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Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.04 per gallon, up 1.6 cents per gallon from last week's $3.02/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.59/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 70.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 1.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.08/g today. "With Israel and Iran trading attacks, oil prices have surged to multi-month highs—setting the stage for additional price hikes at gas pumps across the country."

Vermont Business Magazine Over 1,300 job seekers across Vermont connected directly with local employers during the Department of Labor’s Spring Job Fest Series, which concluded in Vergennes on June 5. The Spring Job Fest Series featured events in communities across the state, including Newport, Middlebury, Rutland, Lyndon Center, Bennington, White River Junction, and Vergennes. Attendees had the chance to meet with employers, participate in on-the-spot interviews, and connect with valuable career resources.  

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Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets You may live near a Vermont dairy farm or know a dairy farmer. You may enjoy Vermont dairy every day…a cheeseburger, butter on your pancakes, a Vermont maple creemee, or a morning yogurt with granola. There are so many ways to enjoy dairy, and when you make it Vermont dairy, you are joining an ever-growing fan base that knows what a glass of quality Vermont whole milk brings to the table. And now we know what our state’s dairy industry brings to all of us. Not only has it been part of our state’s culture and heritage for a century, a wonderful steward of our lands and forests, it is also a major contributor to our state’s economy. Our new report, ‘Vermont Dairy Delivers’, is a celebration of everything Vermont dairy, and timed perfectly for National Dairy Month in June. Here’s a hint: the annual contribution of Vermont dairy to the state economy has doubled in the last ten years! 

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Things are hopping in Rutland County these days. From one side of the county to the other, its communities are buzzing with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Here are three recent examples: Bernie Carr, executive director at the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce, marvels at Brandon’s revitalized downtown. Driving home on a recent Saturday afternoon, he stops at a new intersection and is amazed by the number of people enjoying the area after years of construction and the pandemic. “I’m looking around and seeing people scurry here and there, and the parking spaces are full, and I’m like, ’We’re finally here!’,“ Carr says. Vermont State University President Dave Bergh is focused on the governor. While loading up his car for a trip to Castleton for the Bring Back the Trades Expo, he apologizes to a reporter for having to rush. “I think I’m introducing the governor, which is one reason I can’t be late,“ Bergh explains.

VermontBiz From storefronts to Instagram feeds, a polished visual identity can mean the difference between being passed over or picked first. To find out which independent businesses across the U.S. are nailing their branding, Piktochart surveyed 3,013 consumers and compiled a list of standout examples in every state.

These small businesses aren’t just selling cookies, coffee, or candles - they’re selling an experience, a vibe, and a visual story. Whether it’s retro charm, island cool, or urban elegance, these brands know exactly who they are and how to show it.

VermontBiz This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.    

Interstates:  

I-89 Colchester – Improvements are underway at the Exit 17 interchange. The intersection of U.S. 2 and U.S. 7 will have lane closures with alternating one-way traffic controlled by flaggers from Sunday through Friday between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. U.S. 2 between the I-89 Exit 17 southbound ramps and U.S. 7 will have lane reductions from Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., with potential for alternating one-way traffic controlled by flaggers between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Travel lanes on U.S. 2 are shifted south between Jasper Mine Road and U.S. 7. 

Vermont Business Magazine As lawmakers and the governor continue to insist on “doing something” about education before the end of next week, the state’s largest union will begin training educators to become elected officials. “Nobody knows the needs of students and those who work in our schools better than my fellow educators,” said Don Tinney, a high school English teacher who serves as the president of the 13,000-member Vermont-NEA. “We have seen that clearly this year, as four educators-turned-lawmakers are key players as the debate over the governor’s plans for public schools rages on.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging proudly announces the 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in the City of Burlington. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 2PM – 10PM on Church Street and in City Hall Park. The community is invited to join in honoring the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrating the rich cultural heritage and contributions of our Black community. As threats against equity and inclusion initiatives continue to rise across the nation, this event serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing struggles and achievements in the fight for racial justice. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Texas were informed of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Vermont Department of Economic Development The Woodlands Campus Child Center in Randolph is set to become Vermont’s largest childcare center. The project officially broke ground this week and once complete, the new center will serve 88 children and significantly expand access to childcare in Orange County. The project funding sources include $1 million from the Community Recovery and Revitalization Program and a total of $1.8 million of Northern Border Regional Commission awards. 

Vermont Business Magazine Business and nonprofit leaders from across Southern Vermont came together on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, for the 7th annual B2B Golf Classic, hosted by the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce and the Manchester Business Association (MBA). Held at the scenic Mount Anthony Country Club, the day offered a dynamic blend of golf, networking, and community building — all under blue skies and against the Green Mountain backdrop.

Vermont Business Magazine The Switchback Beer Garden is announcing the official expansion of its on-site restaurant menu with smoked specialties and new name, the Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse. The name change reflects the restaurant’s new culinary direction, focused on house-smoked meats and a broadened menu of Southern-inspired offerings alongside Switchback’s lineup of craft beer. The updated menu highlights their house-smoked specialties, including brisket, pulled pork, and St. Louis ribs, all prepared in-house and served with sides like maple cornbread, creamy broccoli salad, braised collard greens, and Cabot mac and cheese.