Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today announced a settlement with Franklin Foods, Inc. over alleged violations at its dairy and soy processing facility in Enosburg Falls, Vermont. The state found Franklin Foods violated its pretreatment permit on numerous occasions over several years, including releasing untreated effluent to the Enosburg Falls wastewater treatment facility. To settle the alleged violations, Franklin Foods will pay a civil penalty of $265,000 and implement a corrective action plan and revised waste management plan. Franklin Foods has already made progress on corrective actions.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Senate unanimously approved Treasurer Pieciak’s prescription drug discount card proposal, H.577. As prescription drug costs continue to skyrocket, and federal cuts strip thousands of their coverage, H.577 will help Vermonters access their medications an affordable price. If made law, the drug discount card could collectively save Vermonters millions each year—without raising taxes.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak’s administration has closed Burlington’s projected $10-12 million FY27 structural budget gap and will be presenting a balanced budget to the Board of Finance and to City Council on May 18th, 2026. Mulvaney-Stanak said that after months of diligent and difficult work, the administration filled the projected budget gap using a three-part approach that raised revenue, rightsized government, and realized strategic opportunities. Notably, she said at a press conference on Wednesday, the administration balanced the budget without layoffs to filled city positions.

by Michele Asch For the second year in a row, Burlington faced a significant budget shortfall. The shortfall reflects both rising costs and a decrease in revenue. Burlington’s economy didn’t just “slow down” in 2024 and 2025, it shrank. Meanwhile, the towns around us grew. This moment is not just about closing a gap in a single budget year. It reflects a slowing economic base, declining sales in key sectors, and rising costs that outpace growth. If we treat this as temporary, we miss the larger message. Burlington is not alone in this. Cities across the country are navigating similar shifts, declining downtown activity, changing work patterns and evolving consumer behavior. The way people live, work, and spend time has changed and many urban communities have not fully caught up. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Brattleboro Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced the hiring of Rachel Shields Ebersole as its new Executive Director. Shields Ebersole brings more than a decade of experience in community building, communications, program management, and regional economic development. Most recently, she served as GROW SoVermont Program Manager & Community Projects Specialist at BDCC, where she developed and led initiatives focused on newcomer engagement, regional connection, events, and communications across southern Vermont.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine BETA Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BETA), an electric aerospace company based in South Burlington, Vermont, announced on Tuesday its financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. Revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, were $10.1 million, compared to $9.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Net loss and Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, were ($122.3) million and ($97.2) million, respectively. In addition, CEO Kyle Clark made about $5.8 million in salary and bonus in 2025 and received more than $10 million in stock options and awards.

Vermont Business Magazine One year after opening its doors, the Vermont Construction Academy (VCA) has grown from a focused apprenticeship program into a dynamic community hub for construction workforce development in Vermont. Founded by leading Vermont construction companies through the Associated Builders & Contractors NH/VT Chapter, VCA was created to bridge the gap between students eager to enter the trades and the builders ready to hire them. The academy champions the trades as a rewarding, high-earning career path offering limitless opportunities for growth—where apprenticeship is just one of many accessible pathways.

Vermont Business Magazine A new study by real estate company New Jersey Real Estate Network has revealed that Massachusetts families spend the highest percentage of their income on childcare, with parents dedicating over 30% of their earnings to centre-based childcare services. Vermont ranks ninth at 26.25%. The study analysed data from the National Database of Childcare Prices and the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2023 to determine which states have the most and least affordable childcare relative to median income. According to the findings, families in Massachusetts face the steepest childcare costs compared to their income, spending 30.29% of their median annual earnings of $60,690 on childcare. The average centre-based childcare price in Massachusetts was found to be $18,380 per year.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has reported have COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at a very low level. They are at a similar level to the negligible level seen last summer. There were no measles cases after one reported in Vermont in February in Washington County and the national outbreak is over. Meanwhile, Influenza B and Norovirus generally receded, while RSV remained elevated.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont today announced it has requested a 2027 premium rate increase of 3.1% and 5.2% for small group and individual QHP plans respectively. The rate increase is smaller than any of the previous five years. MVP, the only other insurer in the small group and individual markets in Vermont, is proposing and average rate increase in the small group market of 9.1% and of 7.8% in the individual market.

Vermont Business Magazine rk MILES, a leading provider of building materials and services across Vermont, Northern New Hampshire and Western Massachusetts, announces the acquisition of Valente Builders Inc., in Hudson Falls, NY - a manufacturer of wall panels serving builders and lumberyards throughout the region. Valente Builders, Inc. has been a trusted supplier to rk MILES for many years. The company specializes in manufacturing high-quality wall panels for customers across New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. This acquisition strengthens rk MILES’ ability to deliver enhanced solutions and expanded product offerings to its professional contractor and builder partners.

by Basil Waugh, UVM The University of Vermont will hold the 225th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16, with 3,703 Catamounts from 45 states and 36 countries set to receive undergraduate, graduate, and medical degrees. Traditionally held on Sunday, UVM’s main commencement will take place this year on a Saturday—kicking off a weekend of UVM graduation celebrations in Burlington and Essex Junction with over 20,000 family members and friends expected to cheer on graduates. Ben Ogden, a 2022 UVM engineering grad who won two 2026 Winter Olympic medals in cross-country skiing, will deliver special remarks at commencement, and UVM President Dr. Marlene Tromp will preside over commencement for the first time since assuming the university’s leadership last summer.