Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Trustees of Putney-based Landmark College—the world’s first college built to exclusively serve people who learn differently—announced today that current Interim President Dr. James Dlugos will serve as the fifth president in the College’s 40-year history, effective May 1, 2025. Dlugos previously had an 11-year tenure as president of St. Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish, Maine. Upon his retirement in 2023, he founded a higher education consulting firm with his wife, Melissa, which led him to the interim opportunity at Landmark College in the summer of 2024 following the departure of Dr. Peter Eden. 

Vermont Business Magazine April is National Volunteer Month, and while Age Well celebrates its volunteers year-round, this month provides a special opportunity to recognize their selfless dedication. With one of the largest volunteer teams in Vermont—over 1,100 strong—these dedicated individuals deliver Meals on Wheels, even on the coldest mornings! They also provide companionship and assist with a wide range of essential services. We could never do what we do without them. To every volunteer: thank you for your unwavering dedication and support. In a state where 1 in 4 individuals face food insecurity, Age Well’s volunteer-driven services are lifelines. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that Americanadian LLC, owner of a commercial property in St. Albans, was fined $4,000 for storing and disposing solid waste on their property without required certifications and approvals. The investigation was conducted by an Environmental Enforcement Officer with ANR.

Vermont Business Magazine Springfield Regional Development Corporation (SRDC) and the Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) are pleased to announce two recent Vermont Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI) awards to Springfield companies to support their planned expansion projects. Vermont Packinghouse received Initial approval for an Estimated Incentive of $576,909, including a Labor Market Area (LMA) enhancement, given the location in an economically distressed area of the state. ImageTek Manufacturing also got Initial approval for their VEGI application, with an Estimated Incentive of $429,850, also including the LMA enhancement, given the project location. 

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Health Network and Vermont State University are pleased to announce a new partnership to advance opportunities for full-time nurses at the health system to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Current registered nurses (RNs) with an Associate of Science in Nursing degree will be able to pursue the advanced credential of a bachelor’s degree from Vermont State at a preferred rate.

Vermont Business Magazine People living with cystic fibrosis can now take a once-daily drug that will help them breathe easier all day long, thanks to a study by pulmonary science researchers at the University of Vermont (UVM) Larner College of Medicine and their colleagues at 200 sites in more than 20 countries. A clinical trial at UVM supports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of new medication that will make self-care for people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) easier and more effective than other medications. Vanzacaftor / tezacaftor / deutivacaftor, produced by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated under the brand name Alyftrek, is the first CF drug that requires only once-daily dosing instead of the twice-daily dosing required by other CF drugs. It also has fewer side effects.

Vermont Business Magazine On April 22, 2025, nonprofit leaders from across Vermont convened in Montpelier for Nonprofit Legislative Day to engage with policymakers and their peers around key issues impacting their organizations and our communities. In the morning, nonprofits networked over coffee and testified in Economic Development committees about their vital work. Later, a panel discussion on navigating the impact of federal actions featured Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Jill Martin Diaz of Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, and Daniel Barlow of the People’s Health and Wellness Clinic.  

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS The budget wrapping up is usually a signal of the end of the session, but we’re going longer this year due to work on education reform, so expect to see a lot happening in the health care reform space as well. See below for the latest. Budget: The Senate is moving the budget along with the Appropriations Committee and Finance Committee advancing H.493. The bill includes items that were previously in the failed Budget Adjustment Act, including $11 million in reconciliation payments for the Brattleboro Retreat, $10 million for health care stabilization grants, and $4 million for the Medicaid global hospital payment program to cover tail end claims and bring in additional hospitals.

Vermont Business Magazine As Vermont’s Early Childhood State Advisory Council named in the Federal Head Start Act, Building Bright Futures (BBF) is deeply concerned about reports that the upcoming federal budget proposal may eliminate Head Start and Early Head Start. These programs are essential to meeting the basic needs of Vermont families. In 2024, Head Start and Early Head Start served 1,249 at-risk children in Vermont, supported by $27.7 million in federal funding. These programs provide early education and much more. They ensure that children receive comprehensive health screenings, nutrition, family support and access to developmental services—critical supports that help lay the foundation for lifelong well-being and academic success.

Vermont Business Magazine Over the past fourteen years, the non-profit loan program the Vermont Farm Fund has made over $4 million dollars in loans to Vermont farmers and food producers to help build the local agricultural economy. Originally established by Pete’s Greens and the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE) in 2011, the Vermont Farm Fund has operated as a program of CAE since its very first loans following Tropical Storm Irene. Today the Fund still provides zero-interest emergency loans to farmers recovering from natural disasters, as well as low-interest loans to help new or established farms grow and expand. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced he has appointed Brandon Thrailkill of Lyndonville as Caledonia County Sheriff following the passing of former Sheriff James Hemond earlier this spring. “Brandon has a proven track record of public service in Caledonia County both as a law enforcement officer and as an active member in his community,” said Governor Phil Scott. “As a lifelong resident of Caledonia County, I believe Brandon will serve Vermonters well in this role.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Andrew Sollace, 43, of Montpelier, Vermont, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to two felony counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials and to violating his deferred sentence on a previous Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material case. Mr. Sollace will be required to register as a sex offender until 10 years after the completion of his sentence.