Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today announced that Vermont received a total of $23,132,483.92 from tobacco manufacturers under the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). Annually, Vermont receives monies from tobacco manufacturers from the MSA, which resolved the State’s lawsuit filed in the 1990s. The settlement funds are credited to the State’s Tobacco Fund, and the legislature determines how they are spent. To date, more than 45 tobacco companies have joined the MSA. As a leader in this effort, Vermont has received more than $817 million from the tobacco companies since 1998. 

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday, April 29, Rutland Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department received the hospital’s first-ever Pediatric Readiness award, presented by Dr. David Nelson, a pediatric emergency physician at University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) who leads Vermont’s program to improve pediatric emergency services for children. The Emergency Department at RRMC achieved the Innovator level recognition, which is the highest standard of pediatric readiness. The award was presented to Emergency Department nurses, nurse leaders, clinical educators and physicians prior to a pediatric readiness training in the CVPS/Leahy Community Health Education Center at Rutland Regional Medical Center. The training courses are part of a state-wide initiative to improve pediatric emergency services.

Vermont Business Magazine Each year, 98.9 WOKO fills the airwaves with stories of courage and hope from pediatric patients and families who have received lifesaving and life-changing care at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital. The stories are part of the hospital’s annual Big Change Roundup for Kids (BCRU) fundraising campaign. Thousands of donors, volunteers, local businesses and community groups contribute and help ensure children and families across Vermont and northern New York have access to the highest quality, child-friendly and family-centered care available.

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS Only a few health care bills remain for the committees to pass out, but they are big ones—if not in pages, then in power. The health care committees used most of their time last week to go over major bills, which means they will likely move very quickly this week. Expansion of Green Mountain Care Board Powers: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard more on H.482, the bill that allows the Green Mountain Care Board to adjust reimbursement rates for certain hospitals if a domestic health insurer is near insolvency; adjust reimbursement rates if hospitals are not meeting their budgets; and appoint an independent observer if hospitals are in violation of their budget orders. The Green Mountain Care Board and the Department of Financial Regulation oppose all VAHHS’s suggestions on the bill.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont invites our neighbors to come together to enjoy Mountain Days, a fun annual event that brings people of all ages and abilities out to hike a mountain or favorite trail, or to roll along next to a friend on our many accessible trails in the state. The idea for Mountain Days was sparked by the energetic Blue Cross Windham County Community Advisory Board in 2001, when they invited their community to join them in what became an annual hike up Mt. Wantastiquet. It has become a true tradition and has inspired several spring hiking events across Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine A new initiative is underway to address Vermont’s skilled labor shortage and create meaningful career pathways in the trades. Last week’s launch of the Vermont Construction Academy (VCA) in Winooski brings together industry experts to provide hands-on training and industry-recognized certifications, preparing individuals for high-demand jobs with strong earning potential and long-term career growth. The Academy provides programs designed for those looking to enter or advance within the construction field—offering real-world experience and a direct connection to employers across Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined 19 other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and other Trump administration officials to stop the illegal dismantling of HHS. Since taking office, Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration have fired thousands of federal health workers, shuttered vital programs, and abandoned states to face mounting health crises without federal support. The attorneys general argue that Secretary Kennedy and the Trump administration have robbed HHS of the resources necessary to effectively serve the American people, as directed by statute, and will be asking the court to halt further dismantling and restore key program operations.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are pleased to announce the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) awards in Vermont.  This program targets two important segments of the Vermont food system; Infrastructure and Equipment. Six Vermont food system organizations are receiving $2.1 million in infrastructure grants for larger-scale projects that extend capacity and infrastructure for aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of locally produced food. Fourteen Vermont food system organizations are receiving just under $1 million in equipment-only grants solely for "special purpose" equipment that must be used for middle of the supply chain activities, such as processing, storage, transportation, aggregation, distribution, or wholesaling of Vermont or regional food products. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Associated General Contractors of Vermont (AGC-VT) is proud to commemorate its 90th anniversary in a celebratory event at their Montpelier headquarters this summer, detailed below. For nine decades, AGC-VT has been a statewide leader in providing essential training to its members, advocating for the construction industry and fostering engagement within the construction community. “As we celebrate 90 years of excellence, innovation, and dedication in Vermont's construction industry, we reflect on our journey and the incredible milestones we've achieved together,” AGC-VT Executive Vice President Richard Wobby said. “Our commitment to safety, education, and community has been the cornerstone of our success. Here's to continuing our legacy and building a brighter future for Vermont."

Vermont Business Magazine The Sunshine-makers at Lawson’s Finest Liquids earned Vermont’s only medal yesterday evening at the 2025 World Beer Cup, the world’s most prestigious professional beer and cider competition. Lawson’s Finest’s Fayston Maple Imperial Stout (10.1% ABV) received a Silver Medal in the British-Style Imperial Stout category. The Brewers Association announced the winners of the 2025 World Beer Cup, the world’s most prestigious professional beer and cider competition at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on May 1 in conjunction with the Craft Brewers Conference. Throughout 14 sessions spanning seven days, a panel of 265 judges from 37 countries methodically evaluated 8,375 entries from 1,761 breweries and cideries across 49 nations and bestowed 349 awards. 

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ: NBTB), the parent company of NBT Bank with branches in Vermont, announced that it completed the merger of Evans Bancorp, Inc. with and into NBT on May 2, 2025, followed by a core systems conversion over the weekend. The Merger has extended the NBT Bank, N.A. branch network into the Western Region of New York with the addition of 14 banking offices in the Buffalo area and 4 locations in greater Rochester. NBT Bank now has 175 branches across its seven-state footprint. Pursuant to the merger agreement announced September 9, 2024, NBT will acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Evans in exchange for common shares of NBT. The exchange ratio will be fixed at 0.91 NBT shares for each share of Evans, resulting in an aggregate transaction value of approximately $236 million based on NBT’s closing stock price of $46.28 on September 6, 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.06 per gallon, up 0.8 cents per gallon from last week's $3.06/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.84/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 45.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 2.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.12/g today.