Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, KeyBank launched a year-long bicentennial celebration. Throughout 2025, Key will celebrate two centuries of service to clients, teammates, and communities. Events are planned across the company's national footprint. "KeyBank was founded in 1825 in Albany, New York. Our roots trace back to a time before electricity illuminated the night, before the automobile ruled the roadways, and before the telephone carried our voices across the continent," said Chris Gorman, KeyCorp Chairman & CEO. "I look forward to celebrating our company's rich history and showing that yesterday, today, and tomorrow, KeyBank will be here to help our clients, our colleagues, and our communities thrive." The company unveiled a digital KeyBank Heritage Center. The site gives visitors an interactive look at KeyBank's two centuries of history, highlighting important milestones and events that have shaped the bank from its founding in 1825 to its presence today, as one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies.

Vermont Business Magazine For 25 years Vermont Healthcare and Information Technology Education Center (Vermont HITEC) and the Institute for American Apprenticeships (IAA), have provided workforce and apprenticeship services to job seekers, employers, professional associations, and government agencies. As of January 1, 2025, Vermont HITEC joined forces with TFP Group, Inc. dba Training Funding Partners (TFP), a workforce funding and consulting firm located in Huntington Beach, California. The new corporate name, JobForward, represents the combination of the strengths of the two organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Matthew Luzzatto, 49, of Colchester, Vermont, was sentenced yesterday in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count of possession of child sexual abuse material. The Court, David Fenster presiding, sentenced the defendant to one to two years all suspended to be served while on probation supervision until such time that the court orders otherwise. The judge also imposed probation conditions that restrict Mr. Luzzatto’s access to electronics, the internet and minor children. 

Vermont Business Magazine Breeze Airways, the premium leisure carrier offering affordable nonstop service across the U.S., today announced new nonstop service from Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport to Charleston, South Carolina, beginning May 30. Starting today, Burlington travelers can book summer seasonal flights to Charleston on Mondays and Fridays with fares from just $49* one-way. “The addition of Charleston marks another new milestone for Leahy BTV as we continue expanding connectivity for our passengers with direct access to yet another vibrant destination,” said Nic Longo, director of aviation at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport. “With destinations now available across 14 states/districts, we are offering the most extensive network and highest quantity of destinations from Burlington!”

The Vermont State Police is investigating a missing-persons case in Bradford involving a 43-year-old man who was last seen in early January. Initial investigation suggested the disappearance of Corey Crooker was not suspicious, but further efforts by VSP have developed evidence that indicate the circumstances are potentially criminal in nature. As a part of the ongoing investigation, the Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team spent the day Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, carrying out a court-ordered search at a property on Old Post Road in Bradford. The on-scene investigation is planned to continue Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Vermont Business Magazine Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) on Tuesday joined her colleagues, including Senate leadership and Ranking Member Raskin and others at the Treasury building to call out Musk’s hostile takeover of the US Treasury Department. Members of Congress demanded to speak to the Secretary and conduct oversight of the department but were denied entry. They said that President Trump has handed over the keys to the federal government and its checkbook to an unelected billionaire. He’s invading financial systems that hold all Americans’ addresses and personal information. This information is used to send out Social Security checks, Medicare reimbursements, and tax refunds–upwards of $5 trillion in transactions a year. 

Vermont Business Magazine Promoted as the “Biggest Business Night of the Year,” the Southwestern Vermont Chamber's 2025 Annual Membership Meeting took place on Friday, January 31, 2025, at the Kimpton Taconic in Manchester, Vermont. This year's event highlighted the Chamber’s Vision 2027, a forward-thinking initiative that aims to cultivate a vibrant regional economy driven by innovation and collaboration where commerce thrives in harmony with the stunning natural landscapes and welcoming, diverse communities.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association The Department of Housing & Community Development and other state entities, engaged extensively with stakeholders and focus groups to gather ideas and suggestions for increasing affordable housing in and around state designated centers. The report outlines actionable recommendations to expand the housing supply, including updates to Act 250, increased funding for housing programs, infrastructure, the modernization of local bylaws, improving the appeals process, and exploring tax policy changes. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union is proud to partner once again with the National Guard Association of Vermont to support students from military backgrounds. Together, they are awarding $1,000 scholarships to four Vermont students: Colby Galipeau of Charlotte, VT will be attending Gordon College; Connor McNeil  of Oswego, NY will be attending Syracuse University; Abigail Gagnon of Shelburne, VT will be attending the University of Vermont; and Lily Korczykowski of Richmond, VT will be attending the College of Charleston. Students were selected from applicants who have served, or have a family member who has served in the Vermont National Guard. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on January 2, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Cedric Wormely, 58, of Birmingham, Alabama, with ten counts of wire fraud in connection with an alleged romance fraud scheme. Wormely had been previously charged by criminal complaint in September 2024. Wormely entered a plea of not guilty during an arraignment on February 3, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Wormely be detained during the pendency of this matter.

Vermont Business Magazine In the Senate Finance Committee today, Vermont Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch voted against advancing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Mr. Kennedy would be tasked with leading HHS’ ten public health service agencies and three human services agencies. “I want a disrupter in the health care system, and the one leading it. I don’t want a destroyer.”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has directed his Administration to take a disciplined and measured approach to any major proposals coming from Washington, D.C. In last week’s meeting of the Governor’s Cabinet, Scott asked his team to remain disciplined, thoughtful and factual when evaluating and responding to changes in federal policy. This includes taking time to fully assess each proposal and distinguish between what is rhetoric, and what is real, in terms of impacts to Vermont. The governor noted that while there will be areas of disagreement, there may also be policy positions which could be beneficial to Vermont.