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Burlington High School's new building on the former New North End campus is ready for students, closing the saga that started when PCB contamination surfaced in 2020 and pushed classes into a hastily renovated downtown Macy's. The rebuild came in around $206 million, most of it covered by the $16…
The flip side of that success story. Four years into legal sales, small growers without retail licenses say the market is squeezing them out, since only retailers can sell to consumers, nearly half of the state's 110 cannabis retailers grow their own product, and the Cannabis Control Board froze …
Vermont's ban on student cellphone use during the school day takes full effect this year, and districts must now have policies at least as strict as the state's model. Enforcement varies from lockers to magnetic pouches to plain old backpacks, and districts that started early, like Lamoille South…
South Burlington's BETA Technologies reported second quarter revenue of $14.7 million, more than double a year ago, against a net loss of $148.8 million as it keeps spending toward scale. The quarter had real milestones, the first operations under the FAA's eVTOL pilot program flying manufactured…
Burlington's Upstate Elevator has grown since 2017 into a CBD and cannabis company with 30 employees, beverages in 15 states and products at about 1,000 retailers. Now federal restrictions taking effect November 12 would cap consumable hemp products at 0.4 mg of THC per container, which would eff…
The Burlington Business Association, which started in 1978 as the Downtown Burlington Development Association and helped turn Church Street into a pedestrian mall, announced August 10 in an unsigned email that it is closing after nearly half a century. It had run without a full time director sinc…
Bar manager Yassen Zech and lead bartender Rachel Mutino designed the menu and the thrifted decor lounge together, with drinks like a clarified Bloody Mary martini and bar bites that nod to Belizean fry jacks. A series of soft openings leads up to the launch, and daytime service stays exactly as …
The Chamber's new advocacy division is meant to give downtown businesses a dedicated voice with city and state leaders as the core wrestles with public safety and economic uncertainty. It wants an advisory board seated by October 1 and is hiring a Downtown Advocacy Manager to track ordinances and…
The scoop shop at 34 Park Street in Essex Junction is run by three brothers, 13-year-old twins Malachi and Messiah and 14-year-old Jaleel, who co-own it with their dad. They handle the scooping, the marketing, and the operations themselves, with ice cream from Woodstock's Mountain Creamery. Open …
The Burlington ad-tech company says its platform now drives $3 billion in annual ad spend across a quarter million monthly campaigns, with AI generating the creative while a deterministic layer keeps actual budgets inside advertiser guardrails. The company raised a $40 million Series A last year …
[Man killed in downtown Burlington stabbing](https://www.wcax.com/2026/08/15/man-killed-downtown-burlington-stabbing/)
An April 23 fire closed Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity's Williston store for three months, and it reopens Saturday at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting and food, repaired, repainted and reorganized. ReStore revenue pays for Habitat's building work, including three homes going up right now at Har…
A community contributed Patch post reports that the NewsGuild, which represents Burlington Free Press staffers, is protesting a new data partnership between parent company USA Today Co. and Palantir, announced on the company's second quarter earnings call as a way to collect and monetize audience…
Both Kitchen Table spots closed earlier this month, and Mirabelles is taking over the pair, the restaurant in Richmond and the market on Williston Road in South Burlington, with reopenings targeted by the end of September. The Richmond spot will likely become 'Belles on the River, serving casual …
Ray's Seafood in Essex Junction announced this weekend it will close after 74 years, with the last day of service set for September 12. The family business started as a wholesale seafood provider 74 years ago and gave no reason for the decision. There is a month left to get a final basket of frie…
The downtown safety fight has narrowed onto harm reduction, after the council's Burlington Forward resolution passed 7 to 5 with zoning language aimed at keeping syringe programs and the planned overdose prevention center out of downtown. The flashpoint is Vermont CARES' expanded Bank Street exch…
UVM Health is back before the Green Mountain Care Board with a message of contrition, pointing to a new CEO, executive cuts, paused bonuses, a 12 percent price reduction in its BlueCross contract and dozens of layoffs. The system still projects a $14.7 million loss next year, with the Burlington …
The mid-year Redfin numbers show the Burlington market finally exhaling, with the median sale price down 4.2 percent from last year while the national figure rose. Active listings are up 19.4 percent, homes now sit a median 48 days before selling, and the share going above asking has slipped. Nob…
Healthy Living has filed a roughly 700 page appeal asking the national labor board to throw out its workers' 105 to 69 April union vote, alleging a coordinated infiltration campaign by organizers. Two of the named baristas were fired the day before a union press conference, which the company attr…
The sale runs Wednesday through Sunday with deals spread across the whole Marketplace, from 50 to 90 percent off under the 4T2D tent to Gaku Ramen throwing in free mochi with a meal. Outdoor Gear Exchange brings back its Consignment Yard Sale today through Sunday alongside a new rewards program. …
Five Democrats are chasing three seats in Tuesday's primary for the district covering South Burlington, Shelburne, Williston and points southeast, with cross endorsed incumbents Thomas Chittenden, Ginny Lyons and Kesha Ram Hinsdale facing first time candidates Joanna Grossman and pediatrician Eli…
The South Burlington electric aircraft maker and the Export-Import Bank announced intent to expand their financing relationship by up to $1 billion, including roughly $830 million in new capital on top of the $170 million that helped build the local production facility. BETA's commercial backlog …
A gram averages $9.59 here against $3.87 in Massachusetts, and the gap is intentional. Vermont capped grow sizes to keep big multistate operators out and protect small growers, while Massachusetts let large operations flood their market and crash prices. The state has 110 retailers and 322 cultiv…
The city and AFSCME Local 1343, which represents more than 300 municipal workers, signed a two year contract running through June 2028. It includes wage increases, benefit protections, a new early retirement provision and an unusual clause granting a limited right to strike for up to two days if …
The 18th Festival of Fools takes over Church Street and City Hall Park today and tomorrow with more than 70 free performances, running noon to 9 today and 11 to 9 Saturday across four outdoor pitches with something starting roughly every half hour. Galumpha, Cate Great, Snap Boogie, The Yo-Yo Guy…
Vermont rolled out its first dedicated tourism brand under the line “State of Inspiration,” built over nine months with the place branding firm DNCO. The research behind it is the interesting part, with 79 percent of American travelers calling Vermont appealing but only 15 percent naming it unpro…
Susan and Rick Cote opened Wild Meadows in late June at 27 Market Street in the Finney Crossing development, pairing a full bookstore with a café pouring espresso, housemade lemonade, wine and beer, plus pastries from Mirabelles and truffles from Birnn Chocolates. The Cotes have owned the weekly …
Eighteen dogs lined up on the grass at the Winooski Farmers Market on Sunday for the market’s annual show, a $20 per entry fundraiser for the market and For the Love of Dogs Vermont, a rescue that rehomes around 800 dogs a year. Ahki, a three legged husky, took Cutest, Scar and his owner won Look…
GlobalFoundries signed a letter of intent with the Commerce Department for a $300 million CHIPS award to develop silicon photonics, the technology that moves data with light instead of electrical signals inside AI data centers. The work runs through GF’s existing operations in Malta, New York and…
The Green are one win from going back to back. They defend their national title Saturday at 7:30 against the Flint City Bucks at Atwood Stadium in Flint, Michigan, and the hosts are no easy out. Flint went 10-1-1 to win the Great Lakes Division, owns four USL2 championships of its own, and will f…
The $630,000 goes to 16 organizations as year two of a three year investment that will top $2 million, with United Way acting as lead prevention organization for the Burlington, St. Albans and Barre health districts. Locally that means money for the King Street Center, the BIPOC Youth Mentorship …
South Burlington's BETA used the Farnborough International Airshow to unveil the MV250, an autonomous hybrid electric aircraft aimed at military logistics, with a turbogenerator co developed with GE Aerospace. Kyle Clark's pitch is that building the defense platform on the same airframes, batteri…
Kevin Bloom, a 32 year old Burlington audio producer with no law enforcement experience, is running on eviction reform and a first of its kind jobs program that would connect tenants behind on rent with employers willing to help pay off the debt. Incumbent Dan Gamelin, a Winooski native with four…
V-GAN is now open for business at OnLogic's South Burlington headquarters, giving regional companies access to prototyping and testing that is usually too expensive to pursue alone. The project survived a near death experience when federal funding was cut last year after being announced under the…
The good news first, since Vermont has recorded no cases tied to the national outbreak and the recalled iceberg lettuce was not distributed here. The parasite rides in on imported produce, so the experts' advice is to wash everything well, seek care if a gastrointestinal bug drags on for weeks, a…
Lee's brioche doughnuts, in flavors like Maple Crunch and local strawberry frosted, outgrew her home kitchen faster than her five year plan anticipated. The bakery is on hiatus while she builds a dedicated doughnut kitchen inside the market and cafe at 21 Essex Way, with fresh frying targeted for…
A fun look inside the fashion side of the Vermont Renaissance Faire at the Champlain Valley Expo, where more than 70 small businesses and vendors lean into handmade and secondhand goods, including Milk Moth Vintage out of Burlington's Old North End. It is a fun inversion of the real Renaissance, …
The Champlain Valley School Board voted 8-3 to accept a donated artificial turf field at CVU, a gift led by Healthy Living CEO Eli Lesser-Goldsmith, over sustained opposition from Hinesburg residents worried about PFAS and microplastics. The district's own consultant found PFAS could reach town g…
The foundation that has carried the ice cream brand's giving for 40 years says it will close at the end of the year after parent company Magnum cut off funding and ordered its three staffers out of their South Burlington office. About $600,000 a year goes to Vermont groups like Migrant Justice an…
Vermont Public sat down with founders Michael and Valerie Wood-Lewis as the hyperlocal institution turns 20, and the listener stories steal the show. One new arrival found her running partners two doors away, another built a backyard brick oven from three neighbors' spare fire bricks, and a libra…
Beta hired 420 people between January and June, 85 percent of them Vermonters, and CEO Kyle Clark has pledged 1,000 more over 18 months following the company's stock market debut. Smaller aviation shops tell a rougher story, with Middlebury's Green Mountain Avionics losing about half its staff an…
The parcel sits across the lake near Keeseville and includes Drake Mountain, with a 1,615 foot summit, a dozen ponds and 6.5 miles of streams running through habitat for moose, bobcats and black bears. The land trust wants to hand the tract over to New York's forest preserve, though executive dir…
The Agency of Commerce and Community Development oversees economic growth, housing development and tourism, so this seat matters well beyond Montpelier. Kurrle will succeed Neale Lunderville as president and CEO of Vermont Gas, while Brooks has been in Scott's orbit since 2017, first as director …
The order follows Scott's veto of S.190, the Legislature's most robust healthcare cost bill this year, and would let the Department of Financial Regulation adjust commercial premiums up or down by as much as 20 percent from what an age neutral rate would be, leaving Medicare and Medicaid untouche…
[VermontBiz recognizes the 91 Influencers of 2026](https://vermontbiz.com/news/2026/july/08/vermontbiz-recognizes-91-influencers-2026)
Phase 2 of City Center Park is officially done, with the new shared-use boardwalk tying together Barrett, Iby, Market and Garden streets. It doubles as part of the Safe Routes to School network, and the path now has a new main sign on Market Street plus signage on native birds, wetlands and a sto…
Scammers posing as the project's construction company made off with more than 3 million dollars in January, and the FBI managed to claw back 2.27 million of it. That keeps the new recycling plant, funded largely by the 22 million dollar bond county voters passed in 2022, on schedule for a January…
Gregory Garcia ran Bodywork Architectures out of the Chace Mill, claimed more than 600 clients, and performed an "internal work" technique on women that the field's own credentialing bodies call flatly out of bounds. Because he had never registered with the state, regulators initially could only …
The employee-owned South End stalwart is making its hazy non-alcoholic IPA a permanent fixture after it became one of the most talked-about pours at the Beer Garden. Switchback is currently the only brewery producing non-alcoholic beer onsite in Vermont, and the company has quietly become an East…
Burlington finally has a real pipeline to replace interim Chief Shawn Burke, who has led the department since Jon Murad's departure in early 2025. The 12 person committee spans councilors, the police commission, both city unions, the Howard Center, King Street Center, and a Church Street business…
A hangout spot run by and for young people is set to open later this summer at 4 Langdon Street, the former Bent Nails Bistro space. The idea grew out of a familiar problem, teens getting shuffled from coffee shop to coffee shop downtown with nowhere to simply exist. Montpelier's answer is worth …
The statewide listening tour returns with surveys, community events, and partnerships aimed especially at younger and rural Vermonters. Local news everywhere is fighting for survival, and a nonprofit newsroom driving around asking people what they actually need is a refreshingly direct approach. …
The Champlain Valley School District board voted 8 to 3 to let the superintendent negotiate with a nonprofit promising to raise $5.7 million for a new field complex at CVU in Hinesburg. Opponents raised environmental and health concerns about artificial turf, from PFAS to microplastics, and the d…
The contract covers BED's 85 union staff and was wrapped up before the new fiscal year even started, a notably drama-free outcome as city labor negotiations go. With BED asking customers to trim usage during heat waves and juggling grid demands, keeping the lineworkers happy is not a small thing.
