Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Foundation Board of Directors has appointed Christopher D. Jacobsen, Ph.D., as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 3. A nationally recognized advancement leader with a record of transformational fundraising and collaborative leadership, Jacobsen will guide the Foundation’s efforts to advance the University of Vermont and its land-grant mission through philanthropy and alumni engagement. Jacobsen succeeds Kathleen Kelleher, who has served as the interim President and CEO of the UVM Foundation since July 2025. Former CEO Monica Delisa resigned to pursue other opportunities effective July 28, 2025. Delisa had served since June 1, 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced Tuesday evening action on the following bills, passed by the General Assembly. Along with 16 bills he signed into law, he vetoed the healthcare bill S.190, An act relating to reference-based pricing and the Green Mountain Care Board. In doing so he said in part: "Advocates for this bill have claimed it would generate significant healthcare savings.  According to analysis by the Department of Financial Regulation, those claims do not hold up.  The GMCB has authority to control or reduce hospital prices and revenue." He also said there were legal problems with the bill.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invites the public to comment on the draft Tactical Basin Plan (TBP) for the West, Williams, and Saxtons Rivers Basin (also known as Basin 11). DEC completed the plan with local nonprofits, regional planners, town officials, and scientists. The plan outlines more than 75 ways to restore and protect rivers, lakes, and wetlands within a portion of Vermont’s Connecticut River Basin, covering towns from Mount Holly to Brattleboro. Members of the public can review and comment on the draft plan from June 15 to July 15, 2026.

The Vermont State Police is investigating the deaths of two people whose bodies were found following a fire early Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at a house in Chelsea. The fire was reported at about 3:15 a.m. at a single-family residence at 5 North Common. Members of multiple fire departments including Chelsea and Tunbridge responded and extinguished the blaze after approximately 3.5 hours. The building is a total loss. During a subsequent search of the structure, investigators located the remains of two people.

Vermont Department of Economic Development In late May, ACCD Secretary Lindsay Kurrle, Commissioner Lyle Jepson, Director of Business Recruitment and International Trade Tim Tierney, and a crowd of stakeholders and partners celebrated a landmark business expansion in the Northeast Kingdom. Wiedmann Electrical Technology, which manufactures high-grade insulation for electrical transformers, opened a new facility in St. Johnsbury that will support an estimated 60-70 jobs. Weidmann invested more than $40 million in the project, with help from a $15 million tax credit courtesy of Evernorth Rural Ventures, and state programs like the Vermont Economic Growth Initiative (VEGI) and the Vermont Training Program (VTP).

Vermont Captive Insurance Association The VCIA 2026 education program is built for practitioners — not observers. Twenty sessions covering the full captive lifecycle, from feasibility through expansion, with 22 CPE, CRE, VT CLE, and ICCIE credits available. Plus several dynamic discussion group sessions. Early bird discounts ends June 30.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Historic Preservation Office has awarded the 2026 Preservation Excellence Award to the John Woodruff Simpson Memorial Library. This prestigious honor recognizes the library’s director and board for their outstanding commitment to preservation stewardship, historical documentation, and community education. The award highlights their work in sharing the outsized history and lasting impact of the small East Craftsbury library, as well as celebrating its founder and community benefactor, Jean Walker Simpson.

Vermont Business Magazine Last night, Burlington's City Council overwhelmingly approved Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak's budget for fiscal year 2027 in a 10-1 vote (1 absence). This marked the conclusion of a rigorous and collaborative budget process that the mayor started last fall – far earlier than past administrations – to ensure a strong, balanced financial plan. The $112.6 million budget reflected recent negotiations with City Councilors and continued the administration’s work to thoughtfully right-size city government to get closer to a sustainable budget in the future while also making strategic investments in our city and community.

by Lauren Milideo, UVM An estimated 25-40% of homes in the U.S. have soil contaminated with lead, a toxic heavy metal that can harm children’s development. Public health researchers know that the risk is higher in places with a legacy of industrial manufacturing, but drilling down into what parts of a community are likely to see lead soil contamination has posed a challenge to researchers. A new study published on June 15 in the journal Geohealth by UVM researchers lays out a new, fairly straightforward method for pinpointing pollution. When tested, the scientists found that patterns of soil lead contamination in two Northeastern cities, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Hartford, Connecticut, closely mirrored neighborhood demographics, with income, housing type, age, and race emerging as key predictors.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has reported have COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at a negligible level. They are at a similar level to the levels 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, Flu A and Flu B have mostly disappeared. There is still some Norovirus and Rotavirus showing up in samples. There were no outbreaks.

Vermont Business Magazine After thoughtful and analytical deliberations, The Salvation Army Northern New England Division announced today that its thrift stores located at 250 Railroad Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819, and 7 Martin Drive, West Lebanon, NH 03784, will close permanently on June 16, 2026. For many years, these stores have been a staple in their communities, providing hundreds of thousands of items of clothing, home goods, furniture, and essential household necessities to residents at low cost to help those who needed it most. Their longstanding presence reflects the deep connection The Salvation Army has shared with both communities for generations.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement agreement with the South, Burlington, Vermont-based construction company ReArch Company Inc, resolving alleged violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule at a job site in New Hampshire. These laws and regulations were designed to protect the public and children from exposure to lead paint and lead dust hazards during renovations of pre-1978 housing. Under the settlement agreement, ReArch has paid a penalty of $18,715. The settlement also certifies that the company is currently and will continue to operate in compliance with the RRP Rule.