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Legislative Updates and Rutland Event
As we enter the final weeks of the Vermont legislative session, spending and other decisions ae being finalized. Here’s an update on three of the issues we’ve been following and involved with:
Cloud Tax
The House passed the yield bill, which sets the education property tax rate and, as expected, it includes adding the 6% sales tax to prewritten computer software accessed remotely, better known as the Cloud Tax. As stated in previous newsletters, the Cloud Tax would apply the 6% sales tax to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), or essentially everything done online. The committee hopes the tax will provide a small source of funding to address the large increase in school budgets and property taxes this year.
The bill and the cloud tax will be reviewed by the Senate Finance Committee, which in earlier discussions seemed to indicate a willingness to allow the tax this year. Our plan is to raise concerns about the tax and its costs to Vermont businesses. If they are inclined to move ahead with the tax, we will lobby for B2B exemptions, realizing that such an exemption would lessen the revenue projections from the tax. Approximately 10 VTTA members and other business representatives have offered to provide testimony or other input to the committee.
Data Privacy
The Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee approved a data privacy bill that includes changes recommended by the VTTA and many other businesses and organizations. The version passed by the committee does not include a private right of action and has other changes that align the bill more closely with those in other states.
The bill expands the current artificial intelligence advisory council to include data privacy and tasks it with developing policy recommendations for improving data privacy in Vermont, including whether to implement a private right of action and developing education and outreach on the Vermont Data Privacy Act. The bill It will go to the full Senate for approval and if it passes, then likely to a conference committee to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions.
Business Incentive Program
The Senate Economic Development Committee voted in favor of continuing the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program, also known as the VEGI program. The program was extended for another five years and it creates a new forgivable loan program for businesses with 50 or fewer employees. For fiscal year 2025, the forgivable loan program will be available only to small businesses impacted by last summer’s flooding.
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Networking Event in Rutland
Plan to attend a networking event at The Hub CoWorks in Rutland May 2. This gathering is presented by Vermont Tech Meetup in partnership with the VTTA and hosted at The Hub CoWorks. This meetup promises an opportunity for professionals, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts within the technology sector to meet and make new connections and learn about Startup Rutland’s accelerator program. And as at our previous networking event, we’ll have an Open Mic session for attendees to share projects, activities or ask for help.
Find more and register here.
Jeff Couture
Executive Director
Vermont Technology Alliance
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Vermont Tech Networking Event at The Hub CoWorks in Rutland
(May 2, 2024 – The Hub CoWorks, Rutland )
Vermont Tech Meetup in partnership with the Vermont Technology Alliance are presenting a networking event at The Hub CoWorks in Rutland May 2. It’s an opportunity for professionals, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts within the technology sector in the Rutland area and beyond to meet and make new connections and learn about Startup Rutland’s accelerator program.
Find more here.
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Southern Vermont Economy Summit
(May 21, 2024 – Mount Snow)
The annual Southern Vermont Economy Summit brings together community, municipal, and business leaders across Southern Vermont to think big, learn something new, ask questions, and connect. The keynote speaker is Chris Estes, Co-Executive Director – Community Strategies Group of the Aspen Institute. He will address “A National Perspective on Strategies for Rural.”
Find more here.
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Generator’s JumpStart Expo & Pitch Night
(May 29, 2024 – Generator)
JumpStart is a 12-week, personalized, group coaching experience hosted by Generator, that leads budding small business owners from prototype to fully functional product-based business. The JumpStart Expo & Pitch Night will feature a public showcase of the JumpStart participants’ products, and every entrepreneur will pitch their company/product to the public and their peers.
Find more here.
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LaunchVT Demo Night
(June 11, 2024 – Hula)
This annual pitch competition highlights the 2024 LaunchVT cohort and their startup businesses. Demo Night showcases these promising new businesses and their founders after they have completed LaunchVT's intensive, 12-week accelerator program. Each cohort team will present their pitch to judges and the audience to win one of several cash prizes.
Find more here.
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UVM Rise Summit
(June 24-25, 2024 – UVM)
UVM presents RISE (Research, Innovation, Sustainability, Entrepreneurship), a free, two-day, summit. The conference will bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, problem-solvers, and energized community members to address a myriad of complex challenges.
