Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University will welcome internationally recognized scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur Prof. Utku Buyuksahim, Ph.D., to campus on Friday, Jan. 23, for a special public lecture at 2 p.m. in the Mack Hall Auditorium. The lecture, followed by a Q&A session, is open to students, faculty, staff, and the general public. The event is part of Norwich’s ongoing commitment to bring global thought leaders to campus — individuals whose work bridges disciplines and whose innovations help shape a better, smarter, and more connected world. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released the Vermont Clean Water Initiative 2025 Performance Report. It highlights progress through public investments to improve and protect water quality. By investing over $755 million in clean water projects in the past 10 years (on average, $75 million per year), the State has cut pollution going into Vermont’s waters and achieved over 1/3rd of the pollution reductions needed to achieve Lake Champlain’s cleanup goals.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is reminding anglers of some new rules related to panfish daily bag limits and the sale of angler harvested fish that are now in effect. A new regulation defines “Panfish” as Bluegill, Bullhead, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch.  For most waters other than Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River, anglers may only take a total of 50 panfish per day, no more than 25 of which may be Crappies. Daily panfish bag limits have not changed for Lake Champlain, where the daily limit for Crappies is 25, with no limits on the other panfish species.  New Hampshire’s fishing regulations apply on the Connecticut River.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s forests are shaped by the decisions of private landowners, many of whom care deeply about their woods but feel unsure how to plan for the future or start conversations with family. To help meet that need, Vermont Woodlands Association is offering Taking Stock, an online course designed to help forest landowners gain clarity, confidence, and peace of mind about the long-term stewardship of their land. Taking Stock is a supportive, small-group course that guides participants through learning about planning options, reflecting on individual and family goals, and identifying practical next steps related to woodland legacy planning.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) is seeking public input on proposed changes to Vermont’s Use of Public Waters Rules. ANR will host two hybrid public meetings on January 27 and February 4. The public is welcome to provide feedback during these meetings or through written comments. “The Use of Public Waters Rules protects the uses and natural resource values of all public waters for this and future generations,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Misty Sinsigalli. “The proposed changes clarify new wakesports regulations and update language on topics such as petition review. We invite members of the public to share their comments on these proposed changes.” In 2024, Vermont adopted new wakesports regulations that limit wakesports with a wakeboat to the wakesports zones of inland lakes. There are 30 inland lakes where wakesports can occur within a specific wakesports zone.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ – UNB) today announced results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2025, and declared a regular quarterly cash dividend. Consolidated net income for the three months ended December 31, 2025, was $2.7 million, or $0.60 per share, compared to $3.0 million, or $0.67 per share, for the same period in 2024 and $11.1 million, or $2.43 per share for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $8.8 million, or $1.94 per share for the same period in 2024. Earnings for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, were reduced by the impact of the strategic balance sheet repositioning whereby 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 State Auditor Doug Hoffer released an audit today of the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Service’s (BGS) administration of a program intended to reduce energy use in state-owned buildings. The audit found that state government must re-dedicate itself to saving taxpayer money, and protecting the environment, by reducing unnecessary energy usage. In the last 10 fiscal years (2016-2025), the energy costs in state government buildings have cost taxpayers $137 million. In 2011, the Legislature required state agencies to reduce their energy consumption by 5 percent annually. In 2014, it created the State Energy Management Program (SEMP) to identify and implement energy efficiency projects in State buildings. The SEMP is run by the Energy Office in BGS.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, joined U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Governmental Affairs, and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and a group of Democratic Senators in condemning proposed staffing cuts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In their letter to Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, the Senators highlight how the Trump Administration’s planned cuts would risk the FEMA's ability to fulfill its mandated duties supporting communities and protecting people’s lives and livelihoods. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Economic Development announced today that 2025 ranks among the top three growth years in Vermont’s captive insurance industry since captive legislation was enacted in 1981, marking six consecutive years (2020–2025) among the top ten growth years and underscoring Vermont’s sustained leadership and stability amid global market change. In 2025, Vermont licensed a total of 51 new captive insurance companies, bringing the total number of active captives to 707. Early indicators suggest continued momentum, with 4 new captives licensed in the opening weeks of 2026.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has announced that the City will open an extreme cold weather shelter in partnership with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) at the Miller Center at 130 Gosse Court in response to the dangerously cold weather forecasted this week. After reviewing weather modeling in consultation with the City’s Emergency Management Director, officials have determined the forecasted temperatures the evenings of Friday, January 23, Saturday, January 24, Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26 meets the City’s criteria for operation of an extreme cold weather shelter.   

Vermont Business Magazine Chroma Technology Corp today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its subsidiary, 89 North, an expert in the development of advanced laser-based illumination systems based in Williston, to Oxxius Inc, a France-based company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Oxxius is a recognized leader in designing, developing, and manufacturing high-performance lasers and combiners. In a statement announcing the sale, they said the transaction positions both companies for accelerated growth while allowing Chroma Technology, based in Bellows Falls, to continue its focus on advanced optical filter technologies and growth in related products.

Vermont League of Cities & Towns The Municipal Assistance Center is currently receiving a high volume of questions related to town meeting, so response times may be a bit longer than usual. Staff are replying as soon as possible and greatly appreciate your patience. Many town meeting resources are available on our website. If You Get an Email from [email protected], Action IS Required! This email, with the subject line “*ACTION REQUIRED* Closeout Instructions for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), U.S. Department of the Treasury”, is not SPAM. Do not delete it. Your time for ARPA funding closeout has arrived! You cannot begin the closeout process before you get this email.