Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine The American Red Cross of Northern New England volunteers and staff teamed up with the Brattleboro Fire Department and Team Rubicon on Saturday, April 11th to install more than 30 free smoke alarms for local families during a Sound the Alarm home fire safety event in Brattleboro and surrounding communities. Ten of the alarms were combination carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, donated by the Vermont State Fire Marshal’s Office.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has reported have COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at a very low level, similar to the negligible level seen last summer. There were no measles cases after one reported in Vermont in February in Washington County and the rate nationally is low. While there was no measles virus detected recently, RSV, Influenza B and Norovirus remained elevated at all the Vermont wastewater testing sites. There was 1 COVID outbreak last week (0 the week before), with 1 in Long-Term Care Facilities and 0 in schools.

Vermont Business Magazine Join the Vermont Department of Labor for an upcoming Town Hall focused on Filing Quarterly Wage and Contribution Reports in the modernized Unemployment Insurance (UI) system. This virtual session is exclusively for VLCT and PACIF members, and will provide employers, payroll professionals, and other stakeholders with important updates and a firsthand look at what to expect as the department transitions to the new UI platform.

Ben & Jerry's Homemade Today’s finally here – the most Ben & Jerry-est day – Free Cone Day!🍦🎉 As you may know, Free Cone Day was officially born in 1979, a day that has always been about thanking the fans, and this year will be no different. Here’s the scoop: From 12-8PM, fans can stop by their nearest participating Scoop Shop for their go-to flavor, or to try some of the latest innovations (hello Honey Graham Latte!). And yes – ice cream lovers can get in line as many times as they would like all day. We encourage it!

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) is pleased to announce its celebration of the Week of the Young Child, April 11-17, 2026. This special week coincides with the national Week of the Young Child celebration organized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and comes 100 days into NAEYC’s centennial year. The Week of the Young Child — now in its 55th year — is an annual celebration that focuses public attention on the needs of young children and their families and recognizes the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.