Topics of discussion will include how to build flood resilience, strengthen food systems, enhance educational opportunities for learners of all ages, amplify technology solutions for energy and community systems, and converge on ideas for a sustainable future.
Find more here.
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Education + AI Summit
(June 27, 2024 – Hula)
aiVermont is presenting a summit at Hula that will explore Artificial Intelligence in the classroom. The session is aimed toward secondary school educators, but is open to anyone interested in the teaching and use of AI in the classroom. The session will explore effective classroom strategies, tools, and ethical practices using AI. Interact with peers, newbies, and experts to learn the why, what, and how of AI tech.
Find more here.
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Beta Achieves Piloted Test Flight With eVTOL Aircraft
(April 23, 2024 – Vertical Magazine)
Demonstrating that the company is one of the frontrunners in the electric aviation sector, Vermont-based Beta Technologies has achieved a significant flight test milestone with its Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft.
Achieving a full transition with an eVTOL is a difficult but important landmark that few companies have reached. Beta has not only accomplished this with its lift-plus-cruise aircraft but has done so with a pilot on board, making it one of the first eVTOL developers to reach the milestone with a pilot in the cockpit.
“We fly with people on board right now because that’s how we’re going to be flying in the future,” Kyle Clark, Beta’s founder and CEO, previously told Vertical. “We are not going to introduce pilots just before we launch. Pilots are part and parcel of the design of the aircraft, and therefore, we fly manned missions.”
Read more here.
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InSpace Proximity and CodeSignal Announce Groundbreaking Partnership to Transform Education-to-Employment Pathways
(April 15, 2024 – InSpace)
Burlington VT-based InSpace Proximity and CodeSignal have announced a strategic partnership to integrate cutting-edge AI technologies and human-centered designs to create a robust education-to-employment pipeline by rethinking how we learn and assess the skills critical for the AI-accelerated workforce.
The collaboration aims to transform the transition from education to employment by providing learners with a platform to develop and demonstrate their skills directly to potential employers through an innovative real-time connection through a skills dashboard. By combining InSpace’s AI-driven, human-centered collaboration platform, with CodeSignal’s technical learning and assessment technologies, this partnership promises to connect learner engagement to hiring outcomes.
Read more here.
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Governor Phil Scott and the State of Vermont Fully Committed to Vermont’s Cutting-Edge V-GaN Tech Hub
(April 9, 2024 – Office of Governor Phil Scott)
Governor Phil Scott issued a press release reiterating his strong support for Vermont’s V-GaN Tech Hub by devoting resources to transform the Green Mountain State into a world leader in Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors.
“This Tech Hub designation will expand Vermont’s expanding tech sector and introduce new and lucrative career opportunities for Vermonters,” said Governor Scott. “The State’s collaboration with industry and educational partners is an investment in the rural economy and our youth, and my Administration is standing by to help V-GaN in any way it can.”
The governor pledged support in areas that include employee recruitment and training, apprenticeships, funding for training, and marketing the Tech Hub.
Read more here.
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Verde Lands Investment from Energy Veterans Amidst Rapid Advancements in Next-Gen Solar Technology
(April 5, 2024 – Verde Technologies )
Burlington, VT-based Verde Technologies has attracted investment from multiple venture funds and industry veterans. Most notably, the former CEO of GE Power, Steve Bolze, has joined Verde as an investor and advisor to support the company’s continued growth.
“Verde stood out to me because of the pace at which the team is able to make progress toward changing the solar paradigm. It is clear that solar energy will play a dominant role in the renewable energy transition, especially with the tailwinds of recent legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act.” says Steve.
Recently, Verde won the $600k grand prize in the US Department of Energy’s Perovskite Startup Prize. Off the back of the award, Verde was able to raise an oversubscribed investment round with participation from multiple early-stage VC funds including the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET), FreshTracks Capital, Little Green Bamboo, Lever Fund, Standish Capital, Merritt & Merritt, and multiple industry veterans including Mr. Bolze.
Read more here.
