Current News

Vermont Business Magazine A new report from the American Lung Association urges Vermont lawmakers to focus on ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes to reduce the overwhelming human and financial burden of tobacco use. The 2025 “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives. The “State of Tobacco Control” report grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. Vermont got two "A" scores, a "B" and two "F" scores.

Vermont Business Magazine Encore Renewable Energy, a leading renewable energy developer and operator backed by SUSI Partners, announced the closing of a $389 million financing solution from Brookfield, through its infrastructure debt platform. This transaction will accelerate Encore’s growth as an independent power producer (“IPP”) by financing the construction of a portfolio of community-scale solar and battery energy storage projects while supporting the further expansion and advancement of the company’s development pipeline. This deal employs a pioneering approach that meets the complete capital requirements for constructing and expanding a distributed generation portfolio through combined non-dilutive debt and tax equity facilities. The financing structure integrates construction-to-term debt and a tax equity bridge within a single debt facility, complemented by a preferred equity facility dedicated to tax equity financing.

by Kelly Devine Sunday may end up being the best day downtown in 2025. Thank you to everyone who made the parade celebrating the University of Vermont (UVM) Soccer Team's 2024 Division 1 championship such an unforgettable event. Here’s to hoping 2025 brings many more days like this one. First and foremost, a big shout out to the UVM Soccer Team, whose hard work and talent led to their win in overtime and this historic achievement. Thanks also go to Coach Rob Dow for leading the effort. Your perseverance and passion have brought immense pride to our community, and we are thrilled to celebrate your success. We would also like to extend our appreciation to the University of Vermont Athletic Department, the City of Burlington, and EastRise Credit Union for helping to create such a fantastic celebration. The coordination and effort that went into organizing the parade did not go unnoticed, and it truly made for a memorable day.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1 bird flu, in a non-commercial backyard (non-poultry) flock in Windsor County last week. Samples taken by VAAFM and USDA officials Tuesday, January 21st were tested and confirmed for HPAI by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. This is the fifth instance of HPAI impacting a domestic flock in Vermont since spring of 2022 and emphasizes the ongoing need for vigilance as the disease continues to be an ongoing risk to domestic birds. This case comes on the heels of another HPAI confirmation in a flock of backyard birds in Franklin County this past December.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today delivered his ninth budget address to the General Assembly, presenting a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026, which does not raise taxes or fees while making strategic investments to make Vermont more affordable, improve our demographics and grow our workforce. By focusing on fixing broken systems and investing to increase housing stock, transform our education system to improve outcomes for our kids, and address continued public safety concerns, the Governor’s recommended budget meets the challenges facing Vermonters with real policy solutions that taxpayers can afford. “With this budget and commonsense reforms, we can help more folks – from all income levels – put and keep a permanent roof over their head. We can address climate change without punishing people. We can help families feel safe in their neighborhoods once again. We can let them keep more of what they earn. We can restore left-behind communities, giving them back the pride and opportunity they once felt. And we can keep and attract the workforce and families we desperately need.”

Office of Management & Budget The American people elected Donald J. Trump to be President of the United States and gave him a mandate to increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar. In Fiscal Year 2024, of the nearly $10 trillion that the Federal Government spent, more than $3 trillion was Federal financial assistance, such as grants and loans. Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities. Financial assistance should be dedicated to advancing Administration priorities, focusing taxpayer dollars to advance a stronger and safer America, eliminating the financial burden of inflation for citizens, unleashing American energy and manufacturing, ending “wokeness” and the weaponization of government, promoting efficiency in government, and Making America Healthy Again. The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve. 

Vermont Business Magazine Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice (CVHHH) received a $10,000 grant from the Vermont Mutual Charitable Giving Fund. The grant will help fund CVHHH’s Adult Home Care program, which provides intermittent, short-term medical care, education, and support to Central Vermonters recovering from a hospital stay, injury, or surgery, and those who need assistance managing their chronic disease. CVHHH’s Home Care program is the organization’s largest in terms of the number of patients admitted and visits provided annually. CVHHH will use the funding to purchase equipment, support clinician education, and expand programming so it can continue to respond to the evolving healthcare needs of central Vermonters at home. It will also use the funding to purchase specialized devices called dopplers that home health nurses use to take blood pressure for advanced heart failure patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices, or LVADs, which are inserted surgically. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations were fairly stable after a spiking to their highest levels since early November. There was 1 fatality since the previous week's report, which also reported only 1. Hospitalizations held at just over 10 after being at their highest levels since October. Outbreaks increased slightly. Hospitalizations and general "syndromic" cases were at 10+ statewide for the week. The number of reported COVID cases increased to 181 from 163; they were at 67 in early December. Cases had fallen in April and May and were as low as 31 at the beginning of May 2024, before rising at the end of summer through the early part of the fall. Wastewater monitoring spiked the last few weeks but like the other indices, fell back somewhat but remain relatively high, especially in Montpelier. 

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration ordered a pause in all federal grants and loans, a sweeping decision that could disrupt education and health care programs, housing assistance, disaster relief and a host of other initiatives that depend on billions of federal dollars: Let’s be clear. The Trump Administration’s action last night to suspend all federal grants and loans will have a devastating impact on the health and well-being of millions of children, seniors on fixed incomes, and the most vulnerable people in our country. It is a dangerous move towards authoritarianism and it is blatantly unconstitutional. Our Founding Fathers explicitly gave Congress the power of the purse. Under our system of checks and balances, no president has the right to choose which laws to follow and which laws to ignore.

Vermont Business Magazine Executive Director Molly Gray of Vermont Afghan Alliance released the following statement in response to the January 27 White House memorandum pausing all federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs: “Overnight, the Trump Administration shut down Alliance programs for Afghans in Vermont by blocking access to the federal Payment Management System and thereby preventing the Alliance from accessing obligated federal funds. In 2023, the Alliance was one of 15 organizations nationally awarded a 3-year Ethnic Community Self Help grant that supports refugees in adjusting to life in America and integrating into Vermont communities."

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor released data on the Vermont economy for the time period covering December 2024. According to household data, the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for December was 2.4 percent. This reflects no change from the prior month’s revised estimate. Vermont has the second lowest rate in the nation behind South Dakota (1.9%). Nevada again has the highest rate (5.7%). The comparable United States rate in December was 4.1 percent, a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised November estimate. The Labor Force and number Employed both fell, while number of unemployed increased. All three data points were not considered "significant." 

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, Vermont Association of Hospitals & Health Systems As Vermont emerges from negative temperatures, things are heating up at the State House. This includes the unmerging Health Insurance Markets: The House Health Care Committee unanimously supported H. 35, which will continue to keep the small group and individual health insurance markets separate, as authorized in 2022, which takes advantage of the ACA premium subsidies and maintains lower prices for small group premiums.