by Guy Page

One of Vermont’s largest manufacturers has a new owner.

TransDigm Group Incorporated (“TransDigm Group” on the NY Stock Exchange) Monday October 6 announced that it has acquired Simmonds Precision Products of Goodrich Corporation for about $765 million in cash, including certain tax benefits. TransDigm financed the acquisition through cash on hand. The acquisition of Simmonds was previously announced on June 30.

Simmonds, headquartered in Vergennes, is a leading global designer and manufacturer of fuel & proximity sensing and structural health monitoring solutions for the aerospace and defense end markets. The Company’s products are highly engineered, proprietary components with significant aftermarket content and a strong presence across major aerospace and defense platforms.  

About 40% of Simmonds’ revenue is derived from the aftermarket and nearly all of its revenue is generated from proprietary products. Simmonds is expected to generate approximately $350 million in revenue for the calendar year ending December. The Company employs approximately 900 people.

TransDigm Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components for use on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today.

Activists join Vermont Stands Up board – Vermont Stands Up (VSU), a health freedom advocacy group founded in 2021 in response to pandemic-related mandates, has announced a new board of directors and a renewed plan of action focused on health autonomy, open dialogue, and informed consent.

The five-member board includes Lincoln Earle-Centers of Braver Angels, John Klar of Small Farm Republic, videographer Dr. Rob Williams, VDC columnist Alison Despathy, and anti-mask mandate activist Amy Hornblas, who was elected president at the group’s first annual meeting in July. Hornblas, a health educator and author, said the organization remains committed to protecting free speech and encouraging public debate on government health policies.

VSU plans to support five bills in the next legislative session aimed at expanding health choice rights, including measures to prevent discrimination based on vaccine status, require reporting of vaccine injuries, and prohibit mask mandates in schools.

The group also plans to continue hosting educational events, collaborating with like-minded organizations, and launching an online forum to connect Vermonters interested in issues of freedom and unity.

More information is available at VermontStandsUp.org.

Goat cheese market set to grow – the international market for goat cheese is set to grow 50% by 2034, and a Vermont creamery is one of the nation’s largest producers.

According to an industry report, the goat cheese market was valued at $4.1 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach $6.2 billion by 2034, growing at an annual rate of 4.3% from 2025 to 2034.

The goat cheese market is driven by factors such as rise in preference for natural and clean-label products and growth in popularity of Mediterranean and French cuisine to support the growth of goat cheese. However, strong competition from established dairy products and seasonal variations in goat milk supply restrict market growth. Moreover, growth in health-conscious consumers is expected to offer new opportunities in the coming years.

According to the report, Vermont Creamery, founded in 1984 in the Websterville village of Barre, is ranked #9 in the world among producers. Europe dominates the goat cheese market, with Saputo the #1 producer.

UVM acquires VPIRG archives – The University of Vermont’s Silver Special Collections Library has added the historic archives of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) to its collections, preserving more than five decades of materials from the state’s largest nonprofit advocacy organization.

The new collection, which includes more than 50 boxes of internal documents, campaign materials, publications, research data, posters, and mementos, was unveiled at a celebration on October 1. The event featured UVM library staff, VPIRG leaders, and members of the university’s VPIRG student club.

VPIRG’s archives document the organization’s history of civic engagement, from its student-led founding at UVM over 50 years ago to statewide efforts such as the campaign for GMO labeling and the push to close the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The collection also includes charter documents, legal files from the Randall v. Sorrell campaign finance case, and historical photographs featuring Vermont political leaders.