The retro toy shop closed Sunday after just seven months in the compact corner storefront where the couple previously ran Weenies Hot Dogs. It's a tough data point for Church Street, where the mix of rents and retail theft keeps grinding down small independents even as the Marketplace draws summe…
The Church Street mainstay plans a second, 5,300 square foot location this winter at Catamount Run, the UVM-linked housing development on Market Street, and the Burlington original is staying put. With Judi's Ice Cream announced the same week, City Center's food roster is starting to look like a …
The women's side capped a debut USL W-League season by claiming the Northeast Division title, and tonight they host the Long Island Rough Riders at Virtue Field for the club's first playoff match. If you cannot squeeze into the stands, the game airs at 6 p.m. on 3 News Now, or come early with a c…
Two Waterbury battery companies just changed hands in ways that say a lot about where energy money is flowing. Kore Power sold to Texas solar firm T1 in a $32 million deal, while sister company NOMAD is going public through a reverse merger, both betting on soaring power demand from AI data cente…
The August 11 Democratic primary between George and challenger Bram Kranichfeld will almost certainly decide who runs the county prosecutor's office, since no Republican is running. George, one of the nation's more progressive prosecutors, defends declining cash bail and expanding diversion, and …
St. Albans picked up a new ice cream shop on Lake Street, where Karen and Madison Barchowski churn small batches and fold their own waffle cones. The mother and daughter ran an oceanside shop in Florida for a decade and briefly owned Burlington's Revolution Kitchen before deciding scoops were the…
South Hero is layering new businesses on top of its island staples, including a cannabis market selling products direct from Vermont farmers in a building that sat empty for years, plus a fresh crop of restaurants and breweries. Local leaders credit a tourism spike, more housing, and spillover tr…
A new pilot from Film in Vermont and the Vermont Production Collective will hand out $50,000 total in $5,000 and $10,000 packages to local productions, with applications open through July 21. Founder Brian Carroll wants hard data showing that filmmaking pumps real money into small towns, the way …
Fresh off council approval of her third budget, the Progressive mayor was pushing back on Democratic councilors who argue her administration has not done enough for downtown business, a fight that flared over the gross receipts tax on meals, hotel rooms and short term rentals. She pointed to cons…
Two forces collided right before the 250th, with tariffs on Chinese fireworks raising costs and the longtime local provider Northstar getting absorbed by a national firm that wants $20,000 minimum per show. Hinesburg canceled its display for the first time since the 1976 bicentennial, and Bristol…
More than 400 runners, walkers and hand cyclists got to travel the Champlain Parkway before a single car could, a fitting way to mark a project roughly six decades in the making. Proceeds went to the Committee on Temporary Shelter, which works on the very homelessness issue that has dominated dow…
A family business that opened in 1933 is decamping for an appointment only showroom in Colchester, and while Berger cites hiring troubles and a pivot toward wholesale, he also says clients tell him they are afraid to shop downtown. It’s tough to say how much of that is based on real experience ve…
The electric aviation company has sketched a vision spanning the next decade for its South Burlington footprint, swapping a rigid 40 acre plan for a looser framework it calls Adaptive Campus Master Planning. Behind it is a steady property buying spree along Williston Road and into the Shunpike ne…
Interest in the trades is surging, and the Center for Technology in Essex shows the squeeze, with 681 applicants chasing 405 spots this year. South Burlington and CVU are now exploring how to bring technical classes back in house after years of trimming shop and auto programs, while a bill in Mon…
The Burlington Vintage Market, which Cyr started in 2021, now anchors a small ecosystem of full time dealers who source, warehouse, and resell secondhand clothing across New England and beyond. Sellers credit the college town demand and social media thrifting trends, but also a longer Vermont hab…
The plant winds down August 17, taking roughly 80 jobs and a decades old processing hub that supplied vendors like Ben & Jerry's and Cabot. It lands as the latest in a brutal run for Franklin County dairy, following recently announced closures at Franklin Foods, Perrigo, and HP Hood in Barre. Sta…
The city's celebration runs Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m. across City Hall Park and Church Street Marketplace, with food vendors, live performances, and family activities under this year's theme of freedom as both legacy and ongoing work. Organizers told [NBC5](https://www.mynbc5.com/article/vermont-…
The 10 to 1 vote, with Councilor Evan Litwin the lone no, locks in a 6 percent municipal property tax bump, so the owner of a median $365,000 home will pay roughly $191 more next year. New spending includes $150,000 for added police and private security downtown and in the Old North End, plus $1 …
With the tournament rolling, the piece maps where fans can gather, from City Hall Park's outdoor screen to bars and breweries like RiRa, Switchback, and Zero Gravity. Organizers tie the enthusiasm to a genuine local surge built around UVM, Vermont Green FC, and youth programs. Several of those wa…
The cuts at Vermont's largest health provider total more than 140 jobs and an estimated $9.5 million in yearly savings, a sliver of the network's goal to trim $300 million over three years. Leadership says it focused on administrative and non patient facing roles, but unions counted dozens of pat…
The veto halts S.190, which would have let the Green Mountain Care Board cap hospital charges sooner for plans sold through Vermont Health Connect and for school employees. Scott argued any savings should reach every insured Vermonter rather than a select group, while sponsor Sen. Ginny Lyons cou…
Vermont's largest health care provider eliminated 142 jobs this week, 76 of them permanently and 66 to be reposted with new duties, as it chases a projected $100 million shortfall. Leadership says most affected roles are administrative, but unions counter that the list includes primary care nurse…
Vermont farmers hit by the 2023 and 2024 floods will receive $31.7 million in USDA relief, aimed especially at those with little access to FEMA help for infrastructure, crop and market losses. The money is half of the $62 million the state requested, and officials are still waiting to hear about …
Twenty five people are retiring from Champlain Valley School District this year, among them a computer technician with 43 years in and special educator Karen Poulin, who spent three decades at Hinesburg Community School. Poulin's reflections double as a quiet case for the value of long tenure in …
The Vermont Rural Learning Collective, based at Vermont State University, runs AmeriCorps members through a $386,780 SerVermont grant to chip away at food insecurity and education gaps across the Northeast Kingdom and other rural counties. Members work at host sites like Green Mountain Farm-to-Sc…
An April fire forced the Williston Habitat for Humanity ReStore to throw out all its merchandise to water and smoke damage, and the shop is now rebuilding from scratch. They're asking businesses and neighbors to donate seasonal goods, racks, mannequins and carts, plus volunteers to help move ever…
Gondolas, the smash burger and stacked creemee operation that took over the old Mountain View spot, is now running two locations five miles apart heading into its third summer. The downtown Morrisville shop opened in December for year round takeout, while the Route 15 snack bar handles the creeme…
Chittenden County's vacancy rate has climbed to 3.3 percent, inching toward the 5 percent that signals a healthy market and a world away from the sub-1 percent crunch of the pandemic years. The driver is supply, with more than 800 new units opening in 2024 alone, a glut that started at the high e…
Strong winter snowpack and steady spring temperatures gave sugarmakers a more consistent run than recent years, with 8.2 million taps deployed statewide. The economic side is just as notable, with 2025 production valued at roughly $102 million and retail prices averaging $51.40 a gallon. Vermont …
The Riverside Avenue shop, open since 2018, earned a devoted following for its wood-fired pies and equal notoriety for $45 starting prices and Pizzutillo's combative online presence. Few Burlington restaurants have inspired as many Reddit threads or parody accounts, so this exit closes a genuinel…
Now in its 15th year, the festival lands at Hula Lakeside with more than 75 exhibitors across two tasting sessions, plus seminars and live jazz. All-inclusive tickets run $80, and organizers are nudging people to buy ahead. Downtown has leaned heavily on events to draw crowds this season, and add…
McNeill, who oversaw a 10x revenue jump at Tesla and later served as COO of Lyft, headlines the free meetup June 22 at OnLogic in South Burlington. The series aims to knit together entrepreneurs, investors, and the AI-curious across the region, and space is limited enough that registration is req…
Fletcher Free Library, the COTS Daystation, and the City Hall Park fountain are all open as cooling spots, and translated safety materials are available in well over a dozen languages. The detail worth absorbing is who is most at risk, namely older adults, outdoor workers, people without air cond…
Public Service VT, from the team behind Charlotte's beloved Old Brick Store, will take over the Maple Street café space this fall, while Kestrel Coffee Roasters closes that downtown location after seven years. It continues a season of churn for Kestrel, whose Pine Street spot already closed in Ap…
The $28 million in credits will fund 241 income restricted homes across seven communities, from elderly housing in Highgate to larger family units in Winooski. One award folds directly into the South End story above, with 67 apartments in the Ride Your Bike Building forming the first phase of tha…
By declining to hear Meta's appeal, the nation's highest court left intact Vermont's ability to pursue the company in state court over claims it concealed how Facebook and Instagram affect kids. Meta had argued it lacks the in state presence to be sued here, a jurisdictional dodge Vermont's own S…
After CBS News Radio shuttered last month following nearly a century on air, Vermont stations had to scramble for a substitute. WDEV in Waterbury landed on Townhall/SRN News, a service owned by Salem Media Group, a company that brands itself around Christian and conservative content, while WCVR i…
Two families across a dirt road from each other now co own Maple, a shepherd dachshund mix who splits her weeks and her loyalties evenly between both homes. With pet ownership costs climbing, the arrangement, which a company called CoPuppy now helps arrange in cities worldwide, is catching on, ev…
The co-op board's letter to 12,000 members is a notable shift in tone for a store long treated as a downtown fixture. The struggles echo what other Burlington merchants have flagged, with police tracking rising theft and trespassing calls around the store much as they do at City Hall Park, plus p…
Burke opens its lift served bike park Saturday, running weekends only for two weeks before shifting to Thursday through Sunday on June 18. Riders get 24 trails across 25 miles plus a direct line into the Kingdom Trails network and its 100 plus miles of singletrack. New this year are a rebuilt Jes…
