Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on April 10, 2026, Jeffery Paul Coolidge, 61, of Montpelier, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., to a term of 240 months of imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Coolidge previously pleaded guilty to Distribution and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). 

Vermont Business Magazine Union Bankshares, Inc (NASDAQ - UNB) today announced results for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and declared a regular quarterly cash dividend. Consolidated net income for the three months ended March 31, 2026, was $3.0 million, or $0.65 per share, compared to $2.5 million, or $0.55 per share, for the same period in 2025. The Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.36 per share for the quarter payable May 7, 2026, to shareholders of record as of April 27, 2026.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Speaker Jill Krowinski made the following statement on Act 181: “I am incredibly thankful for the work of Representative Amy Sheldon, Chair of the House Committee on Environment, the members of House Committee of Environment, and all the Vermonters that have reached out and shared their perspectives on Act 181. These conversations have highlighted a critical issue: while some aspects of the law are working, there are some that are not. Following extensive feedback from communities across Vermont, it is clear that the ‘Road Rule’ and ‘Tier 3’ need to be repealed."

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is seeking grant applications for infrastructure projects that improve access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. In 2025, the Agency awarded approximately $6 million for bicycle and pedestrian construction and planning projects throughout the state. The AOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program improves access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians through the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects. The program improves transportation options for commuters, visitors to the state, and recreational users.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain Housing Trust has begun work redeveloping a building at 322 St. Paul Street in Burlington to create 10 new, service supported apartments. The redevelopment is part of pilot project supported by the State of Vermont to address gaps in housing for individuals eligible to receive Medicaid-funded Developmental Disabilities Services. CHT has been working with the Developmental Disability Housing Initiative (DDHI), a parent advocacy group of over 100 families, to develop a model of service-supportive housing that will offer opportunities for residents to live as fully and independently as possible.

Vermont Business Magazine The sense of belonging and connection people feel in their communities has a powerful influence on mental and physical health. At a time of polarization, disruption, and disconnection, the arts can help bring people back together to work, play, create, and solve problems at the community level, with meaningful impacts on wellbeing.  The Vermont Community Foundation has new funding available for projects and events in the visual, performing, musical, and literary arts that create opportunities for positive social interaction, engagement, and collaboration. We invite Letters of Interest (LOI) from nonprofits, schools, libraries, and other community and cultural organizations. Projects should strengthen belonging and community cohesion in ways that are likely to persist and grow.

by Peter A. Steele, Regional Administrator, SBA There’s good news for filers this tax season – and few Americans are seeing more benefits than our small businesses right here in Vermont. Nationally, the average federal tax return is up 11% over last year. Over 12 million small businesses have seen an average refund of over $7,000, and 25% of people have taken advantage of no tax on overtime. And that’s huge news for our economy. Every dollar that a small business saves will be reinvested back into our communities – into new jobs, into new equipment and new investments.

Vermont State Police On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington informed the Vermont State Police they have completed the autopsy on the woman found deceased following a fire in her apartment on Sunday evening. The woman is identified as 65-year-old Brenda Garey. The medical examiner determined that Garey died of natural causes prior to the fire. The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is ongoing but is not believed to be suspicious.

Vermont Business Magazine Age Well is proud to announce the overwhelming success of its month-long March for Meals campaign, raising more than $225,000 to support critical nutrition services for older adults across Northwestern Vermont. The annual March for Meals celebration commemorates a historic milestone in March 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed legislation amending the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include a national nutrition program for adults aged 60 and older. For more than 50 years, this federal investment has fueled the growth of the Meals on Wheels network nationwide. Locally, the need continues to rise.

Vermont League of Cities & Towns Plan now to enjoy a morning on the greens followed by lunch and prizes at Green Mountain National Golf Course in Killington. Proceeds support the Municipal Service Scholarship. April = ARPA Reporting Time! If your town was not invited to close out early, you must submit a 2026 Project and Expenditure Report even if you fully expended your ARPA funds in a prior reporting period. Beware: Cyber Criminals Prefer to Target Small Municipalities. Although headlines about cyber attacks usually feature major cities and Fortune 500 companies, criminals have quietly discovered that small local governments offer something even better: essential services under political pressure to pay, defended by IT teams stretched impossibly thin.

Vermont Business Magazine As the Netanyahu government continues its devastation in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, and its illegal war on Iran, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) announced that he will force votes to block nearly half a billion dollars in arms sales to Israel on Wednesday. These include $151.8 million worth of 1,000-pound bombs used in Gaza and Lebanon and $295 million worth of bulldozers used to demolish homes in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College and BETA Technologies, Inc (BETA) (NYSE: BETA), an electric aerospace company based in Vermont, today announced a multi-year partnership that connects students with real-world projects at BETA. The collaboration gives students the opportunity to do meaningful work while gaining practical experience and supporting BETA initiatives through a sustainable model.  As part of the partnership, an inaugural cohort of third- and fourth-year students enrolled in the College’s Software Development Methodologies course interface directly with teams at BETA as part of their academic work. The course is led by computer science professor Dr. Brian Hall and is designed to immerse students in applied, team-based projects that reflect professional industry practices.