A new report and map from UVM's Center for Research on Vermont finds more than 40 Vermont towns spend more on their libraries than they do on police services. See the data here. On average towns spend about $36 per capita on their local library and $105 per capita on police. On average towns spend about $143,000 on libraries and about $756,000 on police – a $613,000 difference. Map prepared by Cory Dawson. Teaching sustainability through language Societies, cultures, and thoughts are powered, defined, and limited by language.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/june/25/vrn-black-vultures-gendered-impacts-covid-19-library-spending-vs-police-spending

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Vermont Business Magazine With spring and summer cleaning underway, the Department of Environmental Conservation wants to remind and encourage Vermonters to follow a few guidelines for on-premise or backyard open burning. Burning materials from spring cleanup can release harmful pollution that can impact neighboring properties. By following these guidelines, Vermonters can help reduce air pollution, avoid nuisance impacts, and protect human and environmental health. The on-premise or backyard burning of brush, deadwood, or tree cuttings collected from normal property maintenance is allowed under the Vermont Air Pollution Control Regulations, as long as no public or private nuisance, such as excessive smoke, is created.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/june/23/backyard-burning-reminders-released

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Rosebrook Lodge Recognized for Best Event Space Category Vermont Business Magazine TruexCullins won the 2022 HD Award for Excellence in Hospitality Design, Best Event Space, for the Rosebrook Lodge at Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. The HD Award, presented by Hospitality Design Magazine, celebrates the best of the best in the hospitality industry's most influential and innovative design work. TruexCullins was one of three finalists in the Best Event Spaces category, competing against more than 1,100 product and project submissions from U.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/june/15/truexcullins-wins-hd-award-excellence-hospitality-design

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Vermont Business Magazine Facing an urgent need to recruit more foster parents to provide safe and loving homes for children and youth, the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) is expanding its recruitment efforts by partnering with the Pride Center of Vermont and RaiseAChild, the nationwide leader in the recruitment and support of LGBTQ+ and all prospective parents interested in building safe and loving families for children and youth in foster care. Recruitment of foster parents from a diverse cross-section of the state will include multi-media campaigns, events, and monthly virtual information/orientation sessions.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/june/05/vermont-expands-efforts-recruit-foster-parents

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Photo: Hotel Brooks in Brattleboro. Courtesy photo. by Clare Morgana Gillis, Vermont Business Magazine Windham County residents often speak of their appetite for more robust economic development and the desire to create a place where young people don't need to leave to get a good job or be able to afford to buy a home. But the problem with that appetite is that even if it's fed, there's no place for the byproduct to run off; lack of investment in infrastructure, in particular wastewater treatment, hampers the construction of new housing.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/may/21/windham-county-economic-report-you-need-housing-and-housing-needs-infrastructure

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Steady Cadence of Awards Reinforces Leadership in the Dairy Aisle, Recognizing Best-In-Class Quality Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Creamery , B Corp Certified makers of consciously crafted artisanal cheese and butter, today announced it won the Specialty Food Association's coveted Gold sofi Award in the "Other Dairy" category for its Sea Salt Cultured Butter for the sixth time in five years, bringing the brand's total awards to 21 in six years. The coveted award solidifies Vermont Creamery's commitment to high quality artisan butters, creams, and cheeses.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/may/21/vermont-creamery-wins-sofi-sea-salt-cultured-butter

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Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Albany- $4.30/g, up 10.0 cents per gallon from last week's $4.20/g. Vermont- $4.24/g, up 11.9 cents per gallon from last week's $4.12/g. New Hampshire- $4.13/g, up 10.4 cents per gallon from last week's $4.02/g. 'Gasoline prices have continued their rally in the last week with oil prices sustaining higher levels, but the real story has been diesel fuel, which has skyrocketed to its highest level ever seen. Diesel is now $1 per gallon or more in many areas compared to gasoline," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/may/05/gasoline-prices-back-rise-after-brief-respite

