Current News

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.

Vermont Agency of Education Academic integrity is the number one concern school leaders raise about Artificial Intelligence (AI), and for good reason. There is no magic bullet, AI detection tools aren't reliable, and most students have easy access to AI outside of school systems. So what can you actually do? This workshop digs into practical strategies: shifting assessment toward process over product, building school-wide consistency around expectations, and rethinking what we ask students to do in the first place. We'll also explore why content knowledge is the real foundation here. When students lack that foundation, AI can become a crutch instead of a tool, and that's where both integrity and learning break down.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont ranks 49th in the US for fast-food restaurants per 100,000 residents, with just 27.65 outlets per 100,000 people - the lowest in the nation. While chains such as Subway, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell are present, the Green Mountain State has significantly fewer fast-food outlets per capita than anywhere else in the country. Known for its farm-to-table culture, independent eateries, and local produce, Vermont stands out as America’s least fast-food focused state. West Virginia is named the fast food capital of the US, with 49.04 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents.

The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum will host the Vermont Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Reception on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the K-1 Lodge at Killington Resort. After postponing last year’s celebration, the Museum looks forward to honoring the combined Classes of 2025 and 2026, along with the recipients of the Paul Robbins Journalism Award, First Tracks Award, and Bill McCollom Community Award. The 2025 and 2026 Hall of Fame inductees include Ned Hamilton, a ski industry retail entrepreneur; Harry “Rebel” Ryan, alpine ski racer and industry advocate; Hannah Teter, snowboard Olympian and philanthropist; Win Smith, ski resort leader and industry executive; and John Tidd, Nordic skiing innovator and instructional pioneer. The Paul Robbins Journalism Award will go to Gary Black. The First Tracks Award will go to Noah Dines. The Bill McCollom Community Award will go to Craftsbury Outdoor Center.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont initial weekly unemployment claims more than doubled last week to nearly 800. For the week ending February 28, 2026, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that there were 790 new claims, up 406 from the previous week and up 119 from last year at this time. New claims had leveled off at under 400 after the holiday season; ongoing claims remain high. Total claims were 4,688, up 403 from the week before and are up 204 from last year at this time. Nationally, all three major stock indexes suffered this week as the bombing in Iran continued, the jobs report was bad and, from last week, inflation was up. The Fed, which meets next week, had been expected to keep interest rates where they are. But the poor employment numbers coupled with a sagging stock market will put pressure on the Fed to cut rates to stimulate the economy. On the other hand, with inflation pushing up, the Fed must consider whether a rate cut would feed higher inflation.

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, March 4, more than 150 community members, civic leaders, nonprofit executives, and business owners gathered at Retreat Farm to build momentum around a shared economic vision for Brattleboro. The event invited responses to a draft framework organized around a single goal: grow Brattleboro's population by 802 people by 2032. The initiative, called Next Generation Brattleboro, offers a clear way for every organization, business, and resident in town to contribute to the town's economic future. Born out of a smaller gathering in November, a working group of active community residents and leaders has since been compiling data, reviewing recent studies, and gathering community input — all aimed at ensuring Brattleboro is a place where each of us has the opportunity to thrive.

Vermont Business Magazine The Lake Champlain Chamber is now accepting applications for the Class of 2027 of Leadership Champlain, its flagship leadership development program. Since 1988, Leadership Champlain has graduated more than 1,200 professionals who now serve in executive roles, on nonprofit boards, in municipal leadership, and across key industries that power the regional economy. As workforce shortages, demographic shifts, and housing pressures reshape Vermont’s economic landscape, the program plays an increasingly important role in preparing leaders who understand both their organizations and the broader systems that influence them.

by Amy Spear, President, Vermont Chamber of Commerce As Vermont lawmakers return to Montpelier following Town Meeting break, the legislative session enters the phase where ideas must become decisions. For Vermont’s economy, those decisions carry real consequences. The first half of the session is often defined by hearings, proposals, and policy exploration. The second half is where priorities are tested, and choices become outcomes. Over the past several years, Vermonters have done something important. We have invested significant time and energy into planning for the state’s economic future. The Vermont Futures Project’s Economic Action Plan brought together the perspectives of more than 5,000 Vermonters and established measurable goals for workforce growth, housing development, and long-term economic opportunity.

Vermont Business Magazine Let's Build Homes commissioned a statewide poll of Vermont voters earlier this month, and the results confirm what our coalition has long known: Vermonters across the political spectrum are ready for action on housing. Vermonters are speaking with one voice. The housing shortage is not just one issue among many, it is the issue. Families are struggling, young people are being pushed out, and businesses can't find and keep workers. Communities across the state are feeling real pain. The Legislature has taken meaningful pro-homes steps in recent years, but this data sends a clear signal from every corner of the state that the public doesn't think the work is done. With three-quarters of voters demanding urgent action, we should pull every lever we can to accelerate the building of new homes in and near our existing communities.

Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce There are weeks when I am reminded just how lucky we are to live and work in Vermont. The week before last, I had a thoughtful conversation with Peter Welch about the economic realities facing our rural region. Last week, I had a wonderful one-on-one meeting with John Rodgers, who specifically wanted to hear what is standing in the way of our small businesses, and today is Town Meeting Day. Where else can you walk into a room with your neighbors and shape the future of your community? We are incredibly fortunate. But gratitude does not mean silence.

by Vermont Auditor Doug Hoffer Keeping children safe is one of state government’s most critical functions. Every day, thousands of Vermont parents entrust their kids to child care programs large and small. We decided to conduct an audit because we want to make sure the State is doing all it can to ensure they are safe early learning environments. What did we find? CDD conducted 5,254 site visits at childcare programs between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024. Licensors cited violations in 1,713 of the site visits, including 131 serious violations. Because of concerns about the completeness of CDD's Bright Futures Information System (BFIS) data, these numbers should be considered minimums.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general and two governors in filing a lawsuit to block President Trump’s latest effort to impose illegal tariffs on American consumers and businesses. President Trump’s effort to increase tariffs worldwide without congressional approval disregards the law, upends constitutional separation of powers, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act.