Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement: “I’ve been clear, we must not allow ourselves to be distracted or live in a constant state of fear, anger or outrage over the next 45 months. Instead, we need principled and responsible leadership because there is too much work to do right here in Vermont like building more housing and making Vermont more affordable. We’ll continue to separate rhetoric from reality and make decisions based on what’s in the best interest of Vermont and Vermont’s values."

by Jenney Samuelson, Secretary Agency of Human Services Vermont has long been a leader in treatment for addiction and substance use, particularly through its Hub and Spoke model, launched nearly a decade ago to address the opioid epidemic. This approach brought treatment into mainstream, integrating into doctor’s offices and expanding access to services through regional hubs. It made Vermont one of the top states for accessing care and significantly reduced stigma around seeking help. However, the landscape of substances in use has evolved over the past 10 years. What we are seeing now is an increasingly complex drug supply in Vermont that mixes the potent opioid fentanyl with stimulants like methamphetamines and cocaine, and adulterants like xylazine, leading to complex addictions and complex treatment.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Pieciak announced that over one thousand employers have enrolled in the Vermont Saves program. The program provides a simple, no-cost solution for Vermont employers to offer their workers a retirement savings plan. Since opening for enrollment in December 2024, Vermonters participating in Vermont Saves have collectively saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for retirement. Employers who at any time have 5 or more employees and do not currently offer their workers a retirement plan are required to sign up for Vermont Saves. Their employees will automatically be enrolled in a Roth IRA account with flexible options to save at their own pace.  

Vermont Business Magazine LaunchVT, a division of the Lake Champlain Chamber, has selected eight Vermont startups to participate in its 2025 Accelerator. This is the 13th cohort to come through LaunchVT’s flagship program. Since 2013, LaunchVT has provided business development support, strategic coaching, and over $1.3 million in cash and services to accelerate 87 Vermont startups statewide. Entrepreneurs in the LaunchVT cohort will work with a dedicated business coach and strategic advisors to address their startup’s most pressing needs. Over the 12-week program, which kicked off on April 2, they will also participate in peer sessions, office hours with business advisors, and workshops with content experts. 

Vermont Historical Society We are sad to report the passing of historian and former VHS Executive Director Michael Sherman. He was an enormous figure in the world of Vermont history, and for decades played a major role in the scholarship, organization, and study of the field. He was 81 years old. Michael was VHS’s Executive Director from 1985 to 1995 and remained as editor of our scholarly journal, Vermont History until his passing. In 2004, he co-authored (with Gene Sessions and Jeffrey Potash) Freedom and Unity: A History of Vermont, and was the author of numerous books and articles that explored and enriched our understanding of our state’s story.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is hosting a press conference on April 10 at 11:30 AM as part of Tourism Economy Day from 8 AM-5 PM, an event that brings together industry leaders, legislators, and policymakers to highlight the significant economic contributions of Vermont's tourism and hospitality industries. The press conference will feature key business and legislative leaders discussing the impact of these industries and addressing current challenges. Tourism Economy Day is organized by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Ski Vermont, and Vermont Specialty Food Association.

Vermont Business Magazine A climate leader from Michigan will share her expertise at the 20th Annual Normal Williams Distinguished Lecture in Land Use Planning and the Law hosted by Vermont Law and Graduate School on April 10. Dr. Sarah Mills, director of the Center for EmPowering Communities at the University of Michigan's Graham Sustainability Institute, will serve as speaker for the event. Wind and solar projects may affect as much as 15% of the continental land area by the year 2050, the vast majority in rural areas. Mills will discuss the ways infrastructure and state policies related to siting and zoning authority, property taxes and utilities impact rural municipalities and the ability to deploy renewable solutions with community goals in mind.

Vermont Business Magazine CCTV Center for Media & Democracy is experiencing direct impacts from recent federal funding cuts, including reductions to programs that support the CCTV Archives and the Vermont Language Justice Project (VLJP). These cuts have a significant impact on CCTV’s ability to meet community needs. The Vermont Language Justice Project (VLJP) built on and supported by a CDC Health Equity grant, allows people with language access needs the ability to make informed decisions about their physical and mental health, their safety, as well as navigating everyday life in the USA, by creating public service videos in 21 of the languages spoken in Vermont.  Federal actions and cuts that have targeted health care and health equity and in turn refugees, im/migrants, and asylees, is having a chilling effect on the people served by the project, potentially limiting the project’s capacity to serve these diverse language communities in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community Sailing Center (CSC) has announced it is the recipient of the Healthy Ecosystems Grant, which focuses on educating and encouraging the public on the importance of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention. Generously awarded by the Lake Champlain Basin Program/New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CSC can now install water and electric utilities, build a wash station, and mount signage that clearly directs boaters on the best practices of Aquatic Invasive Species spread prevention. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in releasing a bipartisan resolution to repeal Donald Trump’s global tariffs and reassert Congress’s trade authorities. The Senators’ resolution would terminate the emergency that Trump declared in order to apply tariffs of up to 49% on products Americans buy from other countries. In the wake of Trump’s tariff declaration, markets have cratered, manufacturers have laid off thousands of workers and foreign countries have retaliated by imposing their own tariffs on U.S. agricultural and manufactured goods. 

Vermont Business Magazine The investigation is continuing into an apparent hoax call targeting 12 schools across Vermont on Tuesday with false reports of shootings. The incident began at about 6:35 p.m. Monday April 7, 2025, when, the Vermont State Police was notified that an anonymous user had utilized the Department of Defense Self Helpline chat function to make threats against several middle and high schools across Vermont. Characteristics of this threat were consistent with previous hoax threat and swatting campaigns targeting critical infrastructure. Threats to the named schools have all been unfounded.

Vermont Business Magazine The House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development and the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs will hold hearings on the Trump Administration tariffs and the impact on the Vermont economy and relations with Vermont’s Canadian partners. “The impact of President Trump’s tariffs on the Vermont economy can be seen across our state and they are leaving businesses scrambling to retain customers and business partners,” said House Speaker Jill Krowinski. “Furthermore, the language that President Trump and his administration have used when talking about our Canadian neighbors is appalling. The United States and Canada have for centuries had a special relationship in supporting each other through the best of times and in the darkest of times. I would argue that the Vermont - Canada relationship is even more unique and closely held.”