Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, Bolton Valley Resort’s Timberline Lodge played host to the inaugural Vermont Trail Accessibility Hub (TAH) Summit, bringing together more than 50 thought leaders and advocates to advance trail accessibility across Vermont. This collaborative event united representatives from more than 30 organizations and agencies, setting the stage for a transformative future in trail-based outdoor recreation. The Trail Accessibility Hub, which originated from a collaborative idea at the 2023 Trail Symposium, has rapidly grown into a pioneering initiative dedicated to improving access to outdoor recreation for everyone, especially for those with physical disabilities and mobility challenges.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.12 per gallon, up 2 cents per gallon from last week's $3.07/g, up 1 cent/g from a month ago and down 9 cents/g from a year ago. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.76/g while the highest was $3.49/g, a difference of 73.0 cents per gallon. The lowest prices in the state are in the southern counties of Bennington ($3/g) and Windham ($3.01/g) and rise as you go north. The highest average price is in Essex County ($3.38/g). The national average price of gasoline has risen 4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.10/g today. The national average is up 8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 3 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine The ACLU and Pregnancy Justice filed a lawsuit yesterday on behalf of a Vermont resident whose rights were violated by the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) during an unlawful “assessment” of her parental capacity that was not disclosed to her and based on unsubstantiated claims about her mental health. Specifically, with the assistance of multiple direct service providers and without her knowledge, DCF surveilled A.V., lied to a state court about her pregnancy status, obtained legal control of A.V.’s fetus, tried to force her to undergo an involuntary cesarean surgery, and then took and retained custody of her newborn baby for seven months while attempting to sever A.V.’s parental rights. Filed under the initials “A.V.,” the lawsuit names the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF), as well as service providers Lund and Copley Hospital, both of which shared confidential information and assisted DCF in surveilling A.V. during her pregnancy. 

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group’s philanthropic entity, the National Life Group Foundation, has increased its budget by 22%, raising the total to $2.8 million, reflecting its growth and expanding community impact. In 2024, the Foundation announced more than $1.16 million in grants to 115 recipients as well as contributing $455,470 to matching employee gifts to 595 nonprofits through its annual Share the Good campaign. The Foundation also funds awards for two special recognition programs: the National Life Group LifeChanger of the Year and National Life Group Do Good Heroes.

Vermont Business Magazine The General Assistance Emergency Housing Task Force (GA Task Force), which was created by the Legislature last year to provide recommendations around emergency housing, submitted its final recommendations to the Vermont Legislature on Wednesday. The GA Task Force included 13 members representing people with lived experience of homelessness, Vermont’s affordable housing, shelter, mental health, and service provider communities, municipalities, and Governor Scott’s administration. The final recommendations received support from the overwhelming majority of the GA Task Force. In response to the recommendations, today over 55 shelter and service providers, advocates, and municipal leaders from across Vermont submitted a letter to legislators urging legislators to support the GA Task Force’s recommendations. 

Vermont Business Magazine This winter, the Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) at the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is launching the 2025 Clean Water Conversation Series. These monthly webinars are free and open to the public. This year’s series will spotlight a variety of groups working on projects in communities across Vermont to improve water quality in our rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands.  Those who join will learn about clean water successes making a difference in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Co-op is accepting petitions from eligible candidates for four board of directors’ seats that are up for election in May. To be eligible, a candidate must be a VEC member and have a principal residence within VEC service territory and in the district or zone they are running to represent. (Employees of the co-op are not eligible.) The board generally meets in the afternoon on the last Tuesday of each month at VEC's main office in Johnson. Directors, who are elected to serve four-year terms, receive a stipend and mileage reimbursement for attending meetings and have training opportunities to learn more about energy issues and the cooperative utility model.  

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement regarding the passing of former Governor Tom Salmon. “On August 2, 1972, a former state representative from Rockingham, declared his candidacy for Governor. On November 8th, headlines would read of the biggest political upset in Vermont history, and Tom Salmon was Governor- Elect. Governor Salmon led Vermont through some of our nation’s most difficult times, doing his best to stabilize our economy due to an oil embargo and strengthening trust of government here at home after Watergate."

Vermont Business Magazine Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned U.S. Attorney General Nominee Pamela Bondi on President-elect Trump’s threats against political opponents. Ms. Bondi committed to Welch that at the Department of Justice, under her leadership, “No one will be prosecuted, investigated because they are a political opponent.” 

Vermont Business Magazine Spectrum Youth and Family Services is thrilled to announce an incredible $1 million anonymous donation to support all of Spectrum’s programs in Franklin County. This transformative gift underscores a resounding belief in the youth of Franklin County and their potential to thrive – including those facing homelessness and other challenges. In addition to the anonymous $1M donation, the Hoehl Family Foundation will donate $125,000 per year for the next three years to support the St. Albans Drop-In Center and soon, a new youth shelter, which is also funded by the Vermont State Legislature. This fall, Champlain Housing Trust purchased the building at 135 Lake Street in St. Albans where the new youth shelter will be housed, and renovations are currently underway. Spectrum is hiring and training staff so that the shelter can open as soon as renovations are complete in March.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ - UNB), based in Morrisville, today announced results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 and declared a regular quarterly cash dividend. Consolidated net income for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was $3.00 million, or $0.67 per share, compared to $3.05 million, or $0.68 per share, for the same period in 2023, and $8.8 million, or $1.94 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $11.3 million, or $2.50 per share for the same period in 2023. The decrease in earnings for the comparison periods was impacted by the previously announced strategic balance sheet repositioning executed during the third quarter. The company's wholly owned subsidiary, Union Bank, executed the sale of $38.8 million in book value of its lower-yielding available-for-sale debt securities for a pre-tax realized loss of $1.3 million, which was recorded in the third quarter of 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of a survey requested by the Vermont Legislature circulated by the Vermont Medical Society, HealthFirst, Bistate Primary Care and the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, Vermont clinicians report that prior authorizations are increasing in volume, time consuming for clinicians and medical practices, and that they delay care for patients and increase burnout for practitioners. This survey was requested as part of Act 111, as passed in 2024, which tasked health care provider organizations with measuring the impact of prior authorizations for health care services before and after implementation of the law aimed at streamlining and reducing prior authorizations.