Current News

by Kevin Chu Personal growth is universally celebrated. We encourage people to pursue education, seek professional development, and advance in their endeavors. We applaud entrepreneurs who take risks, innovate, and build successful enterprises. We praise people who overcome adversity and become more resilient in the process. Yet, when it comes to Vermont’s communities, there is hesitation to embrace the same idea of growth, with some even calling for degrowth. Population growth and new housing developments are treated as threats that need to be protected against. Protection of what and for whom? What if the real danger is not growing? We celebrate growth on an individual level—let’s extend that sentiment to our state as a whole.   

Vermont Business Magazine To celebrate McDonald’s 50th anniversary in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities, Vermont McDonald’s restaurants have extended their fundraising window for the iconic Shamrock Shake from two to six weeks this year. Beginning February 10th, local owner/operators will donate $0.25 cents from each fan-favorite shake sold during this time to provide support to families with children who are ill or injured. Restaurants across New England have raised a combined $270,000 over the past three years for RMHC during the Shamrock Shake fundraiser, with Vermont McDonald’s customers having helped raise $23,000 of that total. New England operators have set a goal of raising $100,000 this year.

Vermont Business Magazine Mack Molding, a leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services, announces it has made its largest investment in plastic injection molding presses in more than 25 years, with over $3 million dedicated to new presses, auxiliary equipment, and automation enhancements. This major upgrade is set to bolster manufacturing capabilities, improve efficiency, and strengthen the company's ability to meet increasing customer demand.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) this week in introducing the Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure that hospitals caring for large numbers of Medicaid and uninsured patients in Vermont and other rural states receive their fair share of federal funding. The Senators’ bill would establish a nationwide federal funding minimum for disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) and create a federal floor of $20 million per state for the Medicaid DSH program. The program will then grow at a “low” DSH percentage inflation rate after the first five years.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that during an arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on February 5, 2025, Alex Patin-Patin, 28, of Ecuador, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with being unlawfully present in the United States after having been previously removed by immigration officials. At a detention hearing held on February 6, 2025, Judge Doyle ordered that Patin-Patin be detained during the pendency of this matter.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell to their lowest levels in almost three months for the week ending February 1, 2025. New claims were 348, down 43 claims from the week before and are 49 fewer from last year. The holiday season brings wild swings in claims as temporary workers are hired and then laid off. The stability of the last few weeks should last until the end of the ski season. Claims were 181 at the end of September 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine After four months of organizing, today a majority of the roughly 150 Registered Nurses at Northwestern Medical Center (NMC) in St Albans voted 72-45 to formalize their union. Emily Millman, RN and union organizing committee member, said, “Today the nurses spoke loud and clear– we want to be part of the decision-making team at NMC. We want safe, compassionate, excellent care for our patients. We want our little hospital to be the pride of our community– not least because most of us and our families are part of this community.  Once the votes are certified, RNs will begin the process of bargaining their first contract with the NMC administration. 

Vermont Business Magazine Members of Vermont's congressional delegation voiced their disapproval over several moves by the White House, questioned nominees to key posts, demanded answers on the impact of current and impending tariffs on the local and national economies and opposed attempts to close the Department of Education.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced Commissioner of Health Mark A. Levine MD will be retiring at the end of March 2025. “Dr Levine has been a tremendous asset, to not only me, but the entire State of Vermont. I know this decision weighed heavily on him, as he deeply loves helping others, which was apparent throughout his career in medicine as well as his last eight years in public service,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I will be forever grateful for his advice and counsel over the years, but especially during the pandemic, as he appeared with me daily at press conferences during those difficult days, giving much comfort to Vermonters as our very own “Country Doc.” I wish him well in the next chapter of his life.” Dr. Levine, 71, of Shelburne was first appointed by Governor Scott in 2017 and is currently one of the Administration’s longest-tenured commissioners. He led his department through the COVID-19 pandemic and has served as a key advisor on public health matters.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (DHP) and the Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation awarded grants totaling $357,207 to 22 municipalities and non-profit organizations in nine counties to facilitate the restoration and rehabilitation of Vermont landmarks and important historic buildings and structures. These grants will help to leverage more than $1 million in restoration and rehabilitation efforts. Vermont Historic Preservation Grants are one-to-one matching grants for up to $20,000 to be used to rehabilitate civic and community resources that are vital to Vermont’s historic downtowns, villages, and rural communities. 

Vermont Business Magazine Treasurer Mike Pieciak’s Task Force on the Federal Transition held a webinar with local and national immigration experts to help Vermont employers understand their rights and obligations during a workplace visit from Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). The discussion, which involved over 700 participants representing businesses and organizations across Vermont, was hosted in partnership with the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR).

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the House gave initial approval to H.141, the FY25 Budget Adjustment Act (BAA). Every year the legislature must pass a BAA, midway through the fiscal year, that rebalances accounts and ensures that our state always maintains a balanced budget. Following the House vote, Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski and Representative Robin Scheu, Chair of the Committee on Appropriations, spoke on the important investments in the bill: “This budget adjustment continues the critical investments to build affordable housing, support our veterans access services and health care, ensure older Vermonters have the resources they need, keep Vermont families facing homelessness housed through the winter, and support communities that were impacted by the devastating floods over the last two years. We must address the problems of today while advancing policies that support the future of all Vermonters and builds a robust economy that works for everyone.”