Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Community Care Network (CCN) today announced the addition of Perinatal Peer Support to its broader Peer Support Program, a new service designed specifically to assist pregnant and postpartum parents experiencing mood or anxiety challenges. The new Perinatal Peer Support service connects parents with trained peer support providers – individuals who have personally navigated pregnancy or postpartum-related emotional challenges, and are ready to provide compassionate, judgement-free support. 

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center recently celebrated the achievements of nine nurses during the RRMC Clinical Advancement Program (CAP) ceremony. All nine nurses achieved the highest level of advancement possible at RRMC (Level 4). The CAP program at RRMC promotes nursing excellence, our RRMC nursing professional practice model and American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet principles. In addition to submitting evidence of work in professional organizations, leadership activities, teaching, precepting, professional development, role expertise, national certification and innovation, these nurses were required to complete a project, develop a poster presentation and deliver that presentation at the ceremony.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Care Network (CCN) recently recognized 19 employees for their dedicated service to the organization and its clients at CCN’s annual service awards luncheon held in Rutland. “Community Care Network congratulates all of our staff members who this year hit various key service milestones,” said Dick Courcelle, Chief Executive Officer of CCN. “We are very proud of the significant, positive impact that each of these 19 staff members, along with their colleagues, make on the greater Rutland community, day-in and day-out. Despite a range of recent shifts across our fields of service, as well as ever-evolving community support needs, the commitment, professionalism and compassion of our employees remains unchanged, and for that we are incredibly thankful.”

Vermont Business Magazine Over the past few months, the team at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport teamed up with students at Chamberlain School to give six airport fleet vehicles brand-new names. The big reveal happens tomorrow, Tuesday, December 16th, at approximately 8:40 AM, when the newly named vehicles roll out in a mini parade from Leahy BTV down White Street to Chamberlain School. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) would like to remind all farm operations that the annual winter manure spreading ban begins at midnight tonight, December 15th. Between December 15 and April 1, no manure or other agricultural waste (including compost and spoiled feed) may be spread on agricultural fields throughout Vermont. This annual ban is required by the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs), which is a part of Vermont’s overall strategy to protect water quality, the working landscape, and natural resources.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The vital personal income tax bounced back from a rare below-target month and remains the strongest of the major indices this fiscal year. However, it was not enough to support an overall disappointing report, which shows total tax revenues in all three major funds below expectations year-to-date. Secretary of Administration Sarah Clark today released Vermont’s revenue results for November 2025. Transportation Fund receipts were slightly above consensus revenue expectations on a monthly basis, while General Fund and Education Fund receipts lagged. The state’s General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $214.4 million, representing collections -$17.2 million, or 7.4%, below the $231.6 million monthly target in the consensus forecast adopted by the Emergency Board at its July 2025 meeting. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont is $3.08 per gallon, down 2.4 cents per gallon from last week's $3.11/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.77/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 52.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 4.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.85/g today. The national average is down 22.0 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 12.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group has announced a planned leadership transition at its broker-dealer and registered investment adviser, Equity Services, Inc. (ESI), with the appointment of Alex David as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective Dec. 16, 2025, and the retirement of Ata Azarshahi. Azarshahi, President and CEO of ESI, will retire at the end of this year following a distinguished career spanning 40 years in the financial services industry and 13 years with National Life Group. A respected and purpose-driven leader, Azarshahi leaves a significant legacy across National Life Group’s life, annuity and wealth businesses. Since joining the organization in 2013, he has led major initiatives in Strategy and Business Development, Life and Annuity Solutions, and, since 2020, served as President and CEO of ESI.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets It’s here! Early bird registration is open now through January 16th. Join the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) for two days focused on innovation, modernization, and growth across the dairy sector. The Northeast Dairy Innovation Summit brings together dairy farmers, processors, and stakeholders from across an 11-state region.  From dairy farming to processing to workforce development and policy, the Summit gives you an opportunity to learn from those who are innovating now and to hear from experts on what’s coming in the future. The Summit will be March 10-11th, in Albany, New York. This year’s theme is "Dynamic Dairy: Opportunities at Every Scale."

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today issued the following statement after public reports that members of the Vermont Air National Guard Wing are deploying on federal orders connected to Venezuela: “After campaigning against 'endless wars,' the Trump administration is threatening a military intervention in Venezuela, which may include the Vermont Air National Guard. I will do everything I can to prevent that conflict."

Vermont Business Magazine All 25 Jewish Members of the US House of Representatives, including Becca Balint (D-Vermont),  released the following statement in response to an attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia that targeted Jewish people celebrating the first night of Hanukkah: “On a night meant for celebration, Jewish families in Australia, gathering in joy and peace on the first night of Hanukkah, were grotesquely targeted with hate and murderous intent. Sadly, this attack does not come as a surprise to the Jewish community of Sydney who have been raising a clarion call for local and national authorities to take concrete steps against a rising tide of antisemitism."

by Blaise Siefer, Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies Northfield, Vermont’s Norwich University has long been a crossroads of military service, higher education, and innovation. Few people embody that intersection more fully than Phil Susmann, longtime Norwich leader and President of Norwich University Applied Research Institutes (NUARI). As Susmann prepares to retire this December, his impact stretches from education and innovation to cyber readiness and national security. In this Q&A, Blaise spoke with Susmann about his decades of service, the evolution of NUARI, and what lies ahead for both him and the institution he helped shape.