Current News

Public Assets Institute Most Vermont counties saw an increase in jobs between 2023 and 2024, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But several were still struggling to make up the losses they suffered during the COVID pandemic. Ten of Vermont’s 14 counties added jobs last year; eight still had fewer jobs than in 2019. Rutland faced the largest gap. Even after adding 172 jobs in 2024, it had nearly 1,500 fewer jobs than before COVID. Windham County added the most jobs last year (703), followed by Washington County (484), and Caledonia County (142) was fourth after Rutland.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations increased slightly but are still close to zero statewide, after a spike during the winter. Wastewater testing indicates that COVID-19 virus levels also fell to very low levels after they had spiked in January, with the exception of the Montpelier site, which still shows a moderate level in test results. Most other pathogens in wastewater also show low indications, with the exception of the cold-like HMPV and the Norovirus, which is in the “High” category in the Montpelier test site, and in the “Medium” category in Essex Junction and South Burlington. The Vermont COVID-19 pandemic death total stands at 1,296 as of June 14, 2025, with 0 reported death from the previous week.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Burlington-area organizers launched Building Burlington’s Future (BBF), a new city-wide grassroots organization aimed at improving community health and safety, affordability, and housing, and supporting the local economy. BBF will focus on policy change and grassroots advocacy at the city level. The organization is made up of former city leaders, local employers, advocates, and activists. At a launch-day event held at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in downtown Burlington, BBF organizers outlined the organization’s vision to build a healthier, safer, and more inclusive city. BBF’s new executive director, Sam Donnelly, a long-time city activist, spoke about the importance and urgency of working beyond political divides to give residents the tools and resources they need to make their voice heard and have an impact across the city. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced an additional $20 million is available for public investment in housing and economic development through his office’s 10% in VT program. In April 2023, Treasurer Pieciak announced a dramatic expansion of the 10% in VT program and has since invested over $100 million in housing, economic development, and municipal flood recovery. $84 million has been invested to support housing and economic development, helping leverage an additional $345 million in private & public capital to support nearly 1,300 units of housing and over 100 permanent new jobs. Additionally, $20 million has been invested help 24 municipalities recover from the 2023 and 2024 summer flooding through Bond Bank’s Municipal Climate Recovery Fund.     

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for May was 2.6%. This reflects no change from April's revised estimate, and from December 2024, when it was 2.5%. However, the Labor Force and Employment have been losing ground slightly every month this year. Over the last two years, the Labor Force peaked at 357,467 in January 2025, as did the Labor Force at 348,340. The high point in Unemployment was just in April. Vermont has the third lowest jobless rate in the nation, behind South (1.8%) and North Dakota (2.5%). Nevada continues to have the highest rate, at 5.5%. The comparable United States rate in May was 4.2 percent, no change from the revised April estimate. 

Vermont Business Magazine With dangerous levels of heat and humidity entering their second day in Vermont and New York’s North Country, University of Vermont Health Network is urging residents to remain aware of the elevated risk of heat stroke and take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones. The Champlain Valley is expected to see the biggest impacts, according to the National Weather Service’s Burlington Forecast Office, with dangerously hot conditions and heat index values up to 106 degrees possible this afternoon in cities including Burlington, Ticonderoga, Middlebury, Plattsburgh, St. Albans and more. 

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Electric Department (BED) issued a peak alert for today, Tuesday, June 24, as part of its Defeat the Peak program launched during summer 2017, encouraging members of the Burlington community to reduce their energy usage from 5:00pm to 8:00pm today. The purpose of the Defeat the Peak program is to reduce our energy costs by reducing usage during a peak event. Burlingtonians can lend a hand by taking the following steps on what is projected to be an unusually hot summer day.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) graduated 414 nurses into the health care workforce this year. Consistent with its ongoing, multi-year nursing program expansion, the university enrolled 713 nursing students this academic year, 90% of whom are Vermont residents hailing from every county in the state. This year, approximately 92% of VTSU’s nursing graduates tested for licensure in Vermont, with outstanding NCLEX pass rates, directly contributing to their local communities and addressing the state’s critical shortage of licensed nurses.

Vermont Business Magazine Electronic cigarettes have been sold in the U.S. for two decades, but their use by young adults has increased dramatically during the last few years. Many people aged 18-29 use e-cigarettes, also called vaping, in addition to smoking traditional cigarettes. This dual tobacco use changes how people use nicotine in ways that could affect long-term risks for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other tobacco-related harm. Despite rising dual use of smoking and vaping, there has been a notable lack of research on smoking cessation treatments for young adults.

by Mike Del Trecco, CEO, VAHHS Happy Summer. It’s been a while since I wrote a column, but now feels like the right time for an update and restatement of how Vermont’s system of hospitals is approaching the challenges we face in health care in our rural state. I’ll cut right to it and share that the work is difficult, necessary and ripe with opportunity to better serve all of you and is why we are optimistic about the work ahead. Vermont’s hospitals are navigating one of the most challenging and transformational periods in modern health care – certainly in my career. One powerful example of this is Copley Hospital’s decision to close its birthing center after careful analysis. That announcement was met with deep emotion—disappointment, frustration, even anger—in the community. 

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Health Network continues to make progress in recruiting dedicated health care professionals committed to delivering high-quality care across the region. Over the last several months, the health system has welcomed 18 new providers across a range of specialties to provide care as close to home as possible. At a time when the demand for health care providers continues to outpace supply nationally, especially in rural communities, UVM Health Network has made notable progress hiring physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs). APPs, health care professionals who have completed advanced training allowing them to provide a wide range of medical services, play a critical role in expanding access to quality care throughout the health care system.

Vermont Business Magazine Be it peanuts, bee stings, shellfish, or other triggers, many families live with the day-to-day risk that their child might experience a sudden and scary allergic reaction. In fact, pediatric emergency department visits in the United States to treat acute allergic reactions more than tripled from 2008 to 2016. But once they arrive at the hospital, many children are staying much longer than necessary, according to a study involving more than 5,000 children conducted at 31 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. Findings were published June 10, 2025, in Lancet: Child and Adolescent Health.