Current News

Vermont Business Magazine At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) outlined how President Trump’s global trade war has wreaked havoc on the United States’ agricultural market and created hardships for farmers across the country. Senator Welch also emphasized how the historic drought and President Trump’s tariffs, have hurt Vermont dairy farmers.  

Vermont Business Magazine Solaflect Energy today announces it is helping drive sustainability on and off the golf course, teaming up with the Eastman Charitable Foundation (ECF). Located in New Hampshire's Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region, ECF is installing an off-grid Solaflect Apollo EV charger at the Eastman Golf Links in Grantham. Solaflect's sun-tracking units will offer a clean, reliable charging option for the growing number of EV drivers in the 3,000+ resident Eastman community, and those who frequent the golf course or the associated facilities.

by Julie Moore & Kerrick Johnson Vermont faces a housing crisis that threatens our economic future and the ability of working families to remain in our state. The cost of housing has skyrocketed with median home prices in Vermont more than doubling in the last 10 years, putting both homeownership and rentals out of reach for many. Vermont needs 30,000 new homes by 2030, requiring 8,000 units per year for the next four years. At current rates, we’ll struggle to hit even 25% of that goal. In response, Governor Scott recently issued a Housing Executive Order (EO) that directs a set of measured yet impactful steps to accelerate housing development timelines and reduce costs. The Governor's EO doesn't eliminate regulatory review or ignore legitimate concerns. It balances the need for affordability with environmental objectives for housing projects in areas identified for development. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.09 per gallon, down 1 cent per gallon from last week, down 8 cents/g from a month ago and down 5 cents/g from a year ago. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.73/g while the highest was $3.39/g, a difference of 66.0 cents per gallon. Prices were lowest in Bennington ($2.89/g) and Rutland ($2.96/g) counties and highest in Essex ($3.17/g), Lamoille ($3.17/g) and Grand Isle ($3.21/g). The national average price of gasoline is down 4 cents per gallon in the last week, down 12 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 10 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine ISO New England today announced the retirement of Bob Ludlow, vice president, chief financial and compliance officer. Kelly Reyngold will succeed Ludlow as vice president and chief financial officer on Jan. 1, 2026. Reyngold joined the ISO in 2002 as a staff accountant before progressing through roles of increasing responsibility, including controller and, most recently, director of accounting. In her previous roles, she oversaw treasury management, the preparation of financial statements, stakeholder communication regarding the company’s annual budget, and administration of the Billing Policy, among other duties.

Vermont Business Magazine Cleantech Industry Resources (CIR), the leader in standardized energy project development, is pleased to announce that Bram Kleppner has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Marketing & Business Development. In this role, Kleppner will drive customer acquisition, strengthen long-term relationships, and identify new strategic opportunities where CIR’s development, engineering, and construction capabilities can add value across and beyond the energy sector. Kleppner brings a wealth of experience from leadership positions across business, non-profit, and public service. He served as CEO of Danforth Pewter for over a decade, guiding the company through consistent growth, and previously spent over 10 years at Ben & Jerry’s, including managing international business development. 

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) today announced a planned transition in how it delivers pediatric care, ensuring children and families in our community continue to receive high-quality, compassionate services in the most appropriate setting. This shift, the hospital said in a statement, "will allow us to realign resources, support our staff, and ensure high-quality pediatric care remains available at RRMC. Additionally, the redesign will further enhance RRMC’s commitment to gynecological, obstetric and newborn care." Most young patients today receive the care they need safely through emergency visits, outpatient clinics, or short observation stays. In response to this, RRMC will be transitioning away from operating inpatient pediatric beds and focus its resources on providing improved pediatric care in appropriate settings as community needs continue to evolve.

Vermont Chamber of Commerce Today, we joined community and education leaders at the ribbon cutting of the new Burlington Aviation Education Center at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, a cutting-edge facility that marks a major investment in Vermont’s future workforce. Years ago, the Vermont Chamber worked collaboratively to help secure $10 million championed by Senator Patrick Leahy. Located at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, the renovated facility now houses aviation, automotive, and engineering programs that will connect students directly with the jobs of tomorrow.

Vermont Business Magazine In remarks from the Senate floor this week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, questioned the legality of the President’s recent military actions in the Caribbean Sea and demanded that Congress assert its constitutional obligation to determine where and why the United States goes to war. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine In response to the disruption of federal funds, the Vermont Emergency Board (E-Board) approved a plan today to fully fund a continuation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/3SquaresVT (SNAP) benefits and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits in Vermont. The 3SquaresVT program will cost the state about $6.3 million for over 63,000 Vermonters. The governor said he does not expect the state to get reimbursed from the federal government. The state must re-program the system to allow for recipients to receive the food benefits via the existing EBT debit cards because it is a federal program. The EBT cards should be loaded by November 7. The E-Board also approved a state appropriation to the Vermont Foodbank of $250,000. The Vermont Foodbank will then distribute the money to local foodbanks to serve those in need. Since the state's announcement, a federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump Administration to continue SNAP benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Monique Priestley (D-Bradford), currently serving her second term in the Vermont House of Representatives, announced today that she will seek election to the Vermont State Senate in 2026. Priestly is seeking the seat now held by Larry Hart (R-Topsham). Hart was one of six Republicans who unseated a Democrat in the 2024 Senate election, when he decisively beat long-serving Mark MacDonald (D-Williamstown).

Vermont Business Magazine Northeastern Reproductive Medicine (NRM), a leading fertility clinic in Vermont with patients worldwide, is proud to announce a partnership with Olympic alpine skier Paula Moltzan. The collaboration will promote awareness of fertility services that can empower individuals to pursue their careers without compromising their dreams of starting a family.  A recent survey found that 70% of female athletes have postponed having children to focus on their careers, 95% believe that parenthood can negatively affect their earning potential, and 90% feel it can impact their ability to succeed at the highest levels of their sport. The “biological clock” can be paused by freezing eggs, a process called cryopreservation. Females receive hormonal stimulation to grow a large batch of egg follicles to maturation. A doctor performs a minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided surgical procedure to “retrieve” the eggs which are then vitrified (an ultra-rapid deep freeze), ready to be thawed and used later.