Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Shock, the Vermont-based community technology company that created the Bee app, today announced the acquisition of Dono, a volunteer management and in-kind delivery software platform, and the appointment of Dono's creator, Margarita Ivanova, as Founder-in-Residence. The Bee app, launched in June 2025, connects community members with local volunteer opportunities and neighborhood events through a map-based experience. Following its launch, nonprofit partners made clear that a dedicated volunteer management tool was needed to sustain engagement beyond initial recruitment. Dono fills that gap.

Vermont Business Magazine Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), a leading closeout retailer known for its Crazy Deals, with 175 locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, will host a hiring event at its St. Johnsbury, Vermont store at the Green Mountain Mall (2000 Memorial Drive) on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Friday, June 26, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day. OSJL is hiring for part-time temporary/seasonal Store Associate, Store Specialist, and Facilities Associate roles at the location. The hiring event is part of a broader recruitment effort at six high-priority stores, with approximately 40 openings available across those locations.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Thursday evening signed 16 bills into law announced action on the following bills, including H.949, An act relating to homestead property tax yields, the non-homestead property tax rate, and technical changes to education finance. He also vetoed S.230, An act relating to fair employment practices. in doing so, he said, "While I do not understand why this bill passed in the first place, the Legislature had the foresight to add previously agreed upon provisions within S.230 to S.313, in anticipation of my objection to being pulled into the gamesmanship between unions. As a result, and as the Legislature was made aware, this bill is completely unnecessary."

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Scott signed S.328 granting the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) the ability to lend to housing projects with five or more units beginning on July 1. Prior to this legislation, VEDA was only permitted to lend to farm housing and farmworker housing. VEDA’s financing abilities extend beyond building actual homes. The creation of the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program (CHIP) last year permits lenders, including VEDA, to invest in infrastructure that supports new housing. We look forward to exploring the use of CHIP as developers plan their projects. VEDA is also poised to finance a host of energy projects under the state’s new Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program created by S.327.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced Kristin McClure will take over as Department of Human Resources (DHR) Commissioner as Beth Fastiggi steps down on June 27. McClure has served as deputy secretary of the Agency of Human Services (AHS) since July 2024. Fastiggi has served as commissioner since 2017, supporting critical initiatives, including the governor’s voluntary paid family leave program which covers all state employees and is open to the private sector, the State’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic from a state human resources perspective, and more.

by Chris Graff As the 1985 General Assembly convened, Rep. Robert Kinsey, R-Craftsbury, was confident that he would be elected speaker of the House. He needed 76 votes to win, the Republicans held a 78-72 majority, and his latest count of pledges gave him a nice cushion of 80 votes. But Kinsey had underestimated the scrappy Democratic candidate, Ralph Wright of Bennington, who loved a good fight, played hardball and relished being the underdog. Shock rippled through the House chamber as Secretary of State James Douglas announced the results: Wright had won by the narrowest of margins, 76-74, launching a 10-year speakership that would redefine the office and make him the most powerful speaker in the state’s history.

Vermont Business Magazine Discover how Rockwell’s years in Arlington (1939–1953) helped shape an enduring image of Vermont as a place of resilience, community, and quiet independence. Featuring newly acquired paintings celebrating Vermont’s granite industry, the exhibition also explores the artists, communities, and creative networks that transformed the state into a powerful symbol of American identity and nostalgia. Join us to explore the stories, landscapes, and people that inspired some of Rockwell’s most iconic works.

by State Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer We were disappointed to learn Tuesday that the Governor vetoed legislation that would have provided broad property tax relief to homeowners and renters and made health insurance more affordable for Vermonters who were hit worst by Congress’s failure to extend premium subsidies. Five years ago, our office introduced to legislators and the Scott Administration the concept of “reference-based pricing,” a tool that lowers the amount paid for some excessively priced medical services while pushing health care providers to operate more efficiently. We estimated that if reference-based pricing was applied to the State employee health plan, the State would save more than $16 million annually.

Vermont Agency of Transportation Vermont Route 114 in Norton at Bridge #38, located south of Lake Station Road, will remain closed until further notice. Due to the heavy rainfall on Thursday, June 18, 2026, bridge #38 was damaged, requiring a temporary bridge to be installed at the site. The anticipated reopening of Vermont Route 114 is expected within the next two weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is now accepting grant applications for the Fiscal Year 2027 Mobility and Transportation Innovation (MTI) Grant Program. The program is designed to support innovative strategies and projects that improve mobility and access to services for transit-dependent Vermonters, reduce the use of single-occupancy vehicles, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The grant applications are open to municipalities, local or regional planning agencies, transit agencies, school districts or schools, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups focused on providing public transportation resources.

Williston-Richmond Rotary Get ready to kick off your holiday weekend with fun, fitness, and community spirit at the 2026 Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Run & Walk! Hosted by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, this exciting event takes place on Friday, July 3, 2026, at Williston Village Community Park. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are welcome, whether you're racing for a personal best or enjoying a casual walk with friends and family.

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington’s Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB) invites community members from across Vermont and beyond to gather for Juneteenth Burlington 2026. This year’s celebration centers on the theme “Freedom: Yesterday’s Legacy, Today’s Promise, Tomorrow’s Hope.” Juneteenth Burlington 2026 will be celebrated on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Downtown Burlington at City Hall Park and the Church Street Marketplace. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom.