Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In the evening hours of Tuesday, June 30, 2026, while troopers were conducting follow-up investigation related to the disappearance of Nicole Richardson, troopers were dispatched to a report of a woman in distress in the Clyde River near Vermont Route 105 in the village of West Charleston. A short time later, a bystander and a Vermont game warden located the woman a short distance downriver. She was unresponsive when she was brought to shore. The woman was identified as Nicole Richardson. She was transported by ambulance to North Country Hospital in Newport, where she was pronounced deceased.

Vermont Business Magazine Dr. Sherry Kollmann officially began her tenure as president of Vermont State University today, where she will build on the rich history of the university’s legacy campuses while continuing the university’s forward momentum. As president, Dr. Kollmann is committed to advancing an enrollment growth strategy that expands access and opportunity for learners across the state. This includes a strong emphasis on growing enrollment across Vermont State University’s programs, learning modalities, and campuses—ensuring the university meets learners where they are through flexible, high-quality pathways, including online, hybrid, and campus-based experiences. She comes from New Mexico State University.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Electric Department (BED) issued a peak alert for tomorrow, Thursday, July 2, as part of its Defeat the Peak program launched during summer 2017, encouraging members of the Burlington community to reduce their energy usage from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. The purpose of the Defeat the Peak program is to reduce our energy costs by reducing usage during a peak event. Burlingtonians can lend a hand by taking steps to reduce electric consumption. Vermont Electric Cooperative has also asked its members to reduce their consumption through Friday.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Burlington Electric Department (BED), and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 300 announced the successful negotiation of a new, three-year collective bargaining agreement. The contract was signed this afternoon at a ceremony at BED. The contract extends the longstanding partnership between the union workforce of 85 staff members and BED from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026. IBEW Local 300 ratified the contract prior to the Burlington City Council’s approval of the agreement at its June 29, 2026, meeting. The agreement was reached through an efficient and collaborative bargaining process that concluded in advance of the start of the City's new fiscal year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Economic Development Authority finished the fiscal year with a strong performance in the Fourth Quarter (April 1 through June 30) supplying Vermont businesses and agricultural operations with $11,639,299 in financing. Projects include equipment purchases and upgrades, solar projects, renovations, new construction, and ownership transitions. Thirty-five projects in 35 towns will benefit from this funding.

Vermont Business Magazine PC Construction has completed a comprehensive facility expansion for Weidmann Electrical Technology at their St. Johnsbury, Vermont campus. The expansion, encompassing a new 10,000-square-foot warehouse, significant equipment upgrades, and a 25,000-square-foot addition to the Fabrication North building, was completed in 17 months, a remarkable achievement for a project of its complexity and scale. The milestone was celebrated at a grand opening event on May 27, 2026. Weidmann is one of the world’s largest producers of high-grade insulation materials used in electrical transformers. The $45 million project allows Weidmann to increase manufacturing capacity while adding about 67 jobs.

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center As we enter this momentous holiday weekend, the VMEC team wishes you a "Happy 250th American Birthday!" Enjoy time with family and friends, celebrate safely and have a festive Independence Day weekend! Introduction to CNC and Advanced Manufacturing Open House, Thursday, July 2. Attend this valuable Open House to learn all you can about the below named Boot Camp. This program is designed by industry and instructors to prepare participants for jobs in advanced manufacturing that require levels of skills and knowledge that are nearly unparalleled in other industries.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Weather Service is forecasting dangerously hot conditions across the region from Wednesday, July 1, through Friday, July 3. During this time, the City of Burlington is encouraging residents to take precautions and utilize available cooling resources. VEC is asking members to reduce electric use from Wednesday to Friday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) today issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to add qualified electric vehicle (EV) charging providers to its shortlist of firms that are capable of building out Vermont’s charging network to federal and state specifications. Providers selected in the RFQ process will be invited to bid on subsequent Requests for Proposals (RFP) for the design, construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of public charging infrastructure along key routes.

Vermont Business Magazine Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC), Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC), and Windham Regional Commission (WRC) have opened the annual project submission process for Southern Vermont's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and Regional Priority Project (RPP) programs. Organizations throughout Bennington County and the Windham Region, which includes all Windham County towns and the Town of Weston, are invited to submit projects that are in alignment with regional economic and community development goals.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) congratulates NEK Broadband on the opening of the Groton Connectivity HUB, a new community technology center designed to expand digital access and help residents take advantage of reliable high-speed internet, remote work opportunities, telehealth services, online education, and other digital resources. Located at 1334 Scott Highway in Groton, the Connectivity HUB is part of a $2.85 million USDA Community Connect Grant awarded to NEK Broadband to bring fiber-optic broadband service to every currently unserved address in the town. The project combines broadband infrastructure deployment with a shared community space where residents can access technology, connect to high-speed internet, participate in virtual meetings, pursue educational opportunities, and receive digital support.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has reported have COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at a negligible level total levels are nearly too low to measure. They are at a similar level to the levels seen last summer. There were no measles cases after one reported in Vermont in February in Washington County and the national outbreak is over. Meanwhile, Flu A and Flu B have mostly disappeared. There is still some RSV, Norovirus and Rotavirus showing up in samples.