Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Building on an early-stage pilot already demonstrating success, a collaborative workforce development initiative is expanding across Orleans and Lamoille Counties, led by Madison Perry, Oliver D’Orazio, and Mickey Wiles. The initiative focuses on creating sustainable employment opportunities through comprehensive, wraparound support. The collaboration brings together Next Chapter Workforce Development Services L3C, High Top Cleaning Services LLC, and regional workforce leaders to build systems that not only connect individuals to jobs, but support them in maintaining long-term, meaningful employment. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA), the world’s largest captive insurance trade association, today opened registration for VCIA 26, the 41st VCIA Annual Conference, to be held August 11–13, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in South Burlington, Vermont. VCIA 26 marks the first annual conference under the leadership of new VCIA President Ian Davis and introduces a new evergreen conference logo and tagline –– “Where the Captive World Comes Together”  –– reflecting the convergence of the captive industry, the momentum of the VCIA community,  and Vermont’s continued rise as the world’s leading domicile.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Buildings and General Services will be auctioning a large assortment of State vehicles and equipment to the public beginning at 10 AM on Saturday, May 9, 2026. This in-person physical auction of State vehicles and equipment is expected to be very well attended. A major collection of state vehicles and equipment will be auctioned off to the highest bidder including dump trucks, plow trucks, loaders, pick-up trucks, vans, fleet passenger vehicles, boats, trailers, mowers and trimmers, tools, tires, miscellaneous parts and more. In addition to the auction, there will be a sales booth set up from 8 AM – 10 AM for the surplus “airport sharps."

Vermont Business Magazine A new round of funding and support will soon be available to help a third cohort of small Vermont towns breathe new life into the historic buildings and shared spaces at the heart of their communities. The Village Trust Initiative (VTI) — a partnership of Preservation Trust of Vermont, Vermont Council on Rural Development and Vermont Community Foundation — is a multi-year program that is currently supporting 12 small towns across Vermont in creating or bolstering a community focused local non-profit organization to advance a transformational redevelopment project in their village.

Vermont Business Magazine Last week, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) voted against a partisan Farm Bill that fails to meet the needs of rural communities and working families. Rep. Balint offered two amendments related to affordable housing and both were rejected by House Republicans.  Every five years, Congress reauthorizes the Farm Bill, which impacts both farmers and families across the country. But the bill passed by House Republicans last week locks in cuts to SNAP that take food assistance away from millions, while failing to deliver meaningful relief for small and midsize farmers facing rising costs. It also cuts conservation funding and undermines investments in rural communities. 

The Vermont State Police is investigating the discovery of human remains in the Green Mountain National Forest. The identity of the deceased person and the circumstances surrounding the death are unknown at this time. The investigation began at about 4 p.m. April 25, 2026, when hikers traveling through the forest in the town of Mt. Tabor located a pair of aged and partly buried hiking boots in a boggy area. What appeared to be human foot bones were found inside the boots. The hikers contacted the Vermont State Police, who responded and conducted a search of the area without locating anything further. The remains were secured and transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for analysis, which confirmed the remains were human.

Vermont Business Magazine rk MILES, a fourth‑generation, family‑owned lumber and building materials company based in Manchester Center, Vermont, has acquired Varney & Smith Lumber Company, a long‑standing lumberyard and building materials supplier located in Lisbon, New Hampshire. Varney & Smith Lumber has served the greater Lisbon area for decades and has built a strong reputation for quality materials, dependable service, and strong relationships with local builders and contractors.

Vermont Business Magazine DeWolfe Engineering Associates, a structural and civil engineering firm located in Montpelier, has joined the Vermont-based multidisciplinary consulting firm, DuBois & King, Inc. DeWolfe president and owner Chris Temple, P.E., will continue to lead DeWolfe Engineering, now as a division of D&K. DeWolfe, established in 1989, will continue to provide engineering services in the areas of structural (for new construction, additions, or rehabilitation and restoration projects) and site engineering (grading, runoff hydraulics, storm drainage, water supply, sanitary systems, stream hydraulics, and highway design). DeWolfe’s clients can expect continuity of services from the same team, which will remain in place.

Vermont Business Magazine The United Counseling Service (UCS) Board of Directors announced today a new partnership with Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (HCRS), the community mental health and developmental services agency serving Windham and Windsor counties, to provide leadership support and operational guidance during a period of transition for the organization. In recent months, UCS has been focused on strengthening operations and enhancing service delivery to best meet the needs of the community. Julie Pagliccia, the agency’s Director of Quality and Performance Improvement, stepped forward on April 3 to serve as Interim CEO, following the departure of the agency’s previous CEO.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) today announced nearly $1.75 million in awards for the 2027 Vermont Better Roads Program to support municipal road projects that improve water quality and result in maintenance cost savings. The grant funds totaling $1,781,700 are provided by AOT in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and are sourced from state transportation funds and the State’s Clean Water Fund. The Vermont Better Roads Program promotes the use of erosion control and maintenance techniques that save money while protecting and enhancing water quality around the State.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has reported have COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at a very low level and fell again last week. They are at a similar level to the negligible level seen last summer. There were no measles cases after one reported in Vermont in February in Washington County and the national outbreak is over. Meanwhile, RSV, Influenza B and Norovirus remained elevated at most of the Vermont wastewater testing sites, as they are across the US.

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington has completed a major milestone in the Overdose Prevention Center (OPC) project: the Service Assessment required under the Operating Guidelines. This assessment was conducted to inform the planning and design of an Overdose Prevention Center in Burlington, in alignment with state guidelines. It helps identify the right services, design, location, and potential impacts of the OPC.