The plan calls for 112 units across two four story buildings at 453 Pine Street, with about a fifth set aside as affordable, on a brownfield that sits beside one of Vermont's most toxic Superfund sites. A long line of proposals has died here before, including herbal entrepreneur Jovial King's Nor…
The free event caps the Lake Champlain Chamber program's twelve week accelerator, with seven startups pitching to a panel of investor judges and former NBC5 meteorologist Tom Messner serving as emcee. Two of the founders will leave with cash awards, and all of them collect professional services w…
After a thirteen month investigation, a Dutch government body ruled that the Burlington nonprofit's human rights complaint against Ahold Delhaize, Hannaford's parent company, can move forward, pulling the chain into mediation at last. Migrant Justice has spent seven years pressing Hannaford to jo…
Cohen, now 75, is openly campaigning to win back creative and ethical control of the company he and Jerry Greenfield started nearly fifty years ago, after CEO David Stever was ousted last year and Greenfield quit in protest. The feud traces back to the 2021 decision to stop selling in the Israeli…
What began with her mother's shortbread recipe at the Richmond Christmas Market is now a five person, mother and daughter operation selling in 48 states, helped along by a well timed influencer shoutout in 2020 and a string of VEDA loans. The recognition is genuine, though it is worth noting the …
A Ghanaian delegation visited the New England Cannabis Convention in South Burlington this month, drawn to Vermont's seed to sale tracking and its preference for small producers over big multistate operators. They are especially interested in adapting Vermont's social equity program, which Darko …
After five years, Aisha and Danny Bassett are closing the dairy free creemee business that began at Winooski's Myers Memorial Pool in 2021 and most recently shared space inside Uncommon Coffee in Essex. Rising costs and the arrival of their daughter over the winter both factored into the decision…
The class spans 227 Vermont communities, and most graduates stay to live and work in the state after commencement. More than a third earned degrees in healthcare fields like nursing, paramedicine, and dental hygiene, with another 400 coming out of education programs. In a state wrestling with wor…
This is the first food product to carry the Milk With Dignity logo on its label, the program that sets wage, housing, and safety standards for dairy workers. Made by Middlebury's Champlain Valley Creamery, the farmer cheese sold its first run fast and is already on shelves at both City Market loc…
The beloved pie maker outgrew its Underhill shop and opened a second spot in Cambridge on March 20, this one with sit down dining, espresso, and a menu that ranges well past pie into salads, sandwiches, and doughnuts. The kitchen is led by a former Bleu Northeast chef, and the front of house is r…
The piece is a warm look back at Vermont's annual Open Studio Weekend, which sent visitors wandering through four artists' spaces near the Old Brick Store in Charlotte. Alongside Joyner, the story features abstract painter Jessica Scriver and the woodworkers of Vermont Handworks, a reminder of ho…
The two shops, longtime Church Street fixtures founded by the late Christine Farrell in the 1980s, have merged and reopened at 130 Bank Street in the new Burlington Square development. The move solves real problems, since the old upstairs gaming space was not accessible and had no room to host Ma…
Vermont now has 83 disc golf courses statewide, which is more than the combined total of Dunkin', Taco Bell, and Domino's franchises in the state. Three of the state's private courses rank in the top 100 worldwide, including two at Smugglers' Notch Resort that sit at sixth and eighth. The sport's…
The museum has assembled a self-guided tour across its paintings, folk art, and textile galleries organized around three themes exploring portraits, patriotic folk sculpture, and quilts rooted in American identity. A series of lectures and events runs through the fall, highlighted by a Vermont Sy…
This has been brewing since at least December, with residents across multiple South Burlington neighborhoods reporting gaps in service ranging from a week to upwards of two weeks with no delivery at all. USPS told the paper back in January that it was hiring additional staff, but four months late…
Only about five residents showed up to Tuesday's town plan discussion, but the feedback was pointed. The recurring theme was connectivity, both physical and conceptual, with residents pushing for better bike infrastructure around schools, stronger ties between recreational assets and local busine…
The former Hired Hand Brewing taproom at 35 Green Street in Vergennes, which has sat empty since Antidote closed in 2024, is getting new life as a café, bar, and coworking space. Lawrence plans morning hours with coffee and house-baked biscuit sandwiches, plus Friday and Saturday evening service …
This is a big deal for the Essex Junction campus and for Vermont's tech footprint broadly. GF is launching a new quantum computing manufacturing division backed by a $375 million grant from the Department of Commerce CHIPS R&D Office, with the U.S. government taking an approximately 1 percent equ…
The numbers from the Energy Action Network are stark. Vermont drivers and fuel oil customers spent an estimated $32.4 million more in March than they would have if prices had held at late February levels, driven by spikes tied to the war in Iran. For the average Vermont driver, monthly gasoline c…
The Shelburne farmers market is now operating under the town and its affiliated nonprofit Experience Shelburne after nearly 20 years with the Shelburne Business and Professional Association. The transition has brought more structural support, tighter financial management, and room for 101 booths …
Algenis Garcia, who moved to Vermont from the Dominican Republic about 18 years ago, has been offering free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness through his Burlington shop, The Shop. What started last summer as walks around town with clippers in a backpack has expanded to visits at shelt…
Avery Buck, the 2025 James Beard Award finalist (Best Chef, Northeast) who put May Day on the national map, is moving to Farmers & Foragers as executive chef. His last day at May Day was Sunday, and sous chef Sloan Miller (formerly of Hen of the Wood and Paradiso Hi-Fi) will step up to run that k…
Jarrett House, a Howard Center program providing short-term stabilization for children ages 5 through 13 experiencing mental health crises, will shut down at the end of June after the state decided not to renew its contract due to ongoing staffing shortages. The closure leaves a real gap in Vermo…
A new study from Construction Coverage puts some hard numbers on what most Vermonters already feel. The state's median home price has jumped 68.7% since 2016, climbing from about $233,500 to just over $394,000, while median household income rose only 49.1% over a comparable period. That growing g…
South Burlington's BETA Technologies posted first-quarter results showing meaningful momentum, including selection for seven of eight FAA and DOT programs (the most of any electric aircraft developer) and a commercial aircraft backlog that has grown to $3.9 billion across 991 planes. The company …
Franklin Foods, the Enosburg Falls dairy and soy processor behind Green Mountain Farms and Hahn's cream cheese, will pay $265,000 to settle allegations of repeated wastewater violations. State regulators found the company discharged untreated liquid waste to the municipal treatment facility, fail…
[Citizen Cider to Move Pub, Consolidate Operations](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/food-drink/citizen-cider-to-move-pub-consolidate-operations-43168257/)
Anisa Mohamed, Omar's widow, sold the Somali American restaurant at 505 Riverside Avenue to Abbas Mohamed and his wife Mashaer Ebaid, who plan to keep the existing menu while adding Sudanese dishes like eggplant salad and okra with greens. The couple also owns Sudanese Halal Market in Winooski. A…
Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak's proposal eliminates or delays filling 27 vacant positions, following last year's layoff of 18 city workers. A big part of the squeeze comes from one-time state and federal funds drying up, money that had been bankrolling community safety positions tied to the police depart…
Clark's total compensation included $5.7 million in cash and over $10 million in stock awards following Beta's IPO on the New York Stock Exchange last fall, though the company's share price has dropped more than 33 percent since. Beta burned through $138 million in operations during Q1 of 2026 ag…
All three members of Vermont's federal delegation, Welch, Sanders, and Balint, have median net worths well above the average Vermonter's while holding zero individual stocks. Welch's net worth surged to over $12.8 million in 2025 thanks to money market accounts and mutual funds, and Sanders still…
H.512 would cap ticket resale prices at 10% above face value for events at independent venues with a capacity of 3,000 or fewer, nonprofits hosting fairs and exhibitions, amateur athletic venues, and colleges. The need is easy to illustrate. When Billy Strings played the Champlain Valley Expo in …
Khudaier's family moved to Vermont in 2014 as refugees from the Iraq War, and his mother Sabah Abbas started a small catering business in 2019 with pop-ups at the Old North End Farmers Market. The Church Street Marketplace awarded the family a three-year lease on the 135-square-foot kiosk at the …
Kinney, currently the chief operating officer at Vermont Public, will step into the role in mid-June after 16 years in management at Vermont Public and its predecessor, Vermont Public Radio. He arrives at a moment when VTDigger could use some stability. Both outgoing CEO Sky Barsch and editor-in-…
Brothers Allan and Travis Walker-Hodkin moved to Burlington from New York City during the pandemic and quickly turned their 198 Main Street breakfast spot into a local institution, earning a nod from Bon Appétit in 2023 for their now famous #8 sandwich. While they've been vocal about the toll tha…
Efficiency Vermont's annual Better Building by Design conference drew more than 840 professionals to South Burlington this week and honored ten organizations with awards spanning affordable housing, energy efficiency, and a first ever workforce development category. Local highlights include Champ…
UVM researchers published a study in Science Advances that upends a foundational assumption in psychology, linguistics, and AI. For over 70 years, researchers have organized word meaning around emotional dimensions of valence, arousal, and dominance. The UVM team, led by Peter Dodds and Chris Dan…
An independent liaison team reported that UVM Health needs to slash $300 million in expenses over the next three years, phasing in roughly $100 million annually, while also tackling productivity problems in its 1,000 physician outpatient Medical Group, which ran a $279.9 million deficit last fisc…
Employees across Healthy Living's three locations in South Burlington, Williston, and Saratoga Springs voted 105 to 69 to join Workers United, citing concerns about wages and a lack of communication from management around major business decisions. The roughly 300 person workforce is now assemblin…
[South Burlington Bagel Shop Faces Backlash Over AI-Generated Advertisement](https://www.wcax.com/2026/05/06/south-burlington-bagel-shop-faces-backlash-over-ai-generated-advertisement/)
[Ethan Allen Tower Set to Open May 10](https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/local-news/ethan-allen-tower-set-to-open-may-10/)
