Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine Bridges to Health, a nationally recognized statewide Community Health Worker (CHW) program serving immigrant and migrant workers and their families across Vermont, will transition from University of Vermont Extension to a fiscal sponsorship under Vermont’s Free & Referral Clinics on July 1, 2026. Starting in 2010 with a grant to expand a labor management pilot project that focused on migrant farmworkers, Bridges to Health has grown in response to the evolving health access needs of immigrant and migrant communities throughout Vermont. While initially focused on agricultural workers, the program now also supports individuals and families working in the service industry, hospitality sector, and building trades.

Vermont Business Magazine To cap off U.S. Travel’s National Travel and Tourism Week (May 3-9, 2026), the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) has launched the state’s first Destination Management Plan. VDTM Commissioner Heather Pelham formally announced the plan during her keynote address at the Vermont Tourism Summit, held April 28-29 in Killington, VT. VDTM embarked on the Destination Management Plan project over a year ago, using public engagement activities like surveys, in-depth interviews, and state-wide listening sessions to inform its efforts. Refined further by feedback from organizations across the industry, the plan is a collective tool that will cultivate a robust and sustainable visitor economy in Vermont over the next 5-10 years.

by Devon Green, VAHHS In years past, legislators would have already decamped back to their hometowns to gear up for campaign season. While things aren’t over yet, the health care issues appear to be wrapping up rapidly. This includes Reference-Based Pricing: The House Health Care Committee advanced S.190, which puts the Green Mountain Care Board on track to begin reference-based pricing in FY 2027. In the version voted out, the Green Mountain Care Board may take up to 3.5% of commercial net patient revenue system-wide and apply it to the individual and small group market and teachers’ plans as reference-based pricing. The systemwide total of this amount is $54.6M. Earlier versions of the bill had reference based-pricing proposals ranging from $90M-$140M.

Vermont Business Magazine Aspiring surgical technologists took their first step into careers in health care Friday morning last week, at a ceremony that also celebrated an injection of federal funding that will expand health care careers training across Vermont. At a signing and welcome event at UVM Health’s IDX Campus in South Burlington, leaders from health care, workforce and government gathered to welcome six surgical technician apprentices, as part of observances celebrating National Apprenticeship Week. The group is the first cohort of the health system’s Surgical Technologist Registered Apprenticeship Program.

Vermont Business Magazine Lamoille Home Health & Hospice announces that Kathy Demars, Executive Director will retire after more than 30 years of dedicated service to the organization. Her tenure has been marked by unwavering commitment, compassionate leadership, and a deep devotion to the mission of providing high-quality, patient-centered care to the communities Lamoille Home Health & Hospice serves. Erica Scott has assumed responsibility for the organization’s day-to-day leadership. Demars will remain with Lamoille Home Health & Hospice through the end of May to provide guidance, continuity, and support to ensure a smooth transition. 

Vermont Business Magazine Riders across Vermont are preparing for the 9th annual local edition of The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, set to take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Hosted locally by Classic Bike Experience (CBE) in partnership with CycleWise Inc., the event is part of a worldwide movement uniting more than 1,100 cities in support of men’s health. Now celebrating its 15th year globally, The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride began in 2012 with a simple idea: dress sharp, ride classic motorcycles, and make a difference. Since then, it has grown into the world’s largest coordinated motorcycle charity event, raising over $60 million for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programs.

Vermont Business Magazine NEK Broadband and CVFiber (collectively, NEKCV) recently announced their newest internet offering: a 50/50 Mbps plan for $59 per month. This fiber internet service is designed to meet the needs of everyday users while expanding access to reliable internet throughout the 72-town communications union district. In the past few years, NEK Broadband and CVFiber have built over 1,300 miles of fiber-optic cable to addresses without reliable internet service. The existing network buildout and resulting customer base, coupled with the grant funding, have enabled them to respond to a need many people have expressed: a budget-friendly plan that anyone can access.  

Vermont Business Magazine Mascoma Bank and Androscoggin Bank today announced their plan to combine their parent companies into a single mutual holding company, bringing together two strong, mutually owned community banks that share deep roots across Northern New England. The combination reflects a long‑term commitment to preserving and strengthening mutual banking in the region while ensuring both institutions can continue to invest, innovate, and serve their communities for generations to come. Under the proposed structure, both Mascoma Bank, with branches in Vermont, and Androscoggin Bank will continue to operate with their own names, brands, charters, and Boards of Directors.

Vermont State Police As the investigation continues, the Vermont State Police is able to identify the deceased woman as Noel A. Neely, 82, a resident of the home on Douglas Hill Road where the incident occurred. This case remains open and active. The state police is working is in close communication with the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office regarding the details and circumstances of the case. Due to the ongoing investigation, VSP will be releasing no further details at this time.