Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony at The Governor’s Inn to welcome new owners Craig Weber and Dan Buryj. The event took place on the inn’s welcoming front porch, where Chamber Executive Director Carol Lighthall and Assistant Director Riley Karl joined Craig and Dan to commemorate this exciting new chapter for one of Ludlow’s most cherished historic properties. The celebration also included family and friends, as well as Art Randolph of M&T Bank, a Chamber Board Member, who joined the festivities to show their support for the couple’s new venture and the inn’s bright future.

Vermont Business Magazine Interrobang Design Collaborative, Inc., Richmond, VT, has been awarded a 2026 ADI Excellence in Packaging Gold Medal for the Backus Distillery Bourbon label. The American Distilling Institute (ADI) recognizes outstanding spirits packaging through its annual Excellence in Packaging Awards, held concurrently with the ADI International Spirits Competition.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Justin Couture, 37, of Jeffersonville, Vermont, was sentenced on Friday, May 22, 2026, in Vermont Superior Court, Orleans Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Luring a Child. Couture also admitted to violating his probation in a case prosecuted by the Orleans County State’s Attorney. The Court, Judge Rory Thibault presiding, sentenced Couture to two to five years in prison, all suspended except for six months to serve, with six years of probation. Conditions of Couture’s probation mandate completion of sex offender programming, limit Couture’s contact with children, and restrict his access to the internet. Couture is also required to register as a sex offender for 10 years after the completion of his sentence.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Jennifer Tyler, 48, of Brattleboro, was arraigned on charges of abusing a patient and engaging in unlicensed practice as a nursing assistant. The charges are the result of an investigation led by the Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) and referred to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU) for prosecution. OPR investigators discovered that Tyler lied on her application for licensure as a Licensed Nursing Assistant by failing to disclose her criminal history. Upon discovering this issue, OPR notified Tyler in May of 2025 that her provisional license to practice had been rescinded.

Vermont Business Magazine Westport Hospitality has announced the opening of The Harborvale, Autograph Collection, Burlington's newest hotel debuting in July. Located at 25 Cherry Street, the 161-room lakeside retreat sits on the shores of Lake Champlain and will join Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection, a global portfolio of more than 300 independent hotels, each selected for its original design and lasting character. The project is expected to bring approximately 100 jobs to Burlington. The Harborvale is a rebranding of the Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor.

Vermont Business Magazine The Manchester Business Association (MBA) recently announced that Executive Director John Burnham will be transitioning to a new role at the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa. To ensure continuity of the MBA’s programs, partnerships, and community initiatives, the Board has appointed two of its own members to serve as Co-Executive Directors while a formal search for a qualified Executive Director candidate is underway. Adam Koffman, of Vermont.com, and Kait Zwagerman Tyler, Marketing Consultant, will step into the Co-Executive Director roles effective May 26, 2026. Both bring deep roots in the Vermont business community and a longstanding commitment to the Manchester region and are well-positioned to guide the organization through this transition.

Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of Administration Sarah Clark today released Vermont’s revenue results for April 2026. The General Fund and Transportation Fund exceeded their monthly consensus targets while the Education Fund missed its monthly target. The state’s General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts totaled $537.6 million, exceeding the $529.3 million monthly consensus target by $8.3 million, or 1.6%. Total General Fund revenues were $444.1 million, which is $10.1 million, or 2.3%, above the $434.0 million monthly consensus cash flow target. This result was driven primarily by the better than expected performance by the Personal Income Tax (+$15.3M, or 4.7%, above consensus expectations) – partially offset by underperformance in April Estate Tax receipts (-$2.8M, or 76.4% below target) and to a lesser extent, the Meals & Rooms Tax, Telephone Tax, Beverage Tax, and Bank Franchise Tax.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, joined U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Improving "Access to Medicare Coverage Act," legislation to allow the time patients spend in the hospital under “observation status” to count toward the required three-day hospital stay for Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. 

by Matthew Morin, UVM Rural healthcare systems across the United States are under increasing strain, and Vermont is already experiencing the effects. Hospital service reductions, provider shortages, and the growing number of maternity care deserts have contributed to longer travel times and reduced access to care, particularly in rural areas. This is especially significant in Vermont, where more than 65% of residents live in rural communities. One of the clearest—and often overlooked—indicators of these systemic pressures is the loss of rural birthing services.

Vermont Business Magazine Copley Hospital is excited to welcome friends, neighbors, and supporters to the annual Stowe Art, Wine & Food Fundraiser, a beloved community tradition celebrating fine wine, local art, and outstanding food — all in support of exceptional healthcare close to home. The event will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 6 p.m. at The Jewish Community of Greater Stowe, located at 1189 Cape Cod Road in Stowe. Guests will enjoy an evening of wine tasting alongside silent and live auctions featuring fine wines, local artwork, memorable experiences, and fabulous food. The always popular wine pull returns, adding a fun and festive twist to the celebrations.

Vermont Business Magazine Children begin forming ideas about food and their bodies as early as preschool – and the messages they hear every day can shape how they feel about themselves as they grow. Studies show that among kids ages 6-8, half of girls and about one-third of boys already wish their bodies were smaller or thinner. Adults don't always realize how the language we use at home, in school, in sports, in the media and in everyday conversations can contribute to body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. A new resource, Confident Kids, offers guidance and tools for families, coaches, educators, health care providers and more to help kids develop more positive relationships with food and movement.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has reported have COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at a very low level. They are at a similar level to the negligible level seen last summer. There were no measles cases after one reported in Vermont in February in Washington County and the national outbreak is over. Meanwhile, RSV remains elevated and Norovirus and Flu A in some locations persist. Flu B, which was prevalent in Vermont and across the US during the late winter and early spring, has mostly quieted down.