Current News

Northeastern Vermont Development Association St. Johnsbury will host the Kingdom Maple Festival with a sweet Street Fair on Railroad Street. Enjoy maple-themed activities & crafts, maple products, live music, fair food and more! Also, NVDA planners continue to put finishing touches on NVDA's (draft) 2026 Regional Plan. Every eight years the Regional Plan must be updated to better reflect statewide planning goals to guide future growth and development in the three counties and 55 communities it serves. We are working diligently to comply with the statutory obligations of Act 181 which was passed into law June 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, the official organizer of the Best of Vermont Summer Festival, has announced the return of this beloved two‑day celebration on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23 at Okemo Field on Route 103 & Bixby Road. Now in its sixth year, the festival continues to bring together the people, flavors, sounds, and traditions that make Vermont shine in the summertime.

VermontBiz Vermont Mutual Insurance Group® was once again named one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont by VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. This is the eleventh year in a row the property & casualty insurer has been named a Best Place to Work since first entering the state survey and awards program back in 2016.

Every year VermontBiz surveys and reviews the policies, systems, practices and demographics of Vermont companies to identify the best places to work in the state. Included in the assessment are anonymous survey responses from employees, which account for 75% of the total evaluation.

VermontBiz The Attorney General’s Office today announced that James Craft, 28, of Fair Haven, Vermont, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Rutland Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to two felony counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials.

The Court, Judge Cortland Corsones presiding, sentenced the defendant to three to five years to serve, all suspended, with 10 years of probation. The probation conditions mandate completion of sex offender programming, limit his contact with children, and restrict his access to the internet. Mr. Craft is also required to register as a sex offender for 10 years after the completion of his sentence.

If Mr. Craft violates the terms of his probation, he may face up to five years in prison.

VermontBiz Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general and one governor in suing President Trump, challenging his unlawful Executive Order that attempts to interfere with states’ constitutional authority to administer elections by restricting voter eligibility and mail voting to lists of voters pre-authorized by the federal government. 

The Executive Order, signed on Tuesday, attempts to establish a national list of eligible voters and directs the U.S. Postal Service to transmit mail ballots only to those on the list. In the Order, the President threatens states and elections officials with criminal prosecution and the loss of federal funding if they do not comply with his demands. The coalition argues in their lawsuit that the Order would require states to act contrary to their own voter roll procedures, vote-by-mail systems, and voter registration laws. 

VermontBiz Today, Speaker Jill Krowinski made the following statement on Act 181 and pending legislation in the House:

“In 2024, we passed Act 181 which seeks to reform our decades old Act 250 land use policy and make it easier to develop housing while also making our communities more resilient in the face of rising climate disasters. Vermont’s housing crisis and the devastating flooding that impacted communities reinforced the need to reimagine how development happens in Vermont - the costs,  the time it takes to go through the development process, and where development is happening. 

VermontBiz Union Mutual announced today that it has again been named one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Vermont, marking the Company’s 13th consecutive year receiving this distinguished honor. The award is based in part on anonymous employee surveys that evaluate workplace culture, engagement, and overall employee experience.

“Our continued recognition over the past 13 years underscores the commitment, passion, and excellence of our entire team,” said Union Mutual President & CEO Lisa Keysar. “We are deeply honored to receive this award once again. Our employees are the heart of Union Mutual, and we remain dedicated to fostering an engaging, supportive, and inclusive workplace where every employee can thrive.”

VermontBiz Cigna Healthcare® has selected Heritage Family Credit Union as a recipient of their gold level Healthy Workforce Designation for demonstrating a strong commitment to improving employee health and vitality through its workplace well-being program.

“Employers that prioritize workforce vitality — by addressing workplace stress, promoting healthy behaviors, and fostering a sense of competence, autonomy, and connection — are supporting employee well-being and driving organizational success,” said Bryan Holgerson, president of Cigna Healthcare U.S. “As a company committed to creating better health care experiences and outcomes, we’re proud to recognize and celebrate employers who are building cultures of well-being across all dimensions of vitality.”

VermontBiz On Thursday, April 2, industry leaders from Vermont’s manufacturing sector, gathered at the State House to connect with legislators and political leaders to highlight the industry’s significant contributions to Vermont's economy, and to present the challenges and opportunities facing Vermont's manufacturers. With over 50 manufacturers from across Vermont in attendance, the day reflected broad, statewide engagement, several offering insightful testimony in legislative hearings with House and Senate committees. The testimony given included representatives and business owners from Nolato, Built By Newport, Vermont Frames, Chroma Technologies, and Vermont GaN Tech Hub. The day was also highlighted by an open forum and Q&A with Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers, a press conference, and the reading of a resolution on the House Floor declaring April 2, 2026 ‘Vermont Manufacturing Day.’ 

VermontBiz The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Beacon Bank, is proud to announce the 2026 Women In Leadership Luncheon, returning to Hildene’s Lincoln Hall in Manchester, Vermont. Now in its fifth year, the event has grown into one of the region’s signature celebrations of leadership, inspiration, and community, with organizers anticipating more than 200 attendees this spring. The Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, May 13 from 12pm to 2pm.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Hildene, this year’s luncheon will feature a prepared spring lunch by Pangaea, two keynote speakers, and the presentation of three distinguished awards: the Young Woman in Leadership Award, Woman of the Year Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award. Nominations for all three awards are now open at https://www.swvtchamber.com/womenluncheon 

VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce revealed the ranking of the top 65 Best Places to Work in Vermont 2026 at a ceremony on April 2nd at the Doubletree Hotel in So Burlington, VT. There were over 400 people in attendance.  “With Vermont’s tight labor market, businesses are finding it difficult to fill open positions. These businesses can say to perspective employees that their company has been chosen as a best place to work in Vermont. This will give them a leg up on recruitment,” said Katie Kittell, publisher, Vermontbiz.

Vermont Business Magazine After more than two years of stiff competition and fast-rising prices, the U.S. residential housing market experienced a rapid cooldown throughout the latter half of 2022 and the early months of 2023. Subsequently, after a turbulent few years of price surges, rapid cooldowns, and fluctuating mortgage rates, the U.S. housing market is entering 2026 with a new set of dynamics. Vermont ranks 22nd in the nation with a composite score of 54.7, signaling moderate demand despite a cooling national housing market. The median home price in Vermont is $395,900, with prices changing +4.2% year over year—above the national increase of 1.6%.