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by Daniel Franklin and Kevin Chu Vermont’s future depends on a pivotal choice: embrace growth and abundance or succumb to stagnation and scarcity. This is not just about economics. It's about the social fabric of our communities and the well-being of Vermonters. A healthy economy merely enables affordability and ample services. One lever for inclusive economic growth is investing in recovery services for Vermonters affected by substance use disorders (SUDs). These investments aren’t just compassionate; they’re strategically aligned with the Vermont Economic Action Plan’s goal to increase labor force participation rate to 70% by 2035. To get there, we must remove the barriers that keep tens of thousands of Vermonters sidelined from the workforce, including those in recovery.

Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation From permits to politics, GBIC helps employers locate, grow, and scale their business in the greater Burlington area. As Chittenden County’s nonprofit economic development organization, our goal is to create and retain value-added jobs that strengthen the region’s economy and improve the quality of life for Vermonters. Here are upcoming events and deadlines beginning in late July 2025.

Vermont State University Human Resource issues impact every company in some way. The SHRM Essentials of Human Resources teaches the HR knowledge, skills, and competencies required for business success. Whether you are new to HR or it's one of the many roles you fulfill at your company, the Essentials of Human Resources series will sharpen your HR skills. Starts September 8, 2025 or December 1, 2025

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this afternoon, the U.S. Department of Education notified the Vermont Agency of Education that a series of federal funding allocations will be made available to Vermont public schools after initially being withheld by the Department. Together with another federal funding allocation that was released earlier this week, these allocations amount to $25 million statewide in congressionally approved funding that Vermont school districts have included in their budgets for the 2025-2026 school year.

Vermont Agency of Transportation Beginning in the morning hours of Saturday, July 26, 2025, the southbound lanes of Interstate 91 in Fairlee between Exit 16 (Bradford) and Exit 15 (Fairlee) will be closed to all traffic. This closure is expected to last for 35 days with an anticipated reopening date of August 29th. This closure will be in place 24/7. Traffic will be detoured via Exit 16, Vermont Route 25A, US Route 5, Lake Morey Road, to Exit 15, then Interstate 91 South.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) proudly joined VHV Company today to celebrate the graduation of seven apprentices from its four-year registered apprenticeship program in the sheet metal and HVAC trades. Held at VHV’s headquarters in Winooski, the ceremony highlighted the growing importance of employer-led training in Vermont’s construction industry and the promise of meaningful career pathways in the skilled trades.

Public Assets Institute Most Vermont workers’ pay has not kept pace with the growth of their output. From 2000 to 2024, productivity—total income generated in the economy per average hour of work—grew 47 percent in Vermont. But compensation—measured by the median hourly wage and benefits for production and nonsupervisory workers—rose by just 34 percent. Vermont is doing better than many other states, and in the early 2000s the growth in Vermonters’ compensation tracked more closely with the growth in productivity. But the gap widened after the Great Recession, which started at the end of 2007. U.S. productivity grew 45 percent from 2000 to 2024, a bit below Vermont’s pace. But nationally, compensation for production and nonsupervisory workers, who make up about 80 percent of the workforce, grew less than half as fast—only 21 percent.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims for the week ending July 19, 2025, remain at seasonally low levels after a spike in late June (648). New claims were 220 last week, up 1 claim from the week before and down 18 from last year at this time. Claims, which tend to be lowest in the summer, were 181 at the end of September 2024. In Vermont for the weekly report, the Service industry accounted for the most claims last week with 59%, up 4 points from the previous week. Construction was 6%, up 3 points. Manufacturing accounted for 9% of claims, down 9 points. For the week, Vermont total unemployment insurance claims were 2,774 (down 222 for the week and up 212 from this time last year). 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education recognizes the profound impact that the detention of Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria has on the Winooski School District community, as well as on refugee and immigrant communities across Vermont. The Agency remains committed to our belief that all Vermont students and all Vermont educators — regardless of race, ethnicity, or any other aspect of their background — belong in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The first positive results of mosquito testing this year have detected two viruses in the state: West Nile virus in St. Albans and Jamestown Canyon virus in Rutland. This is the first year Vermont is testing for Jamestown Canyon virus, which can cause illness in people similar to other mosquito-borne viruses. There have been no human or animal cases of mosquito-borne illnesses reported so far this season. Health officials are encouraging people in Vermont to protect themselves from mosquito bites and the potentially dangerous diseases they can spread.

Vermont Business Magazine CCTV Center for Media & Democracy will host a 24-hour telethon to highlight local programming and raise money for the CCTV Archives. The telethon will be held from Friday, July 25 at 6 p.m. until Saturday, July 26 at 6 p.m. and will broadcast live on YouTube.com/TownMeetingTV, Comcast Channel 1087, and Burlington Telecom Channel 217. The telethon will feature an online auction, local musical performances, creative acts, community-based talk shows, and other unique programming. Saturday’s programs will be held in collaboration with the annual Old North End Ramble event. Community members are encouraged to join the live studio audience at our accessible studios located at 294 North Winooski Avenue in Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine President Trump’s White House and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler have appointed Peter A. Steele as Regional Administrator for Region 1 - New England. In this role, Steele represents the Administration, ensures new policies and procedures are being implemented and oversees SBA's day-to-day operations of the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.