Current News

Vermont Business Magazine This week, Campaign for Vermont Prosperity (CFV) published a report titled "Finding Savings Through Shared Services in Vermont Schools." The report focuses on leveraging Education Service Agencies (ESAs) to improve the efficiency of services being provided to students. A policy recommendation the organization put out in March recommended moving to this model, but the latest report put a number on the cost-savings potential. The Act 73 Task Force voted on Monday to advance a similar ESA model as their recommendation to the Legislature. Across the country, the majority of states use ESAs as regional delivery vehicles so that small and mid-sized districts can access programs and operations they couldn’t afford alone.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, leading human rights organizations, from both the United States and El Salvador, released a new report on the shocking conditions in El Salvador’s infamous anti-terrorism prison, Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT). U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) released the following reaction to the report: “The findings in this report are horrific, and they are doubly disturbing because the United States is directly implicated. It would not be an exaggeration to describe what is happening daily in CECOT as President Bukele’s Abu Ghraib. What happened to those 40 men is shocking, but it was not unique to them. The abuses and deprivations they describe are endemic inside the walls of CECOT. These men were forcibly disappeared, which is a crime in this country and a violation of international law. From their first day behind CECOT’s walls, each of them was subjected to near-daily beatings, food and medical deprivation, and other inhumane and appallingly degrading treatment."

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery announced today the launch of 802Spirits Connect, a new online business-to-business (B2B) ordering platform that provides on-premises licensees a faster, easier, and more efficient way to purchase distilled spirits from 802Spirits agent stores. The culmination of a multi-year collaboration with Provi, the leading B2B online marketplace for beverage alcohol, 802Spirits Connect allows on-premises licensees (i.e. establishments where beverage alcohol is consumed on the premises.) to browse real-time inventory, build and save order lists, and place orders online at their convenience – reducing paperwork, improving accuracy, and helping businesses better manage stock and cash flow.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) has completed the first year of the two year co-partnered Northfield Savings Bank (NSB) Maker’s Fund and the addition of a one-year funding agreement. Last fall, VMEC and NSB joined forces to support small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) in Vermont who have 20 or fewer employees. Created to provide a range of services based on operational needs for manufacturers to sustain and grow their businesses, NSB agreed to contribute $60,000 over a two-year period ($30,000 per year), extending to September 30, 2026. In its first year, the Maker’s Fund allocated the entire $30,000 distribution, spanning across eight different Vermont SMMs, at an average cost of $3,750 per project.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today announced that Walgreens will pay a settlement of $500,000 following an investigation into claims that the pharmacy retailer charged customers more at the register than prices were advertised on shelves – even after being told by state inspectors to correct the pricing inaccuracies. Between 2018 and 2024, state inspectors found 416 instances where Walgreens stores – and Rite Aid stores purchased buy Walgreens in 2018 – charged Vermont consumers more than the advertised shelf price, with overcharges ranging from 4 cents to $23.40. To resolve violations of Vermont’s Consumer Protection Act, Walgreens has agreed to adhere to its pricing compliance policies and procedures and pay a settlement of $500,000, of which $25,000 will be directed to the Community Health Center of Burlington. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Heart of The Shires Brunch on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the Park McCullough Historic Governor’s Mansion, honoring outstanding community leaders, nonprofits, and volunteers whose service continues to strengthen the civic fabric of Southwestern Vermont. The sold-out event, presented by Coggins Auto Group and Fidium Business, brought together more than 100 community members, nonprofit leaders, and business partners for a morning of celebration, connection, and gratitude. Guests enjoyed a Vermont-crafted brunch by Powers Market while reflecting on the shared spirit of service that defines The Shires.

Vermont Business Magazine MENTOR Vermont is excited to announce the recipients of the 2025-2026 Vermont Mentoring Grants, the only mentoring-specific funding available to youth mentoring programs throughout the state. This year, MENTOR Vermont awarded 18 grants, totaling $615,000, which will support more than 1,800 youth mentoring matches in communities across Vermont. MENTOR Vermont recognizes that young people are natural dreamers, but not all youth are given the same access and opportunities to achieve those dreams. A caring and committed mentor can help a young person ignite their curiosities, solidify their passions, and leverage their talents.

Vermont League of Cities & Towns This new resource from VLCT’s Municipal Operations Support team sheds very useful light on operations budgeting, borrowing, and capital budgeting.The directors of the VLCT Employment Resource and Benefits Trust, aka the UI Trust, have lowered the overall rates and set the taxable wage base for 2026. They also approved returning $100,000 to UI Trust members as credits toward 2026 contributions.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations fell again after an increase in cases that began in August and ran into early fall. Other indicators like wastewater virus and outbreaks also declined. Neither the VDH nor the CDC are any longer reporting COVID fatalities or total cases in Vermont or in the US. WastewaterSCAN testing of treatment plants indicates that in Vermont both COVID-19 and Norovirus levels are moderate to low but recently have been higher in Vermont than they are nationally.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Each year, cities and towns across Vermont hold ceremonies to honor our veterans. These are important opportunities to honor those who have put their lives on the line to defend our country. Regardless of the political climate in Washington, I would hope that all of us understand the importance of honoring the sacrifice of our servicemembers, veterans and their families. There is much that we can learn from them and what they have experienced.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today released the following statement after voting against a continuing resolution that fails to extend urgently needed health care tax credits: “I cannot vote for a government funding bill that kicks millions of Americans off their health care. The heart of this government shutdown is, and always was, about access to health care. There was an early recognition from my Republican colleagues that working families, small businesses, and farmers in their states would be really hurt by these premium increases—just as they will be in Democratic states, too. That’s why it is so disappointing that Republicans refused to come to the table to extend the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits. Millions of hardworking people, in every state, will face higher premiums and many will go without health coverage altogether."

Community Health Centers Did you know nearly 1 in 9 adults worldwide have diabetes? Whether you’re managing diabetes or working to prevent it, small habits like staying active, eating well, and caring for your mental health can make a big difference. Take charge of your health by managing your A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol, taking medications as prescribed, and partnering with your CHC provider.