Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has reported have COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at a very low level but were up slightly last week. They are at a similar level to the negligible level seen last summer. There were no measles cases after one reported in Vermont in February in Washington County and the rate nationally is low. While there was no measles virus detected recently, RSV, Influenza B and Norovirus remained elevated at all the Vermont wastewater testing sites, as they are across the US.

Vermont Business Magazine Evernorth closed Housing New England, Fund VII on April 2, 2026. This fund is the second largest in Evernorth’s history, providing crucial equity financing to support the development and preservation of affordable housing across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont at a time when the need for housing has never been more urgent. Northern New England communities are facing a growing housing crisis, making it increasingly difficult for working people, older adults, and families to find homes they can afford. From rural towns to small cities, housing shortages are affecting local economies, labor force stability, and community health. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University’s Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy program has received the President’s Award for Excellence in Credentialing Success from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), recognizing outstanding student outcomes, including a 100% job placement rate. This recognition comes as the university has worked for several years to strengthen the program and grow its enrollment in partnership with UVM Health to meet employer needs, student demand, and the growing need for respiratory care in Vermont.

Vermont State Police For clarification and updated information, this a follow up to the fatal crash that occurred on Saturday, 04/18/26. The vehicle involved is a 6 passenger Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV), CF Moto 1000XL. There was a total of 5 occupants. The operator (fifth occupant), Ellsworth Reed (age 33, of West Pawlet) was arraigned at Bennington County Superior Court, Criminal Division on 04/20/26 at 1230 hours. The fourth passenger who died on scene from his injuries is identified as David McGuire (age 39, resident of the state of Maine).

Vermont Business Magazine Copley Hospital has announced that its laboratory has once again earned accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP). This globally recognized gold standard distinction affirms the laboratory’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards of quality, precision, and patient safety. The two-year accreditation follows a rigorous on-site inspection. A team of practicing laboratory and pathology professionals evaluated more than 4,000 checklist items, encompassing laboratory operations, quality control procedures, safety practices, staff qualifications, and overall management.

Vermont Business Magazine Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC), in partnership with the Vermont Specialty Food Association (VSFA) and the Vermont Employee Ownership Center (VEOC) will host a free, in-person program focused on transition and success planning for food-related businesses on Wednesday, May 20th from 10 am to 1 pm at the BDCC Offices (76 Cotton Mill Hill, Brattleboro). Lunch will be provided, but optional food and beverage donations are welcome. This interactive session builds on a successful pilot program in Northern Vermont and whose specialized food succession curriculum is now being brought to the southern region by VSFA.

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center Last week, VMEC's Chris Coulter and team members from The Manufacturing Collaborative (TMC) spent the better part of last week in New England's largest city at Rapid + TCT, North America's largest additive manufacturing and industrial 3D printing event. Designed for engineers, product leaders, manufacturers and decision-makers, the conference program delivered deep technical insight, real-world case studies, and strategic perspectives that can immediately apply whether you’re scaling production, integrating advanced manufacturing into existing workflows or exploring what’s next. The agenda featured more than 160 technical presentations totaling nearly 100 hours of programming, all reviewed and hand-selected by industry-leading experts at SME, TCT, and the AeroDef Conference Advisors, as well as over 450 exhibitors showcasing their 3D printing technologies.

Vermont Business Magazine National Volunteer Week is being observed from April 19 through April 25, and the American Red Cross of Northern New England would like to honor those at the heart of the organization ─ the volunteers who contribute their time and talent to make the Red Cross mission possible every day. Generations of Red Cross volunteers have aided people in need since the organization was founded in 1881. Volunteers make up 90 percent of the Red Cross workforce, supporting blood drives, assisting veterans and military families, teaching lifesaving classes and providing hope and support after disasters of all sizes.

by Devon Green, Sr. Vice President of Policy & Strategy, VAHHS On one of the warm days last week, I held open the door at my gym for the person behind me. Lo and behold, a toddler in nothing but a bathing suit and muck boots marched in. The dad and I chuckled about springtime in Vermont, but I realized that the same “muck boot and bathing suit” vibe holds true for this point in the session as legislators and advocates try to tack on last minute proposals or language from stalled bills to the bills that are moving, creating some interesting combinations.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Works for Women (VWW) is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week April 27 to May 1, specifically Women in Apprenticeship Day on Thursday, April 30. VWW will be joined by the Vermont Department of Labor and Alliance Mechanical to celebrate National Women in Apprenticeship Day and highlight the contributions and success of women in these training program. 

Vermont Business Magazine The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Vermont State District Office has named Vermont Healthcare Consulting LLC and Founder, Principal Consultant Jennifer Mayhew, MPH, PMP as the 2026 Vermont Woman-Owned Business of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes Mayhew’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the Vermont healthcare community. Founded in 2020, Mayhew’s growing consulting firm, now supported by 25+ advisors, provides operational strategy, compliance support, financial performance improvement, technology integration, and workforce development services to healthcare, nonprofit, human services, and other mission-driven organizations. 

Vermont Business Magazine While 7.5 million students receive special education services nationwide, most general educators feel unprepared to support these learners, according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Experts in neurodivergence say that gap only widens as students move into higher education. Today, one in five students in the United States has a learning difference, including a learning disability (like dyslexia), ADHD, autism, or executive function challenges. For 25 years, groundbreaking research conducted with and for neurodivergent students through LCIRT has worked to equip educators with practical, research-based strategies that help teachers better support these learners through a strengths-based approach. The result is improved student engagement, confidence, and academic success.