Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In June, members of the volunteer Rutland Area Medical Community Scholarship Committee awarded five $3,500 scholarships to local students pursuing a career in healthcare. The scholarship program has been made possible through the generosity of Rutland area physicians, retired physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Now in its ninth year, the Rutland Area Medical Community scholarship is intended to stimulate the region’s best and brightest students and aimed at creating opportunities that empower recipients to achieve excellence in education. Eligible candidates include high school seniors, local college students, and Rutland area medical community employees who are working toward furthering their goal of a career in healthcare.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remain under 5 cases statewide, after a spike last winter. Overall COVID trends are declining in Vermont and across the US. The Vermont COVID-19 pandemic death total stands at 1,300 as of July 5, 2025, with 1 reported death from the previous week (the most recent data available from the CDC). WHO also reported that global COVID-19 deaths keep declining. The VDH is no longer reporting COVID fatalities and cases in Vermont. Wastewater testing indicates that COVID-19 virus levels in Vermont also fell to very low levels after they had spiked in January. Concentrations are low/very low at South Burlington, Burlington, Essex Junction, Montpelier, St. Albans, and Ludlow. The Middlebury site shows moderate concentrations.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) will submit a Statement for the Congressional Record blasting Senate Republicans for attempting to advance President Trump’s rescission request, which claws back congressionally appropriated funding, and his FY26 budget, which also threatens funding for HIV/AIDS and other life-saving global health programs. In his statement, Senator Welch warns that the White House’s drastic cuts in funding to sustain the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and fulfill the United States’ pledges to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria will hurt the world’s most vulnerable. Senator Welch says that if Congress advances these cuts, the legislative body will share responsibility for sabotaging one of the great, bipartisan public health achievements of this century.  

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for unlawfully freezing an estimated $26 million in federal funding meant for Vermont schools. Nationwide, $6.8 billion in federal funding has been frozen just weeks before the start of the school year. This funding supports six longstanding programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education, and, without it, school districts—particularly those serving high-need student populations—will be impeded from retaining key staff, maintaining high-quality educational offerings, and providing mentorship and training programs to improve instructional capacity. 

Vermont Business Magazine Building Bright Futures (BBF) has announced a new round of grant recipients for the Vermont Early Childhood Fund (VECF), totaling $1.9 million in awards for new projects and an additional $1 million in funding to existing grantees focused on Vermont children and families. Thanks to these grants, awardees in every region of Vermont will be able to pursue important and innovative projects. The VECF Opportunity Grant ($10,000 to $80,000) has the goal of supporting easy-to-achieve solutions with direct results. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is issuing an air quality alert for north and central Vermont for Tuesday, July 15. Wildfire smoke from Canada is expected to elevate concentrations of fine particles to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (code orange) on the Air Quality Index especially in northwest Vermont. “Moderate” (code yellow) conditions on the Air Quality Index are expected for southern Vermont. The air quality forecast will be updated on Tuesday afternoon for conditions expected on Wednesday. 

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (Nasdaq: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company, today announced that it has signed an agreement for the acquisition of the assets of Mountain State Waste. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter pending regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed. Mountain State Waste provides residential, commercial, and industrial waste collection services across North Central and Southwestern West Virginia and parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. The acquisition includes multiple hauling operations and a transfer station, providing Casella with adjacent geographic expansion into the franchise markets of West Virginia and opening new areas for future growth. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that Brent and Carol Lindstrom, owners of a property in Tunbridge, were fined $11,250 for violations of the Vermont Salvage Yard Rule, Solid Waste Management Rules, and Hazardous Waste Management Regulations. DEC’s Waste Management and Prevention Division oversees the Salvage Yard Rule, Solid Waste Management Rules, and Vermont Hazardous Waste Management Regulations, which serve to protect human health and the environment by overseeing the use, treatment, and handling of hazardous and solid wastes. Salvage yards serve valuable functions by recycling and repurposing old vehicle parts but also generate hazardous materials that have the potential to contaminate soils, groundwater, and drinking water. 

Vermont Business Magazine While many cannabis startups chase West Coast venture capital, CannaPlanners has taken a decidedly Vermont approach by staying local, bootstrapping its growth, and leaning into the state's strong community of entrepreneurs. Today, the Burlington-based creative agency is helping over 250 cannabis brands stand out in one of the country’s most complex and competitive industries. Founded by Will Read, a Burlington local and former touring musician, CannaPlanners got its start in 2016 by designing logos and websites for dispensaries in Vermont’s early medical cannabis market. Since then, the company has grown into a national leader in cannabis branding with a full-service team of 27 employees. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.08 per gallon, down 3.3 cents per gallon from last week's $3.11/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.47/g while the highest was $3.37/g, a difference of 90.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 2.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.11/g today.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) program from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets financially supports over 200 Vermont farmers every year to install conservation practices, such as cover cropping and manure injection. The FAP Program is relatively flexible, easy to access, and provides flat per-acre payments to support the cost of conservation practices. Cover crops that are drilled or incorporated are paid at $45/acre, while manure injection and cover crops that are broadcasted or interseeded are each paid at $30/acre. Payments are capped at $10,000 per calendar year per farm.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington just got its wings back. On Friday, July 11, Wings Over Burlington officially reopened at 150 Dorset Street under new ownership, marking a fresh chapter built on quality, consistency, and community connection. The grand reopening featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m., welcoming local VIPs, community leaders, including South Burlington City Councilor & Chair Tim Barrit and South Burlington Representative Emilie Krasnow, and fans eager to taste the difference. As part of its commitment to giving back, Wings Over Burlington dropped off FREE meals to members of the South Burlington Police Department and the Burlington Fire Department, who were celebrating retiring officers alongside their families.