Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Open Approach, a premier managed IT and security provider, proudly announces it has achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 Level 2. This milestone completes a powerful “Gold Standard” security stack alongside the firm’s Cyber Verify Level 3 and SOC 2 Type 2 certifications, placing Open Approach among the top tier of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) worldwide. By reaching CMMC 2.0 Level 2, Open Approach is formally aligned with the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) advanced cybersecurity standards designed to safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). This certification confirms that Open Approach has implemented, documented, and operationalized the stringent controls required to support organizations working with sensitive defense-related data.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP) has announced that significant historic preservation and restoration projects are underway at five state-owned historic sites. These critical infrastructure improvements are designed to stabilize and protect Vermont’s cultural landmarks, ensuring these special places are preserved and accessible for future generations. The 2026 project slate represents a continued investment in the stewardship of Vermont’s diverse heritage. Following recent years of record-breaking attendance at state sites, these updates focus on long-term structural integrity, historical authenticity, and accessibility. New exhibits are planned at many of the sites once these restoration projects are completed.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House unanimously approved H.775, a major housing bill that would free up an additional $30 million for local investment in housing and economic development through Treasurer Pieciak’s 10% in VT program. The 10% in VT program authorizes the Treasurer’s Office to invest 10% of the State’s average daily cash balance into projects that grow Vermont’s economy and the State’s taxbase. H.775 would expand the program’s lending capacity by 2.5%. Treasurer Pieciak has invested over $130 million into new housing development through the 10% in VT program—supporting over 1,700 homes including affordable, market-rate, workforce, and senior housing.

The Vermont State Police arrested a suspect late Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in connection with the killing of a man in Brownington. Ariana Rodger, 43, of Newport was taken into custody on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree aggravated domestic assault, and violation of conditions of release. The court ordered Rodger jailed without bail pending arraignment, which is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Newport. The investigation into this incident remains active and ongoing. VSP will release the name of the victim following autopsy, which is expected to take place Thursday at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today filed three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) that would block the sale of nearly $658.8 million in offensive U.S. weaponry to Israel amid President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s illegal, premeditated and unconstitutional war with Iran. Joining Sanders as cosponsors of these resolutions are Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont). Earlier this month, the Trump administration notified lawmakers of its intention to declare an “emergency” and bypass Congress to sell more than 20,000 bombs to the Israeli government. These bombs are directly implicated in tens of thousands of civilian deaths in Iran, Lebanon and Gaza.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.72 per gallon, up 22 cents per gallon from last week. Prices are up 72 cents/g from a month ago and 60 cents/g from this time last year, according to AAA. The war in Iran has created chaos and uncertainty, resulted in drone strikes on shipping and pushed Brent crude to a more than three-year high, before falling to about $105 a barrel today, Gasoline prices are at their highest point since 2022. The lowest price in the state this week was $3.25/g while the highest was $5.19/g, a difference of $1.94/g. Prices are lowest in Bennington ($3.66/g) and Windham ($3.63/g) counties and highest in Lamoille ($3.76/g), Grand Isle ($3.79/g) and Franklin ($3.80/g), according to AAA.

by Senator Anne Watson and Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale We were glad to reach unanimous agreement in the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee on S.325. This bill keeps the work of Act 181 moving forward, but recognizes something we knew from the start — this is a big change to how we create opportunities to build homes, grow businesses, and use our land in Vermont, and it’s going to take time to get it right. As the initial draft maps have come out, we’ve heard loud and clear from Vermonters — especially in our rural communities — who are worried about what this could mean for their land, their livelihoods, and their towns. Those concerns are real, and we take them seriously.

Vermont Business Magazine The following is a statement from Sharron Harrington, Executive Director of the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) and Emilie Tenenbaum, Executive Director of Let’s Grow Kids Action Network (LGKAN) on the Vermont Senate’s passage of S.206, the Early Childhood Educator Profession Bill: The Senate’s passage of S.206 brings Vermont one important step closer to the stable, qualified, respected early childhood educator workforce we need to meet families’ child care needs. This bill strengthens this critical workforce, and is Vermont’s next step in building a quality, affordable, and accessible child care system. The bill advanced with bipartisan support by a vote of 21-7.

VNRC & VCV Now that we’ve passed the “crossover” deadline in the VT Legislature - when bills need to have passed out of policy committees - we wanted to provide a snapshot of what’s still moving, and what got left behind. There are a LOT of environmental bills in play this year, so buckle up. The good news is that despite the challenging times, we’re seeing forward progress on clean energy, new regulations on data centers, ongoing work to reduce toxic chemicals, pro-democracy initiatives, and thoughtful work to ensure our land use laws continue to support housing while also protecting our environment. 

Vermont Business Magazine During the spring fish spawning season, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) wants to remind Vermonters that permitted lake encroachment construction projects and non-chemical aquatic plant control projects on public lakes and ponds are typically not allowed from March 15 to July 1. Examples of projects that are typically not allowed during this period include adding rock or other material to the water for shoreline stabilization (such as riprap or seawalls), boathouse reconstruction, dredging, bottom barriers, diver assisted suction harvesting, or other projects that disturb the lakebed.

by Denise Smith, VCRD Ask anyone how many towns there are in Vermont and you’ll hear a range: 251, 252, maybe 256 depending on whether you count unincorporated towns and gores. What doesn’t change is this crucial fact: nearly all of them rely on the labor of love of volunteers. Neighbors serve on selectboards, planning commissions, development review boards, nonprofit boards, and fire departments and emergency services. At the same time, municipal revenues have remained constrained with competing priorities from increasing healthcare and infrastructure costs, natural disasters, and the impacts of declining grand lists. There is little room in municipal budgets, if any, to hire additional staff to manage the increasingly complex world of grants, compliance requirements, infrastructure financing, housing development, and economic revitalization.

Vermont Business Magazine The restoration of wild turkeys in Vermont is one of the Fish and Wildlife Department’s most notable wildlife restoration efforts.  It began on February 28, 1969, when wild turkeys were live-trapped by the department’s former turkey biologist William Drake in southwestern New York and stocked in Pawlet, Vermont. Loss of habitat through extensive forest clearing and unregulated subsistence harvest of wild turkeys led to their demise by the late 1800’s.  For decades, Vermonters did not see wild turkeys or hear the gobble of a tom on early spring mornings.