Current News

Vermont Business Magazine With winter approaching, Vermont health officials are encouraging everyone to take steps to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from flu, COVID-19 and RSV – including getting vaccinated. This season’s flu and COVID-19 vaccines are updated to target the most recent strains of the viruses and are recommended for everyone age 6 months and older. Immunizations for RSV are also widely available for pregnant people, infants, and older adults. People at higher risk of serious illness, including older adults, infants and young children, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems, are especially encouraged to get vaccinated.

Vermont Economic Development Authority Thanks to all who attended our Annual Meeting and Luncheon on October 31st at The Farmhouse at Sunset Pond at The Essex Resort & Spa. It was wonderful to see so many friends and colleagues and for some of our borrowers to show you what they do to help Vermont thrive. At the Annual Meeting and Luncheon, we were pleased to release our FY2025 Annual Report. It was a robust year. VEDA made 173 loans worth $61.5 million to Vermont businesses, agricultural operations, and nonprofit organizations for capital investments and working capital. You can read more highlights from the report below.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Rutland Airport Committee is moving forward with a modernization plan for Rutland–Southern Vermont Regional Airport (RUT), ensuring the state’s second-busiest—and only other commercial— airport remains a vital transportation hub for passengers, pilots, and emergency services. The Committee’s current focus includes terminal improvements, expanded hangar capacity, and potential runway rehabilitation to meet modern aviation standards. The goal is to preserve and improve existing infrastructure while supporting safety, accessibility, and environmental responsibility.  Cost and funding sources remain to be addressed.

Vermont Business Magazine In a press conference held in Montpelier today, Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas announced the formation of a new Voting Accessibility Task Force. The Task Force will meet monthly. Its purpose will be to identify barriers that can prevent eligible voters from participating in elections, and to develop recommendations and actionable plans to remove those barriers. As of 2024, over 80% of Vermonters are registered to vote, and over 70% voted in the last two presidential election years. Nationally, 73% of Americans are registered, and 65% voted in the 2024 presidential election.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and eight Senate Democrats in introducing the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act, legislation to provide rapid relief by expanding Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits by $200 per month for six months. The bill follows a recent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) at just $56 per month, on average. 

Vermont Business Magazine In case you missed it, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) published an op-ed Saturday in The Guardian calling on Senate Democrats to continue their fight to protect access to health care for 15 million Americans and prevent 20 million people from seeing their health insurance premiums double, on average. Sanders urges his colleagues not to cave to President Trump and congressional Republicans who have refused to negotiate to reopen the government while the House remains on a six-week paid vacation — all so they can provide $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthiest 1%.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) has conferred the title of President Emeritus upon David Wolk, honoring his lifelong service to Vermont and his extraordinary leadership in furthering public higher education across the state and for the countless Vermonters whose lives were influenced by his mentorship or who today are touched by the lasting contributions of his legacy. The title of President Emeritus is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service and leadership.   Wolk served as president of Castleton University (formerly Castleton State College) from 2001 to 2017 and is the longest-serving president in the institution’s history. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark and 21 other attorneys general today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education for unlawfully restricting eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which allows government and nonprofit employees to have their federal student loans forgiven after ten years of service. The coalition argues that the sweeping new rule is unlawful and targeted to punish states and organizations that the Administration does not like. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.06 per gallon, unchanged  from last week's $3.07/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.65/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 64.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 1.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.99/g today.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) is accepting applications for the Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling Food Safety Grant. The purpose of this one-time funding is to provide infrastructure or equipment for operations performing harvest and post-harvest activities in either the meat or produce sector in Vermont. Specifically, this funding opportunity is only open to businesses that are subject to federal, or state equivalent, food safety regulatory inspections. Produce operations receiving regular inspection through the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule (FSMA PSR) are eligible.

Vermont Business Magazine Ian B. Baucom was installed as the 18th president of Middlebury College on November 2 at an inauguration ceremony at Virtue Field House marking the beginning of a new era—one day after the 225th anniversary of the College’s founding. More than 500 faculty, staff, students, community members, and delegates from 35 colleges and universities attended the culminating event of a three-day celebration of academics, arts, and community honoring the College’s new president. They stood and cheered as Baucom took the lectern for his inaugural address after being formally installed by William F. Truscott ’83, chair of the Middlebury Board of Trustees.

by Madelyn Nonni, Community News Service Trash day isn’t usually known to be full of glitz and glamour, but a new local business is aiming to assist homeowners and businesses on one of the dirtiest days of the week. Bin Force One is Vermont’s first professional trash bin cleaning service, focusing on giving quality cleanliness to its customers, using state-of-the-art, EPA-certified equipment, environmentally friendly cleaning solutions, and a 17-stage filtration system that captures and filters dirty water, avoiding storm-drain pollution. Additionally, they offer soft and pressure washing, surface cleaning and fleet washing for commercial vehicles.