Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement in response to leaked messages from leaders of a national Young Republican group chat: “The hateful statements made in this group chat are disgusting and unacceptable. The vile, racist, bigoted, and antisemitic dialogue that has been reported is deeply disturbing. There is simply no excuse for it. Those involved should resign from their roles immediately and leave the Republican party – including Vermont State Senator Sam Douglass.”

Vermont Business Magazine Dairy farmers across the Northeast can now apply for the Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant through the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC). With a total of $750,000 in funding, this grant will support a wide range of projects aimed at improving farm viability, milk quality, worker conditions, economic sustainability, and climate resilience.  Grants will range from $15,000 to $100,000 with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match.    

Vermont Business Magazine As University of Vermont Health – Porter Medical Center celebrates 100 years of caring for Addison County and the surrounding communities, members of the public are invited to attend a ribbon-cutting event on Friday, October 17 in the hospital’s main lobby. The event from 1 to 3 p.m. in the hospital’s main lobby will include remarks from hospital and health system leaders and the unveiling of the Porter Centennial Exhibit – a 42 ½-foot-long art installation spanning the hallway that connects the hospital’s main entrance and North Wing, which houses Porter’s Surgical Services and Birthing Center. The hospital will also unveil a time capsule that will be installed behind a wall within the building and will be opened in 2075, 50 years from now.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education announced today that Linda Alvarez, of Windham Regional Career Center in Brattleboro, is the 2026 Vermont Teacher of the Year. Linda will officially begin her role on January 1, 2026. Also recognized as 2026 Distinguished Finalists are Jason Raymond from Burlington Technical Center and Erin Randall from South Burlington High School. Linda has been a Business and Entrepreneurship teacher at the Windham Regional Career Center in Brattleboro for 4 years and is the first Career Technical Education (CTE) educator to receive this award in Vermont.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations fell slightly after a recent increase in cases that began in August. Neither the VDH nor the CDC are reporting COVID fatalities and total cases in Vermont or in the US any longer. WastewaterSCAN testing of treatment plants indicates that in Vermont both COVID-19 and Norovirus levels are higher in Vermont than they are nationally. Meanwhile in Vermont, there were 5 outbreaks last week (7 the week before), with 5 in Long-Term Care Facilities and 0 in schools. 

Vermont Business Magazine A new series of workshops will give cannabis license applicants the business, compliance, and cultivation skills they need to succeed in Vermont’s regulated cannabis marketplace. These short-term courses, created in partnership between VTSU, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Vermont Cannabis Control Board (CCB) will be held December 5-6 on the VTSU Johnson campus. 

Vermont Business Magazine That’s the message behind a new statewide video campaign from Vermont’s mental health agencies, encouraging people to connect with Mobile Crisis teams before their struggles become full-blown crises. The campaign features five short, easy-to-share videos that show what actually happens when someone calls or texts for help—and how Mobile Crisis responders can meet you in the moment, wherever you are. When life feels overwhelming, support should be easy to find. That’s why Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS), is partnering with designated mental health agencies across Vermont to raise awareness of Mobile Crisis services, available 24/7 for anyone experiencing mental health or substance use-related challenges.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery (VAMHAR) has partnered with The New Trade Program (NTP), a groundbreaking workforce development initiative founded by Salim Holder. This collaboration represents a bold commitment to workforce development that is deeply grounded in equity, mental wellness, and social impact. At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief: that recovery and purpose go hand in hand - and that meaningful work can be a powerful catalyst for healing, dignity, and systemic change. Salim Holder’s journey from the high-powered world of corporate marketing to launching NTP is a story of transformation. After witnessing the barriers many face in accessing meaningful employment and the ripple effects on families and neighborhoods, Holder shifted his focus from selling products to building futures. 

Vermont Business Magazine Schools play a critical role in creating a healthier school environment by improving indoor air quality, reducing triggers and training staff to help students manage their symptoms. The Health Department is recognizing 30 schools as “Asthma-Friendly” for 2024-2025 and encouraging all schools to learn more about how they can take steps to become asthma-friendly. More than 30 people were also recognized as Asthma Champions for helping their schools reach medal-level recognition, including nurses, facilities/grounds directors, administrative assistants and district-level nurse leaders. 

Vermont Business Magazine October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, designed to inform the public about warning signs, risk factors, and what to do in a cardiac emergency. During this month, the American Red Cross encourages everyone to enroll in a CPR and AED course so they can learn how to help save a life when someone goes into cardiac arrest and minutes matter. Each year, more than 350,000 people experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the U.S. and about 90% of them die. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating normally because of abnormal electrical activity. Every second counts, so it’s important for people to be trained in knowing how to perform CPR and use an AED. Immediate CPR delivered by a bystander can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. More than 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the home.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Michael Dubois, 37, of Proctor, Vermont, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Rutland Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The Court, Judge Cortland Corsones presiding, sentenced the defendant to one to two years in prison, all suspended under a 10-year term of probation. Conditions of Dubois’ probation include mandatory completion of sex offender programming, no contact with children under 16, and restricted access to electronic devices and the internet. If Dubois violates the terms of his probation, he faces up to two years in prison. Dubois is also required to register as a sex offender until 10 years have passed since the completion of his sentence. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) today announced $2,783,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and $770,760 in Recovery Housing Program (RHP) funding to benefit 11 projects in 11 different communities. Projects include the creation of 36 new affordable housing units at Riggs Meadow, part of the Windy Ridge neighborhood development in Hinesburg; renovating eleven units of affordable housing in Fairlee, bringing online the community’s first affordable housing project; and the creation of a vibrant, community-owned, local and healthy foods-focused grocery retail store in St. Johnsbury.