Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor released data on the Vermont economy for the time period covering August 2025. According to household data, the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for August was 2.5 percent. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The civilian labor force participation rate was 64.6 percent in August, a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The Labor Market, which is the denominator in these equations, fell by over 900, which offset a similar decline in the number of employed. Unemployment also fell, but by a slight amount. The comparable United States rate in August was 4.3 percent, an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised July estimate. 

Vermont Business Magazine The State of Vermont has released the Resilience Implementation Strategy, which prioritizes implementation of key state-level actions to reduce the harmful impacts of climate change. In Vermont, climate-related hazards include flooding, landslides, heat waves, drought, wildfire smoke, and declining water quality. The Strategy identifies priority actions that state government can take to help communities become more resilient, support those hardest hit by disasters, and reduce future damage to Vermont’s infrastructure, economy, and natural environment. Virtual public meetings in late October will offer an opportunity for the public to hear directly from state officials about the Strategy.

Vermont Business Magazine A new nonprofit event venue, The Summit, is opening in Colchester this fall and is now accepting bookings for large meetings, trainings, and community gatherings starting November 1, 2025. Conveniently located just off I-89 at Exit 16, The Summit offers seating for up to 70 guests, state-of-the-art presentation technology, ample free parking, and a flexible, fully accessible space suitable for workshops, retreats, offsite meetings, and more. Guests can bring their own food or work with any caterer. But what sets The Summit apart is its social mission.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced the conclusion of its independent review of a non-fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred on December 13, 2024, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Attorney General Charity Clark has declined to prosecute St. Johnsbury Police Department Captain Jason Gray for charges related to the use of potentially deadly force in a shooting involving Scott Mason. Windham County State’s Attorney Steven Brown, acting as conflict counsel on behalf of the Caledonia County State’s Attorney’s Office, also declined to prosecute the case after completing his own independent review.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Health Network’s Board of Trustees and Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, have agreed that he will step down from the role of president and chief executive officer. University of Vermont Medical Center president and chief operating officer Steve Leffler, MD, will serve as interim UVM Health Network chief executive officer in addition to his current role, effective October 15, 2025. Dr. Eappen will remain on through December to support the changeover. UVM Health Network stated it is taking decisive action to reduce costs, improve the quality of care and provide a better experience for patients.

Vermont Agency of Transportation On 9/18/2025 at approximately 1:30 p.m., inspectors with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles were responding to a call on U.S. 2 in Marshfield when they noticed heavy smoke in the vicinity. The inspectors responded to the area where the smoke was emanating from and located a residence that was engulfed in flames.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.20 per gallon, up 1 cent per gallon from last week, up 11 cents/g from last month and down 6 cents/g from last year. Prices were lowest in Bennington ($3.06/g) and Rutland ($3.111/g) counties and highest in Chittenden ($3.28/g), Franklin ($3.31/g) and Grand Isle ($3.30/g). The lowest price in the state this week was $2.99/g while the highest was $3.35/g, a difference of 36.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline rose 1 cent/g to $3.20 from last week, are up 7 cents/g from last month and are down 1 cent/g from last year. 

Vermont Business Magazine Despite the devastating rains of 2023 and 2024, the Green Mountain State has been in a dry cycle through much of the first half of the 2020s. These dry conditions make it hard to find the edges of the state’s wetlands, the places where land and water meet. To compound the issue, the entire state of Vermont has experienced at least a moderate drought intensity. Over a third of the state, in the central and Connecticut River Valley zones, has now moved up to severe drought status. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reminds wetland professionals, property owners, farmers, realtors, non-profits, and towns to accurately identify wetlands, even in a drought. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Associated General Contractors of Vermont (AGC/VT) are proud to announce they have been awarded the prestigious Howard Mock Award for the second time in three years, recognizing the organization’s exceptional achievements in member growth, innovation, and engagement. This honor marks AGC/VT’s 10th national and international recognition in just five years, solidifying its reputation as Vermont’s preeminent business and construction association. Presented by the Associated General Contractors of America, the Howard Mock Award celebrates state chapters that demonstrate outstanding leadership, strategic advancement, and service to their members. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Health today announced actions taken to ensure all Vermonters have access to COVID-19 vaccines through primary care providers and pharmacies across Vermont. To achieve this, the Department of Health has issued a standing order allowing for the administration of the vaccine based on guidance from national medical associations. With recent changes to vaccine administration guidance, this order will enable pharmacies to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to Vermonters who choose to receive one, as they have in past years.

VermontBiz Friends of the Winooski River is kicking off construction this week to remove a crumbling dam from the Stevens Branch in Barre, part of a project to remove three dams on the Stevens Branch that will open four miles of high-quality stream habitat for wild trout.

The Brooklyn Street dam was built in the 1800s to power machinery at factory buildings still operated by Trow & Holden, a 135-year-old family business that sells hand tools for the stone-cutting industry. The factory switched to electric power in the 1920s.

Company leaders say removing the dam will help create a more stable floodplain and enable greater use of their land and historic timber-frame buildings, which are located on the riverbank and have become increasingly vulnerable to floodwaters. Devastating flooding damaged Trow & Holden — and many other Barre homes and businesses — in 2023.

VermontBiz The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says hunters are looking forward to Vermont’s upcoming October 1- November 14 and December 1-15 archery deer hunting season. 

Deer hunting regulation changes made earlier this year will not go into effect until 2026.

A hunter may take up to four deer in Vermont’s two-part archery season if they do not shoot any deer in the other deer seasons.  The purchase of an archery deer license and tag is required for each deer.  No more than one of the deer taken during archery season may be a legal buck if no buck is taken in the other deer seasons.  Antlerless deer hunting is allowed during archery season statewide this year.