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Vermont Business Magazine The tenth annual Vermont's Greenest Building Awards, hosted by the Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN), recognized three projects and design/build teams. The projects received awards for achieving the highest standard of demonstrated building energy performance for commercial and residential buildings and documentation of green building strategies including health, transportation, water and affordability. 'It is wonderful to recognize the innovation, talent and creativity building professionals are bringing to their projects,' said Jenna Antonino DiMare, VGBN Executive Director.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/april/30/2021-vermont%E2%80%99s-greenest-building-award-winners-announced

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Hartford Area Chamber Prepares for Balloon Festival Vermont Business Magazine The Quechee Hot Air Balloon Craft and Music Festival, the longest running hot air balloon festival in New England, will celebrate its 42nd anniversary in 2022 when thousands are expected to flock to central Vermont, June 17 - 19, 2022 (Father's Day weekend). Twenty balloonists headline the event with five flights slated throughout the weekend and additional tethered rides during the day. Attendees can visit with 50 craft vendors, indulge in a variety of fare from 16 food vendors and sit back and enjoy dozens of entertainers for all ages, over the three-day extravaganza.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/april/23/quechee-hot-air-balloon-festival-lifts-42nd-anniversary

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Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, April 28, all Brownington community members are invited to join a free community-wide dinner, live music, and the opportunity to play a key role in developing new ideas for the future of Brownington and work towards achieving a vibrant, prosperous, and dynamic future. This is the first of a three-part series of facilitated discussions to engage members of the community to brainstorm ideas and identify top priorities for the town. Residents are encouraged to join the process to share their thoughts for the future and play an active role in implementing actionable steps and progressive change for Brownington.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/april/15/brownington-invites-community-participation-share-ideas-future

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'At 35 years old, I had to start over,' she said. 'So I decided to start college.' Vance held down two jobs while pursuing a bachelor's degree at Southern New Hampshire University. She graduated with high honors in 2018. Photo: Maria Vance, owner of Cheaptotes, holds up a custom-made tote. Courtesy photo. Soon after graduation, a former co-worker at the factory offered her a job. He had started an online business selling blank and custom-printed tote bags, but wasn't interested in running the day-to-day operations.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/april/16/vermont-businesswoman-turns-setbacks-opportunities

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Help is available through VTHelplink.org  Vermont Business Magazine Many Vermonters experienced isolation, stress and other impacts on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. They may also have increased the amount of alcohol they drink.  During National Alcohol Awareness Month this April, the Health Department is asking Vermonters to reflect on changes in their drinking habits over the past two years and seek out the readily available help and supports if they need it.  'The pandemic has been harmful to our health in many ways, but one of the most concerning impacts is the increase in substance use, including alcohol,' said Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/april/09/vermonters-encouraged-watch-changes-pandemic-related-drinking-habits

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Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is pleased to announce the 39th annual Vermont Corporate Cup Challenge and State Agency Race, presented by Union Mutual Insurance Company. The event will take place in-person in Montpelier on May 19 and virtually May 19 through July 31. 'We are grateful for Union Mutual's financial backing for this signature Vermont event that raises funds for Vermonters' physical fitness initiatives. We are thrilled to host an in-person event along with a virtual option," said Janet Franz, Council chairperson.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/april/10/union-mutual-presents-2022-vermont-corporate-cup-challenge-state-agency-race

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New logo and packaging celebrate the company's longstanding mission to transform the world into a healthy, sustainable and equitable place for the next seven generations Vermont Business Magazine Leading household products company and green pioneer Seventh Generation has unveiled a significant brand evolution – the biggest in its 34-year history – that celebrates its beliefs about the rights and the health of the next seven generations while communicating the performance of its products. The new logo and packaging visual identity will roll out across the company's full product portfolio nationwide throughout April 2022.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/april/07/seventh-generation-unveils-brand-evolution-showcases-commitment-sustainability

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In-person learning opportunities added to our spring schedule! Check out what we have to offer you, your teams and your entire organization, both virtual and in-person! More dates and ways to upskill are being added so check back often. Click the event title for details and to register. Gain confidence, stability and adaptability in your role! Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 5 - 19, 2022 1:00 - 4:00 pm Zoom meeting $595 per person Looking to further the capabilities of your quality system and staff? In five (5) 3-hour sessions, participants will learn the tools, techniques and necessary planning to improve a business process and achieve better outcomes with increased efficiency.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/march/26/vmec-seeks-new-ceo-adds-training-sessions-spring-lineup

