Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) has announced that it is resuming its grant program to support Vermont organizations providing financial services education. This grant program is authorized in 9 V.S.A. § 5601 and § 5616, using funds available in the Vermont Financial Services Education and Victim Restitution Special Fund. Grant applications will be accepted by email until 5 PM on Friday, January 30, 2026. The Fund was established in 2019, and allows a portion of settlements arising out of DFR enforcement matters to be retained for the purposes of education and restitution.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims are at their usual and relatively high and volatile level for the holiday season. For the week ending December 13, 2025, new claims were 528. New claims were down 56 from the week before and are up 27 from last year at this time. Claims were 186 in September. Claims, which tend to be lowest in the summer, were 181 at the end of September 2024 and 186 last September. Claims tend to rise and fall around the holidays with temporary work hires and layoffs.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont has announced that WP Deli LLC (WP Deli), a Colorado business, and its majority owner and chief executive, Robert Montuoro, of Stratton, Vermont, will pay $102,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by misusing funds procured through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police is investigating after a shooting in Fairfax left two people with serious but non-life-threatening injuries early Friday morning, Dec. 19, 2025. Troopers have detained one person for questioning in connection with the shooting. The investigation began at about 1:20 a.m. Friday when police received an emergency call reporting a shooting had occurred at an apartment building at 2 Fletcher Rd. in Fairfax. The victims were a man and a woman. They were taken by Fairfax Rescue to Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans and then transferred to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington for treatment of gunshot wounds. 

Vermont Business Magazine Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLBank Boston) awarded $47 million in grants, loans, and interest-rate subsidies through its Affordable Housing Program to support 49 affordable housing initiatives in New England and beyond. These projects will create or preserve 1,532 rental and homeownership units for individuals and families earning up to 80% of the area median income. As part of this funding round, Vermont received nearly $3 million to fund 124 affordable housing units in Brandon, Brattleboro, Grand Isle, and Newport. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation today announced that it has taken the first step to intervene in the Ben & Jerry’s Independent Board lawsuit against Unilever/Magnum, currently pending in the Federal Court of the Southern District of New York. The action seeks to compel Unilever/Magnum to honor its binding obligations under the original acquisition agreement and to cease efforts that interfere with the brand’s social mission and the independent governance of Ben and Jerry’s and the Foundation. The Foundation’s intervention is necessary to protect its independence and safeguard its mission.

Vermont Business Magazine Lauren Curry, executive director of the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation, announced Thursday on their website and LinkedIn that the foundation will cease operating. She wrote: "After 20 busy and wonderful years, the Richard E. & Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation will close on December 31st. We are grateful to the countless partners who shared their passion, expertise, and hard work with us over that time. Your efforts are what enabled us to invest in people and communities throughout Vermont and beyond. As Rich said many times, we couldn’t have done anything without YOU."

Vermont Business Magazine Copley Equity Partners of Boston announced Thursday that it has acquired Vital Delivery Solutions, a leading New England–based provider of healthcare logistics and courier services based in Williston, Vermont. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1987, VDS has built a strong reputation for providing reliable, time-sensitive delivery and warehousing services. From a single route nearly four decades ago, VDS has grown its operations to over 200 daily routes, supported by a fleet of nearly 250 company vehicles and a team of roughly 300 professional drivers serving clients including healthcare facilities, laboratories, and pharmacies, among others.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Lottery and the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) expect Saturday’s Powerball jackpot to hit $1.50 billion, with an estimated cash value of $686.5 million, making it the 5th largest Powerball jackpot ever. This marks only the second time in Powerball history that the game has produced back-to-back jackpots exceeding $1 billion. Powerball jackpot winners may choose to receive their prize as an annuity or a lump sum payment (cash option). Both advertised prize options are prior to federal and jurisdictional taxes. The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold.

Vermont Business Magazine In the wake of the horrific antisemitic attack this week in Sydney that killed 15 Jews, Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) have introduced the Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act (ARPA). This comprehensive strategy to combating antisemitism supports the Biden administration’s landmark U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, including its approach to defining antisemitism. ARPA also fully funds the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education, reverses the Trump closure of regional offices, prevents regional offices from being closed in the future, and creates greater congressional oversight over the work of the Department. Additionally, ARPA mandates the designation of a Title VI coordinator on every college campus in order to provide students with additional resources to report hate incidents if they occur, while working to prevent antisemitism and other hate on campus.  

Vermont State Police On December 18, 2025, at approximately 00:14 hours, Vermont State Police were dispatched to a single vehicle crash in the area of I-89 Northbound near mile marker 95 in the town of Colchester.  Troopers arrived on scene and identified the operator as Mason Vieta (27) of Franklin.  Preliminary investigation revealed Vieta was traveling northbound on Interstate 89 when his vehicle left the roadway into the median, disabling it.

Vermont Business Magazine In partnership with the Vermont Department of Health, Valley Vista has opened 27 new residential treatment beds at its Vergennes facility, marking a significant expansion of the state’s system of care for individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorder. The expansion significantly increases the availability of low-level substance use treatment in residential settings, such as group homes. These facilities offer 24-hour care, structured programming and a safe, stable environment for people who need ongoing recovery support.