Current News

by Sam Donnelly “Recently, the City of Burlington has experienced an increase in discarded syringes in public spaces, posing a risk to public health and safety. We need to do more to protect children, unhoused individuals, and downtown workers, residents, and visitors. For the past 4 months, the Peace & Justice Center and Vermont Harm Reduction Advocates have been leading an initiative called the BTV Clean Up Crew, which meets weekly, cleaning up trash and used needles in downtown Burlington. Building Burlington’s Future has been proud to support this resident-led program, and now we’re calling on the city to do its part."

Vermont Business Magazine Health officials have confirmed the first case of Jamestown Canyon virus in a person in Vermont. Jamestown Canyon virus is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. While most people don’t get sick, some develop flu-like symptoms or more severe symptoms. The case was confirmed Sept. 8 in a person from Windsor County through laboratory testing and reporting by their health care provider. To protect patient confidentiality, the Health Department will not release individual personal health information.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Child Care Campaign kicked off its next phase last week at Growing Vermont: A Conversation on the Future of Child Care, a town hall event at Hula Lakeside featuring national and local policy experts. The event marked two years since the passage of Act 76, Vermont’s historic child care law, as well as the wind-down of Let’s Grow Kids (LGK), the advocacy organization launched in 2015 as a ten-year campaign to transform Vermont’s child care system. Let’s Grow Kids will officially cease operations as an organization at the end of this year. Moving forward, Vermont’s Child Care Campaign will be led by child care eco-system partners: The Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC), Building Bright Futures (BBF), First Children’s Finance–Vermont (FCF-VT), and the Let’s Grow Kids Action Network (LGKAN) - LGK’s sister 501(c)(4) organization. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), the statewide, nonprofit business association working to leverage the power of business for positive social and environmental impact, has announced the 2025 recipients of three awards honoring Vermont leaders in social equity, environmental responsibility, and sustainable economic development. The winners will be celebrated at the 24th Annual VBSR Awards Ceremony and Dinner on Thursday, October 2, 5-8:30 p.m., at The Farmhouse at The Essex Resort & Spa. VBSR will honor three awardees who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership advancing VBSR’s vision of a just, thriving, and transformative economy that works for all people and the planet.

Vermont Business Magazine In September, the American Red Cross reminds people that giving blood now helps support patients the moment they need medical care. Donors of all types, especially those with types O positive and B negative blood, are asked to make an appointment to give. National Preparedness Month is underway – a time to remember lifesaving blood products are an essential part of preparedness for every type of disaster, whether it be home fires or natural disasters, such as hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. Severe weather can disrupt blood collections by causing blood drive cancellations and impacting donors’ ability to give. Additionally, trauma patients may need blood product transfusions within minutes of entering emergency rooms. Those who give now could help someone in dire moments.

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont-AL) and Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI-01) introduced the Protecting Young Minds Online Act, which requires the Center for Mental Health Services to develop and disseminate a strategy to address the effects of new technologies, like social media, on children’s mental health. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in mental health disorders in youth, including depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ages 15-24. Approximately one out of every 10 high school students reports attempting suicide each year. 

Vermont Business Magazine The National Menopause Foundation (NMF) and Perry have announced that 12 states have taken executive action to increase visibility and awareness of perimenopause. Approximately 1.3 million women enter menopause each year in the U.S. Many people don't know that perimenopause, the life stage leading up to menopause, begins 7-10 years before a woman experiences the end of her menstrual cycle. This is the first year that NMF and Perry have partnered with states to declare September as Perimenopause Awareness Month via proclamation.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) recently joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) in introducing the District of Columbia Police Home Rule Act and the District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act, bicameral bills to grant the District of Columbia full control over the D.C. National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department. The bills come as the Trump Administration has asserted federal control over the D.C. police department and kept its National Guard deployed in City streets for weeks. The urgent need for these measures has only grown as the Administration reportedly has extended the D.C. National Guard’s deployment through November 30, and Congressional Republicans plan more attacks on the District of Columbia’s self-governance.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP) is accepting applications for equipment that will improve water quality on Vermont farms. This competitive grant program, administered by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, can fund up to 90% of the cost of equipment for successful applicants. Farms, custom applicators, nonprofit organizations, and research institutions are eligible to apply. Grants are up to $150,000.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Construction Academy (VCA) is proud to announce the successful completion of its first Vermont Department of Labor Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Bootcamps, marking an important milestone in workforce development for Vermont’s construction industry. Over the past eight weeks, 20 students participated in two summer cohorts designed to introduce young adults and career changers to opportunities in the skilled trades. The first session ran five weeks at 40 hours per week, while the second offered an intensive 12-day format timed before the start of the new school year. Participants will return to VCA during school breaks for continued training over the next six months.

Vermont Business Magazine The Endeavor Lab Colleges (ELC), a national consortium of 10 small liberal arts colleges, including Bennington College and Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, announced today the completion of the first phase of its groundbreaking initiative to enhance student mental health and well-being. Endeavor Foundation has generously invested more than $8.5 million to support the project, including $5.22 million over the next three years for Phase 2.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont have risen 7.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.18/g today, according to GasBuddy's survey of 626 stations in Vermont. Prices in Vermont are 11.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 12.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Vermont was priced at $2.85/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.39/g, a difference of 54.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.85/g while the highest was $3.39/g, a difference of 54.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 0.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.16/g today.