Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Bus drivers will now earn $30 an hour or more in Burlington School District (BSD). In addition to the increase in pay, BSD also announced today paid training, licensing support to help people earn their CDL or bus driver endorsements, and options that would allow drivers to work more hours between bus driving shifts. 

Vermont Business Magazine This year more than $4.6 million in TAP grant funding is available for all eligible activities as described in the Vermont Transportation Alternatives Grant Application Guide. Approximately 50% of TAP grant program funds are reserved for pollution mitigation projects related to stormwater and highways, including eligible salt and sand shed projects. Also, approximately $1.5 million of MHSMP grant funding is available for eligible stormwater pollution mitigation projects as described in the Municipal Highway and Stormwater Mitigation Program Guide.

Vermont Business Magazine Alterra Mountain Company, one of the world’s premier mountain operating companies, has announced its continued commitment to the guest, employee, and community experience with a capital investment program of over $400 million to several resorts, including Stratton Mountain and Sugarbush Resort in Vermont. The investments are focused on the evolution of Deer Valley Resort in Utah, on-mountain enhancements across the portfolio, and employee benefits.

Addison County Chamber of Commerce Notice of the 2025 Annual Meeting and Report of Nominations to the Board of Directors for the 2025-2026 year. Nominees to be elected at the Annual Meeting, Awards Dinner and Hall of Fame Induction on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Middlebury Town Hall Theatre (5pm-8pm). In accordance with the Bylaws of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce.

Vermont Business Magazine Ben & Jerry's founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, today sent an open letter to the board of the Vermont ice cream maker's owner, Unilever, concerned over the planned spinoff of some of its food products, including Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc. The Amsterdam-based conglomerate is spinning off its ice cream division, headlined by Ben & Jerry's along with Cornetto and Wall's, as a standalone company called Magnum Ice Cream Company (MICC) in November. Magnum was created in a de-merger at the end of July. Cohen and Greenfield are urging Unilever to retain the spirit of Ben & Jerry's independent board and keep to the letter of the acquisition agreement made in 2000.

Vermont Business Magazine The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce has released results from its annual State of the Commerce economic survey, offering a detailed snapshot of business conditions, challenges, and optimism across Bennington County and beyond. When asked for a letter grade to indicate how healthy they felt their organization or business was doing, ranging from A (excellent) to F (closure imminent), 64% ranged from B (successful) to A (excellent) down from 70% a year prior. The other portion, B- (temporarily successful) to D (not doing well) made up 33% up 3% from a year prior. Three percent gave themselves a D- or fear of closure, while no respondent indicated closure was imminent (F). When asked about their business's financial performance compared to one year ago, a portion of respondents, 40%, reported that their businesses were doing better. Twenty-seven percent indicated that their revenue stayed about the same, while 32% of respondents mentioned that their business's financial performance was worse compared to 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Studio Center (VSC) invites the community to celebrate the re-opening of Corner House during September’s Experience VSC. Corner House has been under construction throughout 2024 and 2025. The renovation and addition to the historic home will provide additional lodging for artists and writers in residence at VSC. The ribbon cutting will be held on Sunday, September 21 at 1 p.m. followed by open studios, music from Los Lorcas, and refreshments through 4 p.m. Corner House will provide lodging for up to 13 Vermont Studio Center artists and writers, continuing its legacy of community and creativity. From 1930 to 1947, the property served as housing for female students at the Johnson Normal School (now the VSC Barbara White Studios on Main Street). 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT), the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) today announced a call for applications for the Better Connections Grant Program. For the 2026 grant cycle, $200,000 is available for Vermont cities and towns to support more connected, vibrant communities. The grant program serves municipalities located outside of Chittenden County.

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.