Pizzeria Corinna opened in February at Essex Towne Marketplace with a compact menu of seven pizzas, salads, and Italian subs named after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters. Owner Shane Corbett modeled the shop on the neighborhood pizzerias of the late '80s and early '90s, and baker Olivia Cl…
Galvion, a defense manufacturer in Newport and one of the Northeast Kingdom's largest employers with 238 workers, produces ballistic helmets for the U.S. military and NATO. VTDigger's investigation matched the company's helmet designs to headgear worn by federal agents at high profile immigration…
Curtis Mraz, 31, took over as fourth generation president of Vermont's oldest apiary in late 2022, steering a business founded by his great grandfather in 1931 through an era of devastating colony losses. Annual die offs have averaged 50 to 70 percent over the past two decades, largely attributed…
The grant comes through Hannaford's "Fuel Kids at School" initiative, which has funded food pantries at over 200 schools across New England and New York but had never been tapped by a Vermont institution until Hayden applied. Four of VTSU's five campuses sit in areas with limited access to afford…
A new statewide study found that Vermont's 68 golf courses support 5,376 jobs and $212.1 million in wages, generating more total economic impact than maple syrup production or craft brewing. The industry drove more than 190,000 golf related trips and $121.9 million in direct visitor spending, whi…
[DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Wins Global Award of Excellence](https://www.vtcng.com/otherpapersbvt/community/noteworthy/doubletree-awarded-for-quality-stay-experiences/article_99796bbf-a3c3-4e62-aa63-f206da2d3c0a.html)
Seven Days' music column gives the full rundown on Foam Brewers' decade in business, tracing the Lake Street brewery's evolution from a cool little beer spot into one of the most important music venues in Burlington. The anniversary weekend runs Friday through Sunday with free live music, food tr…
Two time Olympic silver medalist and UVM alum Ben Ogden will deliver a guest address at UVM's 225th commencement on Saturday, May 16. The Landgrove native and fourth generation Vermonter became the first American man to medal in cross country skiing in 50 years at the Cortina Winter Games, then a…
Six Champlain College computer science majors spent the semester building a social media app called Echo for Beta Technologies, the South Burlington electric aircraft startup, designed to connect its growing employee base across departments and the manufacturing floor. The partnership is structur…
A new UVM study analyzing over 4,000 Burlington home sales between 2003 and 2023 challenges the dominant "just build more" approach to the housing crisis. Researchers found that investor activity, even at Burlington's relatively small scale, is a bigger driver of rising prices than supply shortag…
Four Champlain College students face discipline, including possible suspension or expulsion, after distributing flyers about adjunct psychology professor David Tomasi during an April 18 admitted students event. Tomasi has posted online about what he calls "the evil of transgender ideology," and t…
The Flynn has unveiled the free Around Town lineup for this year's Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, running June 3 through 7. The programming spreads across Church Street's Top Block Stage, City Hall Park, College Street, and independent venues including Venetian Soda Lounge, Zero Gravity, Luck…
Barnes & Noble employees at the Dorset Street location in South Burlington held a union vote this week and could become the eighth store in the country to unionize. The effort, led by booksellers Willow Guppy and Sebastian Ryder, has been 10 months in the making and took a deliberately low key ap…
Vermont wellness brand Ballou Family Apothecary has signed on as a sponsor of Vermont Green FC for the 2026 season, tying together two organizations built around giving back a percentage of revenue. Ballou commits 10 percent of every purchase to affordable childcare initiatives for Vermont famili…
After last summer's budget woes forced BCA to scale back to a single block party, the festival is officially back for 2026 with a two day run on Church Street and City Hall Park. The funding picture has shifted: there's still no presenting sponsor, but BCA reworked its model with community backer…
The Trump administration's move to shift medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III gives licensed medical cannabis businesses the ability to deduct expenses from federal taxes for the first time, a potentially huge financial break. But Vermont's situation is uniquely complicated. When the…
The Made Here Film Festival is in full swing at Burlington Beer on Flynn Ave and runs through Sunday. There's a fun bit of history behind the venue: the Lumiere Brothers, pioneers of early cinema who hosted one of the first film screenings in Paris in 1895, had a film production factory in that v…
Evans moved from Rutland to Chittenden County and has set up shop in the University Mall parking lot near Dorset Street, serving Texas and Kansas City style smoked meats. The menu features chopped brisket, pulled pork, and pickle marinated fried chicken sandwiches, all smoked over pecan wood with…
The South Burlington City Council awarded a $20.14 million contract to Engineers Construction, Inc. for Phase I of the long discussed walk and bike bridge over I-89 at Exit 14. If you've ever tried to cross that cloverleaf interchange on foot or by bike, you understand why this has been in the wo…
Vermont is very much a buyer's market for cannabis right now. Burlington alone has 11 dispensaries, and Morrisville (population 2,000) somehow has five. Seven Days takes a look at how retailers are differentiating themselves amid tight competition and strict Cannabis Control Board rules that ban …
The Hernandez-Martinez family is launching a weekday takeout operation out of the Doma Bar kitchen at 388 Pine Street, serving regional Mexican dishes like Michoacán carnitas, enchiladas verdes, and housemade sopes. The menu changes daily, Monday through Friday from 10 to 2:30, with orders availa…
The flagship hospital lost roughly $48 million in Q1 of 2026, driven largely by a new Blue Cross Blue Shield contract that cut reimbursements by an average of 12 percent, with some services like MRIs and CT scans slashed by 25 percent or more. State regulators say this was predictable, not a cris…
South Burlington is launching a biweekly Friday farmers market this summer, its first department led initiative of this kind. The city received more than 70 vendor applications after putting out a call in January, helped by the fact that there's no vendor fee in the inaugural year (for comparison…
Burlington's community theater company focused on plays written by, directed by, and starring women is closing its doors after 15 years of sold out shows at the Black Box at Main Street Landing. Cofounders Jennifer Warwick and Janet Stambolian said the decision came as key volunteers, including t…
What started as an effort to breathe new life into Essex Community Players spiraled into a mess of licensing disputes, anonymous threats, and board resignations. Director Patrick Cope cast the role of Rocky with a female presenting actor, which prompted pushback from some board members and eventu…
The Burlington School District is seeking $135 million in compensatory damages from Monsanto over PCB contamination that forced the closure of Burlington High School and Burlington Technical Center on Institute Road in 2020. Monsanto had tried to get the case dismissed through a summary judgment,…
The nomination round for the 2026 Seven Daysies is open now through May 3. The nonprofit that wins the Best Nonprofit category will receive a $10,000 grant from the Vermont Community Foundation. If you have a favorite local nonprofit, this is the time to make it count. Finalists will be announced…
[Williston Businesses Receive SBA Honors](https://www.willistonobserver.com/business_hub/business/williston-businesses-receive-sba-honors/article_7137391d-132c-41c4-9dd1-fc972eb015ee.html)
[Beta CEO to Give Champlain College Grad Speech](https://www.vtcng.com/otherpapersbvt/community/education/beta-ceo-to-give-champlain-college-grad-speech/article_54988356-95c8-4132-b685-dd46c9ee3c05.html)
[Fletcher Free Library to Display Religious Manuscript Written in 1494](https://vermontbiz.com/news/2026/april/17/fletcher-free-library-display-religious-manuscript-written-1494)
The post resurfaced during the heated Ward 8 city council race between Jeff Nick's son Ryan and incumbent Marek Broderick. Food Not Cops had served daily lunches at the Marketplace Garage for five years before community pressure, including an open letter from over 180 business owners, led to a re…
Vermont's entire congressional delegation is pushing back on what they call an illegal withholding of Community Services Block Grant funding by the Trump administration, now stretching past three months. The money flows to five community action agencies across the state, including CVOEO and BROC,…
South Burlington's Beta Technologies continues to build momentum. Sen. Welch visited the company's production facility last week to discuss new bipartisan legislation, the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, which would modernize the FAA's certification process for electric aviati…
Eight Vermont startups have been tapped for LaunchVT's 14th accelerator cohort, continuing a program that has supported 95 startups and distributed over $1.4 million in cash and services since 2013. The selected companies range from biotech (NEK Biosciences) to app development (Aligna App) to agr…
The city is staring down a budget gap of up to $12 million, marking the third consecutive year of significant shortfalls. A voter approved 5-cent increase to the police and fire tax covers about $3 million of that, but the rest will likely come from a painful combination of unfilled positions, de…
Richards, former CEO of the child care advocacy organization Let's Grow Kids, has entered the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary with a platform centered on affordability, housing, healthcare costs, and rural economic development. She's widely credited with helping mobilize support for Vermont…
After nearly a decade of planning, the airport's expanded terminal space opened to passengers last week, following a community open house on March 28. The project redesigned the terminal into a more linear layout with new gates, jet bridges, expanded vendor areas and modernized baggage systems. D…
BFP rounded up 30 arts and entertainment events across Vermont for April, and the lineup is stacked. Highlights with Burlington area connections include Lyric Theatre Company's production of Disney's Frozen at the Flynn (April 9–12), Nick Offerman's two shows at the Flynn on April 19 (the evening…
Local entrepreneur Blaine Paxton and a group of activists organized a satirical bus tour of federal immigration facilities in Chittenden County, complete with actors playing tour guides, scripts, and branded buses. The five stop route included the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, where …
Spater's renovation of a 19th century synagogue in the Old North End, which wrapped up last November, turned the long vacant building into a mixed use property with a vintage clothing market upstairs and apartments below. But the project also sparked something unexpected: a whole new business. Fl…
Using two decades of receipts from a colleague's archive, the piece tracks how menu prices at Vermont restaurants that are still around have climbed well beyond what inflation alone would explain. The pandemic's impact on wages, insurance, and ingredient costs is the main driver, and those costs …
