Current News

VermontBiz It is with great excitement that VermontBiz celebrates the remarkable achievements of all the individuals chosen as the second year of 91 Influencers here in Vermont. This prestigious honor highlights their unwavering dedication, innovation, and impact in their field and within the community, as they also inspire and lead those around them.

Vermont Business Magazine Northwestern Medical Center has hired Jonathan Billings as the hospital’s new Chief Executive Officer. Billings most recently served as Interim CEO as well as NMC’s Chief Operating Officer, and starts in the permanent CEO role immediately. “The Board of Directors is excited and honored to support Jonathan in this new role as CEO” said Barb Toof, President of the NMC Board. In his time at NMC, Billings served as the Vice President of Planning and Community Relations for many years. He also previously served as Interim CEO and most recently as COO. Billings holds a Master of Science in Health Promotion Management from Nebraska Methodist College, and is Board Certified in Healthcare Management through the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Vermont Business Magazine Homeownership in Chittenden County is about to become more attainable. O'Brien Brothers Homebuilding and Element Real Estate are proud to introduce Parkside, a thoughtfully planned new neighborhood coming to Milton in Summer 2026 that will offer buyers an opportunity increasingly difficult to find: a brand-new, energy-efficient home built with quality craftsmanship at an exceptional value. Located beside Bombardier Park, Parkside will feature 85 homes designed for the way people live today. Offering six flexible floor plans, opportunities to personalize finishes, and the quality construction O'Brien Brothers Homebuilding has become known for, the neighborhood is designed to meet the needs of first-time buyers, growing families, downsizers, and everyone in between.

Vermont Business Magazine New data shared by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, shows Vermont farmers have been forced to spend at least $1,479 more to fill their farm fuel tank because of the escalating war in the Middle East. Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee, under the leadership of Ranking Member Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), released the state-by-state data, which outlines the increase in cost to fill up a typical farm fuel tank, the increase in cost to fill up a typical grain truck, and the increase in cost to fill up a typical tractor.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont initial weekly unemployment claims rose last week after three weeks of decline. For the week ending July 18, 2026, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that there were 310 new claims, up 75 from the previous week and up 90 from last year at this time. Claims had spiked at the end of June. Summer hiring typically drives claims down. Meanwhile, total claims this week were 2,873, down 25 from the week before but up 99 from last year at this time, as claims in 2026 continue to run higher. Initial claims, which tend to be lowest in the summer, were 186 in September 2025. Nationally, stocks again are off to a bumpy week after falling last week, as the war in Iran has created economic uncertainty, along with inflation concerns, possible Fed rate hikes, corporate AI battles and chipmaker shares falling, which alone sent the S&P lower today.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $4.23 per gallon, up 11.1 cents per gallon from last week's $4.12/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.83/g while the highest was $4.49/g, a difference of 66.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 10.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.06/g today.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The 18th Annual Tour de Farms returns this fall on September 19! This event is a major fundraiser for the Addison County Relocalization Network, Inc. (ACORN), which supports small farm viability and local food access in the southern Champlain Valley. Riders will enjoy panoramic views, beautiful back roads, and an iconic covered bridge while bicycling to farms in Middlebury, Weybridge, Cornwall, and Salisbury. This year’s route features a scenic 37‑mile adventure through Addison County’s shire town, along with a new 8‑mile family‑friendly option. Participants can celebrate Vermont’s harvest season while pedaling through picturesque farmland, stopping at farms, and enjoying delicious local food and drink from regional vendors. The tour concludes with a festive market hosted in collaboration with the Better Middlebury Partnership.

University of Vermont The Vermont Gallium-Nitride (V-GaN) Tech Hub hosted an open house on July 23 to showcase its new Test and Characterization Facility (TCL), a major addition to the nation’s growing microelectronics innovation ecosystem and a critical resource for accelerating the transition of advanced semiconductor technologies from development to commercial deployment. Located at the OnLogic campus at 435 Community Drive in South Burlington, the facility fills a key gap in the nation's microelectronics infrastructure by providing companies with access to the specialized equipment, technical expertise, and validation services needed to move cutting-edge technologies from the lab, to manufacturing, and ultimately into real-world applications. The V-GaN Tech Hub is a federally designated Economic Development Administration (EDA) Tech Hub founded by the University of Vermont, the State of Vermont, and GlobalFoundries.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of July 27, 2026. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.  

Vermont Business Magazine The most wonderful weekend of the summer is almost here with the return of Burlington City Arts’ (BCA) 18th annual Festival of Fools, returning to the Church Street Marketplace and City Hall Park on Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1. For two days, downtown Burlington will become an open-air stage featuring more than 70 free performances by local, national, and internationally acclaimed street performers, circus artists, musicians, comedians, and entertainers. Festival of Fools has brought world-class busking and live music to Burlington since 2007, filling the City’s public spaces with laughter, wonder, and community joy.

Vermont Business Magazine VIP, the trusted partner of the beverage industry, today introduced VIP Intelligence, a new suite of AI features built specifically for the businesses that make, move, and sell beverages. For 50 years, VIP has powered orders, depletions, pricing, and operations across suppliers, distributors, and retailers. Built on the industry's most robust and highest-quality beverage data, VIP Intelligence delivers answers and action grounded in the workflows and realities of the three-tier system. The introduction of VIP Intelligence builds on VIP's continued investment in the people behind the technology and a culture centered on innovation and deep industry expertise.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Scott Barr, 64, of Guilford, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Windham Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.  The Court, Judge Michael Kainen presiding, sentenced Mr. Barr to zero to two years in prison, all suspended, with a five-year term of probation. Conditions of Mr. Barr’s probation require him to complete sex offender programming, prohibit his contact with children, and restrict his access to the internet.