Over $100K granted to businesses in downtown Middlebury

MIDDLEBURY — Six businesses are being awarded between $15,000 and $20,000 to bring new or expanding businesses to Middlebury after construction and the pandemic left several open storefronts.The Kick Start Middlebury program, created through a partnership of municipal, economic development, educational and business entities, has announced the recipients of its business recruitment incentive program. The winning businesses range from retailers of goods for the home, to supplies and services for artists, to a … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — The Addison County Chamber of Commerce board has accepted the resignation of Executive Director Rob Carter, effective Sept. 25.Board chair Adam Rainville said the directors have “mixed emotions” about Carter’s departure.“We will be sorry to l … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Bee’s Wrap, the Middlebury-based maker of reusable, all-natural food storage wraps, announced on Thursday that Tara Murphy will take the helm as CEO on June 1. Murphy succeeds Sarah Kaeck in the role she’s held since founding Bee’s Wrap in 20 … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury distributor of John Deere and other brand farm equipment has been sold to a larger chain of stores that sells new and used equipment to farmers, commercial landscapers, builders, and homeowners. United Ag & Turf of East Windsor … (read more)

MONTPELIER — After a computerized sorting snafu sent the wrong 1099 tax forms to thousands of Vermonters earlier this year, the Vermont Department of Labor is once again facing another error that appears to have sent erroneous invoices to Vermont business … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — A private investor has purchased Bee’s Wrap, a Middlebury maker of food storage wrappings. The company did not disclose the purchase price or the name the buyer, but did say the purchaser was based in Vermont. The transaction closed Feb. 4. F … (read more)

WASHINGTON — The Small Business Administration on Friday announced that it had approved approximately 60,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications submitted by nearly 3,000 lenders, for over $5 billion, between the program’s re-opening on Mo … (read more)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration is re-opening an aid program for small businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. The Paycheck Protection Program will re-open the week of Jan. 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Aqua ViTea, the Middlebury maker of the fermented, tea-based beverage kombucha, has just hired a slate of new executives to help it substantially grow its business. Hailing from nationally recognized consumer good brands including Heineken In … (read more)

MIDDLEURY — The Middlebury selectboard on Tuesday unanimously endorsed the community’s new downtown master plan, a 138-page blueprint showing how the core village area could grow and flourish during the next decade and beyond. “It’s exceeded my expectatio … (read more)

BRISTOL — While choosing among candidates for federal, state and local offices this past Tuesday, Bristol voters also approved updates to the 2017 Bristol Zoning Regulations, which advocates say will make the town more business-friendly. Three of the most … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury should resume its economic development efforts through a new entity — either hired or volunteer — that would reach out to business prospects, as well as invest in better broadband infrastructure to boost nascent and growing enterpr … (read more)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal hemp regulations that were scheduled to go into effect at the end of this month have been delayed for a year, according to the office of Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. The hemp rules, which were written by the U.S. Department of Agri … (read more)

MONTPELIER — Vermonters who have seen COVID-19 affect their employment can access more than 100 free classes and training opportunities this fall through the Vermont State Colleges System, thanks to a $2.3 million allocation of Coronavirus Relief Funds (C … (read more)

MONTPELIER —Vermont’s minimum wage is going up. Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, the state’s minimum wage will increase 79 center per hour, from $10.96 to $11.75 per hour, Vermont Department of Labor announced. The calculation for this increase is in accordance wi … (read more)