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With CHIPS Act money, the Biden Administration Bets an Old Plant Can Make New Chips
(March 26, 2024 – Marketplace)
President Joe Biden’s administration has finally started announcing grants to semiconductor companies, more than a year and a half after Congress voted to invest billions in the domestic chip-manufacturing industry. $8.5 billion is earmarked for Intel to build or expand factories in four states, and the Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC is likely to get $5 billion for two facilities now under construction in Arizona.
But much smaller grants are going out too, including a $125 million award for a 67-year-old chip factory near Burlington, Vermont, part of a larger award for the company GlobalFoundries. Though the plant is far from its heyday, the Biden administration is betting it can be rebuilt to make a new kind of chip to power smartphones and electric cars.
Read more here.
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VTTA Members Named Best Places to Work
(April, 2024 – VTTA)
Ten VTTA member businesses were among the 65 companies from throughout Vermont that were named Best Places to Work by VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
The awards program was created in 2006 and is presented in partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management, Vermont State Council, (SHRM), the Vermont Department of Economic Development and Workforce Research Group.
This statewide survey and awards program were designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce, and businesses.
See the businesses here.
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Using AI to Future-Proof Your Product
(April, 2024 – VTTA)
In this guest post, Gene Zylkuski of VTTA member Marlborough Street Partners, says just as AI can lead to a business inflection point; it can play a critical role in legacy application modernization. Of course, there is a certain “chicken or egg” dichotomy here: you need a more modern infrastructure to host AI but to get to that modernization more efficiently you need to use AI. Gene discusses how to pull that off.
Read the perspective here.
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Vermont Technology Alliance Membership Update
The Vermont Technology Alliance works on behalf of its members and can carry out its mission through the support of its membership.
New members include Luke Bennecker. Renewing members include: Davis & Hodgdon Advisory Group, Green River Data Analysis, ScaleTech, and Stone Environmental.
Not a VTTA member yet? Then why not join now? Find more information and register here. You can also contact us at admin@vtta.org.
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Featured Member – NeverTechLate | |
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NeverTechLate is dedicated to tackling the digital divide among older adults in today's technology-driven world. Our mission is to address the challenge of social isolation through tailored technology literacy programs designed for adults.
By providing comprehensive training in digital skills and internet and tablet usage, NeverTechLate empowers adults to fully engage with technology. Our programs enable connections with loved ones, access to vital online resources (such as telehealth and online banking), and participation in virtual social activities — fostering independence and confidence. By promoting digital inclusion, NeverTechLate enhances the quality of life for older adults and contributes to a more inclusive and equitable society. Our programs are periodically available at establishments such as community centers, universities and retirement homes.
Find more at https://www.nevertechlate.com/
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Useful Information & Links | |
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BRIC offering STEAM Summer Camps
The Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC) in Springfield is offering a free, five-week series of five-day STEAM summer camps in collaboration with the River Valley Technical Center.
The camps offer an immersive experience into the fascinating world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) for students grades 6 through 12 and are scheduled to run from July 8 to August 9. Sessions for each week are: Fun with Robots, Aeronautical Engineering, Fun with Lasers, Virtual Reality and Let’s Make a Video Game.
Find more and register here.
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Online Professional Development Courses
The VTTA has partnered with MindEdge to offer easy-to-access, affordable, online professional development courses. Whether you are looking to expand your skill set, earn professional credits, or learn something new, these courses are an option to gain essential and in-demand skills on your own time, at your own pace, and from any location. As a bonus, VTTA members save 10% on all offerings.
Find more here.
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VTTA Career Center
Vermont Technology Alliance member companies are hiring, and when you visit the Career Center on the Vermont Technology Alliance website you can browse and search for these job openings and subscribe to updates. The Career Center on average features 200+ tech and non-tech jobs with Vermont Technology Alliance member businesses. Jobs available from VTTA members are listed at no charge in the Career Center as a member benefit.
Find the Career Center here.
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Find the Software Development Staff with Recruiting Services from VTTA and ScaleTech
The Vermont Technology Alliance has partnered with tech talent solution firm ScaleTech to offer talent solution services to help Vermont businesses find the software developers and engineers. they need to sustain and grow their businesses. ScaleTech focuses on developing a working partnership with businesses between 5 to 200 employees, and offers discounted rates for VTTA members.
Find more here.
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The VTTA Thanks Its Member/Sponsors
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