Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) has announced that writers from South Burlington and Westford are the winners of this year’s Vermont Writers’ Prize, an annual contest that celebrates Vermont, its people, history, and culture. Now in its 37th year, the Prize encourages writers to explore the Vermont experience through the written word. Winners in each category are published in the summer issue of Vermont Magazine and each also receives $1,250. This year, the short story “The Apprentice” by Emily Rinkema of Westford won the top award for prose, and the poem “Sugarhouse Steel” by Laura Kujawa of South Burlington won in the poetry category.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Peter Welch, and Congresswoman Becca Balint, together with the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), today announced that seven Vermont communities will receive a combined $7.6 million from NBRC’s Catalyst Program. When evaluating potential projects, the Catalyst Program considers project readiness, economic impacts, impacts on Vermont’s skilled workforce, project location, regional input and priorities, and the project’s transformational nature. The NBRC Catalyst Program also offers a fall round of funding. Awarded projects in the 2026 Catalyst Spring awards include replacement of a skilled nursing facility, stormwater and infrastructure improvements, as well as acquisition of a vacant property in downtown Newport.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) announced that Jon McNeill, ex-President of Tesla, former COO of Lyft, CEO and co-founder of DVx Ventures, and author of the new book The Algorithm, will headline the next AI After Hours meetup series on Monday, June 22 from 5:30 to 7 PM at OnLogic in South Burlington, Vermont. McNeill is one of the most accomplished operators in the technology industry. As President of Tesla, he oversaw a 10x increase in revenue (from $2 billion to $20 billion) in just 30 months. As COO of Lyft, he more than doubled revenues and helped lead the company through its IPO. Today, McNeill serves as CEO and co-founder of DVx Ventures, a venture studio that has launched 12 companies attacking large markets.

Vermont Business Magazine The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported today that 2026 Vermont maple syrup production totaled 3.091 million gallons, once again leading the nation in this category producing more than 50% of the nation’s maple. This follows 2 years of similar output in 2024 (3.108) and 2025 (3.009 million). The value of maple syrup production totaled $101,704 million in 2025, up $6 million from 2024. The average retail price per gallon in 2025 was $51.40 per gallon.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Women’s Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation, has awarded $411,650 to 46 nonprofit organizations across Vermont this year. The grants support programs that advance economic security, opportunity, and health and well-being for women+, girls, and gender-diverse individuals statewide. For the second consecutive year, the Vermont Women’s Fund saw record demand, receiving $1.3 million in funding requests during the 2026 grant cycle. The requests reflect growing pressures facing Vermont communities as nonprofit organizations work to address widening funding gaps. During the same period, the fund also received record philanthropic support, with individuals and community partners in Vermont and beyond contributing to meet the growing need.

Vermont Business Magazine State Auditor Doug Hoffer announced today that his office received the highest possible rating from an external team of auditors who assessed the Auditor’s office’s adherence to generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS). Audit offices can receive a score of Pass, Pass with deficiencies, or Fail based upon the review. Vermont received a Pass score.

Vermont Business Magazine With elevated temperatures and increased health risks expected in the Burlington area, the City of Burlington is encouraging residents to take precautions and utilize available cooling resources. The National Weather Service is forecasting dangerous early season heat across the region on Friday. Heat index values – which reflect how hot it feels when humidity is factored in – are expected to reach up to 98 degrees during the afternoon hours in both the Champlain and Connecticut River valleys. A Heat Advisory remains in effect from noon to 8:00 p.m. on Friday.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $4.34 per gallon, down 9 cents per gallon from last week, down 19 cents/g from last month and up $1.28/g from this time last year, according to AAA. The lowest price in the state this week was $4.06/g while the highest was $4.69/g. Gas prices remain higher than since the summer of 2022. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 12 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.12/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington has settled a civil rights lawsuit filed on behalf of a teenage resident (referenced in court filings as “J.A.”) over discriminatory and unconstitutional treatment by City officials, with the City agreeing to pay $150,000 to resolve the case. This case stems from an encounter in which Burlington police and paramedics needlessly escalated an interaction with J.A., used excessive force, injected him with ketamine, and forcibly removed him from his bedroom and home. J.A., a Black teenager with a documented history of complex trauma and behavioral and intellectual disabilities, was 14 years old at the time of the incident.

Vermont Business Magazine Two-thirds of children in Vermont are at risk of hunger, according to a new report from Hunger Free Vermont. The report, titled “Creating a Food Secure Future for All Vermont’s Children by 2035” was released this year by Hunger Free Vermont in collaboration with Vermont Foodbank and Feeding Champlain Valley. In 2025, approximately 79,000 Vermont children, about ⅔ of all kids in the state, were at risk of hunger because they live in households not able to afford all their basic needs. In collaboration with nearly 100 stakeholders, Hunger Free Vermont identified the following 14 strategies as central levers for creating a food secure future for all Vermont's children.

Vermont Business Magazine Rural Vermont has a constant presence at Vermont State University (VTSU), where four of its five campuses are located on the hilltops and vistas around smaller Vermont towns. And, the Vermont Rural Learning Collective (VRLC) is housed within the university’s Academic Support and Educational Opportunity Programs. Its goal is to support AmeriCorps members with a living allowance and professional development through a $386,780 grant from SerVermont for the 2025–2026 program year.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is now accepting applications for the Advanced Wood Heating Assistance program. Funded by a $300,000 USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations grant, the program provides partial funding for municipalities to install or upgrade advanced wood heating systems. Vermont municipal buildings, including town office buildings, town garages, schools, and grange halls, are eligible to apply for funding.