Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George officially has launched her 2026 re-election campaign, before a crowd of more than 50 supporters, advocates, and community leaders last Thursday at Hotel Vermont in Burlington. George is seeking her third term in the August 11 Democratic primary. Her campaign is centered on what she calls a "fair, smart, and fearless" approach to prosecution, one that pairs accountability with evidence-based strategies like treatment courts, recovery services, and reentry support. George has served as State's Attorney since 2017, following her appointment by Governor Scott to fill the position vacated by TJ Donovan.

Vermont Business Magazine A free, on-demand, virtual personal finance course is available for Vermont teachers and anyone interested until April 30, Treasurer Pieciak highlighted today.  The course, provided by The Champlain College Center for Financial Literacy, offers educators up to eight hours of professional development across eight virtual sessions focusing on financial education and how to successfully integrate it into the classroom. The resource is available through April, in recognition of Financial Literacy Month.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets is launching a free nine-event series designed to connect Vermont farms and restaurants, kicking off April 28 and running through September with events spread across the state. These events are for Vermont farmers, producers, and restaurant buyers who want to build stronger, more effective working relationships around local sourcing for the restaurant market channel.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s construction and development industry enters the 2026 construction season at a paradoxical moment: The challenges are immense, the constraints are real and yet the work keeps coming. As Richard Wobby, Executive Vice President of AGC/VT, puts it plainly, Vermont is navigating “a period of significant pressure but also meaningful opportunity.” The national picture is familiar by now  —  high interest rates, rising material costs, and persistent labor shortages  —  but Vermont’s experience is shaped by a combination of federal investment, local resilience, and a housing crisis so acute that even the most challenging projects continue to move forward.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Associated General Contractors of Vermont (AGC/VT) Executive Vice President Richard Wobby was presented with the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Citizen of the Year during the Chamber’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration March 17. The award was presented by Jeannette Kingsbury, president of the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, at the Elks Lodge in Barre. Wobby was recognized not only for his decades of leadership in Vermont’s construction industry, but for his extensive record of community service, and the energy and heart he brings to it. His hands-on approach across Central Vermont has played a central role in initiatives that have made a measurable difference across the state

by C.B. Hall, Vermont Business Magazine This year, the list of the Vermont Agency of Transportation's construction projects (sidebar) includes numerous jobs that had been scheduled for last year. What's going on? In a joint hearing held by the House and Senate transportation committees in January, AOT's secretary, Joe Flynn, provided a partial answer to that question when he presented the Scott administration's transportation budget proposal - with a deficit of approximately $33 million on the revenue side. To plug the hole, the proposal calls for instituting the following economies: $5.4 million saved with revision of budgetary assumptions and deferral of construction and maintenance projects, $7.5 million by eliminating 62 staff positions; $8.1 million in miscellaneous other cuts, and $12.1 million gained by shifting available federal funds from project allocations to administrative functions.

Vermont State Police On Saturday at approximately 2025 hours Vermont State Police were dispatched to a reported ATV crash on Suncrest Road in Rupert. It was reported there were serious injuries involved. Troopers arrived on scene as rescue and fire personnel on scene were working to extricate one of the occupants of the vehicle. One passenger died of his injuries on scene during extrication. The investigation determined there were 5 total occupants. During investigation, Troopers suspected the operator, Ellsworth Reed, to be under the influence of intoxicants. Reed was ultimately taken into custody for suspicion of DUI.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of April 20, 2026. TPlease drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.  Projects include: Colchester, I-89 Exit 16 Diverging Diamond Interchange – Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., crews will widen the roadway, install light pole foundations and conduit, and interconnect along U.S. 2/7 and the I-89 ramps at the Exit 16 interchange. Throughout the week, intermittent single-lane closures will be in effect along U.S. 2/7 in either direction between South Park Drive and Mountain View Drive, and there will be width reductions along the I-89 ramps. Motorists should expect significant delays and plan extra travel time or consider alternate routes.

by Chris Graff It’s been 64 years since Vermonters have ousted an incumbent governor, which has led to the belief it’s impossible. This year, however, the ingredients may be in place to do so. Phil Scott is the nation’s most popular governor and after winning re-election in 2024 with an astounding 73 percent of the vote he would appear to be unbeatable. At the end of the day, though, he has an “R” next to his name; he is a Republican in the most Democratic state in the nation. Scott has worked hard to ensure he is not linked to the national Republicans or to the Trump administration. But this year is unlike any other.

by Elise Shanbacker, et al While Vermont’s visible challenges with drug trafficking maybe happening on streets and in parks, what’s happening inside residential apartment buildings is also putting citizens and their neighbors at risk, largely out of sight. These illegal enterprises are surprisingly often operating under tacit protections from State law and the resulting risks are exacerbated by a lengthy court process that takes months to resolve. And this is putting vulnerable Vermonters in harm’s way. A piece of legislation, H.772, addresses some of these issues. Known at the State House as the “landlord-tenant bill,” it is working its way through the Legislature and gained passage by a 120-21 rollcall vote in the House a couple of weeks ago. The Senate is now taking up the bill.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s commercial real estate sector is shaped by national volatility, high construction costs and shifting tenant behavior. While some segments remain resilient—particularly industrial and smaller spaces—others continue to struggle under the weight of oversupply, elevated interest rates, and economic uncertainty. Office space, especially in larger buildings, continues to show considerably high vacancy rates. Interviews with several leading Vermont developers and brokers reveal a market that is neither booming nor collapsing, but rather navigating a prolonged period of hesitation.

Vermont Business Magazine Shelburne Museum welcomes the public to kick off its 2026 season with Community Day, a free, all-ages celebration on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring new exhibitions, hands-on activities, live music, and opportunities for connection, Community Day invites visitors to experience the museum as a vibrant gathering place rooted in creativity and community. Throughout the day, visitors can explore the museum’s beloved galleries, historic buildings, and gardens while enjoying curator-led tours, artmaking sessions, games, and performances.