Current News

Vermont Business Magazine This week (March 9 – 13) is Civic Learning Week, an annual nationwide nonpartisan event that brings together students, educators, policymakers, and leaders in the public and private sectors to highlight and promote the movement for civic education.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and 29 Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump Administration for accountability and an investigations into the death of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, an American citizen who was shot and killed in the West Bank by violent Israeli settlers. Nasrallah is the ninth American citizen who has been killed in the West Bank since January 2022—to date, no one has been held responsible for the deaths of any of these Americans.   

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Colleges System (VSC) Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Sherry Kollmann as system Vice Chancellor and President of Vermont State University (VTSU) following a comprehensive national search. Dr. Kollmann brings 25 years of experience in higher education, business and public service. She currently serves as Chancellor of New Mexico State University Global Campus. During her tenure, the Global Campus grew its online enrollment to more than 3,500 students, developed more than 80 in-demand degree and certificate programs, secured $17 million in state appropriations, and generated more than $30 million in tuition revenue. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) has announced the appointment of Sarah Furman as its next Executive Director. Furman will officially begin in the role on April 6. A lifelong Vermonter, Furman brings more than a decade of executive leadership experience in commercial lending, business services, and strategic organizational management. She most recently served as Chief Lending Officer at Heritage Family Credit Union, where she oversaw all lending departments, policies, collections, and loan-loss mitigation, while guiding strategic lending growth and risk management.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.36/g, up 38.0 cents per gallon from last week's $2.98/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.88/g while the highest was $3.89/g, a difference of $1.01/g. The national average price of gasoline has risen 51.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.45/g today. The national average is up 54.1 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 41.6 cents per gallon higher than a year ago

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, today demanded answers from The Strategy Group Company, Safe America Media LLC, and People Who Think LLC about potential corruption and conflicts of interest stemming from their involvement in no-bid contracts awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The contracts, which totaled more than $220 million in taxpayer dollars, were awarded to produce an advertising campaign featuring recently-ousted Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Some of the firms involved have deep ties to Secretary Noem and her inner circle. 

Vermont Business Magazine From March 8 to March 14, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recognizes Flood Safety Awareness Week. With recent major flood events and spring flood season underway, DEC wants to remind Vermonters about the benefits of floodplain protection and how to reduce damage from flooding if your home or workplace is at risk of flooding. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) will host the first-ever Northeast Meetup at SXSW in Austin, TX, March 13. The meetup will serve as a gathering space for founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders from across the Northeast. The goal is to strengthen the connective tissue within the Northeast region while visiting far-off places like SXSW. The Northeast Meetup marks the first coordinated meetup of its kind at SXSW, uniting anyone from the Northeast to share ideas, build relationships, and amplify the region’s impact. Since the vibe is Northeast, the event will be casual, but the time will feature networking opportunities, curated discussions, and of course, wicked fun games.

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies Julie Jatlow is truly a queen. She is one of the owners of Fuse, a teen and young adult marketing agency helping brands reach the younger generation. Julie explains everything from working with the world’s biggest brands to strategies centered on youth culture, sports, and experiential marketing.

by Emily Bradbury High school seniors at home for winter break last month were likely asked–at least once–about their plans after graduation. While some Vermont students will go onto college and others directly into a job or military service, nearly 20 percent will graduate without a clear plan. In fact, Vermont has the lowest high school graduation rate and the lowest college-going rate in New England. At the same time, Vermont employers can't fill critical positions and communities need help with everything from housing to disaster response. The paradox has a solution: paid service that turns community challenges into career pathways.

Vermont Business Magazine Celebrating its 75th anniversary season this summer, Marlboro Music—the internationally renowned chamber music school and festival under the artistic leadership of pianists Mitsuko Uchida and Jonathan Biss—brings together some 80 exceptional musicians from around the world for seven weeks of intensive musical collaboration, exploration, and performance. Throughout the summer, Marlboro artists—of diverse ages, backgrounds, and perspectives—will explore chamber music works in great depth, with unlimited time and ideal conditions. Those groups that feel they have gotten to the very heart of the music will then present to the public the exciting results of their efforts during five weekends of concerts and open rehearsals from July 18 to August 16, on the Marlboro Music campus in beautiful southern Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Chocolate lovers, artisans, and makers will gather in downtown Middlebury March 14-15 for the first annual Vermont Chocolate Festival, a celebration dedicated to the craft, culture, and community of fine chocolate. Hosted in the brand-new wing of the historic Town Hall Theater, the Festival brings together chocolatiers, bean-to-bar makers, and enthusiasts for tastings, demonstrations, presentations, and hands-on experiences designed to deepen appreciation for chocolate as a global artisan product. Presented by Adagio Chocolates, a Middlebury, Vermont importer and boutique retailer specializing in intentionally curated fine and craft chocolate, the festival represents a new step in connecting chocolate lovers with the people who make it, fostering communal learning, discovery, and conversation.