The scope of this round of funding is remarkable. Eight conservation projects and three housing investments span the state, from permanently protecting a 442 acre swamp system in Salisbury that serves as a wildlife corridor between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks, to building eight afford…
S.278, which passed the Senate late last week, would let the Cannabis Control Board issue up to 20 event permits per year for licensed cannabis businesses to host sampling events. The catch: no permits at venues that also serve alcohol, and local governing body approval is required. The bill has …
Burlington-based Myti, which already operates as a local alternative to Amazon with about 70 enrolled stores and up to 100,000 items, has released a browser extension called Myti Local Finder. When you're browsing a national retailer's website, the extension searches your zip code for local indep…
Diane Abruzzini and Colin Riggs of Rigorous Technology, a Williston-based industrial robotics company, will be recognized at a June 11 event and are in the running for the national award. They founded the company as a home-based business in 2020 and have grown to a team of 12 across 10,000 square…
The Rough Francis guitarist and Young at Heart ginger beer founder is buying the Marble Avenue record shop from longtime owner Norbert Ender, who cited burnout, staffing challenges, and years of Pine Street construction as his reasons for stepping back. Hackney's plans to turn the store into more…
The Vergennes museum opens May 23 with a new exhibit called "Fragments: Voices of the American Revolution on Lake Champlain," timed to the nation's 250th anniversary. The exhibit draws on decades of archaeological work to tell stories not just of the Battle of Lake Champlain but of common soldier…
The Humane Society of Chittenden County ran a promotion through March 28 waiving adoption fees on all dogs. With more than 10 pups available, including a 9 month old and a 10 year old, the shelter was trying to move animals into homes faster as spring brings an influx. The promotion has ended, bu…
After a pilot year in Windham County that saw 54 residents share meals, the initiative has expanded statewide with chambers of commerce and economic development groups from Addison County to the Northeast Kingdom getting involved. Hosts who invite a newcomer to a meal can access restaurant deals …
The piece is a deep dive into the escalating legal battle between Ben & Jerry's and Magnum Ice Cream Company, the Unilever spinoff that now owns the brand. At the heart of it is a merger agreement from 2000 that gave Ben & Jerry's an independent board and full control over its political activism.…
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak outlined the status of Burlington's internal review of the March 11 encounter between ICE agents and local police in South Burlington, which has generated 121 citizen complaints to date. BPD is conducting a supervisor review expected to wrap within 30 days of the incide…
Attorney General Charity Clark has joined 20 other state attorneys general in suing the Trump administration over new USDA grant conditions that tie federal food program funding to compliance with immigration, DEI and gender identity policies. The lawsuit, Clark's 46th against the administration,…
[Greater Burlington Taste Card Now Available](https://www.valuevaultmcv.com/deals-detail/18-greater-burlington-taste-card)
[Mudcraft Studio April Workshops Select Dates in April](https://mudcraftstudio.com/)
What began as a pandemic sewing project with her 5 year old son has become a growing business that's diverted more than 40,000 pounds of ski gear from landfills. BirdieBlue, based in Stowe, partners with Burton and Turtle Fur to source upcycled materials, employs about 20 home sewers across Vermo…
Over 1,100 plungers braved the frigid waters of Lake Champlain at the Burlington Waterfront on March 14 for the 31st annual event. The Cool Schools division alone brought in more than $150,000 from over 600 student plungers, the most since 2020. All funds support year round sports training, healt…
Homeport signed a five year lease for a 6,000 square foot space at the Essex Experience, the former outlet mall that's been reinventing itself as a hub of locally owned shops and eateries. The new store will focus on kitchen goods and housewares, with a soft opening planned for July and a grand o…
The co-op has now been in the red for eight consecutive years, losing $1.2 million in fiscal year 2025 alone, more than double the previous year's losses. The two stores are heading in opposite directions: the South End location saw a 9 percent sales increase while downtown dropped 7 percent, pla…
Vermont's initial weekly claims dropped steeply to 322, their lowest level this year, after more than doubling the previous week. But the national picture is less encouraging: all three major stock indexes have fallen for a third straight week amid the Iran bombing, weak jobs data, and persistent…
Contractors from across the Northeast gathered in Winooski for a first of its kind summit on air to water heat pumps, which work with existing boiler systems to provide both heating and hydronic cooling. The technology can store energy purchased at off peak rates and now performs reliably even in…
The bill would double the retail purchase and possession limit to two ounces and raise the THC cap on a single package from 100 to 200 milligrams. It would also create limited pilot programs for cannabis events (up to 10 public and 10 private permits per year) and delivery services (up to 15 perm…
The Bridges Recovery Shelter, now open in downtown Burlington, is the first of its kind in Chittenden County. Operated by CVOEO in a building owned by the Howard Center, it offers 10 to 12 beds for unhoused individuals in recovery, with on site clinicians, recovery group meetings, and peer suppor…
The seasonal moratorium runs from March 15 to July 1 and applies to permitted lake encroachment construction and nonchemical aquatic plant control projects on public lakes and ponds. That means no riprap, dredging, seawall work, or other lakebed disturbances. If you're just putting in your dock, …
Tuktu Care is an AI driven platform connecting Vermonters with personal care aides for nonmedical tasks like cooking, driving, light housekeeping, and companionship. Sengupta relocated to Vermont last year, drawn by the state's aging population and strong community ties, with $200,000 in combined…
On Town Meeting Day, 70% of Burlington voters approved a $0.05 police and fire tax rate increase, and 57% approved a charter change formally establishing the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The tax increase funds negotiated salary and benefit agreements, two new firefighter pos…
Attorney General Charity Clark joined 23 other states in filing suit at the U.S. Court of International Trade after the president imposed new across the board tariffs under a different legal authority following the Supreme Court's rejection of his original tariff regime. Vermont has skin in this …
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont reported operating gains of more than $50 million in 2025 after a four year streak of losses that nearly sank the nonprofit insurer. The company had to take a $30 million loan from its Michigan affiliate in 2024 just to stay afloat, which it has since repaid. The…
Shane Corbett has opened a nostalgia driven pizza shop at 1 Market Place in Essex, modeled on the pizza joints of the late '80s and early '90s. The menu features six pies, including a hot honey with arugula, and Italian subs named after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters, all served on seede…
The 5 cent police and fire tax bump is expected to generate about $3 million in new revenue, but that still leaves a sizable chunk of the city's $12 million budget gap unresolved. For homeowners, the math works out to roughly $186 more per year on a home valued at $353,000. The closest vote was t…
At least 19 towns weighed new 1 percent taxes on meals, rooms, alcohol, or sales, and a majority of them passed. Bristol stood out by earmarking 20 percent of its projected $250,000 in new revenue specifically for climate resilience and emergency preparedness, a direct response to FEMA denying Ve…
Vermont's entire congressional delegation issued forceful statements after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, with all three condemning the strikes as illegal or unconstitutional and demanding Congress reconvene to vote on a War Powers Resolution. Sanders framed the strikes as fulfilli…
The cooperatively owned Fayston ski area closed a $2.5 million deal that more than doubles its footprint from 700 to roughly 1,800 acres. The purchase was crowdfunded, with Mad River's 2,500 shareholders voting to approve the buy and raising about $2.8 million. The land had been held by the famil…
This deep dive from Seven Days' Media Issue profiles an organization at a crossroads. Vermont Public's 41,000 members largely covered the federal funding gap through a wave of donations, but the station ran operating deficits of roughly $4 million to $4.7 million in each of the last two fiscal ye…
Publisher Paula Routly's column anchors Seven Days' 2026 Media Issue with a frank look at how much has changed since the last one in 2019. The Waterbury Record and Brandon Reporter are gone, VTDigger has unionized, and Vermont Public exists as a merged entity. Perhaps most encouraging is a new VC…
The first regional study of its kind found that Vermont's logging and trucking sector supports about 1,300 direct and indirect jobs and generates roughly $140 million in economic output, ranking fourth in the Northeast behind Maine, New York, and New Hampshire. But the numbers come with a warning…
Nine current or former UVM students competed at the Milan Cortina Games, and three came home with a combined four medals. Ogden earned two silvers (the individual sprint and team sprint), making him the first Catamount with multiple podium finishes at a single Olympics. Ryan Cochran-Siegle added …
[Vermont Cities Recognized for Bike Friendliness](https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/local-news/vermont/vermont-cities-recognized-for-friendliness-to-bikes/)
BETA Technologies founder and CEO Kyle Clark, an Essex native, will deliver the keynote at Champlain College's May 9 commencement and receive an honorary doctorate. The choice is a natural fit given BETA's deep ties to Vermont higher education, including its co-op program with UVM and its retenti…
BETA plans to roughly double its Vermont workforce over the next 18 months, adding about 1,000 positions at its South Burlington manufacturing facility near the airport. The company is already producing planes from its high capacity factory, something analysts say puts it ahead of competitors lik…
The 135 square foot city-owned kiosk at the corner of Church and College streets needs a new tenant after Leunig's Petit Bijou decided not to renew its lease. Applications are due today (Friday, Feb. 27) at 4 PM. The new lease requires at least six hours a day, six days a week, year round, a nota…
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Tourism and Marketing named 12 events to the 2026/27 Signature Events program, ranging from the Vermont City Marathon in Burlington (May 22–24) to the wonderfully Vermont-sounding Hardwick State (April 17–19), where the entire town becomes a D…
The League of Conservation Voters' 2025 scorecard gave Rep. Becca Balint a perfect 100%, Sen. Peter Welch 97%, and Sen. Bernie Sanders 94%. The scores come in the context of what LCV called a record 66 votes in Congress that undermined environmental protections and democratic safeguards. Vermont …
