Current News

Vermont Business Magazine M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB) was the largest 7(a) Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in its footprint by units in Fiscal Year 2025 and, for the 17th consecutive year, ranked among the nation’s top 10 Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) lenders. M&T continues to lead 7(a) SBA lending throughout its footprint in the Eastern U.S., outpacing its peers in loan volume and achieving top rankings in the Baltimore, Buffalo, Connecticut, Delaware, Philadelphia, Syracuse and Washington, D.C. SBA districts. M&T also placed among the top five lenders across its New England SBA districts. In Vermont, M&T was the #2 lender with 38 loans for $2.8 million.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to investigate Secretary Kristi Noem’s recent awards of multiple no bid contracts as part of a $220 million ad campaign to firms with which she and her senior advisors have personal ties. Senator Welch asked Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to investigate and provide answers on Secretary Noem’s use of a “national emergency” to issue these taxpayer-funded contracts.  

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fulfilled its statutory obligation and completed required comprehensive site cleanup reviews, known as "five-year reviews," for a Superfund site on the National Priorities List in Vermont during the 2025 Fiscal Year. Burgess Brothers Construction Company operated the facility as a sand pit, salvage yard and landfill from the 1940s until the mid-1970s. Starting in the early 1950s the site was used as a metal salvage facility and disposal area. The two lagoons received liquid wastes and sludge from about 1967 to 1976. Union Carbide Corp.'s Bennington Plant disposed of wastes from battery manufacturing, an unknown quantity of lead sludge, and the equivalent of 47,780 drums of hazardous wastes at the site. Facility operations contaminated soil, ground water and surface water with heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Vermont Business Magazine With President Trump hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia in Washington, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Wednesday released the following statement: Yesterday, Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) of Saudi Arabia in his gold-leafed office, calling him his “very good friend.” This extravagant welcome for the Saudi dictator, head of the wealthiest family on Earth, is notable for several reasons. First, by cozying up to MBS — the man who starved hundreds of thousands of people in Yemen, had a U.S. journalist dismembered with a bone saw, and has ordered a record numbers of executions in the last two years — Trump signals to the world that the United States is now on the side of authoritarianism, not democracy.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) has announced that its plumbing and electrical registered apprenticeship programs have grown over 40% since 2021. Enrollment for the current academic year is at a record high of over 914 apprentices, 90% of whom are Vermont residents. This year, VTSU has 317 employer partners sponsoring apprentices. These employer partners, like Vermont Mechanical, rely on VTSU’s registered apprenticeship program to provide the classroom education that goes hand-in-hand with the on-the-job training apprentices receive with their employer. 

Vermont Business Magazine Nitrogen is a bit of a conundrum. In its gaseous form it’s the most abundant element in the atmosphere, but few organisms can readily use it. And while all living organisms contain nitrogen, a new University of Vermont study finds that even tiny amounts of nitrogen can fuel cyanobacterial blooms and disrupt lake ecosystems. Historically, excess phosphorus has been the culprit behind many cyanobacteria blooms in Lake Champlain, prompting occasional beach closures and spurring monitoring efforts. This new UVM research underscores the importance of understanding the role nitrogen plays in generating toxic algae blooms, too. Cyanobacteria is one of the oldest life forms on the planet. They are photosynthetic organisms that belong in aquatic environments. The problem is when cyanobacteria, often called blue-green algae, populations get out of balance. This can happen when runoff laced with phosphorus and nitrogen enters a lake system.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program (Viability Program), a program of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB), has released an application for grant awards available for capital projects that improve on-farm water quality. These funds are a part of Vermont’s Clean Water Budget, and eligible farm businesses can apply for $5,000 to $50,000. Applications are now open and are due by January 9, 2026. Funded projects will support farm businesses investing in capital projects that improve water quality, and eligible costs can include construction, renovation, and equipment purchases. Additional priority will be given to projects that have co-benefits such as improved business viability and climate adaptation. These projects advance Vermont’s clean water goals, help farmers comply with the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs), and support the long-term success of farm enterprises.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, Community Action Agencies, Wheels for Warmth volunteers and partners announced the record-breaking year for the annual Wheels for Warmth initiative, which began in 2005. Wheels for Warmth collects tires from around the state which are then sold at two sale locations. The program encourages Vermonters to donate tires they no longer need. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) inspects the tires, and those deemed safe are sold at a discounted rate. Tires not viable for resale are donated for agricultural use. All proceeds are donated to participating capstone agencies to go toward heating fuel assistance for Vermonters in need. In 2005, Wheels for Warmth raised just under $12,000. This year, 20 years later, $115,000 was raised in tire sales, recycled tires, and donations from individuals and businesses.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Land Trust is pleased to announce the addition of three new trustees to its Board: Sam Burr of Bristol, Lizah Makombore of Burlington, and Arwen Turner of Wallingford. The nonprofit’s Board guides its mission to protect, steward, and restore the farms, forests, and community spaces that define Vermont. The new trustees bring expertise in agriculture, sustainability, and community engagement.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) has announced that Bullfinch Earth has been selected by its peers to receive the $15,000 final award in the 2025 Forest Business Accelerator. The Forest Business Accelerator program supports early-stage companies innovating in the forest sector – from sustainable materials and forest byproducts to advanced technologies and energy systems. This year’s cohort included eight visionary companies from across North America.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) and Vermont Specialty Food Association (VSFA) invite specialty food and beverage businesses to showcase their products in the Vermont Pavilion at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City from June 28-30. The Summer Fancy Food Show, hosted by the Specialty Food Association, is a premier business-to-business trade show for specialty food and beverage products. This is an ideal event for established businesses that are poised to expand into new domestic or international markets. Joining the Vermont Pavilion provides businesses with enhanced exposure and allows them to fully benefit from the strength of the Vermont brand. Pavilion members will also benefit from a series of pre-show calls, hosted by VAAFM and VSFA, designed to help businesses prepare for the show and to facilitate networking and resource sharing between Pavilion members.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Sierra Club - Vermont Chapter, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV), Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), and ACLU Vermont have received responses from state agencies that confirm our position that portions of Governor Scott’s Executive Order (EO) 06-25 are unconstitutional and unlawful. In response to the organizations’ October 15th letter, Vermont’s Land Use Review Board (LURB) and Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) raised questions to Governor Scott about their legal authority regarding certain provisions and indicated that the Vermont Legislature would need to change laws or the agency would need to update regulations to legally implement key aspects of the EO.