Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the City of Burlington held a press conference to officially unveil a 360-foot visual art installation now covering the fence around Memorial Auditorium, which showcases works from ten local artists. The installation is part of a larger initiative by the City of Burlington to address the persistent challenge of tagging on Memorial Auditorium. This initiative, led by Burlington City Arts (BCA) in coordination with the Department of Permitting & Inspections, and with $14,000 in funding from the City Council, aims to beautify the space around one of Burlington’s most treasured landmarks, which is often referred to as the “gateway” to the city.   

Vermont Business Magazine On July 16, 2025, Dr. Arthur S. Kunin, aged 99 years, passed away at his home at the Quarry Hill Residence in South Burlington, Vermont. He was born on August 11, 1925, to Lena Perelman Kunin and Elihu Kunin in Brooklyn, New York. His father, a Kosher butcher in Brooklyn, came to the United States from Belarus when he was a young boy. His mother, born in Burlington, Vermont, from a family of Jewish Lithuanian immigrants, grew up in the Old North End neighborhood known at the time as “Little Jerusalem.”

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.09 per gallon, down 1 cent per gallon from last week, down 7 cents/g from last month and down 37 cents/g from a year ago, according to AAA. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.51/g while the highest was $3.25/g, a difference of 74.0 cents per gallon. Bennington ($2.98/g) and Addison ($3.05/g) counties had the lowest average prices while Essex ($3.20/g), Franklin ($3.19/g) and Grand Isle ($3.19/g) had the highest. The national average price of gasoline is unchanged in the last week, averaging $3.16/g today.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, led Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in introducing the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada.  

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, July 16, the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington proudly hosted its 12th Annual Scholarship Presentation, celebrating the achievements of 40 exceptional Club members who are pursuing post-secondary education. More than $100,000 in scholarships were awarded through the Pomerleau Family Foundation, recognizing students for their academic accomplishments and unwavering commitment to their futures. This year’s scholarship recipients will be attending a variety of colleges and trades programs. The event not only honored their hard work and determination, it also served as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of educational support and community investment.

by Natalie Bankmann, Community News Service Brenda Gagne, chief of Abenaki Nation at Missisquoi, a state-recognized tribe, can still remember when her relatives fished and harvested along the bank of Missisquoi Bay, sinking their bodies into the lake as the morning sun warmed their backs. Now, she says, the lake is so dirty her grandchildren rarely feel the cool relief of an afternoon swim. “I don’t think we as Vermonters are taking care of the most important thing. Without Nebi, which is water to us, there is no life.” 

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak on Wednesday rescinded the January 8, 2025, Executive Order requiring Mayor’s Office review of Burlington Police Department press releases. As outlined in the Executive Order, the decision to rescind follows the Police Commission’s approval of updates to BPD Directive 30 related to Public Information, which occurred at its July 22, 2025, meeting. DD 30 was last updated in 2010.   

by Jon Humphrey, Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast A new grant-funded cost-share program created by the Vermont General Assembly in 2024 to help logging contractors that work in Vermont implement proactive water quality protection and climate adaptation practices on their harvest sites is now accepting applications. The Supporting Loggers to Comply with Acceptable Management Practices Program (SLoCAMP) is funded by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation and administered by the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC). The program supports contractors in preparing harvest sites responsibly – with long-term forest health in mind. It began accepting applications on July 21.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released a new river corridor plan for the Upper West River. Prepared by Fitzgerald Environmental, the plan focuses on the West River and tributaries upstream of the Townshend dam. It provides an in-depth analysis of the river channel’s stability and assesses the natural and human impacts causing changes to the river system. “The river corridor plan gives DEC and local communities the information they need to understand what is happening in the watershed,” said DEC Commissioner Jason Batchelder. “It also outlines how to improve our river and lake systems, making them healthier and more flood-resilient.” The plan offers 60 recommendations for on-the-ground projects to help

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today grilled Dr. Alex Adams, President Trump’s pick to serve as Assistant Secretary for Family Support at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), about the Trump Administration’s plans to eliminate funding for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP helps more than 26,000 Vermonters and 6.2 million Americans afford heat and air conditioning.   

Efficiency Vermont How can energy efficiency offers better meet your needs? What kind of support do you want from programs meant to help reduce your energy bills? Efficiency Vermont wants your help answering these questions as we plan for our next three years of energy efficiency programs.