Current News

Vermont Business Magazine With inflation still elevated, home prices parked near record highs, and insurance costs climbing, more homeowners are running out of cushion—heightening the risk of mortgage delinquencies, as well as broader ripple effects on consumer spending and credit conditions. As budgets thin, questions about the sustainability of homeownership and the broader economic fallout are getting harder to ignore. According to a new report, both Vermont and the Burlington area are on the low end of mortgage delinquencies. In general, delinquency rates tend to be highest in areas with higher levels of unemployment and poverty, lower levels of income, and lower property values. Regionally, states in the South and pockets of the East Coast tend to have the highest delinquency rates. For example, Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia are the top three states for both 30-day and 90-day mortgage delinquencies. Other states with high rates of missed payments include Alabama and Texas. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Ensemble Amphion Baroque is back at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center (BMAC), performing a new program on October 25, at 7 pm. Entitled, “Grace and Grandeur: Masterpieces of French and German Chamber Music,” it will feature Jesse Lepkoff, baroque flute and recorder, Na’ama Lion baroque flute, Owen Watkins recorder and baroque oboe, Carol Lewis viola da gamba and Marina Minkin harpsichord. France is represented in music by Couperin, Dornel, Rameau, and Marais and Germany is represented by Telemann, Janitsch and Fischer. “We have prepared a very interesting and beautiful program utilizing a varied palette of instrumental colors and styles which we are particularly excited to play at the BMAC," says Jesse Lepkoff, the group’s director.

Vermont Business Magazine For decades, parents have been the go-to lenders for cash-strapped children. But new research shows the tables are turning: 50% of adult children in Vermont say they have lent money to their parents, flipping the traditional script. According to MarketBeat’s survey of more than 5,000 respondents, the average total loaned by (adult) Vermont children comes to $900. Most cases are practical rather than indulgent: nearly half (48%) of parents asked for help with bills or day-to-day expenses, while 34% needed support in an emergency. Just 12% said the money went toward lifestyle purchases such as vacations or luxury items.

Vermont Business Magazine RunVermont has announced that registration is officially open for its two largest annual running events: the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay and Half Marathon Unplugged presented by Switchback Brewing Co., along with the Memorial Day Weekend Youth Events (M&T Bank Vermont City Two Mile and Mini Marathon). These events draw thousands of runners and spectators to Burlington, VT, and the surrounding area each spring, celebrating community, fitness, and Vermont’s vibrant running culture for participants of all ages. The M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay is Vermont’s largest single-day sporting event, with more than 5,000 registrants and 20,000 spectators. The 37th running will take place on Sunday, May 24, 2026. The 20th annual Half Marathon Unplugged will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CFG) today announced that Ted Swimmer, head of capital markets and advisory for Citizens Commercial Banking, has been named Head of Commercial Banking, effective immediately. Swimmer succeeds Don McCree, who will remain at Citizens as Chair of Commercial Banking until his retirement at the end of March 2026. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department held its annual permit lottery for muzzleloader antlerless deer permits on September 9 and says it still has unallocated muzzleloader antlerless deer permits available for use in the antlerless-only October 30-November 2 muzzleloader season and the December 6-14 muzzleloader season. These permits can be purchased on Fish and Wildlife’s website or at any local license agent on a first come, first served basis at a cost of $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Here are the Wildlife Management Units that still had muzzleloader antlerless permits available online and at local license agents statewide as of October 6: A, B, F1, F2, G, J1, J2, K, N, O, and Q.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims for the week ending October 4, 2025, increased by a marginal amount and remain at a low level. New claims were 262, up claims from the week before and up 49 from last year at this time. Claims were 186 two weeks ago. Claims, which tend to be lowest in the summer, were 181 at the end of September 2024. Meanwhile, the government shutdown, federal layoffs and new export controls by China on "rare-earth" materials, and a subsequent threat from the White to impose 100% tariffs on China, led the stock market to plunge on Friday.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) released the following statement on the Senate’s passage of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “The use of our brave troops by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth for political theater—militarizing American cities against the wishes of citizens and governors, declaring wars without congressional authorization, parading around generals for a campaign rally—is a nightmare our founders would not have tolerated."

Vermont Business Magazine In response to increased concerns about quality-of-life crimes and disorder in Burlington, Governor Scott today announced the first steps, in coordination with many partners, to respond. Today’s announcement is the first initiative of a multi-point plan that will be rolled out in the coming days. After collaboration with the Judiciary, Defender General, Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriff’s, the Chittenden County State’s Attorney, Burlington City Officials, the Attorney General, law enforcement, human services providers, and more, the governor will be appointing a Special Prosecutor to work within Chittenden County to assist in relieving the backlog of service-resistant repeat offender criminal cases, with an initial focus on individuals who have many open dockets and are awaiting trial. The Judiciary will be appointing a dedicated judge for this near-term initiative.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Lottery is aware of news reports claiming that a Vermont Lottery vendor failed to appropriately notify the Vermont Attorney General’s Office of a data breach impacting Vermonters. This reporting is inaccurate. Brightstar Global Solutions is not a vendor of the Vermont Lottery, nor are they subcontracted for any Vermont products or business through the Vermont Lottery’s gaming vendor, Scientific Games.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College awarded its 2025 Distinguished Citizen Award to Lindsay DesLauriers, president of Bolton Valley Resort. Marking 64 years of tradition, the Distinguished Citizen Award celebrates leaders whose achievements leave a meaningful mark on their communities. DesLauriers has dedicated her career to strengthening Vermont through business leadership, civic engagement and a deep commitment to the state’s outdoor economy. As a member of the family that founded Bolton Valley, she returned to the resort in 2017 and has since led its revitalization, transforming it into a thriving four-season destination while honoring its strong community roots. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced his office will distribute a record $2.6 million from the Higher Education Endowment Trust Fund to support Vermonters seeking higher education. The Treasurer’s Office manages the Fund which earned an 11.4% return last year. The funds will be distributed to the University of Vermont, the Vermont State Colleges, and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation to provide non-loan tuition assistance to Vermonters. The Legislature established the Higher Education Endowment Trust Fund in 1999. Its annual distribution is based on investment performance, which the Treasurer’s Office reports each year to the Legislature. Over the past 25 years, the Fund has distributed over $30 million to support Vermont students.