Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, alongside Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education, and Reps. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, sent a letter warning against the Trump administration’s reported plans to unilaterally dismantle the Department of Education. 

Vermont Business Magazine Since 2012, the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative has supported Vermont agriculture and forestry businesses with vital investments that have helped grow their businesses and economic impact.  With $18.8 million invested in 555 farm, food and forestry projects, and an additional $30.9 million leveraged in matching funds, the Working Lands program has played an important role in the growth of Vermont’s rural economy. To celebrate these investments and their positive impacts, the WLEI Board has released the latest Impact Report detailing the significant outcomes from the entire 12 years of the program. The report contains specific details of the funding in fiscal year 2024, including special funds allocated to the program from the American Rescue Plan Act and a one-time pool of funds approved by the Vermont legislature specifically for small farm diversification and transition projects.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association Check out last month's Vermont Climate Council's (VCC) report to the General Assembly, outlining progress and activities of the VCC in meeting the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirements set by the Vermont Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) of 2020. Also, while state funding for electric vehicle incentives for individuals has been depleted, incentives are still available to support organizations in transitioning fleets to electric vehicles. Vermont businesses, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for the Electrify Your Fleet incentive program. Applicants may receive up to $2,500 for each internal combustion engine vehicle replaced or avoided, with 20 incentives allowed per fleet. 

Vermont Business Magazine Fidium has expanded its multi-gig, symmetrical speed internet service in the Milton-area, making its future-proof fiber network available to more than 4,200 homes and businesses in Milton, Colchester and Georgia. Additional construction will connect more than 800 additional area locations by the end of the year. Fidium’s expansion of its all fiber, future-proof network brings all the benefits that come with access to a fiber broadband connection to Milton. Fiber broadband drives economic growth, in particular for rural communities, increasing business growth by 213% and leading to 44% higher GDP. For individuals, fiber access resulted in self-employment growth of 10% and increased per capita income by 18%. Fiber also increases real estate values, as single-family homes with fiber access have a 4.9% higher value than those without. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) today reintroduced the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act, legislation to extend the boundary of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to include the neighboring King Farm, which is currently owned by the Vermont Land Trust. Located in Woodstock, the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park preserves a significant historical, agricultural, and natural landscape. The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park became Vermont’s first and only national park when it opened its doors to the public in 1998. 

Vermont Business Magazine Treasurer Mike Pieciak’s Task Force on the Federal Transition, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) will host a webinar for Vermont employers to discuss their rights, obligations, and steps they can take to prepare for a worksite visit from Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). The discussion will feature leading Vermont and national immigration experts. The webinar will take place tomorrow, Thursday, February 6 from 11:00AM to 12:30PM. 

Vermont Business Magazine Since 1995, VMEC has assisted hundreds of Vermont’s small and mid-size manufacturers to solve problems, improve their economic competitiveness, grow through innovation, and enhance their technological capabilities. The results include higher profits, savings in time and money, people and physical investments and the creation and retention of higher-paying manufacturing jobs with good benefits – all significantly enhancing our local, state and national economies. As Vermont’s only singularly focused resource for manufacturers, VMEC is uniquely positioned to deliver measurable impact from state and federal investments.  We are mission-driven to strengthen and empower Vermont manufacturers. 

Vermont State Police Investigators from the Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit have concluded that the Jan. 1, 2025, fire in Sandgate is accidental. The exact origin and cause are unable to be determined at this time. The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office currently lists the cause and manner of the victims’ deaths as pending further investigation. The two deceased victims in this incident were identified as Nicole Grogan, 22, and her 12-day-old son, Oliver Stratton. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark announced her office’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU) prevailed in a civil enforcement lawsuit against Phoenix Counseling & Wellness, PLC, and the company’s owner, Lauren Ann LaSante of Poultney, Vermont, for violations of the Vermont False Claims Act, which penalizes knowing or reckless abuse of taxpayer-funded programs. Yesterday, the Court, Judge Samuel Hoar, Jr., presiding, issued a judgment in the amount of $2,733,989.47 against Ms. LaSante and Phoenix PLC. The judgment consists of an unmitigated Vermont False Claims Act award of three times the amount in fraudulent claims and mandatory inflation-adjusted civil penalties for 164 false claims made for Vermont Medicaid payment between January 2019 and September 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Safer States released its 2025 Analysis of State Legislation Addressing Toxic Chemicals and Plastics finding that PFAS “forever chemical” policies will likely be more expansive in states this year. Other anticipated key focus areas for state policies addressing toxic chemicals include cosmetics and personal care products as well as plastics. The analysis also finds that states are continuing to lead the nation and the world through policies that, overall, have clear pathways to safer solutions which include transparency, phase out of bad chemicals, promotion of safer solutions, and accountability. Overall, the 2025 analysis finds that 32 states and the District of Columbia are anticipated to consider at least 340 policies on policies that address toxic chemicals and plastics in products. 

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Madison Carrig, 30, of Whitehall, New York, was sentenced Tuesday in United States District Court in Burlington to four months of imprisonment following her guilty plea to charges of access device fraud. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss ordered that Carrig pay restitution in the amount of $141,000 and serve three years of supervised release following completion of her prison term. The court ordered Carrig to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on March 18 to begin serving her sentence. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today members of the Long-term Care Crisis Coalition, comprised of long-term care providers and advocates for older Vermonters, released statements to the Legislature on the crisis facing access to the long-term care services older Vermonters depend on, and the need for investment in the state fiscal year 2026 budget to protect the vital care that enables Vermonters to age with dignity in our communities. The Governor’s proposed budget does not include support for the most vulnerable Vermonters among us who need help with bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning and socialization in their homes, in the communities they live in, and in residential settings.