Business Briefs for Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 | Local News

— Vermont Land Trust announced applications for the 2026 Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award are open until March 1. Farmers can learn more and apply online at vlt.org/eric.

The $5,000 award recognizes land stewardship, innovation and service to community. Farmers who are actively working on or managing a commercial farm operation in the state, are residents of Vermont, and have not received this award in the past, are encouraged to apply. Applicants do not have to own a farm. A selection committee consisting of Vermont agricultural community leaders will review and score the applications and select a winner. The award will be announced at Vermont Land Trust’s annual meeting in the fall.

The Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award was created to honor the life and legacy of Eric Rozendaal, known as the face of Rockville Market Farm in Starksboro. After he passed away in 2018, his family and friends raised funds to create an award in his memory, which is now managed by the Vermont Land Trust.

Past recipients include Hannah Doyle, of Boneyard Farm; Sara Armstrong Donegan and James Donegan, of Trillium Hill Farm in Hinesburg; Kara and Ryan Fitzbeauchamp, of Evening Song Farm in Shrewsbury; Jennifer Rodriguez, of Triple J. Pastures in Irasburg; Christine Bourque, of Blue Heron Farm in Grand Isle; Amanda Andrews, of Tamarack Hollow Farm in Plainfield; Tom Gilbert, of Black Dirt Farm in Stannard; and Corie Pierce, of Bread & Butter Farm in Shelburne and South Burlington.

— Nominations are now open for the 2026 Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame. Nominations can be made electronically through www.vtaghalloffame.org and will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, March 20. The nomination form is available electronically or to print. Inductees will be honored at the annual luncheon hosted during the Champlain Valley Fair in late summer.

All are welcome to submit a nomination of Vermont’s farmers, producers and people dedicated to supporting the landscape. Note that prior year nominations do not carry over; if your nomination was not selected in past years, resubmit your nomination. Any person whether they own or work on a farm or provide direct support, is qualified for nomination. Nominations will be accepted in three categories:

— Emerging Leader. This category highlights those who are stepping up to become the next generation of agricultural leaders in Vermont. Age 40 or younger (born after Jan. 1, 1986), these individuals demonstrate “a deep commitment to Vermont’s working landscape and are poised to lead our Ag community into the future.”

— Ag Innovator. Those in consideration for this category have demonstrated a “fresh and forward-thinking approach to agriculture,” making or have made an impact on Vermont in areas such as, but not limited to, growing the local economy, promoting stewardship and conservation, improving community health and nutrition, developing new tools and practices, and using alternative models in business and land ownership.

— Lifetime Achievement. This category recognizes those who “have made a significant contribution to the advancement, improvement or development of Vermont agriculture over the course of their long career.” Nominees shall have played an active role in Vermont agriculture for at least 30 years.

The Center for an Agricultural Economy received congressionally directed spending from the Senate Committee on Appropriations LHHS-Innovation and Improvement account in the amount of $100,000. CAE received the award through Sen. Peter Welch’s office. The award will help fund two of CAE’s programs that work with Hardwick area schools: Place-Based Education and Just Cut.

CAE’s Place Based Education program supports work in all Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union’s (OSSU) schools to increase opportunities for experiential learning focused on local food and agriculture. CAE’s Place Based Education Coordinator, Reeve Basom, co-teaches a high school class at Hazen Union School called “Recipe for Human Connection.” The class builds community through food and cooking, both within the classroom and through projects that connect to the wider community. In this sixth year of RFHC, a new introductory version of the class for middle schoolers has been added, and a total of over 60 Hazen students will participate in these classes this school year.

CAE’s Just Cut program supports local food purchasing at area schools. CAE has operated Just Cut since 2013, currently out of CAE’s Vermont Food Venture Center facility in Hardwick. The program works with around 20 farms annually, contracting with farms before the growing season starts. Farmers plan how much they need to grow for Just Cut and know how much income that will bring, and Just Cut can count on receiving a specific amount of vegetables. CAE’s delivery service, Farm Connex, picks up the produce at the farms and brings it to the VFVC where CAE’s staff prepare it into ready-to-use products like diced potatoes, shredded cabbage, or whole peeled carrots. The finished products are then sold to schools, colleges and hospitals.

The funding will allow CAE to move forward with the purchase of new equipment which will streamline efficiency and allow more varieties of produce to be processed.

MONTPELIER — Montpelier Alive, in partnership with the Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience, invites business owners and managers to a Business Emergency Planning Workshop from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, in the Kellogg-Hubbard Library Hayes Room .

This interactive 90-minute session will help participants begin to craft a customized emergency plan for their business. Any interested regional businesses are encouraged to attend, especially new businesses that haven’t experienced a flooding emergency before. RSVPs are encouraged, email Director@montpelieralive.org.

For the 14th consecutive year, Hannaford Supermarkets received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2026 Corporate Equality Index, survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. Hannaford is one of 534 U.S. businesses to earn top marks this year. The CEI rates companies on criteria of non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture; and outreach and engagement. The full 2026 HRC CEI report is available at: www.hrc.org/cei. Hannaford operates 188 stores in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York.

