Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims for the week ending May 24, 2025, were back over 300, after falling to their lowest number this year the week before. There had been the usual end-of-ski-season spike in April. New claims this week were 371, up 86 claims from the week before and are 70 more than last year at this time. The end of the winter tourism season tends to increase claims, just as they do after holidays. Claims, which are lowest in the summer, were 181 at the end of September 2024. In Vermont for the weekly report, the Service industry accounted for the most claims last week with 61%, down 1 point from the previous week. Construction was 3%, down 3 points, as that industry ramps up. Manufacturing accounted for 26% of claims, up 10 points. 

Vermont Business Magazine Essential Vermont Malt Whiskey, part of the Switchback Spirits lineup from Switchback Brewing Co., has been awarded a Gold Medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), the most prestigious and influential competition in the global spirits industry. Now in its 25th year, the 2025 SFWSC drew over 5,000 entries from around the world, making it one of the largest and most competitive editions to date. The results were officially announced, celebrating products that exemplify excellence, quality, and distinction. Judges praised Essential Vermont Malt Whiskey.

Vermont Business Magazine Over 300 Southern Vermont community and business leaders, representing 160 different organizations from across the state and region, joined hosts Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) and Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC) at Mount Snow in Dover, VT, on May 20 for the 8th annual Southern VT Economy Summit. The theme of this year’s Summit, “Adapt and Thrive” was centered around the findings of the 2024 SoVermont Zone Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), which stresses the need for our region to foster a shared culture of adaptation in the face of rapid economic, technological, and environmental change. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced the first recipient of the Vermont Attorney General’s Award for Academic Excellence in Domestic Violence Response at the Vermont Police Academy Graduation in Pittsford, Vermont. Trooper Christopher Santic of the Vermont State Police earned the award for having achieved the highest score in the Police Academy’s Domestic Violence course.

Vermont Business Magazine In a win for Vermont water quality, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit (DC Circuit Court) has rejected the hydropower dam company Morrisville Water & Light’s (MWL) challenge in which MWL argued that the Agency of Natural Resources violated a provision of the federal Clean Water Act in their relicensing of the Lamoille River Basin Project. This major decision strongly clarifies that when a utility voluntarily agrees that more time is needed to address issues related to Water Quality (401 Certificate) the state is not intentionally delaying a decision, and the utility can no longer use this argument to stymie the hydropower dam relicensing process.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Todd Hoyte, 54, of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, with making interstate threats and stalking. Hoyte was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on April 1, 2025, in Saint Thomas. Hoyte initially appeared in federal court in the U.S. Virgin Islands where he was ordered detained. Hoyte left numerous voicemails for Victim-1, who worked in Vermont. The voicemails which were harassing, threatening, and intimidating, were made from outside of Vermont. Hoyte left the voicemails on Victim-1’s work phone, Victim-1’s voicemail box, and the voicemail box of the Vermont Department of Public Service. The voicemails included threats to injure Victim-1. 

Vermont Business Magazine Breeze Airways, the premium leisure carrier connecting underserved cities across the U.S., today debuted new nonstop seasonal service from Leahy Burlington International Airport BTV to Charleston, S.C. with fares starting from $59 one-way. The new route will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays. Breeze began flying in Burlington in February 2024 and has since grown to five nonstop routes to popular destinations like Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, and Tampa. 

Vermont Business Magazine A testament to its global impact in environmental law and policy, Vermont Law and Graduate School has received its largest-ever donation — $10 million. An anonymous international foundation dedicated to solving environmental challenges will award VLGS this impactful gift over a three-year period to reinforce and grow the school’s expertise in agriculture and food systems and animal protection policy. In addition, the funding will advance a new aquaculture project. With a focus on research and advocacy, this endeavor aims to examine and tackle the environmental implications of aquaculture.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) President Dr. David Bergh has announced his intention to retire at the end of the next academic year and the conclusion of his current contract on June 30, 2026. His retirement will mark the culmination of a nearly 30-year career in higher education, including over two decades of dedicated service to the Vermont State Colleges System. Bergh took the helm of Vermont State University (VTSU) as interim president following the planned departure of current chief executive and former Vermont Agency of Human Services Secretary Michael K Smith in September 2023. Smith himself was thrust into service after Parwinder Grewal tendered his resignation and left in April 2023 before the new university formally began operating on July 1, 2023. Whoever follows Bergh will be the fourth VTSU leader in just over three years.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces a new grant made possible through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation. With total funding of $1,750,000, the Organic Dairy Product Promotion (ODPP) Grant will make it easier for youth-based centers to serve regionally produced USDA-certified organic dairy products to students across the Northeast.  

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The United States Court of International Trade ruled Wednesday that the Trump Administration cannot use emergency powers to institute tariffs, saying that power lies with Congress alone. The court, in a unanimous decision, ordered the tariffs halted. On Thursday the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted the Trump administration’s request to temporarily pause the lower-court ruling that struck down most of the tariffs, thus reinstating them. The administration told the court that it might seek “emergency relief” from the Supreme Court. After the initial ruling by the trade court, the White House in a statement said that an economic state of emergency exists now that allows the president to impose tariffs. The plaintiffs in the case opposing the tariffs include Burlington-based Terry Precision Cycling, and four other small US businesses, as well as several states, including the State of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Keeping a small flock of chickens at home to provide eggs and meat has become increasingly popular, but many first-time, small-scale poultry farmers are discovering that several species of wildlife like the taste of chicken as much as we do. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department urges poultry owners to use electric fencing and follow other precautions to protect their birds from predation. Comeau says bears require a significant amount of effort to deter once they have learned to feed on chickens and their food. She says it is important that Vermonters take a more proactive approach and protect chickens before they have a problem.