Current News

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.

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS Expansion of Green Mountain Care Board Authority: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard testimony on H.482, a bill that would allow the Green Mountain Care Board to adjust reimbursement rates and assign an independent observer to hospitals under certain conditions. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) laid out their financial difficulties and urged all health care organizations to support H.482. The Department of Financial Regulation underscored that no other insurance carrier is willing to take BCBSVT's book of business. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.05 pre gallon, down 4.4 cents per gallon from last week's $3.10/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.61/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 68.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 8.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.13/g today. 

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Do you grow Specialty Crops in Vermont? Are you interested or currently selling to restaurants? If you answered yes to either question, we want to hear from you. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is looking to connect Vermont specialty crop producers and restaurants for the purpose of increasing sales and enhancing marketing opportunities. We are surveying specialty crop growers to help us develop and improve resources designed to address market barriers in the relationship between local producers and restaurants. Survey participants may be invited for future opportunities and events to help connect growers and restaurant buyers in their area.

Vermont Business Magazine The Developmental Disabilities Housing Initiative (DDHI), is hosting legislators, the governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer and Agency of Human Services administrators for an Ice Cream Social on Thursday, April 17, 2025. Parents who are members of DDHI, and their family members with I/DD, will meet in the State House cafeteria from 3:30 - 6:00 pm on Thursday, April 17th, 2025, with the invitees, and share ice cream and their personal experience of the need for permanent housing and staff. DDHI is a statewide, Vermont parent-run volunteer advocacy group of over 120 parents. 

by Noah Diedrich, Community News Service A recent bill in the Vermont Senate would offer a pathway for early childhood educators who operate outside of public education to become a recognized profession in the same way as nurses or hair stylists. The bill, S.119, was inspired by a January report from the Office of Professional Regulation that recommended creating a process of licensure for early childhood educators through its office. Sen. Allison Clarkson, D-Windsor, one of two lead sponsors on the bill, said licensure can provide consistency and professionalization, as well as increased wages. 

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Anyone who has tried to hire a tradesperson in Vermont knows two things: 1. From the sole proprietor to the three-person homebuilders, to the large multi-state companies, trades people are busy. 2. There’s not enough of them. The good news is that the industry closed out 2024 on a good note. This construction season is expected to be another good year providing the industry can acquire the materials it needs. Oh. Right. Tariffs. A major uncertainty that prompt professionals to add a “but” or “knock on wood” to many of their predictions.

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine For the agency charged with maintaining Vermont’s vast transportation network, responsibilities cover a surprisingly broad array of projects. These include paving roadways, making drainage improvements and repairing bridges on state-owned railroads, to name just a few. As it does every year, the Agency of Transportation to-do list for the upcoming construction season also includes improvements for the muscle-powered traveler: for example, the resurfacing and general tidying-up the 26-mile Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail between St. Albans and Richford, and construction of new trailhead amenities along the Swanton-to-Saint Johnsbury Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Construction jobs have expanded beyond wielding shovels and digging ditches. Today’s workers must also have the ability to follow digital plans, understand CAD design and be able to operate a machine connected to global positioning systems. ”Part of what we’re trying to do is overcome the perception that construction is low-tech, low-wage,” said Joshua Reap, president and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire and Vermont. ”It’s the complete opposite of that. It’s high-tech, a great opportunity to make a good living and it involves a lot of technology.”

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) is graduating its second class this spring on May 17 and 18, 2025 and has announced a remarkable lineup of commencement speakers for the four ceremonies, held at the Castleton, Lyndon, Johnson, and Randolph campuses over the weekend.