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Since 2020, More Than 2,200 Vermonters Gained Access to Full Suite of Xfinity and Comcast Business Products, Including Gigabit Internet Vermont Business Magazine Comcast has announced that it has expanded its smart, fast and reliable fiber-rich network to make its full suite of services available to more than 1,000 homes and businesses in 11 underserved communities in Vermont, enabling the rollout of its Xfinity and Comcast Business services, including residential broadband speeds up to 3 gigabits per second (Gbps) and business speeds up to 100 Gbps.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/march/25/comcast-continues-expansion-across-1000-more-underserved-homes-and-businesses

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Vermont Business Magazine The Small Business Administration and the Center for Women and Enterprise Vermont are hosting a free virtual panel discussion about strategic growth opportunities for woman-owned businesses at 10 am March 11. Strategic growth planning is one of the most important aspects of building a business and can be difficult. This panel will explore why past participants of CWE and SBA's strategic growth training programs have raved about these free opportunities to plan for sustainable, profitable growth.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/march/06/women-business-panel-march-11-strategic-growth-planning

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Vermont Business Magazine Melissa Rosenberg, Bennington College Class of 1986, is joining Bennington College's Board of Trustees. Rosenberg is an esteemed television writer and producer and screenwriter, who Bennington is proud to call an alumnae. In addition to general trustee duties, Rosenberg will also serve on Bennington's Education and Community Life committee and engage in their strategic planning process. The Bennington College community is looking forward to her creative leadership as Bennington's next chapter is written.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/march/06/tall-girl-melissa-rosenberg-named-trustee-bennington-college

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The community center now offers professional co-working membership to community members; individual work stations, private offices, meeting rooms and a conference space available Vermont Business Magazine The Arlington Common, a hub for community, wellness and creativity, is opening ‘Co-working at the Watkins House', a flexible workspace membership open to all community members at the Watkins House. The space features a variety of workspaces, kitchen facilities and conference spaces. The co-working space is open from 8am-10pm Monday through Friday, 9am-10pm on Saturdays, and 9am-5pm on Sundays.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/march/03/arlington-common-launches-%E2%80%98co-working-watkins-house%E2%80%99

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This First-Ever Global Series of Snowboard Events will Uncover Unknown Riders and Build the Snowboard Community through Creativity, Self-Expression, and Good Times for All. Vermont Business Magazine Burton has announced the 2022 Spring schedule for its first-ever Mystery Series, a bold new global open-format event that's unlike anything else in snowboarding, and the antidote to elite competitions. This inaugural series will feature nine events across the globe, bringing together riders of all ages and abilities under a shared love of snowboarding to showcase creativity, self-expression, and good times - all under a cloak of mystery.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/february/26/burton-announces-2022-global-schedule-new-burton-mystery-series

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Pfizer vaccine available for those 5 to 11 years old Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) will host a special children's COVID-19 vaccination clinic for 5 to 11 year olds 1 – 5 p.m. Friday, January 28 at its COVID Resource Center, the gymnasium on the former Southern Vermont College campus at 982 Mansion Drive in Bennington. No appointment is needed and walk-ins are welcome. 'Vaccination rates for kids in Bennington County are not as high as in other parts of the state, and that puts our kids at a disadvantage,' said Trey Dobson, MD, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center's (SVMC) chief medical officer.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2022/january/25/southwestern-vermont-health-care-schedules-kids%E2%80%99-covid-19-vaccine-clinic

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Photo: St. Johnsbury. Photo Courtesy Downriver Media. by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Kingdom is open for business. In many ways, it never closed, despite a global pandemic. Economic development projects have continued across the region, new businesses have opened in Newport and St. Johnsbury, and home sales have remained steady. The pandemic has yet to finish with Vermont. The NEK has experienced some of the highest rates of new COVID infections in the state, according to the state Department of Health's COVID-19 dashboard.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/december/26/nek-economic-report-confidence-local-economy-missing-northern-neighbors

