Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The North Bennington Outdoor Sculpture Show (NBOSS) will enter its 29th season in 2026 with an expanded exhibition structure, additional curatorial partnerships, and the introduction of year-round installation opportunities. Artist applications are now open and will be accepted through April 15. Submissions are available online at nbossvt.com. The 2026 exhibition will include multiple sites in North Bennington, the grounds of Bennington Museum for the seventh consecutive year, and the Downtown Bennington Riverwalk for the third consecutive year in partnership with the Better Bennington Corporation.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont initial weekly unemployment claims rose last week after they had more than doubled two weeks ago and then settled back. For the week ending March 14, 2026, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that there were 461 new claims, up 141 from the previous week and up 64 from last year at this time. New claims had leveled off at under 400 after the holiday season and, other than the recent spike, are now at their highest level since mid-January. Meanwhile, total claims were 4,324, down 343 from the week before and are up 127 from last year at this time. Initial claims, which tend to be lowest in the summer, were 186 in September 2025. 

Vermont Business Magazine Steven Tendo, a Vermont resident who was detained last month and then released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody after a judge ruled in his favor, will remain in the community. On Feb. 4, Tendo was detained, and later Judge Joseph N. Laplante ruled that ICE failed to comply with Dept. of Homeland Security regulations — making his arrest unlawful. He was released on Feb. 20, more than two weeks after being detained. Following an ICE check-in today, Tendo was not taken into custody — he has been fighting for asylum in the United States since arriving in the country in 2018 as a refugee from Uganda.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced his appointment of Sandi Hoffman as commissioner of the Department for Children and Families (DCF). She has served as interim commissioner since September of 2025. Hoffman returns to DCF from the Department of Vermont Health Access, where she served as deputy commissioner and previously served as chief of clinical services and director of quality improvement and clinical integrity. Prior to that she worked for the family services division of DCF for 18 years, supporting Vermont families and specializing in early childhood trauma, adolescent development, women’s health, substance use disorder, and mental health and wellbeing.

Vermont Business Magazine Bensonwood, a leader in high-performance offsite construction proudly celebrates a long-standing partnership in Ludlow as Okemo Mountain Resort marks its 70th anniversary this ski season. Bensonwood’s various projects in the area are rooted in innovation, environmental stewardship, and a deep respect for Vermont’s mountain landscape. Since its founding in 1956, Okemo has grown into one of the Northeast’s most beloved four-season destinations, balancing world-class recreation with thoughtful land management. Bensonwood is honored to support this milestone through its work at SouthFace Village, a slopeside community on the south face of Okemo Mountain that exemplifies high-performance, low-impact mountain development.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bancorp, the parent company of Community National Bank, has declared a dividend of $0.25 per share payable May 1, 2026, to shareholders of record as of April 15, 2026. The company received approval to list its common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market (CMTV) in January. The company's shares transitioned from the OTCQX Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market on February 2, 2026.

Vermont Business Magazine On March 16, DEW Construction joined the Town of North Hero, local officials, first responders, community members, and project partners to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new Fire Station and Town Garage. The project represents a major investment in the island community’s future, enhancing emergency response capabilities while supporting essential municipal services. DEW Construction is serving as the general contractor for the project, which will replace the town’s existing shared facility that has supported fire, rescue, and public works operations for more than 50 years. The aging building no longer meets current operational, space, or safety standards. Designed by AES Northeast, the new municipal campus will include a 7,000-square-foot fire station and a 3,000-square-foot public works building.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) announced today the promotion of Deborah Flannery to Deputy Executive Director, a new leadership role created to support the agency’s rapid growth in housing investments and mission impact statewide. Flannery joined VHFA in January 2025 as Managing Director of Community Development, where she has overseen development finance and asset management. In her expanded role, she will also oversee homebuyer mortgage programs in a unified program operations structure designed to help VHFA finance more homes for low‑ and middle‑income Vermonters while maintaining strong stewardship of public and private capital. This structure is a core component of VHFA’s broader effort to increase housing production, preservation, and long‑term affordability in Vermont.

Vermont State Police An autopsy was completed Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington. The Vermont State Police is able to identify the victim as Alton Wheeler, 79, of Brownington. The medical examiner determined the cause of Mr. Wheeler’s death was a stab wound to the neck, and the manner of death was a homicide. The suspect, 43-year-old Ariana Rodger of Newport, pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Thursday and was ordered held without bail pending future court appearances.

Vermont Business Magazine Following the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)’s approval of Vermont’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) plan on February 9, Maple Broadband has announced that this confirmation of its provisional BEAD award will fully fund broadband throughout the 20-town Addison County Communications Union District. When Maple Broadband received its first construction grant from the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) in 2022, there were close to 6,000 on-grid addresses within the district that did not have access to internet speeds of 25/3 Mbps or greater. Maple Broadband also announced in February the launch of its Affordable Drop Program (ADP) and Local Equitable Access Fund (LEAF), two new programs that lower the cost of getting connected to high-speed fiber internet for residents across its service area.

Vermont Business Magazine Open Approach, a premier managed IT and security provider, proudly announces it has achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 Level 2. This milestone completes a powerful “Gold Standard” security stack alongside the firm’s Cyber Verify Level 3 and SOC 2 Type 2 certifications, placing Open Approach among the top tier of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) worldwide. By reaching CMMC 2.0 Level 2, Open Approach is formally aligned with the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) advanced cybersecurity standards designed to safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). This certification confirms that Open Approach has implemented, documented, and operationalized the stringent controls required to support organizations working with sensitive defense-related data.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP) has announced that significant historic preservation and restoration projects are underway at five state-owned historic sites. These critical infrastructure improvements are designed to stabilize and protect Vermont’s cultural landmarks, ensuring these special places are preserved and accessible for future generations. The 2026 project slate represents a continued investment in the stewardship of Vermont’s diverse heritage. Following recent years of record-breaking attendance at state sites, these updates focus on long-term structural integrity, historical authenticity, and accessibility. New exhibits are planned at many of the sites once these restoration projects are completed.