Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Over 100 tourism and hospitality industry leaders gathered at the State House on April 10 to engage with legislators and raise awareness of the collective contributions of these industries to the Vermont economy. Tourism Economy Day, convened by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Ski Vermont and Vermont Speciality Food Association, brought businesses together to advocate for a thriving Vermont visitor economy. The Vermont visitor economy has a $4 billion annual economic impact and represents 10% of our workforce. In 2023 alone, 15.8 million visitors spent $4.0 billion across lodging, dining, retail, entertainment, recreation, and more. Their spending also contributed $282.3 million in state and local taxes—equivalent to approximately $1,039 per Vermont household. 

The Vermont State Police has continued investigating the January 2024 death of Stephen Nuciolo Sr., 44, of Bridport. Recent developments over this past weekend led detectives on Monday, April 14, 2025, to arrest his son, Stephen Nuciolo Jr., 18, on a charge of second-degree murder. Nuciolo Jr. was arrested without incident Monday afternoon and brought to the New Haven Barracks for processing. He was ordered jailed Monday night without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Middlebury. The Vermont Attorney General’s Office is handling this prosecution. 

Vermont Business Magazine In light of recent concerns regarding the suppression, censorship, or misrepresentation of scientific information relevant to medical care by the federal government, organizations representing Vermont physicians and physician assistants wish to reassure the public that Vermont clinicians are dedicated to providing honest, accurate, science-based information to help patients make informed decisions about their health. The physicians and PAs affiliated with our organizations are dedicated to providing the highest quality medical care grounded in the most current and reliable scientific research. 

Vermont Business Magazine Between June and October 2024, the Vermont Department of Labor brought together experts from 27 healthcare, government, employment, and non-profit organizations across Vermont to address and prevent work disability in Vermont collaboratively.  Commissioner Harrington’s charge called for a solution to meet the needs of Vermont’s workforce, employers, clinicians, and other return-to-work professionals after VT RETAIN’s federal funding ends in May 2025. Work disability is a limitation in working ability due to a physical or mental health condition. It can often be prevented and mitigated through Stay-at-Work and Return-to-Work strategies, such as care coordination, early communication, job modifications, retraining, access to work-health services, education, etc. Work disability is a major cause of economic and health inequality. Only 55% of Vermonters with disabilities ages 18-64 years are employed versus 82% of those without disabilities. 

Vermont Business Magazine Newly released data from the Department of Health shows that most adults in Vermont report they are in good health, but that education and income levels, disabilities and other factors can lead to stark differences in people’s health. This data helps state officials and partners monitor trends and prioritize efforts to improve the health of all Vermonters. It is collected in the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Report, an annual Health Department survey of adults that tracks health-related behaviors, chronic health conditions and use of preventive services. Overall, most Vermont adults report good to excellent general health, with only 14% of people reporting fair or poor health – similar to the previous year. Vermonters report better health than the U.S. overall, where 19% report fair or poor health.  

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today led, along with Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a coalition of 39 state and territory attorneys general in formally urging congressional leadership to pass an act that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies. PBMs are third-party administrators of prescription drug programs for health plans. Over the past few decades, horizontal consolidation and vertical integration have transformed PBMs from useful administrative service providers into market-dominating behemoths that control the industry. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), the statewide, nonprofit business association with a mission to leverage the power of business for positive social and environmental impact, has named Chelsea Bardot Lewis the organization’s new executive director. Bardot Lewis will take leadership of the organization on June 1. She brings over 15 years of experience in Vermont’s private, public, and philanthropic sectors, with roles spanning business development, operations, impact capital, and workforce development. Bardot Lewis takes over leadership from Roxanne Vought, who departs on May 30, 2025, after a total of 10 years with VBSR.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) today released the following statement on the illegal detention of Mohsen Mahdawi by the Trump Administration: “Earlier today, Mohsen Mahdawi of White River Junction, Vermont, walked into an immigration office for what was supposed to be the final step in his citizenship process. Instead, he was arrested and removed in handcuffs by plainclothes, armed, individuals with their faces covered."

Vermont Business Magazine Grafton Village Cheese Company (GVCC), a subsidiary of the Windham Foundation, and Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company in South Woodstock today announced the sale of Grafton Village Cheese to Vermont Farmstead. This news marks a significant milestone in Grafton Village Cheese’s journey as an artisanal cheesemaker and iconic brand. This strategic move is driven by mutual goals for the long-term success and health of GVCC, a commitment to preserving the rich traditions of artisanal cheese production in Vermont, and a passion for Vermont’s agriculture industry. The team at Vermont Farmstead is investing in GVCC to help ensure this vision remains real.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced a $25 incentive available to anyone who opens an Achieving Better Life Experience (ABLE) in Vermont account during the month of April, in celebration of #ABLEtoSave month. ABLE accounts allow individuals with qualifying disabilities and their families to save and invest for the future without impacting their eligibility for Medicaid, SSI, or other needs-based benefits. The Vermont ABLE program was designed to provide individuals with disabilities more financial stability and navigate the “benefits cliff,” where even a small amount of personal savings could significantly reduce critical public benefits. ABLE accounts can be used for a wide range of disability-related expenses, including education, housing, transportation, and health care. 

by Maggie Lenz and Nick Charyk The House version of Vermont’s education transformation, H.454, cleared its final votes this week and now heads to the Senate. The bill slows down and reshapes the governor’s sweeping plan, emphasizing process, phased implementation, and a deeper focus on Vermont’s school landscape. It builds a scaffolding, piece by piece, around the idea of a more equitable and predictable system. Instead of drawing five mega-districts immediately, the bill creates a five-member subcommittee of Vermont education veterans to propose new boundaries by December. Local voting wards and elected boards would follow. First elections in the new structure would not take place until 2028.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Travis Papineau, 41, of Northfield, Vermont, was sentenced on April 11, 2025, in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The Court, Judge Michael Harris presiding, sentenced the defendant, after a contested sentencing hearing, to two to eight years in prison, all suspended except two years, and a ten-year term of probation with conditions that mandate completion of sex offender programming, limit his contact with children, and restrict his access to the internet. If Papineau violates the terms of his probation, he may face up to eight years in jail. Papineau is also required to register as a sex offender for life.