Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Sierra Club - Vermont Chapter, Vermont Conservation Voters, Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), and ACLU Vermont submitted a letter to the Scott Administration expressing their deep concern that provisions in Executive Order 06-25 (EO) instruct state agencies to take actions which they do not have authority to take. "All of our organizations strongly support more housing, but Governor Scott’s legally unsound EO will in fact make things worse for housing development because anyone that relies on illegal action could face more litigation, not less regulation. At a time when Governor Scott is calling for more cooperation, this type of aggressive short cutting of the rule of law is something we are compelled to stand up against.”

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Building Burlington’s Future (BBF) announced a new partnership with the Abundance Network that establishes Burlington as the Network’s first affiliate chapter on the East Coast. The Abundance Network is a national membership organization that collaborates with civic leaders nationwide to achieve ambitious policy outcomes at the local level. 

by Christina Davenport, UVM George Bemis ’60, MD, has made a landmark estate commitment—currently valued at $16 million—to the University of Vermont (UVM) in honor of Nancy Wicks Bemis, RN, his late wife, who studied nursing at UVM in the late 1950s. As the largest gift in the history of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS), the bequest will significantly expand access to nursing education through scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is opening applications for the Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC) Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Grant. The purpose of this grant is to provide local food to early learners through CSA shares. This grant is open to non-profit organizations located in Vermont and licensed or registered early childhood education providers. The application portal is open now through November 25, 2025. $200,000 is available to award and there is no minimum or maximum award limit. Applicants will be notified of decisions in February 2026, with projects beginning in March or April of 2026.    

Vermont Business Magazine ZymoChem, the Burlington materials company decarbonizing the chemical industry through biological manufacturing, announces its recognition as a Startup of the Year by The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)'s 2025 Start-Up Awards, which honor start-ups developing innovative products and processes that advance the future of the textile industry. ZymoChem’s proprietary Carbon Conserving™ technology produces the chemical building blocks for nylon from renewable feedstocks, creating drop-in replacements for petroleum-based materials. These bio-based alternatives maintain the same performance characteristics, while significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Vermont Business Magazine More than 450 high school students from across Vermont came together at Vermont State University Randolph on October 9 for the annual Women Can Do conference—a one-day event hosted by Vermont Works for Women that gives students hands-on exposure to careers in the trades and STEM. From welding and aviation mechanics to heavy equipment operation, students had the chance to try new tools, meet local employers, and expand their understanding of what’s possible after high school.

Vermont Business Magazine Mac Mountain unveiled an unprecedented partnership model designed to ensure residential and commercial builders, developers and service providers dramatically increase fiber broadband subscriptions in the communities they serve while also sharing in the recurring cash flow. that is generated. The model combines Mac Mountain’s strategic investment, funding and industry expertise with LightCraft — its new operational arm that provides design, construction, sales and day-to-day operations of these partners’ broadband networks through shared services — everything needed to build subscribers and increase revenue.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Republicans and Democrats have both condemned what Governor Phil Scott called "vile, racist, bigoted, and antisemitic" in a chat group centered in New York State and which included other young Republicans from around the nation, including sitting Vermont State Senator Sam Douglass (R-Orleans) and his wife Brianna, the Vermont Young Republicans national committee member. "We are in agreement with Gov. Phil Scott. Sen. Sam Douglass’ statements as reported by Politico are unacceptable and deeply disturbing. They cannot be excused and are inconsistent with Vermont values and what Vermont Republicans stand for."

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement in response to leaked messages from leaders of a national Young Republican group chat: “The hateful statements made in this group chat are disgusting and unacceptable. The vile, racist, bigoted, and antisemitic dialogue that has been reported is deeply disturbing. There is simply no excuse for it. Those involved should resign from their roles immediately and leave the Republican party – including Vermont State Senator Sam Douglass.”

Vermont Business Magazine Dairy farmers across the Northeast can now apply for the Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant through the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC). With a total of $750,000 in funding, this grant will support a wide range of projects aimed at improving farm viability, milk quality, worker conditions, economic sustainability, and climate resilience.  Grants will range from $15,000 to $100,000 with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match.    

Vermont Business Magazine As University of Vermont Health – Porter Medical Center celebrates 100 years of caring for Addison County and the surrounding communities, members of the public are invited to attend a ribbon-cutting event on Friday, October 17 in the hospital’s main lobby. The event from 1 to 3 p.m. in the hospital’s main lobby will include remarks from hospital and health system leaders and the unveiling of the Porter Centennial Exhibit – a 42 ½-foot-long art installation spanning the hallway that connects the hospital’s main entrance and North Wing, which houses Porter’s Surgical Services and Birthing Center. The hospital will also unveil a time capsule that will be installed behind a wall within the building and will be opened in 2075, 50 years from now.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education announced today that Linda Alvarez, of Windham Regional Career Center in Brattleboro, is the 2026 Vermont Teacher of the Year. Linda will officially begin her role on January 1, 2026. Also recognized as 2026 Distinguished Finalists are Jason Raymond from Burlington Technical Center and Erin Randall from South Burlington High School. Linda has been a Business and Entrepreneurship teacher at the Windham Regional Career Center in Brattleboro for 4 years and is the first Career Technical Education (CTE) educator to receive this award in Vermont.