Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives for all, has awarded  Community Bank Silver recognition in the 2024 Well-being Works Better Scorecard, representing a notable commitment to the health of its workforce and community. Built on the Association’s 100-year history of saving and improving lives, the Scorecard brings together emerging research and input from leading experts to help employers create a healthy and effective work environment. Organizations can earn a recognition level of Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum based on their adherence to the Association’s science-backed recommended practices in areas such as health equity, burnout prevention, compensation and benefits, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) announced Monday the submission of a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed to address deficiencies with Vermont’s existing Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit program over the next four years. The proposed work will ensure agricultural water quality protections meet Clean Water Act obligations through an ANR-led and managed CAFO program. The CAP was submitted in response to a directive from the EPA to revamp Vermont’s CAFO program to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act following its review of a petition submitted by the Conservation Law Foundation. The plan is now with EPA for their review and comment, with feedback expected in early 2025.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Emily St. Peter, 46, of Rutland, Vermont, was arraigned today on one count of felony Medicaid Fraud. The charges brought against Ms. St. Peter are the result of an investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU), which found Ms. St. Peter had falsely billed Medicaid for services that she did not provide, as a caregiver for an individual in the Rutland area, defrauding Vermont Medicaid of over $18,000 in public health care funds.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.10 per gallon, down 3.1 cents per gallon from last week's $3.13/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.69/g while the highest was $3.36/g, a difference of 67.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 3.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.97/g today. The national average is down 8.7 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 17.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Commissioner of Finance & Management Adam Greshin has announced a public forum for comment on FY 2026 State budget development. The governor is required to enable public participation in the development of goals and in the general prioritization of spending and revenue initiatives. Members of the public with thoughts, comments, or suggestions regarding the development of the FY 2026 budget are invited to participate via an online survey or through a link to a brief budget presentation and public comment page. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Shires' Holiday Inn Tours kicked off with a record-breaking start this past Saturday, December 7, delighting guests and supporting local charities in our community. With 162 attendees—up from 113 last year—this beloved tradition has raised an impressive $2,500 so far.  The organizers of the event, The Shires Destination Marketing Organization and the Manchester Business Association, will continue the tradition of passing along all proceeds to the Manchester Community Food Cupboard, the Arlington Food Shelf, and Bennington County Meals on Wheels.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The Farm & Forest Viability Program of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board has grant awards available for on-farm capital improvement projects that make a positive impact on water quality. These grants are designed to help farm businesses undertake projects that improve on-farm water quality, help farms comply with water quality regulations, and improve overall farm viability. Eligible businesses can apply for up to $50,000, and all awarded funds require a 1-to-1 match.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House Democratic Caucus met on Saturday to elect its leadership team for the upcoming legislative biennium and reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the critical issues facing Vermonters across the state. The caucus nominated Representative Jill Krowinski, the incumbent Speaker of the House, to continue her role. The final vote for the position will be held the first day of the legislative session by the Secretary of State. Speaker Krowinski, who has served as Speaker for four years, expressed her gratitude and commitment to leading the House through the challenges ahead. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) this week filed a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to establish term limits for U.S. Supreme Court Justices. The amendment would institute nonrenewable, 18-year terms for new U.S. Supreme Court Justices, with a new term starting every two years. The Senators’ amendment aims to restore confidence in the Court, eliminate political gamesmanship from the nomination process, and reinforce judicial independence. Public trust in the Supreme Court has eroded in recent years. Following the 2024 Supreme Court term, only 16% of Americans had “a great deal of confidence” in the Court. The vast majority of the country supports the establishment of term limits for Supreme Court Justices and 49 of the 50 states have determined judicial term restrictions are appropriate for those serving on their highest court. 

by James Rea, UVM Leahy Institute The Ford Foundation has awarded a $250,000 grant to the University of Vermont’s (UVM) Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships to expand its statewide summer internship program and amplify the Institute’s efforts to provide clear, accessible data to feed economic and community development work throughout the Green Mountain State. The Ford Foundation grant will allow the Leahy Institute to add a second cohort to its Statewide Summer Internship Project. The program sends UVM students to rural Vermont communities for eight weeks of employment, community engagement and learning. 

Vermont Business Magazine For over a decade, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce has brought together industry peers to facilitate sourcing and procurement opportunities at the Manufacturing Summit. This year, 130 industry leaders and manufacturing professionals from across Vermont, New England, and Canada convened to collaborate, share insights, and explore solutions to the sector’s most pressing challenges. Held on November 13-14 at the recently renovated Hotel Champlain in Burlington, the event included an in-person networking reception followed by a robust day of programming designed to strengthen connections and spark collaboration. 

Vermont Business Magazine The 2024 Vermont Maple Conference, Dec 9-14, will offer options for both online and in-person learning with informative and engaging sessions led by maple industry experts and maple producers. University of Vermont (UVM) Extension and the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association (VMSMA) will host the hybrid conference, with funding assistance from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. Additional conference sponsors include Lapierre, Farm Credit East, Atlas CopCo, Burch Bottle, and Dominion & Grimm. Daily sessions will be of interest not only to sugar makers but also to foresters who work with maple producers and forest landowners looking to lease to a producer. Forestry credits will be available for the online and in-person sessions of the entire conference.