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VermontBiz Vermont Works for Women (VWW) in partnership with the Vermont Women’s Fund and the Vermont Commission on Women are thrilled to launch the Women, Work, and Wages Spotlight Report - a powerful tool for understanding the economic realities facing women across our state. 

Developed in collaboration with researchers and community leaders statewide, the spotlight report offers essential, Vermont-specific data provided by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research’s State Policy Action Lab (State PAL). The report underscores the indispensable role women play in driving Vermont’s economy and the strengthening our communities. 

VermontBiz Vermont holiday shopping just got a whole lot easier. Local Maverick is excited to announce the opening of its newest Partner Store inside Vermont Flannel’s Ferrisburgh location, offering customers the opportunity to shop Vermont-made artisanal products in addition to the iconic Vermont Flannel - all in one place. 

Officially opening Friday, November 21st, this new retail experience brings together some of Vermont’s most celebrated and emerging makers under the trusted Vermont Flannel roof. Visitors will find a curated selection of locally made chocolates, hand-crafted goods, maple products, skincare, and more — thoughtfully chosen to help shoppers discover, shop, and experience high-quality Vermont products. 

VermontBiz Today, the West Rutland community celebrated the grand opening of Marble Village Apartments. Co-owners and co-developers, Cornerstone Housing Partners and Evernorth, partnered on Marble Village Apartments, which will provide essential housing for 24 low- and moderate-income households.

Marble Village Apartments is the redevelopment and remediation of three vacant properties into 24 newly constructed, energy efficient, permanently affordable homes in the community. The 3-story building has an inviting outdoor community space, community gardens, and green space so that residents can gather and enjoy time outdoors, as well as off-street parking to support accessibility and community needs.

VermontBiz Average gasoline prices in Burlington have risen 0.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.17/g today, according to GasBuddy's survey of 100 stations in Burlington. Prices in Burlington are 5.3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 2.0 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 4.1 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.769 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Burlington was priced at $3.09/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.25/g, a difference of 16.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.79/g while the highest was $3.25/g, a difference of 46.0 cents per gallon.

VermontBiz Wilkins Harley-Davidson, one of the oldest continuously operated family-owned Harley-Davidson dealerships in the United States, celebrated a landmark moment this weekend by giving away a brand-new 2025 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic to one lucky customer in front of a packed crowd at the dealership.

The giveaway marked the finale of a year filled with more than 40 customer events, making 2025 one of the dealership’s most active seasons on record. Riders earned entries into the drawing by RSVPing and attending Wilkins events throughout the year—a tradition that emphasizes the dealership’s deep commitment to community and customer appreciation.

VermontBiz The Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce today announced the launch of the inaugural Holiday Tour, a festive two-day event designed to support local chamber members while bringing holiday cheer to the community. The Tour kicks off on Small Business Saturday, November 29th, and continues through Sunday, November 30th. Participating businesses in downtown and East Poultney will offer special sales, unique giveaways, and family-friendly activities, with each day culminating in a special evening closing event to maximize the holiday spirit.

VermontBiz This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont.  

This is the final report of this construction season. Most projects have finished or will pause soon until spring.

To learn more about the projects listed below or to sign up to receive weekly construction updates via email, visit our Construction Updates page. 

Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.    

VermontBiz Ryan Christiansen ’15, president and head distiller at Caledonia Spirits, has been named 2025 Rising Stars Alumnus of the Year.

Christiansen’s entrepreneurial path was born in his family-owned hardware business in Plainfield. His exposure to the challenges of small-town business at an early age fueled a desire to bring local products to a global market. Christiansen spent eight years as an avid brewer and owner of a home-brewing store, which eventually led him down a path to distilling.

In 2011, Christiansen met a beekeeper named Todd Hardie. Hardie had been keeping bees for 30 years and was on a pursuit to bring the agricultural aspect of beekeeping into distillation. Christiansen, captivated by Hardie’s agricultural mission and love for the bees, decided to hit the brakes on his career in beer and try his hand distilling spirits. With a 15-gallon still and a Mercury station wagon, the beekeeper and the distiller built the Caledonia Spirits distillery and set out to share their beloved Barr Hill Gin with the world.

VermontBiz by Amanda Kuhnert When Mary Cobb and her husband, Jim, bought their first alpacas in 2005, they had no intention of starting a business. Two decades later, their hobby farm has grown into Coventry Falls Alpaca Farm and Peaceful Path VT Float Therapy, a year-round wellness destination in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.

The idea for the businesses was conceived a few years after the  couple built a new home on a piece of land in Coventry.

“The land here is just so beautiful,“ Mary said. “It needed some animals. And I knew I couldn’t raise anything that you eat. Alpacas are so intelligent and therapeutic, and they communicate with each other so well. They’re like big cats.“

Vermont Business Magazine Downs Rachlin Martin has been named by Best Law Firms for 2026 in several practice areas within Metropolitan Tiers 1 through 3. 

Vermont Business Magazine As pennies fade from wallets and registers across the country, Market 32 and Price Chopper are inviting customers to turn their spare change into double the value, and to help keep cash transactions running smoothly. On Sunday, November 16, the neighborhood grocer will host a Double Exchange Day from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at all store locations. During this one-day event, a penny is worth two cents when shoppers exchange them for a Market 32 or Price Chopper gift card twice their total amount. This means $10 in pennies could earn a $20 gift card, redeemable toward future in-store purchases. To participate, guests simply bring their rolled or loose pennies to the Customer Service Desk, where the total will be counted and matched with a gift card reward on the spot. Exchanges must total a minimum of 50 cents (earning a $1 card) and may not exceed $100 (earning a $200 card).

VermontBiz U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and 27 bipartisan Senate colleagues in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level possible. Currently, the Trump Administration is sitting on $4 billion in federal LIHEAP dollars that have yet to be distributed this year.  

In their letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the bipartisan lawmakers emphasize that federal LIHEAP funding is a crucial lifeline that keeps vulnerable citizens safe and warm during winter by helping low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills. The program also helps reduce energy costs through improved energy efficiency initiatives.