will develop immunity to rabies. Approximately 450,000 quarter-sized blister packs containing rabies vaccine will be distributed in nearly 100 Vermont communities across 8 counties.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont General Fund tax revenues, as expected, continued to exceed expectations for the month of June and for fiscal year 2022, which ended June 30. The vital personal income tax once again led the way, exceeding targets for the month by more than $25 million. With the General Fund and Education Fund revenues comfortably above targets for the year, state revenues will be well above the projected fiscal year total, despite the Transportation Fund missing its target. The T-Fund has struggled to maintain consistency, but the increase in fuel costs could bolster revenues in the near term. Meanwhile, the Ed Fund in June fell back as sales tax receipts under-performed, despite an otherwise strong year.