Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Saturday, September 6 head to Oxbow Park in Morrisville for Central Vermont Council on Aging’s annual fundraiser, Hit the Trail: a bicycle ride and 5K run or walk on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. This event aims to raise awareness and support for healthy aging programs and services while providing the opportunity for attendees to put healthy aging into practice, build community, and celebrate Vermont’s beautiful surroundings. At the event, participants can enjoy a bike ride (15 to 30-mile round-trip options), a 5K run (timed option), or a walk, up to 3.1 miles, on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail followed by a delicious taco lunch from Aranda’s, live music by Donna Thunder, lawn games and prizes back at Oxbow Park.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), alongside 10 Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon expressing outrage over the Trump administration’s harmful decision to indefinitely pause student loan forgiveness under the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan. The senators demanded clarity for the thousands of affected borrowers who have repaid their student loans for over 20 years and now face unnecessary financial harm.

by Mike del Trecco, VAHHs As I write, Vermont’s hospitals are just wrapping their annual budget hearings with the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB). These conversations follow their July 1 budget submissions and offer an opportunity for our non-profit hospitals to tell their unique story that underpins their budgets. The conversations are complex, inspiring, and sometimes hard, but they are vital as we all work to manage the challenges of time including financial pressures and workforce shortages. The GMCB will now deliberate before issuing orders in September. I’m incredibly proud of our hospitals for proposing responsible and forward-looking budgets that address the acute health care challenges of the moment, while also planning for the future and shifting patient needs.

Vermont Business Magazine On Monday, August 18th President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform that he plans to issue an Executive Order eliminating vote-by-mail and the use of “voting machines” in next year’s Midterm Elections. Similar to the “election integrity” Executive Order he issued back in March of this year, this statement promotes baseless myths and outright falsehoods about elections, proposes significant barriers to voting access, and represents an unprecedented and illegal overreach of Federal authority. Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas has issued the following statement in response: “The President appears to be confused about several key facts when it comes to American elections. For one, he says in his post that when it comes to election administration, states must do what he tells us. As I detailed in a statement just last week, the U.S. Constitution gives the states control over elections and gives only Congress the power to pass laws regulating elections; it does not empower the president or executive branch to do so."

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to unlawfully impose immigration enforcement requirements on over $1 billion dollars in annual U.S. Department of Justice Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants. These grants are unrelated to federal civil immigration enforcement and are used by states to protect public safety and provide critical resources and services to victims and survivors of crime, including victims of domestic violence. In the lawsuit filed today, the coalition argues that imposing this new set of conditions across VOCA grant programs is arbitrary and capricious, exceeds U.S. DOJ’s legal authority, and violates the Spending Clause.  

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.07 per gallon, down 0.8 cents per gallon from last week's $3.08/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.71/g while the highest was $3.25/g, a difference of 54.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline is unchanged in the last week, averaging $3.09/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain has unveiled a new permanent exhibit that dives into the science and history of Vermont’s most iconic legend in Champ: America’s Lake Monster. ECHO’s exhibits team has been working on this project for over a year, and we're excited to finally share it. The exhibit allows guests to investigate hundreds of years of reported sightings, delve into the science and history of incredible creatures both real and unproven, and imagine their version of the Lake Champlain Monster. Through three levels of hands-on interactives, local history, a life-sized sculpture, and real-world science, America’s Lake Monster invites guests to dive deep into the legends and lore of Lake Champlain and find their answer to the age-old question: Do you believe in Champ? 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of Administration Sarah Clark today released Vermont’s revenue results for July 2025, which showed a generally positive result. The vital Personal Income tax had another good month and exceeded its target by 16.4%. The PI is the best indicator of the overall economy. The Corporate Income tax, which tends to be more volatile, was up nearly 35%. On the downside was the Meals & Rooms tax, which has struggled for over a year. It missed its targets again, off 5.5% for the Education Fund portion.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Did you know that a private pesticide applicator certification is required to use Class A pesticides in Vermont? These pesticides are utilized across Vermont's farming sectors—dairy, vegetables, berries, apples, grapes, nursery stock, Christmas trees, and more. Check the list of Class A pesticides to see if this includes you. To become certified, you must pass the Private CORE exam and study the federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS). This certification costs $25, and the certification remains valid for five years. The PHARM Division of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets has resources to help you understand certification and test requirements and schedule an exam. 

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Addison County’s economy is not always immediately apparent. This was one of the first observations Alex Armani-Munn made upon taking the helm of the Addison County Economic Development Corp. in February. “When you drive around Addison County,“ Armani-Munn said in a recent interview, “you see a lot of these nondescript buildings that really wouldn’t catch your attention.“ However, behind the doors of these seemingly ordinary structures — windowless corrugated metal buildings, former garages or buildings that resemble grain storage — thrive various enterprises, including woodworkers, machinists and manufacturers.

Vermont Business Magazine Danforth Pewter is celebrating its golden anniversary, marking a significant milestone in craftsmanship and tradition. For 50 years, Danforth has been dedicated to creating exceptional, handcrafted pewter gifts, jewelry, ornaments and home décor, all meticulously made by talented artisans. To commemorate this occasion, a series of monthly giveaways will be held throughout 2025, culminating in a grand prize: a fully paid trip for two to scenic Vermont. Visitors and media are invited to Danforth Pewter’s workshop in Middlebury for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at its artistry and tradition. Danforth Pewter’s commitment to art, tradition and community continues to be a guiding force. Celebrating 50 remarkable years, the company looks forward to many more years of craftsmanship and excellence.

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 August 18, 2025. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.  Washington, VT 110 Bridge #15 Replacement Project – VT 110 between Pray Road and Poor Farm Road at Bridge #15 over an unnamed brook is closed for approximately three weeks to perform the bridge replacement. The contractor will be setting the precast concrete structure next week, weather permitting. Traffic is detoured onto VT 14 for the duration of the 23-day closure. Motorists are advised to adhere to all posted signage for detour routes.