Current News

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) recently led Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.),  Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in reintroducing the Withstanding Extreme Agricultural Threats by Harvesting Economic Resilience (WEATHER) Act, legislation that calls for the development of an index-based insurance policy that is more responsive to crop and income losses faced by farmers as a result of extreme weather. This would be especially beneficial to farmers in Vermont following floods in July 2023 and July 2024, which impacted nearly 31,000 acres of farmland across the state and resulted in at least $50 million in agricultural losses and damages.

Vermont Business Magazine On January 18, more than 50 GlobalFoundries (GF) volunteers hosted 38 FIRST LEGO League teams for the Vermont State Championship. Over 270 elementary school students and their coaches brought their LEGO robots and Innovation Projects to GF's Essex Junction location for a day of exciting competition and fun. GlobalFoundries is the state program sponsor of FIRST® LEGO® League and the first-time host of the Vermont State Championship. This was also the inaugural event for GF Vermont’s newly refurbished common area and event space. Event Master of Ceremonies, Kevin Cofelice, got the day started with Opening Ceremonies, where over 700 VIPs and guests heard from GF Vermont’s Senior Director of Manufacturing Operations Chris Gillman, Fab 9 Vice President and General Manager Ken McAvey, State Coordinator of FIRSTinVT Joe Chase, and a special keynote from Guy Shaffer, a FIRST alumnus and Equipment Engineer at GF Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Champlain Valley Fair, and the ten best days of summer, returns on August 22nd through August 31st, 2025, with thrilling midway rides, savory fair food, tremendous vendor offerings, educational agricultural shows and exhibits, plus incredible grandstand performances and events. We are excited to share some early information on what’s coming in 2025. Classic rock will open the Fair on August 22nd with 38 Special & Loverboy! For those looking for a night of fun and laughter, Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias will take the stage on Friday, August 29th. Country artist Dustin Lynch joins the lineup on Saturday, August 30th. Rapper and DJ Lil Jon will rock the stage and close out the Fair on Sunday, August 31st. We will continue to share information as we secure additional shows and fill out the 2025 Bud Light Concert Series lineup. 

Vermont Business Magazine Fans rejoice! Ben & Jerry's is launching a BRAND NEW product lineup at retailers nationwide: Sundaes – all the joy and indulgence of a decadent ice cream sundae without the hassle of building it yourself. Just pop open the lid! Ben & Jerry's Sundaes line includes four delectable, over-the-top concoctions – each flavor features chunks and swirls, with a decadent whipped topping layer and even more chunks sprinkled on top, of course.

Vermont Business Magazine Coldwell Banker Carlson Real Estate is thrilled to announce that several of our outstanding agents and teams have been recognized as Coldwell Banker 2024 Top Performers. This prestigious accolade places them among the best in the Coldwell Banker network and within the real estate industry, reflecting their exceptional dedication, expertise, and commitment to their clients and communities.

Vermont Business Magazine WhistlePig Whiskey, the leading independent craft whiskey maker, is taking on big bourbon in its own backyard. Ten years after sparking the Rye revolution with its launch of WhistlePig Small Batch Rye - Aged 10 Years, WhistlePig is now the fastest-growing super-premium Bourbon and will go whole hog on Bourbon this year with the introduction of WhistlePig Snout-to-Tail Bourbon - Aged 10 Years. The ‘perfect 10’ partner to Small Batch Rye, WhistlePig’s Snout-to-Tail Bourbon turns tradition upside down with a boldly innovative craft process and the opening of a disruptive brand outpost in summer 2025: The WhistlePig PiggyBank in Louisville, Ky.

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First, Vermont Business Magazine The Washington State woman, who authorities say was involved in a shootout that left two people dead, including a veteran U.S. Border Patrol Agent in Orleans County last week, will remain in custody pending further proceedings in federal court in Vermont. The defense for Teresa Youngblut, 21, did not contest the detention arguments made by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Lasher on Thursday. Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ruled Thursday in Burlington there were sufficient reasons to hold Youngblut without bail pending further hearings. He reviewed the arguments and written motion by Lasher and an FBI affidavit explaining the case. Doyle set a probable cause hearing for Friday Feb. 7 in U.S. District Court in Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) Child Nutrition Programs is seeking sponsors for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This program, also known as Summer Meals, is federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by AOE Child Nutrition Programs. Funds are available and sponsors are needed to provide meals to children at summer food program sites. Sponsors can be supervisory unions, school districts, private non-profits, government entities, and non-profit residential camps. The After School and Summer Meals Eligibility Mapper helps identify potential meal site locations. 

Vermont State Police On January 31st, 2025 at approximately 0552 hours Troopers with VSP Williston were notified of a single vehicle crash on the I-89 Southbound, Exit 13 offramp in the town of South Burlington. Upon arrival to the scene, Troopers learned from responding medical personnel with South Burlington Fire Department that the operator of the vehicle, identified as Edward T. Bolin (age 51) of Winooski, VT had been pronounced deceased.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today announced an initial victory in her lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s Office of Management & Budget’s directive freezing federal grants and loans. Today a federal judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit filed by Vermont and a coalition of 22 other states. The temporary restraining order prohibits the Trump administration from imposing a blanket freeze on federal funding. This temporary restraining order is valid until the Court rules on a motion for preliminary injunction.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak announced that the City will open a cold weather emergency shelter at the Miller Center at 130 Gosse Court in response to the dangerously cold weather forecasted this weekend.  After reviewing weather modeling in consultation with the City’s Emergency Management Director, officials have determined the forecasted temperature on Saturday evening, February 1, meets the City’s criteria for operation of an extreme cold weather shelter. Hours of operation will be 5:00 PM February 1– 8:00 AM February 2. The National Weather Service is currently forecasting evening temperatures diving well-below zero with windchill on Saturday evening, into the early morning hours on Sunday. 

Vermont SBA District Office Cybercrime is a very real threat for the vast majority of Americans, and small businesses are no exception. In fact, a recent survey from Hiscox found that 41% of small businesses were victims of a cyberattack in 2023, with the median cost coming to $8,300. The good news is there are measures small business owners can take to ensure the safety of themselves and their employees. January 28th was Data Privacy Day, that makes now a great time to bone up on cyber safety best practices.