The Chittenden Solid Waste District received the grant from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation to support its hazardous waste collection program, which includes the year-round Environmental Depot in South Burlington and the mobile Rover collection service. The funding will prima…
Seven Days put together a thorough guide to Burlington's electronic music landscape, and the through line is a scene that's evolving rather than fading. Sunday Night Mass, the legendary house and techno series running since 1998, survived the closure of Club Metronome and Nectar's by moving to Hi…
H.639, sponsored by 28 state representatives, comes directly out of the 23andMe debacle, where 6.9 million users had data breached before the company filed for bankruptcy and settled a $30 million lawsuit. The bill would require genetic testing companies to get granular consent for data usage rat…
The most interesting detail buried in the numbers is the spending on town committees, which is set to more than double to $328,600, with nearly two thirds of that going to the newly established Community and Economic Development Committee. That committee's budget funds everything from business re…
If you've been curious about fermentation but intimidated by the prospect of accidentally growing the wrong kind of mold, this club is your entry point. Founded by Cheyanne Rico, the free monthly meetups at Queen City Brewery feature tasting potlucks where members bring everything from first atte…
Red knitted hats inspired by Norwegian resistance caps from World War II have become a quiet but visible form of protest against federal immigration crackdowns, and the movement has taken off across Chittenden County. The pattern, dubbed "Melt the ICE," originated at a Minneapolis yarn shop and h…
[Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program Reopens Today](https://vermontbiz.com/news/2026/february/23/manufactured-home-improvement-and-repair-program-reopens-february-23)
Seven Days profiled Abbey Berger-Knorr (Abbey B.K.), the 23 year old host behind the Abstract VT podcast, which features in depth conversations with Vermont creatives using chosen songs as a jumping off point. Abbey got her start at Big Heavy World, hosting the local music program Rocket Shop bef…
This is a deeply reported piece and worth the full read. The numbers in Burlington alone tell the story: K through 12 enrollment has dropped from 3,528 to 2,972 over 20 years, and the brand new high school opening this fall was built with capacity for 1,150 students but currently has only 850 to …
Dean Kamen, best known as the inventor of the Segway, stepped down from the South Burlington based electric airplane company's board Wednesday. Recently released DOJ files showed Kamen in frequent communication with Jeffrey Epstein well after Epstein's 2008 conviction, including visits to propert…
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump's sweeping tariffs on Friday in a 6 to 3 ruling, and a Burlington company was at the center of the case. Terry Precision Cycling, a women's cycling gear company, was one of five American businesses that sued, arguing Trump exceeded his authority …
The popular outdoor sauna company is building an 8,000 square foot bathhouse at 208 Flynn Avenue, with construction expected to begin next month and a fall opening planned. Floor plans show multiple saunas, a steam room, warm pools, cold plunge, and lounge areas, with both day passes and membersh…
This op ed from Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation president Frank Cioffi offers a progress report on Governor Scott's downtown Burlington action plan, now past the 100 day mark. Cioffi points to a restored sense of confidence among business owners, noting that state trooper presence on Ch…
Vermont's county fairs generate about $9 million annually, but a stormwater runoff rule requiring permitted systems for areas with more than three acres of impervious surface is creating real headaches. The Vermont State Fair in Rutland is the hardest hit: 17 of its 60 acres are impervious, a bro…
[Mikaela Shiffrin Wins Olympic Gold in Women's Slalom](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/sports/mikaela-shiffrin-wins-olympic-gold-in-womens-slalom/)
[Downtown City Market Closed After Shoplifting Incident](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/food-drink/foodnews/downtown-city-market-closed-for-the-day-after-shoplifting-incident/)
[Wintervale Brings Outdoor Recreation to the Intervale](https://www.vtcng.com/stowetoday/family_fun/wintervale-brings-outdoor-recreation-to-intervale/article_2a7f77a8-2599-4c77-9864-433041f02748.html)
After 29 years of independent family ownership, Smuggs is changing hands. Bear Den Partners, which purchased Burke Mountain last spring, will take over, though the Stritzler family will maintain a stake and daughter Lisa Howe will stay on as an advisor. Season passes will be honored and employees…
The Agri-Mark dairy in Middlebury, where most Cabot cheddar is made, violated its wastewater pretreatment permit 15 times since 2022, sending excessive industrial waste to the town's treatment facility that ultimately discharges into Otter Creek. Agri-Mark has since added significant equipment up…
Eleven people, many of them older adults, were arrested on trespassing charges during a civil disobedience action at the Williston office park housing ICE's National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center. Protesters read names of people killed in ICE custody and called on the landlord to cancel …
The Scott Administration has sought federal approval to restrict what Vermonters can buy with 3SquaresVT (the state's SNAP program), following a Trump administration initiative encouraging states to limit benefits to "healthy" foods. About 67,000 Vermonters rely on the program. Pieciak pushed bac…
The Burlington women's clothing shop that closed last spring when it merged into the now shuttered Dear Lucy is coming back to 62 Church Street this April under new ownership. Stanley, 27, who managed Whim from 2018 to 2021, is closing her children's clothing shop Olive & Ollie to relaunch the br…
The spot at 36 Thorsen Way, tucked behind the Church Street Marketplace, is back in business as Thai in the Alley, replacing BKK in the Alley which closed last fall. Henson, who also owns Stowe Thai Cuisine, teamed up with chef Tokyo Asissara, whose menu spans regions of Thailand and includes cre…
What initially looked like a suspicious package situation at the White Street post office turned out to be a can of dog spray that popped open in a delivery truck. The driver reported moderate ill effects and was treated and released. The incident prompted a significant emergency response includi…
The collaboration between Burlington City Arts and the Church Street Marketplace District Commission has been running since December and continues through February 23. The centerpiece right now is "Dwell Time," a rotating video projection by Burlington design studio Vanish Works on the former Cit…
Chef and owner Celine Eid opened La Di Da at 294 North Winooski Avenue last September in the former Despacito space, and it's quickly become a go to spot in the Old North End. Slices run $3.50 to $5.50 and whole 18 inch pies go for $26 to $36, with standouts like the chimichurri and the spicy Gem…
Longtime downtown barista Cole Thornton is heading back behind the espresso machine. After a decade at the Cosmic Grind on Church Street, Thornton and business partner Dante Seguino are opening Café Napoli at 163 Cherry Street, the cozy space that previously housed cannabis dispensary Lucky You a…
The Vermont Land Trust is accepting applications for the 2026 Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award through March 1. The award honors Rozendaal, the late farmer behind Rockville Market Farm in Starksboro, and is open to any Vermont resident actively working on or managing a commercial farm, whether or no…
Burlington startup OVR Technology is working to make video games smell like something. The company's fragrance innovation director Sarah Socia formulates scents that diffuse from a small cassette on top of a computer monitor, and they've already built a demo for Minecraft where players can actual…
At Chappell's Florist in South Burlington, owner Kristin Eaton says Valentine's Day prep starts back in October when flower orders go in. Staffing triples for the holiday rush and roses still dominate sales, though inflation and tariffs are pushing costs up this year. Eaton has been with the shop…
[Hip-Hop Artists to Perform at Champlain Valley Fair](https://www.wcax.com/2026/02/13/hip-hop-artists-perform-champlain-valley-fair/)
Beta Technologies' rapid expansion in South Burlington is reshaping the commercial landscape along Williston Road, and not everyone is cheering. The Auto Shoppe, which had operated on Gregory Drive since at least 2003, and neighboring Next Generation Auto were both given roughly a month's notice …
H.713 would bump the minimum wage for fast food workers at chains with more than 60 locations nationwide to $20 an hour, modeled after a similar California law. The bill's sponsors frame it as leveling the playing field, but local restaurant workers are raising the counterpoint that it could actu…
[Prescription Drug Affordability Plan Wins Unanimous Approval From House Committee](https://vermontbiz.com/news/2026/february/06/prescription-drug-affordability-plan-wins-unanimous-approval-house-committee)
Mark and Robin Twery have been married nearly 50 years, volunteering with the Friends of the Fletcher Free Library for over a decade. They sort, catalog, and sell donated books through in-person sales and an eBay store that once moved a 1951 second edition of The Hobbit for $1,700. Last year the …
Bishnu Pokhrel, a 24-year-old UVM grad who moved to the U.S. from Nepal as a child, opened Instant House at 4 Pearl Street in Essex Junction on January 21. The concept is inspired by the South Korean self-serve instant ramen bar trend that has been blowing up on TikTok: customers pick a packaged …
Champlain College's Center for Financial Literacy has extended its free online personal finance education program through April 30. The timing is significant: Act 73 requires the Secretary of Education and the State Board of Education to recommend statewide graduation standards, and the Secretary…
Activists are targeting two Williston locations that house ICE operations, with the White Cap Business Park becoming a particular flashpoint. A four hour sit in there last week drew backlash from tenants, including a café owner forced to close early. The property manager called police and demande…
The annual rankings from VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce are out, spanning small, medium, and large employers. Edward Jones has made the list every year since the program launched in 2006, while BETA Technologies appears for the first time. Rankings were determined through workplac…
Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak confirmed that ICE has been active in Burlington and elsewhere in Vermont in recent months, while noting the city has credible information disputing a circulating rumor about an upcoming surge. The city launched a dedicated webpage for verified updates and the mayor is conve…
[Burlington Among Communities Facing Road Salt Shortages](https://www.wcax.com/2026/01/29/burlington-joins-another-town-facing-region-wide-road-salt-shortages/)
Businesses across Vermont are navigating today's nationwide general strike in response to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown and ICE's aggressive enforcement, particularly in Minneapolis. While Santiago's closed entirely after a staff vote, most local businesses are finding middle g…