Hannaford Supermarkets announced its Hannaford Charitable Foundation committed to donating a total of $1.16 million in 2025, in support of nonprofit organizations and initiatives across Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. The donations will benefit the following partners in Vermont: Bennington Early Childhood Center ($10,000) and Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity ($100,000). For more information, visit: Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps.

Vermont State University and Nolato Vermont recognized the graduation of three seniors from the Nolato Manufacturing Technology Leadership Program. Benjamin McCoy, Jackson Pierson and Amanda Merrill successfully completed the four‑year, 22‑credit program and presented their senior engineering projects, earning certificates recognizing their program completion.

The Manufacturing Technology Leadership Program is an employer‑sponsored partnership between VTSU and Nolato Vermont. The academic initiative is grounded in mechanical engineering and designed to provide career advancement opportunities for current employees of the company. The curriculum, developed by VTSU engineering faculty and industry partners from Nolato Vermont, aligns coursework with the technical and leadership needs in advanced manufacturing.

McCoy, Pierson and Merrill are the fifth graduating cohort of this partnership. Credits they’ve earned may be applied toward VTSU degree pathways, supporting continued education and contributions to Vermont’s skilled manufacturing workforce. As part of the graduation celebration, McCoy, Pierson and Merrill delivered formal Engineering Project presentations. Each project required students to investigate an existing challenge within their company’s manufacturing process and implement an engineering‑based solution.

Nolato Vermont, located in Bethel and Royalton, is part of the global Nolato Group and specializes in scientific injection molding, and contract manufacturing for the medical device market.

Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast announced Vermont logging contractors who have not previously participated in the Master Logger Certification Program have access to a new cost-share opportunity designed to reduce financial barriers to certification. Under the new cost-reduction program, eligible Vermont logging contractors can receive a 75% cost share on the initial certification fee. This work is supported by Growing Vermont’s Forest Resilience: A Collaborative Strategy, Award no. 24-CA-11132544-104 from the USDA Forest Service.

BELMONT — Reinbow Riding Center, therapeutic horsemanship center, announced the addition of Julia Adams as its new full-time instructor and program director. She is an eighth-generation Vermonter, graduate of Rutland High School and Castleton University, and has worked in public education for the last 13 years, in addition to running her own small business.

Adams grew up involved in the UVM Extension 4-H horse program and then volunteered as a 4-H leader in Rutland County. She is an “A” carded New England 4-H Horse Show judge and over the last decade, has judged equine Open shows and 4-H shows. Still an Open professional rider, she competes with her own American Quarter Horse, Billy.

The mission of Reinbow Riding Center is to “improve the well-being of individuals with unique physical, emotional and/or cognitive challenges through a customized therapeutic equine experience.” Reinbow recently earned a 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency from CANDID, an independent organization that ranks nonprofits. For more information, visit: reinbowridingcenter.org.

MONTPELIER — Montpelier Alive presents Montpelier’s second annual Restaurant Week, Feb. 15-22. Restaurant Week is designed to support local eateries and chefs while drawing attention to Montpelier’s food offerings. Downtown cafes, eateries and restaurants will feature special deals, prix fixe menus and limited-time offerings, to encourage local dining during the quieter winter season.

Participating eateries include Barr Hill, Chico’s Tacos, Enna, Hugo’s Bar & Grill, Hunger Mountain Co-op, J. Morgan’s Steakhouse, Julio’s Cantina, Mad Taco, North Branch Café, Oakes & Evelyn, Ondis, Positive Pie, Sarducci’s, The Skinny Pancake, and Three Penny Taproom.

The Downtown Restaurant Challenge is also featured. Pick up a card at a participating restaurant, eat/drink at four eateries during the week and have them stamp your card, then turn your card into City Hall for a chance to win prizes.

Restaurant Week sponsors are Vermont Creamery, Hunger Mountain Co-op, SERVPRO Team Paul, The Bridge, and Cabot Creamery.

WILLISTON — The Stern Center for Language and Learning (Stern Center) announced the hiring of Eric Ford as director of strategic communications. This is a new role on its leadership team. As director, Ford will focus on “fostering awareness of the organization’s mission to help learners and empower teachers; inspiring donor support to ensure access to life-changing learning; and building connections that strengthen communities.”

Ford previously was director of programming partnership at Vermont Public, which included producing the regional documentary film series Made Here. Prior to Vermont Public, he was the communication director leading marketing and branding efforts at Burlington City Arts.

The Stern Center for Language and Learning is an education-focused, nonprofit organization providing learning evaluations, one-on-one customized instruction, and professional training for educators. For more information, visit www.sterncenter.org online.

Vermont Green Building Network’s 14th annual Vermont’s Greenest Building Awards Competition is now open for submissions. This statewide competition recognizes residential and commercial buildings that excel in green building strategies, including water, health, transportation, affordability, and meet the highest standard of demonstrated energy performance.

Submissions are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 18. Winners of the awards will be announced and showcased at VGBN’s annual Vermont Green Building Celebration, which will take place April 9 at Main Street Landing in Burlington.

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