Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront (BPRW), in partnership with the Burlington Bike Park Coalition (BBPC) and the Fellowship of the Wheel (FOTW), are proud to announce the completion of the first phase of the Burlington Bike Park, located at Leddy Park in the City's New North End. After years of careful planning, Phase 1 was completed thanks to a substantial grant from the State of Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) program managed by the Department of Forests, Parks, & Recreation. BBPC and FOTW provided technical support, outreach, and volunteer labor throughout the bike park’s planning and construction. The BBPC plans to continue fundraising for future phases of the Burlington Bike Park, which would include more advanced trails, additional features, and a paved pump track. 

by Sarah Bokelberg, Community News Service Hinesburg has been working to increase availability of local, affordable housing in the past few years. The town has recently added more homes with a second phase in the Kelley’s Field senior housing community, with plans for nearly 200 more units at the Haystack Crossing development, which received state Act 250 approval in 2024. Discussion is also underway regarding the Windy Ridge development, a 90-unit project with 60 affordable units in partnership with Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity. The nonprofit Habitat is also proposing a six-unit development on Mechanicsville Road. After nearly 20 years of work, the Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee is making progress.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of October 27, 2025. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.    

US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Dear Fellow Vermonter. Earlier this month, I wrote to you about Vermont’s housing crisis and asked you to share your thoughts about how this crisis is affecting you. You had a LOT to say! Clearly, this is an issue that is impacting tens of thousands of Vermonters. And, by the way, the high cost of housing is an issue in virtually every state in the country. In my view, instead of giving $1 trillion in tax breaks to the one percent, we should be building millions of units of low income and affordable housing that Vermonters and people all over this nation desperately need. This is a major priority for my office.

Vermont Business Magazine Interior designer Ann Shriver Sargent—whose work has helped shape the look and feel of New England living for more than three decades—has been named a 2025 inductee into the New England Design Hall of Fame. Sargent will be formally inducted at the annual gala on November 6, 2025, at Boston’s SoWa Power Station. The New England Design Hall of Fame is the region’s most prestigious design industry honor. It celebrates a select group of architects, interior designers, landscape designers, builders, and specialists whose careers have shaped the field through exceptional work and community impact. It’s a fitting recognition for Sargent, whose own work has long reflected those same values. 

Vermont Business Magazine Ben & Jerry's fans can recognize the smell of freshly baked, hand-rolled waffle cones from a mile away. Just one visit to a Scoop Shop, and you'll experience there's just no ice cream cone that can compete. This fall, these waffle cones will help raise funds and awareness for Migrant Justice, a farmworker-led human rights organization. From October 21 through November 4, Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops across the country will participate in the "Waffle Lotta Good" program, an annual initiative supporting social justice organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine VBSR’s annual Legislative Breakfast will be held November 6. This year, they're taking a closer look at the future of Vermont’s healthcare system, and the policies shaping it. You'll hear from guest speakers, including: Stephen Leffler, MD, President & Chief Operating Officer, University of Vermont Medical Center; Robin Lunge, JD, MHCDS, Healthcare & Immigration Policy Lead, Office of U.S. Senator Peter Welch; Christopher Pearson, Board Member, Vermont Healthcare 911; Lisa Ventriss, MPA, Co-Chair, Vermont Healthcare 911 Leadership Council. VBSR will also recognize Senator Alison Hudnut Clarkson as the VBSR Legislator of the Year.

Vermont State Police The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, performed an autopsy on the individual whose body was found Thursday afternoon in Middlebury. The autopsy confirmed the woman’s identity as Lia Smith, 21, of Woodside, California, who was reported missing Sunday from the Middlebury College campus. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Smoke & Cure of Hinesburg has announced that its Hot & Spicy Turkey Stick has been named the winner in the Alternative Snacks: Meat Snacks category of the 2025 Convenience Store News Best New Product Awards. This recognition underscores the company's no-compromise approach to crafting high-quality, flavorful meat snacks that offer a protein-forward snacking option for on-the-go lifestyles. The annual Best New Product Awards recognize innovation and excellence across convenience retail. Products are judged by a panel of consumers who evaluate entries based on six key criteria: taste, value, convenience, ingredients, packaging, and appearance. Vermont Smoke & Cure’s Hot & Spicy Turkey Sticks stood out for delivering bold flavor and better-for-you snacking in a convenient, portable format. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced leadership appointments: Lyle Jepson as commissioner of the Department of Economic Development and Nick Grimley as deputy commissioner of the Department of Economic Development. “Growing the economy has been one of my top priorities since being elected governor,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I believe Lyle’s decades of experience as an educator, as well as Nick’s proven track record supporting the business community, will serve Vermonters well.” Lyle has been the Executive Director of the Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region since 2020. Nick Grimley has served in multiple roles at the Department of Economic Development since 2017, most recently as the Director of Entrepreneurship and Tech Commercialization.

Vermont Business Magazine With thousands of Vermont residents affected by the ongoing government shutdown, the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation advises individuals who are having trouble managing loan, mortgage, or insurance payments to proactively communicate with their lenders or insurers. The Department of Financial Regulation has urged companies to use all available options and alternatives to assist individuals who are temporarily unable to make payments or meet their obligations due to the federal government shutdown. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has appointed Phil Lewis to serve as the next Director of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront for the City of Burlington.   Phil Lewis has spent the last 25 years working in the field of parks and recreation, most recently serving as the CEO and General Manager of the Cosumnes Community Services District in Elk Grove, California. During his career, he has excelled at creating and nurturing solid networks with community organizations, local outreach groups, and neighborhood residents. Mr. Lewis holds a Master’s Degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from Eastern Oregon University.