Current News

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.   

Vermont Business Magazine Fidium has expanded its multi-gig speed network in Chittenden County, delivering all-fiber internet to more than 1,900 homes and businesses in Essex Town, Essex Junction, Jericho, Shelburne, Westford, and Williston. The buildout, completed in partnership with the Chittenden County Communications Union District (CCCUD), connects previously unserved and underserved locations to future-ready broadband. With this latest expansion, Fidium is now available to more than 17,000 locations across Chittenden County.

Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of Administration Sarah Clark today released Vermont’s revenue results for September 2025. The General Fund exceeded its monthly consensus cash flow target, as adopted by the Emergency Board at its July 2025 meeting, while the Transportation Fund and Education Fund missed their targets. The state’s General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $341.8 million, $7.4 million, or 2.2%, higher than the $334.4 million monthly target in the consensus forecast adopted by the Emergency Board at its July 2025 meeting. Total General Fund revenues for September were $250.2 million, $9.0 million or 3.7% above the $241.2 million monthly cash flow target, driven primarily by Personal Income Tax receipts that were $9.81 million, or 7.2%, above target. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 22 other attorneys general and three governors in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its Secretary Brooke Rollins for unlawfully suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps more than 40 million Americans buy food, due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. The coalition argues that suspending SNAP benefits in this manner is both contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act and it will be filing a temporary restraining order later today asking the court to immediately restore SNAP benefits.