Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Topnotch Resort, one of Vermont's most celebrated destination properties, today announced plans for a significant expansion and enhancement project that will elevate the guest experience while introducing 27 fully furnished luxury residences to the Mountain Road location. The project is scheduled to break ground in 2026 and be completed in phases to allow the resort to remain open during construction. The new three-story world-class building will be seamlessly integrated into Topnotch Resort and accessible through the main lobby. It will offer one- to four-bedroom residences ranging from 1,000 to 2,400 square feet.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont-At Large) will hold a statewide telephone town hall on Wednesday, November 19, at 6:00 PM ET. Following a painful government shutdown that failed to protect Vermonters from massive increases in their health insurance costs, the delegation will hear directly from Vermonters about the challenges they are face and will answer their questions.

Vermont Business Magazine ISO-NE anticipates winter electricity demand to peak at 20,056 megawatts (MW) under normal weather conditions. During extreme cold weather, demand is projected to peak at 21,125 MW.  These demand forecasts are similar to last year’s when demand peaked at 19,607 MW on January 22, 2025. ISO New England expects the region to have approximately 31,000 MW of available supply capacity, including contributions from demand response resources, as well as the Vineyard Wind project and increased imported energy from the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line. Both projects are expected to be online this winter and are included in ISO-NE’s assessments.

Vermont Business Magazine MVP Health Care and Independent Health are proud to announce that Independent Health will join MVP’s family of companies, subject to regulatory approvals. Together, the two organizations are building the foundation for a new era of health and well-being across New York, Vermont and beyond—one that is built on local trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to improving lives. Pending regulatory approval, the affiliation of two mission-driven, not-for-profit health plans with deep community engagement, reflects a bold vision and strategy to create a health care experience that is more connected, personalized, and proactive. By aligning strengths, MVP and Independent Health will serve nearly one million members and employ over 3,000 people across the region with $7 billion in annual revenue. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Rules Committee, today joined U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and 25 Senate Democrats in introducing the Anti-Cash Grab Act, legislation that will repeal a provision—quietly added into the Senate government funding bill at the last minute—that allows Senators to collect $500,000 for every phone record lawfully obtained.

Vermont Business Magazine Fewer Americans plan to hit the road for Thanksgiving this year, even as gas prices remain near the lowest holiday level since the pandemic, according to GasBuddy, North America’s trusted fuel savings platform for more than 25 years. GasBuddy forecasts a national average price of gas of $3.02 per gallon on Thanksgiving Day, matching last year and marking one of the cheapest holiday averages since 2021. GasBuddy’s 2025 Thanksgiving Travel Survey shows that 60% of Americans plan to take a road trip, a sharp decrease from 72% last year. The decline comes despite stable fuel prices and points to a more home-centered holiday season.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent a letter to his Democratic colleagues urging them to come together around common sense health care policies to make health care more affordable and accessible for every American family, in addition to extending the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Comprehensive Alternative Response to Emergencies (CARE) Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to test a five-year “treatment-in-place” model in which Medicare reimburses Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers when they treat a patient outside of the hospital, such as for minor medical incidents, rather than transporting them to a hospital for care.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) today announced the retirement of Sandy Bigglestone, deputy commissioner of the Captive Insurance Division and one of the most respected leaders globally within the captive insurance industry. Bigglestone officially retires on January 1, 2026, concluding a distinguished career in state government that began in 1997 and helped solidify Vermont’s position as the internationally renowned domicile for captive insurance. As Deputy Commissioner, Bigglestone led the administration and regulation of Vermont’s captive insurance companies and risk retention groups—an industry that has become a cornerstone of Vermont’s financial sector and a model of regulatory excellence worldwide. Under her leadership, the Division earned a reputation for robust oversight, responsive regulation, and a collaborative approach that balanced industry innovation with strong solvency protections. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Pieciak, NorthCountry Federal Credit Union, and the Department of Corrections announced a new partnership to provide financial education and banking services to incarcerated individuals preparing for reentry. The initiative will help ensure returning citizens can achieve financial stability, supporting a more successful transition back into their communities and strengthening Vermont’s workforce and economy. The program will initially be offered at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, VT. The first session took place Friday, November 14, 2025. 

Vermont Business Magazine October brought encouraging signs for the housing market, with home sales up 3.2% compared to October 2024 across 51 metro areas surveyed, according to remax.com. It was the fifth month in 2025 where sales exceeded last year's levels. Month over month, homes sales also increased, rising 1.7% from September defying traditional seasonal dips. The Burlington, Vermont, metro market showed strong increase in inventory and sales, with the third highest increase in median sales price year-over-year.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remain low after an increase in cases that began in August and ran into early fall. Other indicators like wastewater virus show an increase in COVID-19 and Norovirus in Vermont and nationally, while COVID outbreaks also edged higher.