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Photo: Biking on the Kingdom Trails in Winter. Photos courtesy Kingdom Trail Association. by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine 'It was a wonderful summer,' said Kingdom Trails Executive Director Abigail Long. With state travel restrictions lifted, more neighbors from New Hampshire, New York, and Maine returned to use more than 100 miles of trails open to non-motorized activities, she said. 'However, we still missed our neighbors to the north, in Canada, and we do know that Canadians make up about 38% of our trail users,' she added.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/december/26/kingdom-trails-promotes-ride-gratitude-code-conduct

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After five months of major construction, the final significant segment of Burlington's eight-mile-long waterfront path has reopened. Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger, Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Director Cindi Wight, and President of the Burlington Parks Foundation John Bossange on December 17 celebrated the reopening of the final significant segment of the Burlington Greenway. A key component of the Mayor's commitment to public infrastructure, the $13 million Greenway Rehabilitation project broke ground in October 2014 in the central Waterfront area.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/december/23/burlington-greenway-reopens-through-oakledge-park

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by John McCormick The Vermont Climate Council and the Legislature are determined to electrify the transport fleet and buildings. Think about that. Nearly 75% of Vermont's global-warming carbon dioxide emissions eliminated by shifting to off-the-shelf, readily available technologies. No R&D required. Trading a gas guzzler for an electric vehicle eliminates 8 to 11 tons of CO2. Weatherizing can save 300-400 gallons of heating oil and eliminate 3 to 5 tons of carbon dioxide. These are the most effective and rapidly deployed remedies to slow global warming.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/december/19/mccormick-answer-vermont-energy-needs-blowing-wind

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Vermont Business Magazine In a special honor for the town, Stephen Perkins, Executive Director of the Vermont Historical Society (VHS), will travel to Brattleboro to present the annual Richard O. Hathaway Award for best historical project in the state to the five local institutions who created and led the National Endowment for the Humanities, multi-year Brattleboro Words Project. The award presentation will take place on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at noon at 118 Elliot, 118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/december/01/vermont-historical-society-comes-brattleboro-present-statewide-award

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Photo: Amtrak arrives at the Essex Junction station on July 19, as service resumed for the first time since the pandemic shut it down in March 2020. The resumption marked the single busiest day in the Vermonter's history. VBM Photo. by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine For the Green Mountain State, the most conspicuous development in railroading this year has been the resumption of passenger service on both of Amtrak's Vermont trains, the Washington, DC-to-St Albans Vermonter and the New York City-to-Rutland Ethan Allen Express.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/november/26/railroading-challenges-met-challenges-ahead

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Vermont Business Magazine Years in the making, Peaceful Harvest Mushrooms is excited to announce the launch of their latest product, Cordyceps Militaris, Dried, Whole, Fruiting Bodies. They're one of only a handful of certified organic cultivators of the whole fruiting body, the mushroom itself, in the United States. Most US cultivators only grow the mycelium which is much faster and easier. The coveted fruiting body is more potent, providing all the potential benefits known, and yet to be discovered.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/november/20/whole-fruiting-body-cordyceps-militaris-joins-peaceful-harvest-mushrooms

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Livian seeks to transform agent, team and client experiences through its people-first platform Vermont Business Magazine Livian, the real estate platform based in South Burlington and formerly known as Hergenrother Realty Group (HRG), has recently launched. HRG and Keller Williams (KW), the world's largest real estate franchise by agent count, have come together to form a new partnership: Livian.  Livian currently has 33 real estate teams in 21 states, powered by 270 real estate agents and 40 employees nationwide.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/november/20/real-estate-platform-livian-launches-partnership-keller-williams

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Over half of Americans cite high gas prices for tapping the brakes on travel, survey indicates 51% fewer to travel for Thanksgiving compared to 2019 Vermont Business Magazine While the economy may be bouncing back, Thanksgiving travel is not. GasBuddy, the leading fuel savings platform providing North American drivers with the most ways to save money on gas, revealed in its 2021 Annual Thanksgiving Travel Survey that 32% of Americans plan to travel for Thanksgiving this year, a decline from 35% last year that compares to some 65% that planned to hit the road for Thanksgiving 2019.

https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/november/18/only-32-americans-drive-thanksgiving-gas-prices-near-most-expensive-ever

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