Current News

by Ali Jalili It’s Time to Sell Memorial Auditorium! Over three years ago, I wrote the Opinion piece below. In it I argue that we should limit how long the City of Burlington allows Memorial Auditorium to sit decaying before we give up on the idea of rebuilding a new public space, and instead sell it to a developer. I suggested that 10 years would be a reasonable time period before we move on to Plan B. This year marks 10 years since Memorial closed, and I understand that the current public-private partnership plan is unlikely to move forward anytime soon, if ever.

Vermont Business Magazine Age Well has earned Case Management Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a leading independent organization dedicated to improving health care quality. Age Well received NCQA’s highest accreditation status effective June 1, 2026. The three-year accreditation extends through June 1, 2029, and recognizes organizations that meet rigorous standards for case management, care coordination, performance measurement, continuous quality improvement, and person-centered service delivery.

by Kyle Neece, Community News Service A winding road through lush green trees leads to the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum. Inside, mannequins wear old garments, flippable laminated pages display written history and cultural artifacts hang in frames on the walls. The museum holds the story of how Vermont was admitted to the union. This Fourth of July, Vermont, along with the rest of the country, will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the formation of the U.S. But the story of how Vermont became the 14th state includes a little-known chapter. From 1777 to 1791, Vermont was considered an independent republic. According to historians, this time period contributed to a unique sense of patriotism within Vermont.

by Kyle Neece, Community News Service This July marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. But Vermont did not become the 14th state until 1791, after fighting for admission into the country instead of becoming part of present-day New York. While major events, like the Battle of Bennington and the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, are well-known, smaller histories exist in the soils of many cities and towns in Vermont. The way places like Burlington, Bradford and Windsor developed in their early years gives context to the formation of the Green Mountain State.

Vermont Business Magazine BAE Systems (LON: BA) has completed the delivery of 19 Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicles (CATV) to the U.S. military, including the Vermont National Guard (VTNG) Army Mountain Warfare School (AMWS). This marks the first time the VTNG AMWS has received CATVs, representing a significant milestone in the Army's and state's military modernization efforts.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general in filing a formal comment letter Thursday opposing the Postal Service’s attempt to aid the President’s efforts to seize control of elections and restrict mail-in voting through a proposed rule and asking the Postal Service to withdraw the proposed rule. On March 31, President Trump signed an executive order attempting to establish a national list of eligible voters and directing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), an independent federal agency, to transmit mail ballots only to those on the list.

Vermont State Police Search efforts on the Lamoille River near Arrowhead Mountain Lake in Georgia for a missing man continued from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 3. His body was not located. The Vermont State Police and the Department of Public Safety search and rescue coordinator plan to return to the area Saturday, July 4, with K-9s to search riverbanks and lakeshore areas downstream. If necessary, VSP will evaluate resuming operations on the water Monday, July 6.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA) will hold two public hearings regarding the NVDA 2026 Regional Plan. The first hearing is scheduled for July 29, 2026, at 6:00 pm and will be a hybrid meeting: online and in-person at Do North (930 Broad St, 2nd floor, Lyndonville, VT). Consider registering online for this first hearing. All are welcome to attend and provide input on the NVDA Regional Plan, which includes local housing targets and the Regional Future Land Use (FLU) map, but excludes the defunct Tier 3 and Road Rule provisions. The final hearing is scheduled for September 24, 2026 at 4:00 pm and will be a hybrid meeting: online and in-person at the Gateway Center (84 Fyfe Dr, 1st floor, Newport, VT). This hearing is also open to the public, but it will be past the deadline for NVDA to accept feedback. Consider registering online for this final hearing.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington-based V/T Commercial has released its second quarter transactions. Transactions include Seventh Generation relocating its headquarters to 530 Community Drive, South Burlington. Their new space consists of 20,185 SF; leased 1,718 SF at 12 Washington Street, Middlebury to Buy Again Alley; O'Reilly Auto Enterprises leased 23,940 SF at 160 Paine Turnpike North, Berlin from Albertsons Companies; Buy Again Alley leased 1,718 SF at 12 Washington Street, Middlebury from Albertsons Companies.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community College of Vermont (CCV) has received a $10,000 gift from Northfield Savings Bank to fund its Life Gap Grant program. Life Gap Grants are small, just-in-time scholarships that help students get through unexpected and challenging situations and stay in school. Funded solely by philanthropic donations, Life Gap provides direct financial support to students with emergent needs, including food insecurity, transportation, healthcare and child care.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott issued the following statement Thursday on the passing of Judge Dickson Corbett: “I am saddened to learn of the passing of Judge Dickson Corbett. I first met Dickson in 2021 when appointing him to serve as Orange County State’s Attorney and later appointed him to serve as Superior Court Judge in 2023. I always appreciated his dedication to improving the lives of Vermonters through public service. This is an unfortunate loss for Vermont and the Judiciary, and my heart goes out to Dickson’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.”

Vermont Business Magazine Today, FEMA announced the approval of nearly $3.4 million in post-disaster funding for Public Assistance projects in New England to the states of Vermont, Maine and Connecticut. This program empowers states, local communities, tribes and territories to recover, to rebuild more resilient, safer communities, and protect infrastructure from future events.