Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Thursday, August 7, marks ten years since the untimely passing of Lara Sobel, a DCF Family Services Worker killed in the line of duty. Lara was far more than a dedicated DCF employee, and her roles extended far beyond her professional life — she was a mother, daughter, sister, wife, and friend whose warmth and dedication touched many lives. Today, ten years later, the profound impact of her life and her passing is still felt throughout DCF. Every year, DCF presents the Lara Sobel Social Justice Award, recognizing Department employees committed to empowering families and ensuring equitable access to resources. The award celebrates those who approach each interaction with individuals and families as an opportunity for growth, prioritized collaboration, and continued support for the causes important to the Vermonters they serve.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) has finalized the Long Range Management Plan (LRMP) for the Castleton Management Unit (CMU). Located six miles west of the City of Rutland, the CMU spans the towns of Castleton, Poultney, and Ira. It consists of 4,725 acres split between two Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) owned and managed for wildlife habitat and public access by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department in collaboration with the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

Vermont Business Magazine As businesses in Vermont continue to face rising costs and economic uncertainties, Efficiency Vermont is stepping up with additional support. For a limited time, business can double their custom incentive for energy efficiency projects. That means up to an additional $25,000 bonus for businesses, nonprofits, farm operations, and institutions that complete projects by November 2026. Efficiency Vermont’s custom rebates are tailored to each business’s needs, ensuring the most efficient equipment and process improvements are implemented for each project. For a limited time, businesses, nonprofits, farm operations and other organizations can double their custom incentive, for up to $25,000 in additional cash for their project.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), in collaboration with Efficiency Vermont and its Efficiency Excellence Network, is excited to announce that applications are now open for the next cohort of Tools of the Trade – Business Coaching for Energy Pros [link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com]. This nine-month, in-person business training program is designed to help Vermont weatherization and clean energy contractors strengthen and grow their businesses. The program begins Oct. 20 and runs through June 2026. Applications are due by Sept. 12, and selected businesses will be notified by Sept. 26. Participants will learn how to recruit and retain workers, manage finances, improve operations, identify and reach ideal customers, and build a strong company culture.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today announced that John W. Casella, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, will transition from Chief Executive Officer to Executive Chairman of the Board, effective January 1, 2026. Edmond R. “Ned” Coletta, currently the Company’s President, will succeed Mr. Casella as CEO and will join the Board as a Class II director effective on the same date. As Executive Chairman, Mr. Casella will continue to serve as Chair of the Board and, in collaboration with the CEO, support the Company’s strategic development, stakeholder engagement and organizational culture.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Berlin community celebrated the grand opening of Fox Run Apartments with a ribbon cutting celebration. Downstreet and Evernorth, the co-owners and co-developers, partnered to develop Fox Run Apartments to provide essential housing for 30 low- and moderate-income households in Berlin. Fox Run Apartments is a single three-story building with a mix of affordable and market rate apartments ideally situated in the heart of the Berlin Commons New Town Center. Located within walking distance to area employers, schools, and essential services, the new building provides residents with green space, community gardens, an onsite office for resident services and property management, and a community room.

Vermont Business Magazine Robert Paolini, Esq, executive director of the Vermont Bar Association, has announced his intention to retire later this year. This will actually be Bob’s second retirement from the post. After practicing law in the Montpelier-Barre area and serving two terms in the Vermont House of Representatives. Bob first became Executive Director of the VBA in February 1996. He served in that role for 20 years, “retiring” in June 2016. He moved on to his own lobbying and consulting business but was called back to the VBA as interim director in July 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Fidium is expanding its all-fiber internet network to St. Johnsbury, bringing symmetrical, multi-gig speed internet to more than 5,000 area homes and businesses. Fiber infrastructure construction is scheduled to begin as soon as August 15 with exact start dates varying by location. Fidium is also expanding in Halifax and Whitingham, bringing symmetrical, multi-gig speed internet to more than 1,600 homes and businesses. Fidium’s expansion will upgrade internet access for St. Johnsbury, offering benefits that come with fiber broadband access, including improved educational outcomes, reduced healthcare costs and enhanced economic opportunities. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Care Partners - the Designated and Specialized Service Agency Network that supports over 50,000 Vermonters with mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disability needs – strongly condemns the recent executive order on homelessness issued by the Trump Administration on July 25, 2025. This order signals a federal shift toward approaches that increase institutionalization and surveillance of unhoused people, rather than investing in community-driven solutions and proven supports. 

by Vermont Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer Ten years ago, it would have been unimaginable to think that our small state would spend an amount exceeding $800 million in the coming decade to address homelessness and that important policy decisions would be made without sufficient data or analysis, but that’s what’s happened. The human and financial toll of the status quo cannot be sustained. Policymakers need better information to solve this problem. Therefore, we urge the Scott Administration to collect and analyze more and better data to inform better discussion to this ongoing crisis.

Vermont Business Magazine A new study by admissions consulting firm, Inspira Advantage has identified Vermont as the state with the lowest percentage of students who choose to attend college within their home state. Utah is the state with the highest percentage. The study analyzed student migration data from the National Center for Education Statistics to determine which states retain the most students for higher education and which attract the most and least out-of-state students.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community College of Vermont (CCV) is proud to announce its selection as one of the community colleges invited to join Year 7 of the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI), supported by a generous $50,000 grant aimed at enhancing career readiness among students pursuing IT and cybersecurity programs. CCV will award scholarships for the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters. Students in the following certificate programs are eligible: cloud computing, IT support, cybersecurity & networking, data analytics & AI, and web development. Registration for fall is open now, and courses begin September 2.