Current News

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First, Vermont Business Magazine A Windham County man is scheduled to go on trial in federal court this week on charges he illegally cut down at least 299 trees in Stratton that were designated for protection as part of the Green Mountain National Forest. Raymond Otto Tarbell, 66, of Townshend has waived his right to a jury trial and will have his criminal case heard by Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle in Burlington. Tarbell was linked in 2012 to an improper heavy cut on property owned in Ferdinand in Essex County in the Northeast Kingdom, records show. He and a partner paid more than $23,000 to the state of Vermont to help settle the case, Vermont Business Magazine reported at the time.

by Mike Donoghue A state judge has approved an out-of-court settlement involving the Woodstock Foundation Board of Directors and the former longtime chair and vice chair of the board over their claims they were improperly removed and that the Woodstock Inn & Resort and the Billings Farm & Museum had been mismanaged. Judge H. Dickson Corbett, without written comment, signed his name to the bottom of the proposed settlement filed in Vermont Superior Court in Woodstock. The move appears to end the monumental legal battle that has mesmerized the Woodstock area for the past 2.5 years.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Windham County and the broader southern Vermont region face many of the same structural headwinds as the rest of the state: housing shortages, workforce gaps and increasing demands on the tax base. Recent tariff pressures and global trade concerns are bringing new and very real threats to Vermont businesses that are inextricably linked to the global economy. But economic development leader Adam Grinold, executive director of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp., said he sees these challenges as opportunities to strengthen the regional economy through increased regional partnerships, targeted investments, long-term planning efforts and cross-sector collaborations. There also is a welcoming of New Americans. And for the region’s vital tourism industry, a jolly good winter.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of May 19, 2025. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.  

by Dan Smith. President & CEO The Vermont Community Foundation At the VCF, we have always strived to be in the “hope” business. Giving is infused with hope, and the act of giving is core to sustaining Vermont’s potent sense of community. Hope also comes from having a plan. A plan requires an unvarnished reflection of what faces Vermont. After years of pandemic upheaval, economic strain, devastating floods, and now shrinking federal support, the future of Vermont communities feels more unstable than ever. Yet in that instability, there is also a degree of clarity about what can be done to help our communities survive and thrive. Realistically, Vermont is old, small, and poor. Most of Vermont—12 of 14 counties—never recovered economically from the 2009 financial crisis. A fifteen-year downturn sets the stage for civic and social conditions that have only been accelerated by a pandemic, floods, and now, funding freezes, tariffs, and confusion. The next few years are not going to be easy. 

by Jules Older We know that privacy’s an endangered species in the Digital Age. We all talk endlessly about it. Bemoan its loss. Say, “They oughta’ make a law.” The industry fights with vigor and cash against that law. It endlessly swears, “Your privacy is our greatest concern.” Yeah-nah. They could care less about our privacy. They care about selling us stuff. We all know that, but …

by Bekah Mandell Vermont has a unique education funding system. Unlike most states, where the wealth of your community determines the resources available for your school, Vermont’s statewide funding system means that we’ve succeeded in reducing the disparities in spending between rich and poor communities while maintaining local control. There’s more that we can do to make our ed funding system simpler, fairer, and more transparent, but right now, I want to focus on how we got to have one of the most equitable school funding systems in the country.

by Helen Argraves, Vermont Business Magazine Like people in many sectors of the economy these days, agricultural producers in Vermont are trying to navigate the upheaval caused by the Trump administration’s tariffs. Uncertainty from the tariffs could add stress and financial burden for farmers in the coming year. They, along with state officials, are watching tariffs on products like feed, fertilizer and equipment closely to decide how to proceed. Many of these products come from Canada, the focus of some of the administration’s tariffs. Agricultural producers depend on predictability when deciding what and when to buy, said state Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets Anson Tebbetts.

Vermont Business Magazine Girls on the Run Vermont (GOTRVT), a statewide nonprofit organization for girls in 3rd-8th grade, will be culminating its spring season with a joyful 5K event at the Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park on Saturday, June 7th, 2025 that will celebrate the accomplishments of over 600 participants from central and southern Vermont GOTR and Heart & Sole teams this spring season. Girls will be accompanied by approximately 200 volunteer coaches, approximately 300 running buddies, over 100 volunteers, countless spectators and other supporters in the GOTRVT community, cheering them on through the finish line. This event is supported by GOTRVT’s 20+ year statewide sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and is presented by 15+ year partner, M&T Bank. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Town of Berlin purchased 115 acres of forest that the Perrin family conserved with the Vermont Land Trust (VLT), the two entities announced today. The land will be added to the Berlin Town Forest known as Irish Hill and fills a missing piece to connect more than 1,000 acres of conserved forestland. It will be permanently open to the public for recreation and education, including hiking, walking, birdwatching, cross-country skiing, hunting, snowshoeing, and wildlife observation. The acquisition was approved by a town vote and made possible through the efforts of the Town, its Conservation Commission, and VLT, with funding support from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB).

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public is adding new locally hosted music programming to its weekend lineup: All Ears with Tad Cautious on Saturdays at 6 p.m., and Now Playing with DJ Llu on Sundays at 6 p.m. The new schedule will take effect Saturday, May 17. All Ears with Tad Cautious is an eclectic music discovery show for curious listeners open to myriad genres. Listeners can expect a mix of new and existing music for one hour every Saturday evening beginning at 6 p.m. Now Playing with DJ Llu will air Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. The show is a 60-minute mixtape curated to give you a listen to some of the best in rock, R&B, hip-hop, and RPM from the new releases of the week.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Smoke & Cure, the acclaimed maker of artisanal smoked meat products, announced a nationwide expansion, securing new partnerships with Walmart and Giant Food, while substantially growing its presence in Kroger stores. This multi-retailer expansion represents the largest distribution growth in the company's history, bringing its premium meat snacks to millions of new consumers in the second quarter of 2025. "This expansion across three major retail partners marks a transformative moment for Vermont Smoke & Cure," said Michael Schafer, Commercial Business Lead at Vermont Smoke & Cure. "Combined with our recent Costco Northeast Division growth, we're bringing our handcrafted products to more consumers than ever before, while maintaining our unwavering commitment to quality and craftsmanship."