Current News

Shelburne Museum Join us Saturday, May 11, for Art, Music, & Tours. Just in time for Mother's Day, Shelburne Museum opens for the season on Saturday, May 11. To celebrate the exciting new season, we're holding Community Day with free admission. Come experience inspiring new exhibitions and visit the beloved galleries, buildings, and gardens that make Shelburne Museum a place like no other. Saturday, May 11, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Free admission, live music, art making activities, garden and gallery tours, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine Spruce Peak Realty announces a total of more than $80 million in closed sales for The Treehouse, a spectacular four-story mountain retreat and the first all-electric building of its kind in Stowe. It is the fourth major luxury residential development at Spruce Peak in the past six years. With only one residence remaining, The Treehouse is fast approaching a sell-out as buyers look to own an incredible piece of alpine real estate within Spruce Peak's luxury slopeside community. The Treehouse exemplifies contemporary mountain living – each of the 48 residences has been designed with thoughtful details such as floor-to-ceiling windows, oak floors, local quarry granite countertops, Nordic-inspired furniture, and Vermont artwork, allowing generations to come together to enjoy mountain adventures. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) has awarded over $540,000 in grants to maple producers and processors through the Maple Agriculture Development Grants program. Eleven producers, ranging in size from 500 to 30,000 taps, received funds for operational efficiency, food safety, and climate resilience improvement projects. The award represented the largest ever state investment in maple producers.  Acting on the recommendation of Governor Scott’s Future of Agriculture Commission, this first-time program will help grow, develop, and sustain maple, produce, and meat businesses throughout the state.  

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont (UVM) Grossman School of Business (Grossman School) hosted the final presentations of the inaugural Joy and Jerry Meyers Cup yesterday at the Ifshin Hall Keller Room. Out of the three UVM undergraduate teams that presented their business ideas to a panel of judges, Painting With Purpose won the grand prize of $212,500 in cash, with additional in-kind services from local organizations included to ensure their successful business launch and support the Vermont entrepreneurial community. This is the first time a competition has awarded cash prizes of this magnitude to college students in Vermont. The Joy and Jerry Meyers Cup is one of two new entrepreneurial competitions launched by UVM, also including the Vermont Pitch Challenge for high school students, which recently named its first winner in the program’s history.

Vermont Business Magazine This week marked a crucial milestone for Vermont’s public education system as the House passed the annual yield bill, H.887, which aims to provide relief to property taxpayers and sets a clear path forward for education finance and taxation. It passed out of the House Wednesday on a vote of 101- 39, which, as is, would be sufficient to override a gubernatorial veto if it were to come to that. Governor Phil Scott has frequently made the point that Vermonters are already overtaxed, and this plan would raise property taxes by an average of nearly 15%. The bill is now in the Senate Finance Committee for review. JFO estimates that these yields and rates will correspond with an average increase of approximately 14.97% for homestead property tax bills and income education tax bills, and an average increase of 17.99% for nonhomestead property tax bills. 

Vermont Business Magazine iSun Inc. (NASDAQ: ISUN) announced Thursday afternoon that its Board of Directors has approved the rescission of the previously announced reverse stock split that was planned for today, April 26 and announced on Wednesday, April 24. The decision to rescind the reverse stock split was made after careful consideration and analysis of market conditions, and the Williston-based company’s financial performance outlook, iSun said in a statement. The Board of Directors believes that this action is in the best interest of the company and its shareholders. iSun also recently re-installed Jeff Peck as CEO and hired a restructuring expert as CFO. As a result of the rescission, the reverse stock split that was previously approved will not be implemented, and the company’s outstanding shares will remain unaffected by the split.

Vermont Business Magazine Cannatrol, the North Springfield-based creators of the only total dry, cure and store system for the cannabis industry, announced today the approval of two European patents for its Vaportrol Technology, protecting the proprietary technology throughout the European Union. Cannatrol’s patented postharvest technology is proven to increase yields and curing efficiency, and delivers on average 16% higher terpene retention when compared to traditional drying and curing methods, according to independent testing by The Cannabis Research Coalition. Throughout drying, curing and storage, the environment will stay consistent and repeatable no matter the season, climate or geographic location.

Vermont State Police and Department for Children and Families began an investigation on 4-9-2022 after mandated reporters notified police/DCF that Robert J. Beaulieu SR was suspected of sexual contact with adolescent female family/household members.  After an investigation and identification of 3 victims, Beaulieu SR. was arrested and charged with the above offense and was flash cited to appear in Rutland Criminal Court on 4-26-2024. 

by Holly Sullivan, Community News Service Ever whizzed through a work zone when it seems no one is looking? Even with no cops around, your speeding could get you a ticket if a bill this session becomes law. S.184 would put automated law enforcement cameras in work zones on Vermont’s limited-access highways, such as Interstates 89 and 91, where speeds are higher and drivers can be more reckless. The camera rigs can read speeds, and if one catches you driving more than 10 mph over the limit, it takes a photo of your license plate. Within 30 days, you’ll get a ticket in the mail. The first violation would yield only a warning, but if you’re caught again, you’d be charged $80. A third offense and onward comes with a $160 fine. The bill says cameras would only be on while crews are out in the work zone. Lawmakers are framing S.184 — now in the House after passing the Senate last month — as a 16- to18-month pilot program. Over that span, officials would track how the public responds to automated law enforcement, as well as its impact on road safety. 

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Chief Administrative Officer Katherine Schad, and city department heads recently held a press conference to discuss the FY25 budget. The estimated deficit has increased from $9M to approximately $13M. The city is committed to delivering an affordable, sustainable budget that meets the city’s needs. Efforts to close the gap include identifying efficiencies, adjusting staffing figures to reflect current hiring challenges, and reviewing programs created with one-time funds. The mayor emphasized a commitment to transparency with City staff, union leaders, City Councilors, and Burlington residents as FY25 budget planning continues. 

by Holly Sullivan, Community News Service After high levels of the toxins known as PCBs permanently shut down Burlington High School, Vermont mandated all schools built or renovated before 1980 to conduct indoor air quality tests. The Agency of Education, and schools themselves, were on the hook to pay for it. H.873, a bill passed by the House and now in the Senate, would shift both responsibilities to PCB manufacturers first. The bill says companies that distribute PCBs must pay for the testing and removal of the chemicals in Vermont’s schools. But the bill has a caveat that’s triggered debate in the capitol: If a company doesn’t have enough money to pay, the state will pick up the slack through the education fund. And if money set aside for testing and removal dips below $4 million, testing will pause entirely.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today reported its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. Highlights for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024: Revenues were $341.0 million for the quarter, up $78.4 million, or up 29.9%, from the same period in 2023; Overall solid waste pricing was up 5.5% from the same period in 2023, driven by 6.2% collection price growth and 4.0% disposal price growth; Net loss was $(4.1) million for the quarter, as compared to net income of $3.5 million for the same period in 2023; and Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $71.0 million for the quarter, up $20.4 million, or up 40.2%, from the same period in 2023.