Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Last night, at a Special City Council Meeting, the Burlington City Council unanimously approved the $107.1 million FY26 budget. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak and CAO Katherine Schad presented a balanced budget with a continued commitment to affordability, shrinking the structural budget gap, responsible fiscal stewardship, and strategic investments in community safety and housing. There are various factors that contributed to this year’s $9.8M gap, such as the end of one-time, COVID-related federal funding, continued rise of personnel and operation costs due to a City government that has been growing steadily over the last ten years, cost of living adjustments, increased healthcare premiums, and inflation. The City has also experienced less-than-projected gross receipts revenues, tax revenue not increasing despite assed values increasing during reappraisals, and spending restrictions for revenue generated from 14 splinter taxes.   

Vermont Business Magazine Joan Goldstein and Cassie Polhemus were recognized by their peers at the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation (GBIC) annual meeting for their exceptional work to improve the economic well-being of Vermonters and their communities. Goldstein, who served Vermont as Commissioner of Economic Development for over a decade and is the incoming CEO of the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), received the C. Harry Behney Lifetime Economic Development Achievement Award. Polhemus, who is stepping down as CEO of VEDA, was honored for a career dedicated to advancing educational and economic opportunity in Vermont, receiving the Robert A. Skiff Community Improvement Award.

Vermont Business Magazine ECFiber, the internet service provider (ISP) created in 2008 by a grass-roots effort to solve the problem of broadband availability in rural Vermont, has announced that its new operator, the Vermont ISP Operating Company (VISPO), has named Gopi Sundaram as Chief Executive Officer. Sundaram, a graduate of Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, has had a long career in the ISP industry, notably as Managing Director with the Tetrad McCourt consortium, the investor group which led Ireland’s National Broadband Plan. He currently is a managing partner at Radius Capital Partners, a firm specializing in rural broadband investments. 

Vermont Business Magazine Dairy processors can now apply for the Dairy Processor Modernization Grant. This $1 million investment aims to strengthen Northeast processing capabilities and respond to consumer demand for regional dairy products.  Offered through the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), this funding will allow dairy processors to purchase specialized equipment to expand capacity, boost efficiency, lower energy consumption, improve existing products, and create new, high-value dairy products for the region. As key contributors to the local and regional food supply, dairy processors handle everything from pasteurizing milk for sale to producing cheese, yogurt, butter, and other dairy products. By modernizing their processing capabilities, they help build a more resilient dairy sector. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) proudly announces RioNadi as the peer-selected winner of its DeltaClimeVT Energy 2025 business accelerator, following a four-month intensive program designed to fast-track energy innovation in Vermont. In addition to the $25,000 award, RioNadi secured a pilot project with Burlington Electric Department (BED) to test its electric vehicle monitoring and payment system technologies. Twelve entrepreneurs from the six early-stage energy companies across the U.S. graduated from the Energy 2025 during a June 12 ceremony at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington. Each team pitched to a room of advisors, sponsors, and mentors, outlining their plans to scale their companies and support Vermont’s energy goals.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Brendan Sullivan, 29, of Burlington, Vermont, was arraigned yesterday on 10 felony counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials and one count of Luring. The charges brought against Sullivan are the result of a criminal investigation, including the execution of search warrants conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), which included personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Burlington Police Department.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Grace Gamble (charged as Peter Gamble), 29, of Montpelier, Vermont, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.  The Court, Judge Michael J. Harris presiding, sentenced Gamble to up to five years in prison, all suspended under a 10-year term of probation with conditions that mandate completion of sex offender programming, limit Gamble’s contact with children and restrict her access to the internet. If Gamble violates the terms of probation, she faces up to five years in prison. Gamble is also required to register as a sex offender until 10 years after the completion of the sentence.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame has announced the 2025 Inductees. With over 20 years of history and over 100 inductees, the Ag Hall of Fame is a Vermont Agricultural honored tradition among Vermont farmers and growers, service providers, and dedicated employees. Over the last few years the Hall of Fame categories have been expanded to include an Emerging Leader under the age of 40, an Ag Innovator and up to three inductees in the Lifetime Achievement category. The thoughtful reflection of each nomination makes for competitive judging each year. Thank you to those that submitted a nomination this year and the Ag Hall of Fame looks forward to more quality nominations in 2026. The 2025 inductees will be celebrated during the Champlain Valley Fair later this summer.

Vermont Business Magazine Stowe Electric Department has launched the Connected Homes Program, a new initiative designed to help residential customers better manage their energy use while supporting a more reliable and sustainable electric grid. Connected Homes is a demand response flexible load management program that works with Wi-Fi-connected devices in the home, including compatible smart thermostats, home batteries, heat pump water heaters, and mini-split controllers. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Wood Works Council (VWWC) is proud to announce the launch of its new Internship Program, a hands-on initiative designed to connect emerging woodworkers with professional makers, manufacturers, and artisans across the state. This program aims to strengthen Vermont’s wood economy by offering real-world experience in local shops to students, career changers, and anyone curious about working with wood. Internships are hosted by Vermont-based woodworking businesses and tailored to each shop’s unique style—whether it’s furniture, cabinetry, millwork, or modern manufacturing. The goal is to introduce the next generation of craftspeople to the skills, tools, and culture that define Vermont’s wood products industry.

by Georgie Rubens As the director of the Burlington Farmers Market I am deeply concerned about what’s happening in Congress right now and the potential to gut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, two of the most essential programs that help people put food on the table and get the healthcare they need. At our farmers market, I see every week how these programs support both the dignity and health of our neighbors, and  the stability of our local economy. Programs like 3SquaresVT (Vermont’s SNAP program) and Crop Cash (Vermont’s SNAP incentive) allow customers to stretch their food dollars and buy fresh, local produce. Over the last two summers, more than $80,000 of food benefits were spent at the market. When families can afford to shop here, farmers earn income. SNAP isn’t just a nutrition program, it’s an economic engine that creates wins for all and creates inclusive community spaces.

by Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer In November 2021 we issued a report laying out a strategy to save substantial taxpayer money by implementing something called “reference-based pricing” for the State employee health care plan. Each year since, we have testified before legislative committees to encourage them to consider this strategy which would save millions annually and spur cost-saving health care reform more broadly. The most comprehensive analysis completed to date found that the state employee health care plan would have saved $48 million in 2022 alone using the least aggressive reference-based pricing approach.