Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company, has been named to Forbes “America’s Best Midsize Employers” list for 2025. Casella was the only company in the waste, recycling, and resource management services industry—and the only company headquartered in Vermont—to be recognized among the nearly 500 organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led ten of their colleagues from disaster-impacted states in demanding answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on the potential security breach created by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has reportedly accessed the sensitive personal data of disaster victims. The Senators also requested more information on the procedures FEMA follows to protect data from misuse, and if DOGE's unaccountable agents were in compliance with federal law. Senators Welch and Padilla were joined by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The US Bankruptcy Court is in process of converting the iSun Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing from last June into a Chapter 7 liquidation. iSun was the parent company of the solar installation company SunCommon in Waterbury. Following the iSun bankruptcy filing, SunCommon was subsequently acquired by Siltstone Capital, a private equity firm from Texas and folded into a renewable energy company called Clean Royalties, which continues to operate SunCommon. It also has an office in upstate New York. Mike McCarthy, Director of Sales for SunCommon, said the Chapter 7 filing by its former owner does not include SunCommon. He said that SunCommon was mentioned in the recent Chapter 7 filing because it was one of the legacy DBAs under iSun. "The current business is alive and well, employing dozens of Vermonters and doing great work installing solar, and energy storage across the state," McCarthy said.

Vermont State Police The victims in the case have been identified as Lynn Gilman age 59 and Burton Richardson age 63, both from Rochester, VT.  The vehicle was located on the shoulder of VT Route 14, in the town of Brookfield, just north of the intersection of Brown Drive. Ms. Gilman was located in the driver’s seat and Mr. Richardson was located in the front passenger seat. No additional information is available at this time.

Vermont Business Magazine Northfield Savings Bank Chair of the Board of Trustees, John W. Lyon, announces today that Thomas S. Leavitt, President and CEO of the Bank, will be retiring in early autumn 2025. Leavitt has served as NSB’s 14th president since October 1, 2014. He previously served as president and CEO of MountainOne Financial in Massachusetts, had long tenure on the leadership team of Merchants Bank in Vermont, and worked nationally in the industrial distribution and safety equipment sectors. He grew up in Burlington, Vermont and earned degrees from University of New Hampshire and University of Pennsylvania Wharton School. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America, today announced details around the replacement of the Superstar chairlift and its spring skiing and riding operating plans for 2025. The Superstar Express Quad will close to the public on Sunday, April 13th to begin construction of its replacement, a new 6-passenger high-speed lift for guests’ enjoyment. Before bidding farewell, Killington will celebrate the lifts 38 years of service with a special sendoff party in true Killington fashion. Because of the new Superstar lift replacement this summer into early winter, the Audi FIS Ski World Cup will take place at Copper Mountain, Colorado over Thanksgiving weekend 2025. The race is expected to return to Killington Thanksgiving Weekend 2026. 

Vermont Business Magazine A growing partnership between University of Vermont Medical Center and the Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) aims to help people of color adjust to life in Vermont and build the personal and professional relationships community leaders say are crucial to both individual wellbeing and keeping residency students in the state after they complete their clinical training.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northern Borders Regional Commission has announced funding for Salvation Farms, a Vermont-based nonprofit, to establish a food processing hub in collaboration with the Lamoille Economic Development Corporation. Located at 48 Congress Street in Morrisville (the former Walgreens), this facility will support local farmers by aggregating and processing surplus fruits and vegetables—perfectly edible food that might otherwise go to waste due to market limitations. The new hub will create additional revenue opportunities for farmers while making locally grown food more affordable for institutions such as Meals on Wheels programs, schools, and correctional facilities.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 cases is down, hospitalizations are unchanged and fatalities increased slightly, but are still lower than this time last year. There were 6 fatalities since the previous week's report, which reported 5 deaths. Hospitalizations held at just over 10 after being at their highest levels since October. Wastewater testing continues to show higher levels than in the fall, especially in Montpelier, but also at most test sites. There was only 1 reported outbreak. The number of reported COVID cases decreased for the second week, from 189 to 162; they were at 67 in early December. 

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, Vermont Association of Hospitals & Health Systems The Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard testimony on hospital financial measurements and audits. Dr. Nancy Kane, who has over 40 years of experience as a health care consultant on financial and strategic issues and was a professor of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, testified that a few financial metrics can capture the picture of a health care system and that audited financials are already widely available. What is needed now is the financial literacy to understand the data. The Office of the Vermont State Auditor testified that the UVM Health Network should be under the Green Mountain Care Board’s authority and that the Auditor’s Office should work with the Green Mountain Care Board.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery (VAMHAR), in collaboration with Recovery Partners of Vermont (RPV), is pleased to announce Recovery Day 2025, scheduled for Wednesday, February 19th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Governors’ Ballroom at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier. Recovery Day is an annual advocacy celebration dedicated to honoring the power of substance use recovery and the diverse pathways individuals undertake on their recovery journeys. This year’s theme, “Recovery Rooted in Community Connection,” emphasizes the vital role that community support and peer connections play in successful recovery outcomes.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery (VAMHAR) has introduced the Dr. Mark Depman Trailblazer Award, a new honor that will be presented for the first time at Recovery Day 2025. The Award was created to honor the life and work of the late Mark Depman, MD. Dr. Depman joined University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center in 2007, as an attending physician in the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED), and served as ED medical director for seven years. He also served as a regional physician leader for University of Vermont Health Network and a member of the hospital’s Board of Trustees.