Vermont

Canadian firm acquires major Vermont maple syrup equipment producer

Published

2 years ago

July 21, 2022

Canadian firm acquires major Vermont maple syrup equipment producer

A significant Vermont-based producer of kit for producing maple syrup has been acquired by a Canadian firm aiming to increase its footprint within the U.S. market.

Chief Evaporator, which employs about 60 individuals at its headquarters in Swanton and has billed itself as the most important producer of its variety on the earth, was acquired in June by Quebec-based H2O Innovation, the Canadian agency introduced in a press launch.

H2O Innovation primarily designs and manufactures water remedy programs, although it additionally produces tools for the maple sugaring business. Its current maple enterprise had about 50 distributors within the jap U.S. in addition to a retailer in Swanton.

Officers from H2O Innovation stated the deal will permit each corporations’ merchandise to be bought throughout a bigger, mixed community of distributors. Additionally they wish to capitalize on rising international demand for maple syrup and the tools to supply it, they stated.

The acquisition additionally comes as sugarmakers on either side of the border reported report harvests this 12 months, thanks partially to favorable climate that allowed for an extended season.

“H2O was already right here, however now it’s merely turn out to be the strongest maple firm within the U.S. with the acquisition of Chief,” stated Rock Gaulin, the corporate’s vp and basic supervisor for maple, in an interview this week.

H2O Innovation plans to proceed promoting merchandise below the Chief Evaporator model, which Gaulin known as a “highly effective title” within the maple sugaring business. The corporate was based in 1888 in Enosburg Falls, a couple of half-hour drive from its headquarters as we speak.

Chief Evaporator makes a spread of maple syrup manufacturing tools together with spouts, filters, vacuum pumps and sap evaporators, amongst many different objects.

Following its acquisition, H2O Innovation plans to rent a couple of dozen extra staff at Chief Evaporator’s 100,000-plus-square-foot plant in Swanton, Gaulin stated. The corporate additionally is about to put in a brand new tubing extrusion machine on the facility, he stated.

Gaulin stated he couldn’t disclose the greenback quantity of the acquisition.

Tim Smith, govt director of the Franklin County Industrial Growth Corp., stated the deal is “very optimistic” for Chief Evaporator, which had been struggling financially for a number of years partially as a result of rising competitors inside the maple business.

To assist alleviate a few of Chief Evaporator’s debt, Smith stated, the Growth Corp. bought its Swanton plant in December 2021 for about $2.5 million. The Growth Corp. was leasing the ability again to Chief Evaporator on a 10-year time period, and plans to proceed that association with H2O Innovation, he stated.

Smith additionally stated that Chief Evaporator will profit from H2O Innovation’s expertise constructing water filtration programs, which may enhance its personal filtration merchandise.

“Hopefully they’ll discover employees and develop the job base of our county,” he stated.

A spokesperson for Chief Evaporator didn’t reply to a request for remark.

In a press release earlier this 12 months, Chief Evaporator President Jeff Smith stated the 2 corporations shared values and that the acquisition would spur development for each.

The businesses agreed in 2020 to start promoting a restricted variety of their merchandise at one another’s distributors.

Peter Gregg, writer of the Rupert-based commerce publication The Maple Information, stated he thinks H2O Innovation’s acquisition will profit your entire maple business. He cited knowledge that international demand for maple merchandise grew 20% year-over-year in 2020 and 2021.

“There’s great demand to supply extra syrup,” Gregg stated. “So we want these corporations to thrive and develop and improve their capability. And that is what it will do.”

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Vermont

Vermont H.S. sports scores for Saturday, Jan. 11: See how your favorite team fared

Published

6 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Vermont H.S. sports scores for Saturday, Jan. 11: See how your favorite team fared

The 2024-2025 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.

TO REPORT SCORES

Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

►Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter:@aabrami5.

►Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.

SATURDAY, JAN. 11

Boys basketball

Games at 2:30 p.m. unless noted

Hartford at Middlebury, 12:30 p.m.

Missisquoi at Lake Region, 1:30 p.m.

Milton at BFA-St. Albans

Williamstown at Northfield, 6:30 p.m.

Girls basketball

Games at 2:30 p.m. unless noted

Danville at Winooski, 11 a.m.

Spaulding at Milton, 11:30 a.m.

Mount Mansfield at Colchester, 12:30 p.m.

Otter Valley at Mount Abraham, 12:30 p.m.

Montpelier at Stowe, 1 p.m.

Richford at Enosburg

Peoples at Twinfield/Cabot

Brattleboro at South Burlington

Burr and Burton at Champlain Valley

Rutland at St. Johnsbury

Williamstown at BFA-Fairfax, 3:30 p.m.

Boys hockey

Essex at Hartford, 2 p.m.

Burlington at U-32, 2:30 p.m.

Mount Mansfield at St. Johnsbury, 3 p.m.

Milton vs North Country at Jay Peak, 4 p.m.