Vermont is the only state in the nation without nighttime restrictions on junior driver's licenses. A new report from the state's Child Fatality Review Team documented seven teen driver deaths in crashes between 11 PM and 5 AM over a 15 year period and recommends prohibiting teens from driving du…
South Burlington Recreation and Parks announced plans for a new farmer's market on the recreation path across from Burlington International Airport, running every other Friday evening from June 12 through September 18. Unlike the nearby Burlington Farmers Market, which charges over $1,000 for a s…
Nikhil Goyal, an adjunct assistant professor at UVM and former senior policy advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders, launched his campaign for the Chittenden Central seat as a Democrat/Progressive. His platform centers on property tax relief, education funding, healthcare costs, and affordable housing. G…
Robert Payson and Kathy Brunette filed suit in 2024 alleging nuisance, trespass, and negligence after Myer's moved to Shelburne Road in 2023. A Superior Court judge issued a split decision in December, dismissing the trespass and negligence claims but allowing the nuisance claim to proceed to tri…
Senate Bill 278 would eliminate THC concentration limits for flower, raise the cap for concentrates to 70%, and double the retail purchase limit to two ounces. It would also authorize cannabis events, delivery services, and on premises consumption alongside food service. Perhaps most notably for …
Lee Anderson, who founded Radio Bean 25 years ago, announced he's looking for new ownership for the North Winooski Avenue venue. His ideal scenario is a cooperative model where he stays on as a co-owner, though he's open to other arrangements. The club's financial struggles are "no secret," Ander…
The South Burlington firm has proposed partnering with helicopter operator Metro Aviation to move medical supplies between Vermont and northern New York, potentially launching later this year. The proposal responds to Trump's "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" executive order, which instructs …
The Center for Community News announced three key appointments: Courtney Lamdin, formerly of Seven Days, joins as Community News Service editor; Scott Finn's role expands to UVM's first lecturer of journalism and democracy; and Sima Bhowmik has been hired as research assistant professor after ser…
Jacobsen will leave City Hall on February 6 to return to immigration law through a fellowship with the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project. She played a central role in building the Mulvaney-Stanak administration from the start. Kara Alnasrawi, currently director of CEDO, will step in as interim ch…
Nineteen Vermonters will lose their jobs under the plan to address a $33 million deficit in the transportation fund, driven by stagnating gas tax revenues. This marks the second round of layoffs in four months. The governor also wants to redirect $10 million in sales tax revenue from the educatio…
State agencies have identified about 140 properties that could potentially be sold or leased to housing developers, including a former prison in Windsor, the Northlands Job Corps Center in Vergennes, and a former National Guard armory in Waterbury. Governor Scott's executive order calls for an ex…
Beta Technologies has purchased three South Burlington properties since September totaling over $10 million, including the former Pete's RV Center site adjacent to its manufacturing facility for $8 million. The electric aviation company, which went public last fall and raised over $1 billion, pla…
Two partnership programs between UVM Health, Norwich University, and Vermont State University have graduated 31 students since August, with 10 earning Bachelor's degrees and 21 earning Master's degrees in nursing. The programs, supported by over $1.5 million in grant funding, allow employees to c…
Vermont Foundation of Recovery, partnering with Champlain Housing Trust, has opened six new recovery residence beds and four transitional apartment beds for women in Essex Junction. The expansion brings the organization's statewide network to 79 beds, a 40% increase since September 2024. Applicat…
Starting January 20, patients and visitors entering the UVM Medical Center ED can bring personal bags again, ending the clear plastic bag policy that's been in place since 2023. The new scanners will screen bags quickly while maintaining security standards, a direct response to patient and visito…
The South Burlington chocolate maker, founded in 1915, will receive the award at the Vermont Economic Conference on January 27. Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Birnn has grown into a nationally distributed brand while keeping all production in Vermont. Every truffle sold across …
Age Well, the Area Agency on Aging for Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties, has added four new members to its Advisory Council as demand for aging services continues to grow. Vermont is now the second oldest state in the nation, with an increasing share of residents over 65. Th…
[Vermont Responders Train for Ice Rescues on Lake Champlain](https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/local-news/vermont-responders-train-for-ice-rescues-on-lake-champlain/)
The Vermont Futures Project's latest data paints a bleak picture: the state ranks dead last nationally for economic momentum, driven by population loss, an aging workforce, and a severe housing shortage. Vermont is one of just three states that lost population between 2023 and 2024, and it ranks …
Senator Peter Welch has joined Rep. Gwen Moore in reintroducing the COLAs Don't Count Act, which would prevent Social Security cost of living adjustments from counting as income when calculating SNAP eligibility. Currently, when a household's income rises due to a COLA, beneficiaries can see thei…
The Vermont Housing Finance Agency's annual report highlights a year of significant investment in affordable housing. VHFA awarded tax credits generating an estimated $63 million in equity for new construction, closed over $80 million in construction loans, and invested $48 million through the st…
Americans awoke Saturday to news that U.S. troops had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight operation dubbed "Absolute Resolve." President Trump announced the U.S. will now "run" Venezuela. Vermont's entire Congressional delegation swiftly condemned the action,…
The Queen City rang in 2026 with the Red Hot Chilly Dippers taking their annual plunge into 35 degree water, while families gathered at the waterfront and ECHO's Highlight celebration brought circus performers and a candy dance party before fireworks capped the evening. If you missed it, the vide…
The Residential Clean Energy Credit, which knocked 30% off home solar installation costs, expired with the new year as part of President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." Williston solar company Building Energy was fully booked by August as crews raced to finish projects before the deadline. The Verm…
That's Paddy Donnelly of Bern Gallery, describing a summer where sidewalk closures and construction barriers made customers think Church Street simply ended. The good news: with construction halted and snow bringing folks downtown, Main Street businesses are feeling the love again. Pearl, North S…
Back in 2021, Burlington voters passed ballot language giving local owners a 36 month head start over corporate chains. The result: at least 10 of Burlington's 12 cannabis retailers are locally owned. But the market isn't without challenges. Donnelly (yes, the same Paddy from Bern Gallery, which …
Seven Days' annual Backstories feature pulls back the curtain on how reporters actually do their jobs. Highlights include Kevin McCallum sweating through deadline after deadline as Congress upended his Bernie Sanders cover story, Courtney Lamdin catching city councilors texting during meetings, a…
BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont has launched a new website, VT Affordable Care, essentially urging its customers to shop around and skip the state's dominant hospital system when possible. The move reflects years of tension between the insurer, which lost $62.1 million last year, and UVM Health N…
Sandbox VT on the Burlington waterfront has carved out a niche repairing everything from worn jackets to police uniforms to Skida hats, giving customers a way to extend the life of their favorite gear rather than tossing it. The shop also resells secondhand and fixed up items, and manager Molly S…
The University Mall in South Burlington and Church Street in Burlington were both packed this weekend as last minute shoppers realized online delivery windows had closed. Local vendors reported one of their busiest weekends of the year, and several shoppers expressed pleasant surprise at seeing t…
A new study from Stage Properties Brokers ranks Vermont fifth nationally for homeownership rates, just behind West Virginia, Michigan, Mississippi, and Delaware. The data, drawn from U.S. Census figures through Q4 2024, showed Vermont's rate dipping slightly from a 75.1% peak in Q3 but remaining …
President Trump's executive order encouraging the rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III has Vermont dispensary owners cautiously optimistic. The biggest immediate impact would be tax relief: current federal law blocks cannabis businesses from taking standard deductions, creatin…
Staff at The Eloquent Page in St. Albans, The Bookstore in Brandon, and Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne share their favorite reads of 2025, ranging from hard nosed journalism about drug trafficking at Fort Bragg to a lyrical middle grade fairy tale from Kate DiCamillo. Highlights include Sam Ke…
The Scale (poke bowls), Bliss Bee (healthy fast food), and soon Folino's pizza and Bijou Blu spa are all setting up shop on Market Street. Nearly 56,000 square feet of commercial space has been added to the densest parts of City Center in the last decade. New zoning amendments extend requirements…
Fresh off ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange following a $1.2 billion IPO, Clark outlined plans to hire roughly 1,000 new employees over the next 18 months while keeping about 90% of the workforce in Vermont. The electric aviation company offers employees free lunches, onsite healthc…
The South Burlington electric aircraft maker went public last month to the tune of $1.2 billion and plans to add close to 1,000 jobs in Vermont over the next 18 months. They're sitting on about $3.5 billion in aircraft backlog (roughly 490 planes) plus another billion in propulsion technology sal…
Vermont's Leashed Dog Tracking Service, founded in 1996, provides free volunteer assistance to help hunters locate wounded game. On Wednesday, the Fish and Wildlife Board will debate whether to allow trackers to charge for gas and expenses, and whether to expand the times they can work beyond tra…
This marks the third consecutive year of significant budget shortfalls, with the city facing a $10 to $12 million gap driven largely by rising personnel costs. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak is proposing a 5 cent increase to the police and fire tax, which would close about $3 million but leave the rest un…
Head pastry chef Sam La Croix and executive chef Craig Anthony have opened Kitchen Table Market & Café on Williston Road, sharing space with Chicken Charlie's. The menu pulls from both the Richmond restaurant and the chicken spot, with cross pollination like the Shorty Mac panini featuring braise…
A new Food Not Bombs initiative has been setting up on Market Street in South Burlington for three weeks running, offering free soup, canned goods, and winter clothes. Organizer Rae Beecher, who was homeless for two and a half years before relocating to Vermont, started the effort after noticing …
