Current News

VermontBiz A new hotel has officially opened its doors in Williston, giving travelers a fresh option for longer stays. The TownePlace Suites by Marriott, the only one of its kind in Vermont, is now welcoming guests.

Conveniently located just off I-89 near Burlington, the University of Vermont, and the airport, the all-suite hotel is designed for business, leisure, and relocation travel. Each suite comes with a full kitchen, workspace, and fast Wi-Fi—ideal for guests planning multi-day or extended visits.

Set in the heart of Finney Crossing near Taft Corners, the hotel is steps away from local restaurants, grocery stores, and a variety of local and national retailers. Guests enjoy daily hot breakfast, a fitness center, laundry facilities, outdoor BBQs, a firepit, and more.

VermontBiz Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) will join Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a bipartisan delegation, including Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in Ottawa, Canada for meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Minister of National Defense David McGuinty, Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly, the Business Council of Canada, and other leading Canadian companies and business groups.  

VermontBiz Governor Scott signed the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, H.496, into law on May 21, 2025. Beth Mauch, Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System (VSC), issued the following statement:

“For five years, the Vermont State Colleges have worked hand-in-hand with the Governor and our legislative leaders to imagine a state college system that would not just be financially viable, but would have a sustained path to growth. Together, we’ve envisioned a future where every Vermonter has the opportunity to pursue an affordable and flexible education. The state budget signed by Governor Scott yesterday not only completes the state’s obligations in the VSC transformation, but looks to our shared vision of the future: centering our state colleges as the place where new careers are ignited, lifelong learning is fueled, and the economy and social well-being of every corner of Vermont is enhanced.”

VermontBiz The Vermont State Senate made history today by advancing H.472, a bill that includes officially creating an early childhood education (ECE) profession. The Senate passed the bill with overwhelming support from across the political spectrum. Vermont is the first state in the country to take this step.

The ECE Profession Bill was introduced based on the recommendations of Vermont’s Office of Professional Regulation. The bill reflects feedback from more than one thousand Vermont early childhood educators. It has the full support of both the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) and Let’s Grow Kids.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims for the week ending May 17, 2025, fell to under 300, which is the lowest number this year. There had been the usual end-of-ski-season spike in April. New claims this week were 285, down 112 claims from the week before and are 4 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. 

Vermont Business Magazine RunVermont announces its 2025 Hall of Fame inductees, who will be formally recognized on May 23rd, 2025, at the Sports & Fitness Expo hosted by RunVermont at the DoubleTree by Hilton in South Burlington, VT. This year’s inductees are Tim Eno in the Coaches category and Keith Woodward in the Athletes of Distinction category. The Vermont City Marathon Hall of Fame was formed in 1995 to recognize individuals who had participated in every Vermont City Marathon since its inception in 1989. In 2008, the RunVermont Board of Directors broadened the scope of the Hall of Fame by opening consideration to people whose efforts, consistent with the mission of RunVermont, have supported running in Vermont. At that time the name was changed to the RunVermont Hall of Fame. 

Vermont Business Magazine Fidium has expanded its multi-gig, symmetrical speed internet service to Enosburgh, Sheldon and parts of Berkshire, bringing its future-proof fiber network to more than 3,200 homes and businesses. Fidium’s expansion of its all-fiber network, which began in January, brings all the benefits that come with access to a fiber broadband connection. Today, more than 134,000 Vermont homes and businesses have access to Fidium, including more than 14,000 Franklin County homes and businesses across Enosburgh, Sheldon, Bakersfield, East Fairfield, Fairfax, Fairfield, Fletcher, Georgia, Saint Albans and Swanton. 

Vermont Business Magazine Early this morning, Rep. Becca Balint (D- Vermont-AL), member of the House Budget Committee, released the below statement after the passage of the Republican budget that guts Medicaid, food assistance and other critical programs that Americans rely on. The Republican plan includes over $800 billion in cuts that would decimate Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. These cuts will put rural hospitals at risk of immediate closure. It would kick nearly 14 million Americans off their health insurance and throw at least 3 million people off food assistance, all to bankroll tax breaks for billionaires and massive corporations. The bill passed the House with all Democrats voting no.  

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak announced her intention to appoint Deputy Chief Michael Curtin as the next Fire Chief Engineer of the Burlington Fire Department. Curtin joined the Burlington Fire Department as a firefighter in 2002. Throughout his more than two decades of service, Curtin has demonstrated capable leadership, serving in the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain, and Battalion Chief, prior to his promotion to Deputy Chief of Operations in August 2024. Since 2005, he has also served as an instructor at the Vermont Fire Academy, where he has delivered course material and conducted live fire training burns for firefighters across the State of Vermont.    

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bank celebrated the unveiling of its new office Thursday at 1330 Shelburne Road in South Burlington. In addition to meeting space to connect with NBT financial experts, this new full-service office features a drive-through, 24-hour ATM and night drop services. Other local NBT offices are located in Burlington, Williston and Essex. NBT officials also presented a donation to the South Burlington Food Shelf, located nearby at 356 Dorset Street. The food shelf provides food assistance to South Burlington residents who struggle with hunger.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today led U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in sending a letter to bipartisan leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee urging Congress to provide robust federal funding for programs supporting the Lake Champlain basin. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized the importance of federal programs to Lake Champlain that support critical work in the basin, from fostering a climate-resilient watershed to promoting outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation.   

Vermont Business Magazine Green River Reservoir State Park has received a generous donation of a new Esquif cargo canoe, equipped with a Torqeedo electric outboard motor and battery system from The Friends of Green River Reservoir State Park. This gift is a vital contribution to the park’s operations and will help protect its remote and ecologically sensitive environment. Green River Reservoir is a paddle-only park known for its undeveloped shoreline, remote campsites, and focus on low-impact recreation. Visitors cherish the wilderness-like feel, quiet coves, opportunities to observe nesting loons, and peaceful paddle-in camping experiences. The new canoe replaces an aging gas-powered craft, enabling park staff to patrol and maintain the reservoir while staying aligned with its conservation-centered mission.