Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Economic Development Authority finished the fiscal year with a strong performance in the Fourth Quarter (April 1 through June 30) supplying Vermont businesses and agricultural operations with $11,639,299 in financing. Projects include equipment purchases and upgrades, solar projects, renovations, new construction, and ownership transitions. Thirty-five projects in 35 towns will benefit from this funding.

Vermont Business Magazine PC Construction has completed a comprehensive facility expansion for Weidmann Electrical Technology at their St. Johnsbury, Vermont campus. The expansion, encompassing a new 10,000-square-foot warehouse, significant equipment upgrades, and a 25,000-square-foot addition to the Fabrication North building, was completed in 17 months, a remarkable achievement for a project of its complexity and scale. The milestone was celebrated at a grand opening event on May 27, 2026. Weidmann is one of the world’s largest producers of high-grade insulation materials used in electrical transformers. The $45 million project allows Weidmann to increase manufacturing capacity while adding about 67 jobs.

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center As we enter this momentous holiday weekend, the VMEC team wishes you a "Happy 250th American Birthday!" Enjoy time with family and friends, celebrate safely and have a festive Independence Day weekend! Introduction to CNC and Advanced Manufacturing Open House, Thursday, July 2. Attend this valuable Open House to learn all you can about the below named Boot Camp. This program is designed by industry and instructors to prepare participants for jobs in advanced manufacturing that require levels of skills and knowledge that are nearly unparalleled in other industries.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Weather Service is forecasting dangerously hot conditions across the region from Wednesday, July 1, through Friday, July 3. During this time, the City of Burlington is encouraging residents to take precautions and utilize available cooling resources. VEC is asking members to reduce electric use from Wednesday to Friday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) today issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to add qualified electric vehicle (EV) charging providers to its shortlist of firms that are capable of building out Vermont’s charging network to federal and state specifications. Providers selected in the RFQ process will be invited to bid on subsequent Requests for Proposals (RFP) for the design, construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of public charging infrastructure along key routes.

Vermont Business Magazine Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC), Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC), and Windham Regional Commission (WRC) have opened the annual project submission process for Southern Vermont's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and Regional Priority Project (RPP) programs. Organizations throughout Bennington County and the Windham Region, which includes all Windham County towns and the Town of Weston, are invited to submit projects that are in alignment with regional economic and community development goals.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) congratulates NEK Broadband on the opening of the Groton Connectivity HUB, a new community technology center designed to expand digital access and help residents take advantage of reliable high-speed internet, remote work opportunities, telehealth services, online education, and other digital resources. Located at 1334 Scott Highway in Groton, the Connectivity HUB is part of a $2.85 million USDA Community Connect Grant awarded to NEK Broadband to bring fiber-optic broadband service to every currently unserved address in the town. The project combines broadband infrastructure deployment with a shared community space where residents can access technology, connect to high-speed internet, participate in virtual meetings, pursue educational opportunities, and receive digital support.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has reported have COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at a negligible level total levels are nearly too low to measure. They are at a similar level to the levels seen last summer. There were no measles cases after one reported in Vermont in February in Washington County and the national outbreak is over. Meanwhile, Flu A and Flu B have mostly disappeared. There is still some RSV, Norovirus and Rotavirus showing up in samples.

Vermont Business Magazine Salmonella, an infection that causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain, is the most common form of bacterial food poisoning in the U.S., sickening more than a million people each year. Although most healthy people recover without medical treatment, Salmonella infection can spread throughout the body in young children, the elderly and immuncompromised individuals and become a life-threatening infection. A new discovery sheds light on how the human body controls Salmonella infections and open pathways for potential treatments for Salmonella and other food-borne infections.

Vermont Business Magazine With Independence Day approaching, the American Red Cross and the Hinesburg Fire Department are urging residents to celebrate safely and understand the serious risks associated with consumer fireworks. Each July 4th, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using fireworks. Despite the dangers, many people underestimate the risks, which include devastating burns, other serious injuries, fires, and even death.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution, released the following statement in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. Barbara, which overturns Executive Order 14160, President Trump’s illegal attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship—a constitutional right granted under the Fourteenth Amendment: “The 14th Amendment of our Constitution is clear: if you are born in America, you are an American citizen. It’s not up for debate."

by Jack Hoffman, Public Assets Institute The education reform train the Legislature assembled a year ago finally left the station when Gov. Phil Scott signed Act 170, but it is still a long way from its final destination. Even the bill the governor just signed, “An act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system,” is only the start of a vitally important process of local community engagement to shape control and management of Vermont schools going forward. Despite the immediate demands of the next several months, it is not too early to start talking about the future of education funding. The governor and some legislative leaders act as though the new foundation funding system described in last year’s education reform bill (Act 73) is a done deal. But Vermont voters and taxpayers will have the final say, and they don’t have enough information yet to make that decision.