Harwood at Stowe, 4:15 p.m.

South Burlington at Champlain Valley, 4:45 p.m.

Brattleboro at Woodstock, 6:45 p.m.

Rice at Burr and Burton, 7 p.m.

Spaulding at Middlebury, 7 p.m.

Rutland at Colchester, 7:30 p.m.

Girls hockey

Spaulding at Rutland, 11 a.m.

Woodstock at Brattleboro, 4:45 p.m.

Harwood at Burr and Burton, 5 p.m.

Rice at Burlington/Colchester, 5 p.m.

Stowe at Middlebury, 5 p.m.

Essex at BFA-St. Albans, 7 p.m.

U-32 at Kingdom Blades, 7 p.m.

Gymnastics

Harwood at Burlington, 2 p.m.

Montpelier, St. Johnsbury at South Burlington, 7:30 p.m.

Wrestling

Michael J. Baker Classic at Essex

MONDAY, JAN. 13

Boys basketball

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Randolph at North Country, 6:30 p.m.

Harwood at U-32

Winooski at Twinfield/Cabot

Northfield at Milton

Brattleboro at Champlain Valley

Thetford at Williamstown

Oxbow at Hazen

Girls basketball

Vergennes at BFA-Fairfax, 7 p.m.

Essex at Burlington, 7:30 p.m.

(Subject to change)

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Vermont

Scott’s plan to cut school spending worries some educators

Published

17 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Scott’s plan to cut school spending worries some educators

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont educators are leery of plans from Gov. Phil Scott to control costs in Vermont’s education system. In Thursday’s inaugural address, Scott pitched sweeping plans to rein in spending which has led to skyrocketing property tax rates.

Last year, one-third of Vemont’s school budgets failed and voters sent more Republicans to Montpelier in years in what some dubbed a tax revolt.

Democrats say everything should be on the table to fix the tax troubles, but some in the education community remain wary.

In his address, the governor outlined a multiyear plan to overhaul how we fund public schools and rein in the cost of spending which has skyrocketed to $2.3 billion.

“In too many districts, teachers aren’t paid enough, administrators are tied up in bureaucracy, schools have too much empty space and many are in disrepair,” said Scott, R-Vermont.

He proposes consolidating dozens of school districts and supervisory unions, putting guardrails on local school spending and completely rewriting the school funding formula with the aim of cutting back on staff and the 80% of school costs that go to wages and benefits.

But some in Vermont’s education community see it another way.

“We have to be clear what is the problem we’re trying to solve. We’re not spending too much money in public education; we’re having a difficult time funding it,” said Don Tinney the executive director of the Vermont NEA.

The Vermont teachers union contends the state has enough taxing capacity to fund schools and students’ complex needs. But they say the state should instead fund schools through state and income tax instead of a property tax.

“We believe the income tax is the fairest way of doing that because people are paying what they can afford to pay,” Tinney said.

As for the funding formula, Scott argues more affluent towns that can afford higher property taxes spend more and approve their local budgets, which drives up costs in the statewide education fund.

“Those higher spenders can actually increase the rates of those districts whose kids and teachers are getting less,” Scott said.

The governor is expected to introduce a formula where districts are paid a flat rate and any additional spending would have to be raised locally.

But some worry that will lead to inequitable opportunities for kids.

“There are states that use foundation formulas to keep poor people poor and drive down public education costs and allow for more opportunities for private schools and school choice schemes. I can’t see Vermont allowing that to happen,” said Jay Nichols of the Vermont Principals’ Association.

Vermonters are still staring down a 6% property tax increase if school budgets as drafted pass on Town Meeting Day.

Scott says in the weeks ahead, he will unveil ideas to hold taxpayers harmless and keep taxes flat.

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Vermont

Vermont expected to get light snow Saturday. Here’s the forecast

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Vermont expected to get light snow Saturday. Here’s the forecast

Wintry weather spreads across the South

Significant snow and icy precipitation are moving from Texas to the Carolinas.

Following a week of cold temperatures and harsh winds, this weekend will see light snow across New England, including Vermont.

While the snow is expected to cover the entire state of Vermont, this weekend’s snowfall will be calm, with no strong winds to create a storm and only a small amount of accumulation.

Here’s what to know about the timing, location and effects of Saturday’s snowfall in Vermont.

Where in VT will it snow Saturday?

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) of Burlington, light snow is expected throughout the day on Saturday, with the greatest chances of snow in the morning. Most areas of the state will see one inch of snowfall, with two inches possible in the middle region of the state.

While Vermont has seen extremely strong winds over this past week, the wind is expected to die down Friday night and stay mild throughout the snow Saturday. As of right now, the NWS has not issued any hazards or warning for Saturday, as the snowfall is expected to be calm.

VT weather next week

Temperatures will stay in the 20s throughout the weekend, with slightly warmer temperatures coming in next week. Snow showers are expected overnight from Monday to Tuesday.

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