Current News

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.”

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, alongside 32 colleagues in the Senate, 142 in the House of Representatives, and with the support of 85 organizations from across the country, today introduced the Raise the Wage Act. This bicameral legislation will ensure American workers make a living wage, drive economic growth, and reduce income inequality by raising the minimum wage to $17 for all workers and gradually eliminating subminimum wages for tipped workers, workers with disabilities, and youth workers.

Vermont Business Magazine VermontBiz is proud to announce the 2025 Best of Business Awards (BOB Awards) winners. This awards program celebrates the best Vermont companies in more than 100 business-to-business categories. VermontBiz readers chose the winners! After over 66,000 votes we compiled the go-to list in the state for everything from Best Landscaping Company and Best Digital Media Agency to Best Vermont Made Product. Some of the questions and answers were based on a regional perspective while most of the categories were looking for statewide winners. For the first time in 10 years, we have a tie in one category: Favorite General Contractor, with DEW Construction and ReArch Company. We also have our first write-in winner since the first year of voting, with Open Approach receiving enough write-in votes to win the best IT Service company.

Vermont Business Magazine As a veteran nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at University of Vermont Medical Center, Melinda Pariser-Schmidt, MSN, RNC-NIC, IBCLC, understands the importance of safe sleep for infants, especially those facing serious medical conditions. So when she learned about an opportunity to trial a new innovation for infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in the NICU at UVM Children’s Hospital, Pariser-Schmidt jumped at the chance. Her goal: determine whether responsive bassinets – baby beds with built-in technology and sensors designed to help babies relax and sleep longer – could help support opioid-exposed infants and the nurses who care for them.

Vermont Business Magazine This week, the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) released new figures on marketplace Open Enrollment for 2025. Vermont’s Open Enrollment period ended on January 15, 2025, and saw a substantial increase in the number of Vermonters enrolling in plans through Vermont’s health insurance marketplace, known as Vermont Health Connect. Most Vermonters enrolled in Qualified Health Plans through the marketplace will benefit from increased subsidies and better coverage in 2025 than in previous years. During Vermont’s 2025 Open Enrollment period, over 32,000 Vermonters signed up for their health and dental plans through Vermont Health Connect. This is an approximately 11% increase in newly enrolled members and represents historically high enrollment for the marketplace.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remains low, at under 5 after a spike in January. Likewise, wastewater testing indicates that virus levels fell steeply also after a spike, especially in Montpelier, but also at most test sites. They have now leveled off at low levels, as have many other indicators. The Vermont pandemic death total stands at 1,285 as of March 29, 2025, with 2 reported deaths from the previous week (the most recent data available from the CDC). The VDH is no longer reporting COVID fatalities and cases in Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) announced today that it will permanently close its St. Johnsbury, Vermont health center on June 3rd, 2025. Over the past five years, PPNNE has faced numerous operational challenges in providing reproductive and sexual health care services in St. Johnsbury. In addition, devastating flooding, as well as inadequate reimbursement rates for services provided have made it increasingly difficult to sustain essential care for the community. 

Vermont Business Magazine Eastern Union, one of the country’s largest commercial mortgage brokerages, has arranged $9,424,405 in construction-to-permanent refinancing for the first stage of a multi-phase renovation project at 100 River Street in Springfield, VT. This portion of the initiative will create a 43,000-square-foot self-storage facility and 55,000 square feet of retail space.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont’s (Blue Cross VT) Customer Service Call Center was recently awarded 2024 Call Center of the Year among small and mid-sized organizations by Service Quality Measurement Group (SQM). Blue Cross VT’s Customer Service Call Center was chosen among 500 North American call centers for the first-place award. In addition to the Call Center of the Year Award, three Blue Cross VT call center employees were included in the SQM awards. Lindsay Segale, who has worked for Blue Cross VT for 10 years and is from Montpelier, was named as a finalist for Supervisor of the Year. Michelle Leduc of Williston and Terry Lyn Bicknell of Barre were named as finalists for Customer Service Representative of the Year.