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Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) has donated approximately 50 banker boxes of organizational records to the University of Vermont' Silver Special Collections Library. This collection includes advocacy notes, campaign materials, publications, letters, research data, and mementos from Vermont’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization. To commemorate this important collection coming to UVM, VPIRG and the Special Collections Library will host a celebration and sneak peek at the collection at UVM on Wednesday, October 1 at 11 a.m. Notable in the collection are VPIRG’s charter documents as a student group at UVM; the legal history of Randall v. Sorrell, the challenge to Vermont’s campaign finance law that went all the way to the United States Supreme; and history and artifacts from VPIRG’s decades-long efforts to protect the environment and promote clean energy.  

by Madelyn Nonni, Community News Service Picture flat white snow as far as the horizon. No trees, no rolling mountains. Just an endless scene of ice and frozen earth, underneath an illuminated sky with the sun high in the air, regardless of the time of day. This is what Castleton junior Environmental Science major Olivia Rutkowski saw as she stepped off the snowmobile in Cambridge Bay, Canada, this past May. For two weeks, Rutkowski and five others lived and worked in the Arctic environment, collecting cores of snow, sea ice and permafrost to uncover more about the microbes hidden beneath the surface. The research effort is in collaboration with the Dynamic Research of Arctic Cryospheric Organisms team, or DRACO. It’s a group of professors and students researching polar environments down to the nanoscale. 

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 September 29, 2025.  Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.    

by Sam Donnelly, executive director, Building Burlington’s Future Burlington is more than just a beautiful place. Just like the rest of Vermont, it is full of neighbors who are always willing to show up for one another. It’s a community that doesn’t look away from hard problems. Burlington is a city where people care deeply and are willing to take action to make it better. But right now, our city is facing a pivotal moment. Lately, a lot of people in and around Burlington don’t feel as safe as they used to – whether they’re downtown for work, running a small business, or spending time with their family – for some, a sense of public safety in our community is at a historic low. At the same time, we know that some of our neighbors and community members are struggling with issues like substance use, mental health, and homelessness.

by Mark Millward (A4TD) The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a lifeline for older workers and a vital source of staffing support for nonprofits and public agencies. Due to a delay in federal funding for Program Year 2025, SCSEP operations in Vermont have been sharply reduced. Participants have been furloughed, organizations that host SCSEP participants have lost valuable team members, and the local economy is feeling the effects. SCSEP is the nation’s only federally funded job training program for low-income, unemployed older adults age 55+ who have barriers to employment, helping participants gain new skills and work experience so they can transition into unsubsidized employment. Participants are placed at local nonprofits and public agencies, where they earn income while providing critical community services.

by Anore Horton, executive director, Hunger Free Vermont The recent decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cancel the Household Food Security in the United States report is unacceptable. This annual survey has, for nearly three decades, measured food insecurity across the country, and served as an important way to acknowledge and respond to the reality that the injustice of hunger impacts millions in our nation. This abrupt announcement comes on the heels of devastating funding cuts and eligibility changes to SNAP, passed by Congressional leaders in July. SNAP, known in Vermont as 3SquaresVT, helps tens of thousands of Vermonters–and millions across the U.S.--afford groceries and put food on the table. Now leadership in Washington is dismantling the tools we use to measure hunger. It seems clear that the federal administration intends to try to justify their historic funding cuts and eligibility changes to our nation’s most effective anti-hunger program by making hunger invisible. But deliberately and systematically causing hunger for millions of our family members, neighbors, and friends cannot be justified, ever. 

Vermont Business Magazine Garlic Town, USA celebrated its 30th anniversary over the Labor Day weekend with over 6,500 attendees, live music, 100+ curated vendors, chef demonstrations, and a landmark sustainability effort that reduced overall waste by more than half compared to last year. The festival began with a special proclamation recognizing its 30-year legacy. Representative Mary Morrissey introduced and read the House of Representatives concurrent resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of Garlic Town U.S.A.. The resolution was offered by Representatives Morrissey of Bennington, Cooper of Pownal, Corcoran of Bennington, Durfee of Shaftsbury, Greer of Bennington, and Nigro of Bennington, as well as offered by Senators Bongartz and Plunkett.

Vermont Business Magazine The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the third annual Heart of The Shires event, debuting a new format and venue in 2025. The celebration of nonprofits, community leaders, and social enterprises will be held as a brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the Park McCullough Historic Carriage Barn. This year’s keynote speaker is Chelsea Bardot Lewis, Executive Director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR). A champion of business as a force for good, Lewis brings deep expertise in social enterprise, impact investing, and public policy. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Castleton Alumni Association Awards: Darren Perron (‘95),  Izzy Gogarty (‘20, M’25), and former Castleton University President David Wolk. Each year, the Castleton Alumni Association recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions of time, talent, or financial resources to advancing the University, its students, alumni, and communities. This year, two distinguished alumni and a former president of Castleton University (now Vermont State University) were honored at the Alumni Association Awards Brunch.

Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurship is alive and well in the NEK! NVDA and Do North Coworking will be hosting Rumble in the Kingdom, a dynamic pitch competition where entrepreneurs share their best ideas. Held at Chamber member organization Catamount Arts. Register to pitch your idea by September 30. Our monthly Coffee Hour has been growing in the most wonderful way, and we’ve officially outgrown our space! Thanks to the generosity of Chamber member Lyndon Institute, Coffee Hour will now be hosted in the E. Harris Brown Building, located between the Sanborn Gym and the church, visible from the Chamber office, on the same side of the street.

Vermont Business Magazine The Lasky School of Business at Norwich University is proud to announce that the Norwich student Excel eSports team earned first place in the September Battle of the prestigious Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge. With this victory, the team advances to the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge Championship, to be held December 1–3, 2025, at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The global competition brings together top student talent from around the world to test advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel through case studies, real-world problem solving, and data analysis. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA) has announced updated dates for its 2026 Annual Conference, which will now take place Tuesday, August 11 through Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Burlington, Vermont. This shift marks a return to VCIA’s long-standing tradition of hosting its flagship event on a Tuesday–Thursday schedule—a format favored by members for its balance of engagement, travel ease, and professional continuity.