Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Telecom (BT), a local leader in high-speed fiber broadband and community-focused service, today announced the appointment of Mike Callahan as President and General Manager, following the retirement of Mike Loucy on December 31, 2025. Previously serving as Burlington Telecom’s Controller, Callahan now heads the organization with a strategic and operational focus. He carries forward Loucy’s dedication to outstanding customer service, growth, and ongoing success in delivering Burlington Telecom’s products and solutions to Vermont residents and businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine ISO New England has requested that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) accept its first batch of proposed reforms to the capacity market. The reforms are intended to improve power system reliability and cost-effectiveness as the region’s resource mix evolves. The filing asks FERC to issue an order by March 31, 2026. The ISO plans to conduct its first auction under the new framework in 2028. The FERC filing is the culmination of the first phase of the Capacity Auction Reforms (CAR) key project. The ISO worked closely with stakeholders on the effort over the last two years. The first phase involves moving capacity auctions to a “prompt” timeline, as well as updating the process for resources exiting the capacity market.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that it has resolved its investigation into complaints that Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) failed to effectively communicate with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing during medical visits. This agreement resolves allegations that BMH violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) during patient visits dating back to at least 2018. The United States received a complaint from an individual who alleged that BMH discriminated against him by failing to provide qualified sign language interpreters and appropriate auxiliary aids and services during visits to BMH’s emergency department. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.02 per gallon, down 2 cents per gallon from last week, down 8 cents/g from last month and down 7 cents/g from a year ago. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.67/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 62.0 cents per gallon. Prices are lowest in Bennington ($2.84/g) and Rutland ($2.92/g) counties and highest in Caledonia ($3.08/g), Chittenden ($3.09/g), and Washington ($3.11/g), according to AAA. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.81/g today. 

Vermont Natural Resources Council As Vermont enters the 2026 legislative session, we do so at a moment where environmental protections and funding that Vermonters have long relied upon are increasingly at risk, even as the impacts of climate change, housing instability, and rising costs are felt more acutely in our communities. Right now, VNRC & VCV are grounded in a simple but powerful belief that protecting our environment goes hand in hand with protecting people, communities, and our democracy. Vermonters care deeply about clean water, healthy forests, and access to the outdoors, but we are also concerned about whether we can afford to live in our communities, get to work, put food on the table, and trust that our voices matter. These challenges are not separate. The choices we make about land use, energy, transportation, and environmental health will shape whether Vermont remains a place where people and habitats can thrive.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Futures Project released the Vermont Competitiveness Dashboard, a comprehensive new data tool that shows how Vermont compares to other states across key indicators shaping long-term economic vitality, including population trends, housing production, workforce dynamics, affordability, and economic momentum. The dashboard is intended to support informed reporting and public conversation by grounding economic discussions in transparent, comparable data. It complements the Vermont Economic Action Plan and highlights where Vermont is performing well and where long-term challenges remain.

Vermont Business Magazine Northfield Savings Bank announces year-end community contributions totaling $127,500 to support organizations addressing housing and food insecurity across Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine On December 23rd, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) announced Evernorth Rural Ventures, a subsidiary of Evernorth, was awarded a $70 million allocation of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to continue its successful economic and community development work in low-income areas. This is Evernorth Rural Ventures’ 8th award. The competition for the NMTC awards is rigorous, with a total of 216 applicants nationally. Of the 142 Community Development Entities (CDEs) receiving awards this round, 46% are national CDEs; 27% are multi-state CDEs; 17% are state-wide CDEs; and 10% are rural CDEs.

Vermont Business Magazine The annual Yankee Sportsman’s Classic show will be held January 16, 17 and 18 at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction, and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is inviting you to visit their exhibits and attend their seminars at the show. “We are looking forward to talking with as many people as possible at the show,” said Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jason Batchelder. The 2026 hunting, fishing and trapping lawbooks will be available at Fish and Wildlife’s exhibit booth. Hunters, anglers and trappers will also be able to buy their 2026 licenses. Show hours are Noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont will host the 13th Annual Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition from Jan 7-10. This four-day event will feature over 100 student competitors and 21 teams from universities around the world. From succession planning to adapting to industry disruption, students will tackle complex real-world business cases, including: The Murdoch Family Succession: Leadership transition in a global media empire and its impact on governance and family dynamics; a Luxury Brand Transformation: A family-owned fashion house faces generational conflict over sustainability and digital innovation.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today released a new report revealing that President Donald Trump has violated or likely violated the First Amendment in 17 cases related to college campuses, according to federal courts. 

Vermont Business Magazine Mascoma Community Development (MCD), based in Lebanon, NH, has announced an award of $85 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) authority from the U.S. Treasury's Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund. This NMTC award represents MCD’s eighth allocation, providing a total of $480 million to support projects since their first award in 2014, including projects in Vermont. The calendar year 2024-2025 round of the NMTC Program, which awarded $10 billion overall, is the largest allocation in the program’s history. The NMTC program allows MCD to direct capital to stimulate economic growth and empower private sector investment in distressed communities. MCD focuses primarily on northern New England.