Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has been once again recognized as one of the top 50 Property and Casualty insurers in the United States by Ward Group, an Aon Hewitt company, and one of the industry’s most respected benchmarking organizations. This is the 17th year in a row that the Vermont-based insurer has received the designation. Annually, Ward Group identifies the industry’s top insurance companies through a comprehensive financial analysis of approximately 3,000 U.S. property and casualty insurers. The “Ward’s 50” recognizes insurers for their consistency, safety and outstanding financial performance over a five year period. 

Vermont Business Magazine After three consecutive years of multimillion-dollar operating deficits driven by rising health care costs and rising program costs, Howard Center today announced a strategic realignment of services to address ongoing financial challenges and protect its ability to deliver critical services across the region. Adjustments to programs and services will begin in September and continue through the end of the calendar year. Changes include a reduction of 13 supportive housing beds and closure of day programming at Westview House. All of which result in the elimination of 27 filled positions and 30 vacant positions - 13 of the positions are administrative. As a direct services organization, more than 90% of Howard Center’s budget is dedicated to staff salaries and benefits. 

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group is thrilled to announce the Holly and Bob Miller Charitable Fund, a donor advised fund at the Vermont Community Foundation, will match every dollar that the National Life Group Do Good Fest® raises for the Vermont Foodbank, doubling up to $100,000. Born out of the company’s “Do good, Be good and Make good” values, Do Good Fest has brought national and local acts to the back lawn of its Montpelier campus since 2014 and has raised over $2 million to support its communities.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community College of Vermont (CCV) will offer a new project management certificate beginning in the fall 2025 semester. The new certificate is one of the College’s 27 certificate programs designed to provide a comprehensive offering of high-value credentials that prepare students for the workplace or further education. This certificate can be completed in just one year and is one of 33 degree and certificate programs that can be completed fully online. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Coberlin Brownell, 54, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count of Possession of Child Pornography (now known as child sexual abuse material). The Court, Judge John Pacht presiding, sentenced Brownell to one to two years in jail, all suspended, and a two-year term of probation with conditions that require completion of sex offender programming, limit his contact with children, and monitor his access to the internet. If Brownell violates the terms of his probation, he faces up to two years in jail. Brownell is also required to register as a sex offender for 10 years after his successful completion of probation. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remain close to zero 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 1,299 as of June 28, 2025, with 1 reported death from the previous week (the most recent data available from the CDC). Vermont has the second lowest state fatality rate in the US (148.3 per 100K; Hawaii 113.6/100K). Mississippi (465.9/100K) and Oklahoma (461.3/100K) have the highest rates. The US average is 308.1/100K (CDC data). 

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Medical Center has graduated the first sponsored cohort of Registered Nurses (RNs) from its innovative internal Nursing Pathway Program. These graduates, who began their journeys as Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs) at UVM Medical Center, earned their academic credentials in May 2025 and are now licensed as RNs and Practical Nurses (LPNs), marking a significant milestone in Vermont’s healthcare workforce development. The graduating cohort includes seven RNs and eight LPNs. This pipeline program is a strategic response to Vermont’s nursing shortage and University of Vermont Health Network’s commitment to strengthening internal career pathways. By investing in existing staff, UVM Medical Center reduces reliance on expensive traveling nurses and fosters a local, stable, community-connected nursing workforce.

Vermont State Police A man shot by a Vermont State Police trooper Monday afternoon in Putney has died. The shooting occurred at about 4:30 p.m. at the Putney Landing Apartments at 23 Neumann Lane, where police had responded earlier in the day after receiving a complaint from an individual who was concerned about how a neighbor was acting. VSP troopers obtained a search warrant and an arrest warrant for the man living at the apartment in question. The circumstances of the shooting remain under active investigation. The man was pronounced deceased on scene. The trooper who fired his service weapon was uninjured.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Speaker of the House, Representative Jill Krowinski, announced her appointments to the School District Redistricting Task Force which was created in H.454 (Act 73) of 2025. The legislation gave the Speaker authority to appoint three members of the House, one former superintendent, and one former school business manager or school board member. The Senate appointments were named yesterday.

Vermont Business Magazine From July 2023 to July 2024, Vermont experienced multiple flooding events with enough damage to secure five federal disaster declarations. Collectively, these floods spanned every one of Vermont’s 14 counties and more than 150 cities, towns and villages, causing well over a billion dollars in damage. With the two biggest storms hitting the state on the exact same dates (July 10-11) in both 2023 and 2024, Governor Phil Scott is taking this week to reflect on the impact, the progress, and the work left to do to recover, rebuild and increase resiliency. Last week Senator Peter Welch introduced legislation to reform FEMA.

Vermont Business Magazine Cathedral Square has been awarded a grant for $125,000 from the Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI) to enhance the quality and availability of dementia-specific respite care for people living with dementia and their caregivers in Chittenden County. Cathedral Square is one of 41 recipients chosen to receive grant funding from more than 200 applicants across the country. Funds will be used to pilot a new concept of providing respite care in Cathedral Square’s Memory Care at Allen Brook (MCAB) community in Williston to help caregivers get a break or respite from caring for their loved ones.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to Vermont’s growing mental health crisis and a critical shortage of trained professionals—especially in rural communities—the University of Vermont (UVM) has received a $1.2 million federal grant to expand and enhance its clinical psychology doctoral training program. Awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the grant—titled VT HEALS—will support UVM’s nationally accredited clinical psychology Ph.D. program over the next three years. The funding will bolster training in integrated care, substance use treatment, and trauma-informed approaches, equipping future psychologists to meet the state’s most urgent mental health needs.