Current News

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS Legislators want to know what hospitals are doing to address Vermont’s affordability and access issues. I’m here to tell you that hospitals, even during great uncertainty at the federal and state level, are doing everything they can to reduce costs and increase access for Vermonters. We have innovative partnerships between hospitals and EMS to provide more care in the home, partnerships between hospitals and housing organizations to give Vermonters medical care in a home rather than an emergency department. Vermont’s hospitals are rethinking the entire system of care with mid-size hospitals taking on sicker patients and smaller hospitals taking back patients from the largest hospitals to free up access at a more affordable cost. Hospitals are also taking a hard look at services and personnel and making cuts for further affordability. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.12 per gallon, down 0.6 cents per gallon from last week's $3.12/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.75/g while the highest was $3.89/g, a difference of $1.14/g. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 3.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.04/g today. The national average is down 1.4 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 10.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The Vermont Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) just opened an ACT NOW fund pool, which provides payments to farmers for common conservation and planning activities. Select EQIP conservation practices on cropland, such as cover crop, no till, reduced till and nutrient management, as well as many planning activities such as forest management plans and comprehensive nutrient management plans are eligible for this cycle of ACT NOW funding. ACT NOW allows NRCS to pre-approve a ranked EQIP application, if that application meets or exceeds the state determined minimum threshold ranking score. This means there could be less waiting time from when farms submit an application to signing a potential contract.

By Lauren Milideo, UVM Director Richard Watts and Managing Director Meg Little Reilly of the Center for Community News (CCN) presented their strategy for growing and strengthening student reporting across the country at the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College Board of Trustees’ annual winter meeting on Jan. 31-Feb. 1. At the heart of the CCN’s national strategy is its home-state laboratory: the Community News Service, which provides reporting to local news partners across Vermont. Board members learned of efforts by CCN to change the media ecosystem in “news deserts” across the United States. News deserts are defined as American counties that have only one local news outlets, or none at all. 

Vermont Business Magazine During its winter board meeting on February 2, 2025, Norwich University’s Board of Trustees unanimously elected Mr. Alfred J. “Al” Gobeille ’86 as the next Chair of the Board of Trustees. He will succeed the incumbent Chair, Mr. Alan DeForest ’75, who has served in the role for the past nine years, at the conclusion of his tenure in April. Gobeille’s election follows a thorough process developed, vetted, and executed by the Board of Trustees. A distinguished alumnus of Norwich University, class of 1986, and parent of a 2018 graduate, Gobeille brings a wealth of experience in leadership, public service, and entrepreneurship. His career spans decades and includes both public and private sector work. 

Vermont Business Magazine Special Olympics athletes, organization leaders, Unified Sports® partners, and family members from across the United States and the District of Columbia will converge on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., from February 3-5, 2025, for the annual Special Olympics “Capitol Hill Day.” This flagship event, organized by Special Olympics, includes more than 250 participants and volunteers from 48 states and the District of Columbia. 4 representatives from Special Olympics Vermont including SOVT athlete Connor Turnbaugh and SOVT President & CEO, Sarah McCaffrey will be attending to represent the state of Vermont!

by Cathedral Square CEO Kim Fitzgerald How can this be? Long-term care communities support our most vulnerable. For far too long, direct care staff have been underpaid and underappreciated. During the pandemic, they were our heroes – caring for people 24/7. During COVID outbreaks, they went to work in gowns and shields, continuing to offer compassionate care, often risking their own lives. They could not and would not leave their shift until someone relieved them. On behalf of everyone at Cathedral Square, I cannot thank them enough. Unfortunately, this continues to be their reality every day. For many, flu and COVID outbreaks are a thing of the past, but not for long-term care communities. They care for those who can’t feed themselves, those who need help dressing, and bathing, or getting in and out of bed. They care for our loved ones, those who taught us, protected us, and raised us.

by Mark Whitworth I’m gonna flap my arms and fly over the Statehouse dome. And if I should fail, I will punch myself in the face. That is the essence of Vermont’s Global Warming Solutions Act. The “flap my arms and fly” portion of the GWSA is a set of unachievable carbon emissions reduction targets. The “punch myself in the face” part is the GWSA’s invitation to sue Vermont at taxpayer expense when the unachievable targets are not met. We will then face the prospect of a judge ordering the Secretary of Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources to make rules that accomplish the impossible. It won’t be pretty.

by Treasurer Mike Pieciak As Vermont’s Treasurer, I am committed to making investments that lower costs, strengthen our economy, and support healthier communities. I believe every Vermonter deserves a fair shot at success, regardless of the situation they are born into. Yet, for too many Vermonters, the cost of health care stands in the way of investing in their future. Vermont has some of the highest health care costs in the country, forcing Vermonters to either forgo necessary treatment or be burdened with medical debt through no fault of their own. We’re all just one health crisis away from being hit with medical debt, and that debt can linger for years, dragging down credit scores and making it more expensive to buy a home, start a business, and build wealth.

Vermont Business Magazine Peter Varkonyi and Lauren Stevens built a bond over local produce, and developed a business plan to bring fresh, local ingredients to their community. With help from SCORE mentor Juan Florin, Peter and Lauren launched Brownsville’s Butcher and Pantry in November 2018, a market and café for their community offering fresh produce and in-house butchered meat. Peter and Lauren had experience, Peter an executive chef and Lauren a farm manager, but as first-time entrepreneurs they lacked confidence they were taking the right steps that would lead to success. They reached out to the U.S. Small Business Administration Resource Partner SCORE for advising and were connected to Juan Florin, a locally based mentor with a successful track record in the hospitality industry.

by Maggie Lenz and Nick Charyk On Tuesday, Governor Phil Scott delivered his budget address to a joint session of the House and Senate. If you’ve been paying attention over the years, you won’t be shocked to hear that he stuck to a familiar palette of affordability, with tasting notes of tackling property taxes, public safety, and education reform. And given the recent election results that saw more than two dozen seats flip from Democrat to Republican, let’s just say the governor enjoyed a noticeably warmer reception than in years past. And he seemed to strike an affable tone to match. Governor Scott kicked things off with a bit of Budget 101 for the new members, breaking down the difference between one-time money and base funding.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bank, with branches across Vermont, is partnering with Greenlight Financial Technology, Inc. to help the next generation build healthy financial futures. Starting today, eligible Community Bank customers now have complimentary access to Greenlight’s award-winning family finance app and debit card, available through the Greenlight for Banks program, which teaches kids and teens how to earn, save, give and spend wisely – all with parental supervision. Using the Greenlight app, parents can send money instantly, automate allowance payments, manage chores, set flexible spending controls, get real-time notifications of all transactions, and more. Kids get hands-on money management experience, along with access to Greenlight Level Up, an in-app financial literacy game with a best-in-class curriculum, educational challenges, and rewards.