Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont initial weekly unemployment claims fell slightly last week after a steep drop the week before. For the week ending May 9, 2026, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that there were 341 new claims, down 14 from the previous week and down 56 from last year at this time. The end of the winter tourism season typically brings a flurry of layoffs; claims had spiked in April. Nationally, stocks fell on Friday after a few good weeks, as, led by inflation, economic conditions suffered with falling tech shares and rising treasury rates. Recent wild swings in the stock market have depended on news from the Middle East, but structural issues weighed down the markets by the end of the week.

Vermont Business Magazine A presentation on new initiatives for student success was one of the highlights of the University of Vermont Board of Trustees’ annual spring meeting on May 15 at the Dudley H. Davis Center, along with crucial discussions of UVM’s enrollment and budget picture for fiscal year 2027, as the university prepared for a celebratory Commencement Weekend recognizing more than 2,600 new graduates. The administration offered ways to manage a 3.25% reduction in the general fund budget to account for the projected revenue decrease related to enrollment decline. The Board approved the FY27 general fund operating expense budget for the university of $457,328,289, and trustees offered their support for a deliberate reduction in expenses and encouragement that the university prioritize strategies to expand mission-aligned revenue streams and attract new students. 

Vermont Business Magazine SeaComm, with branches in northern Vermont, is being recognized as one of America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group, who identify companies that are committed to powering local economies by supporting small businesses, financing community projects, and providing reliable access to everyday financial services. America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions ranking is based on a comprehensive research study that incorporates in-depth desk research, a large-scale nationwide survey, and millions of online reviews to identify the 500 best regional banks and 500 best credit unions in the country.

Vermont Business Magazine While the U.S. real estate market appears to finally be cooling down, home price growth has been a defining economic trend in recent years. Over the past decade, U.S. home values grew by more than 81%, compared to average hourly earnings which saw a modest 47% increase. Consequently, housing affordability has taken a hit, while homeowners have seen substantial gains in their real estate wealth. Median home prices in Vermont grew 68.7%, or by $160,483, while median household income increased by 49.1%.

Vermont Business Magazine If you are a non-profit organization and considering the expansion or development of a program or project that will address the health and wellbeing of Rutland County residents, consider applying for a Bowse Health Trust Grant. The Bowse Health Trust (BHT) will kick-off its 2026 grant cycle with Letters of Intent (LOI) due on June 15, 2026. The BHT is interested in funding the expansion or enhancement of existing projects or new programs that focus on providing residents in Rutland County an opportunity to live a healthier life. Specifically, projects that address health equity within the priority needs identified in the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA).

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today announced her office has filed two lawsuits against residential contractors for failures to register under Vermont’s Residential Contractor law. Since 2023, residential contractors have been required to register with the Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation when they engage in contracts of $10,000 or more. In addition, contracts of more than $10,000 must be in writing, and contractors must carry insurance. The Attorney General’s Office’s lawsuits, filed in Vermont Superior Court in Chittenden and Washington, are against two Vermont contractors for failure to register after they were notified by the State that failure to do so is a violation of law.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today announced she has been appointed co-chair of the National Association of Attorneys General’s “Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet Safety, Cyber Privacy and Security Committee.” The primary mission of the Committee is to lead a coalition of 52 state and territory attorneys general in their efforts to advocate for consumer protection laws in the online space. Clark will lead the Committee in establishing guardrails for the use of AI to ensure a safe online environment for children and consumers, and to protect the privacy and security of consumers online. Clark will be joined in co-chairing this bipartisan group of attorneys general with Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.

by Wes Hamilton, Three Penny Taproom A couple of giant credit card companies have enormous power over how businesses like Three Penny Taproom operate. They set the rules, they set the fees, and they apply them across the board. There is no negotiation and no way around it. If you want to stay open and serve your customers, you accept the cards and absorb the cost. That cost has grown into one of the most significant pressures we as small business owners face. For us, one of those decisions has been unavoidable. We have made the call to pass credit card fees on to our customers. It is not something we wanted to do, but at a certain point, the math leaves you no other option. When the fees are this high and completely out of your control, absorbing them means cutting somewhere else that matters just as much.

Vermont Business Magazine Beacon Bank and the bank’s foundation invested nearly $600,000 in its communities through charitable giving and sponsorships to over 130 nonprofit organizations in Vermont, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts from January to March. 

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, May 14, lawmakers and citizens came together in the State House lobby to support the families of deployed Vermont National Guard members. Donations of over 2,600 diapers, thousands of wipes, and over $450 in individual monetary donations were collected throughout the day. Generous donations of $1,000 from Veterans Guardian, $1,000 from Veteran Benefits Guide, and $500 from American Legion, also contributed to the effort to support the households with infants and toddlers of affected Vermont Guard families. Running through the Vermont Family Readiness Program with support of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and in coordination with the Vermont National Guard and Veteran Affairs Caucus, the event was focused on supporting families in Vermont communities who are navigating the challenges of deployment.

Vermont Business Magazine The “Keep Vermont Affordable” Coalition released a list of 25 Vermont small businesses today that are calling on state lawmakers to reject a proposed increase to the state’s beverage container handling fee, warning that it would add nearly $2 million in new costs across the state. The businesses said increasing the fee paid within Vermont’s redemption program would ultimately raise costs for local retailers, restaurants and working families already facing higher prices for groceries, utilities, housing, education and health care.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Police Department (BPD) has released body-worn camera (BWC) footage from officers assigned to the March 11, 2026, federal immigration enforcement incident in South Burlington.  Media outlets and members of the public can access the BWC footage via the BPD’s YouTube Channel. The BWC footage was being temporarily held due to the City’s active use-of-force review pertaining to the incident, which is nearing completion.