[Vermont Tourism Hits Record $4.2 Billion in Visitor Spending](https://www.wcax.com/2025/12/11/vermont-tourism-hits-record-42-billion-visitor-spending/)
[Vermont Prevails in Suit Over Canceled Federal Disaster Funding](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/vermont-prevails-in-suit-over-canceled-federal-disaster-funding/)
Owner Laura Vilalta's statement comes after workers at the Church Street location walked out Saturday, protesting what they call unfair labor practices. Workers say the closure, set for the end of December, conveniently comes right before they're due to receive their annual raise and after nine m…
Highlight, Burlington's official New Year's Eve celebration produced by BCA since 2018, returns December 31 with over 12 hours of programming from noon to 12:30am. The lineup includes Circus Smirkus, The Barr Brothers headlining the Waterfront Fest, fireworks over Lake Champlain at 8pm, and the t…
Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility announced six new Champion Members: Beta Technologies, Cabot Hosiery Mills (makers of Darn Tough socks), Killington Resort, New Chapter, Norwich Solar, and Rhino Foods. These companies join 20 existing Champion Members including Ben & Jerry's, Green Mo…
Peter ter Kulve, CEO of Unilever's ice cream offshoot Magnum Ice Cream Company, told the Financial Times that Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, both in their seventies, need to "hand over" control of the brand they founded nearly five decades ago. The comments come as Magnum prepares to demerge fro…
Shelburne's selectboard continues debating proposed zoning changes that would restrict development in defined forest blocks and ecological corridors. Resident David Webster, whose property is roughly 80% within a designated forest block, objects to provisions that would make 60% of that land non-…
South Burlington's proposed $37.2 million general fund budget represents a 2.87% increase with an associated 2.51% tax rate bump. For the average homeowner, that's about $60 more annually. City Manager Jessie Baker's team trimmed operating budgets nearly 5.1% from department requests by scrutiniz…
Starting Wednesday, the café at City Market's South Winooski Avenue location will shutter for the winter, the second year in a row safety concerns have forced the closure. The public restroom will also close, partly for a plumbing upgrade. When the café reopened last winter after a January closur…
Former Burlington mayor and Let's Build Homes executive chair Miro Weinberger broke down Vermont's housing crisis for local Rotarians, noting the state is building at roughly a third of its historical rate. The nonprofit recently helped create the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program, whi…
Phoenix Books and Burlington online shopping platform Myti have launched a holiday campaign encouraging Vermonters to shop local, with pointed messaging like "Your money has the power. Don't hand it to Bezos." The timing is notable as Amazon seeks to build its first Vermont distribution center in…
South Burlington's City Council approved a parking management study that will likely bring paid parking to Market Street, Garden Street and Dattilio Drive. Consultants are proposing a two hour maximum at $1 per hour from 8 AM to 8 PM, with payment via smartphone app or physical kiosk. The goal is…
Louis Godin's Neighbors Helping Neighbors Project is now in its 11th year, collecting food along with paper goods and hygiene products from his garage at 31 McIntosh Ave every Saturday through December 31 from 8 AM to noon. The initiative has collected roughly 14,000 pounds of food over the past …
Lois McClure, who passed away in January 2025 at age 98, has left more than $20 million to expand education and training pathways to Vermont's promising jobs. The foundation produces the Vermont's Most Promising Jobs resource and offers the Free Degree Promise for debt-free associate degrees. "Yo…
After weeks of uncertainty during the federal government shutdown, USDA confirmed Thursday that full SNAP benefits will arrive Friday for over 63,000 Vermonters who rely on 3SquaresVT. The state's Emergency Board had approved $6.3 million in stopgap funding to cover 15 days of benefits during the…
Two-time breast cancer survivor Lyn Coupal leads a community sewing workshop December 13-14 at Generator Makerspace to produce shower bags for UVM Medical Center oncology patients recovering from surgery. The free workshops welcome volunteers of any experience level to help create bags that allow…
The City Charter Change Committee paused Monday on Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak's proposal for a $50,000 homestead property value exemption that would shift tax burden to commercial properties and homes valued above $800,000, which would see bills rise 4-6%. Burlington Business Association's Kelly Devin…
Main Street will fully reopen to traffic by Thanksgiving as the Great Streets BTV project pauses for winter, marking a key milestone after 21 months of disruptions. The $30 million initiative, which will resume in April 2026, aims to shift 60% of the street's space from cars to pedestrians and pu…
Howard Center, Vermont's largest social service organization, is hosting a job fair this Saturday, November 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the O'Brien Community Center in Winooski. The event aims to fill full-time, part-time, and temporary roles across its 50+ programs, which provide mental health…
Beta Technologies exceeded expectations with its public offering, selling 34 million shares at $34 each, above the projected 25 million shares at $27-$33. The South Burlington-based company, which employs over 800 people and designs electric aircraft, saw its stock price climb 6% to $36 by market…
Troopers can sign up for voluntary overtime shifts Monday through Sunday from noon to 4 PM or 4 PM to 8 PM, working alongside Burlington police to free up city officers for other calls. This is one of 14 points in Governor Phil Scott's short-term action plan for the city. Local businesses welcome…
South Burlington adopted its first-ever Economic Development Strategic Plan, positioning itself as Vermont's economic laboratory with 20% of the region's jobs and emerging sectors in life sciences, clean manufacturing, and electric aviation. The plan, developed after engaging 100+ stakeholders, r…
Another article about Scott's 14-point action plan as it tries tackling Burlington's public safety through a combination of increased state police presence, expanded substance use treatment, and a special court docket to address case backlogs. The plan sidesteps specifics on funding, with officia…
Burlington's Vault Collective and Old Gold are seeing October rushes as shoppers seek vintage alternatives to mass-produced Halloween costumes. With the average Halloween costume now costing $37 (up 11% from last year according to the National Retail Federation), secondhand shopping offers both f…
Vermont's new 911-to-988 transfer protocol allows emergency dispatchers to connect mental health crisis calls directly to trained counselors rather than automatically dispatching police or EMS. The statewide rollout follows successful pilots in Hartford and Westminster, with the first transfers h…
Governor Phil Scott's new initiative includes expanding prison drug treatment, offering additional police patrols, and launching a "mass volunteer clean-up and beautification event," but omits any expansion of homeless shelter capacity despite urgent need. The plan arrives after months of public …
Three UVM students launched GiftDrive in September, a platform that lets nonprofits list specific items they need for donors to purchase with just clicks, with goods delivered directly to organizations. Eight Vermont nonprofits have already joined, with Colchester Community Food Shelf receiving 1…
Hammond, the longest-serving director in Generator's 11-year history, just unveiled an upgraded Electronics Lab supporting Vermont's GaN semiconductor initiative while expanding teacher training programs. The Montpelier resident brings experience from founding Langdon Street Café and fundraising …
The South Burlington electric aviation company could debut on the New York Stock Exchange with a $7.2 billion valuation if shares trade at top value, making it one of Vermont's few publicly traded companies. Despite reporting $276 million in losses last year and $159 million in the first half of …
WalletHub's analysis ranks South Burlington 10th nationally for Hispanic entrepreneurs, with the city earning second place for Hispanic purchasing power. While neighboring Burlington landed at a dismal 146th, South Burlington's recent infrastructure investments and welcoming business climate attr…
The town's "Meet Me on Main Street" experiment closes the thoroughfare four Saturdays in a row for pedestrian-only community gatherings, but timing conflicts and parking concerns divide local merchants. While Thomas worries about losing out-of-town customers during her busiest season (her shop cl…
The Bolton Valley Resort president received Champlain College's 64-year-old Distinguished Citizen Award for her work revitalizing the family ski area into a four-season destination while championing small businesses and working families across Vermont. DesLauriers, who returned to Bolton Valley i…
The Burlington High School alum and Olympic medalist joins Mattel's Team Barbie with a groundbreaking doll featuring the company's first "Muscular" sculpt, complete with defined arms, shoulders, and legs set to hit shelves in 2026. The partnership addresses research showing one in three girls qui…
Two years after the "Hey Bub" product line sparked allegations of workplace harassment, homophobia, and misogyny that led 180 businesses to drop their products, the hard cider maker prepares to open a new Burlington pub. While some establishments like The Mill in South Burlington remain firm in t…
With police recording only 12 graffiti complaints this year compared to 160 in 2020 (though interim Chief Burke calls it "grossly underreported"), Burlington lacks comprehensive graffiti abatement despite campaign promises. Building Burlington's Future plans to launch volunteer cleanup efforts in…
Shelburne Orchards thrives despite extreme drought conditions, with pick-your-own operations now comprising 95% of business after a strategic pivot from wholesale in 2000. Owner Nick Cowles, who's operated the orchard for 50 years, has adapted to climate change by planting cold-hardy peaches and …
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning to hire a dozen contracted workers at its National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center in Williston's Industrial Avenue business park. These contractors would use social media platforms and government databases to track people targeted for deport…
Apple Island Marina worker Jeff Woods reports they've replaced six boat propellers this season after boaters ignored warnings about record-low water levels. Despite having to move docks deeper and remove some boats early, both the marina and The Rest Stop food truck report strong summer business.…
The Gryphon's September closure wasn't just about downtown construction woes, though owner Tom Chadwick blamed Burlington's "dystopian cesspool" for killing his business. Court records reveal Chadwick owes nearly $10 million in restitution for mishandling elderly clients' investments, including a…
The Break Room in South Burlington offers four smash rooms where customers can destroy garage sale finds and donated items with bats and crowbars, plus a paint-splatter room and a sound-dampened scream room for verbal release. Co-owner Kerry Lyons opened the business after his family visited a sm…
Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth have transformed a former motel that housed homeless Vermonters into 68 affordable apartments and 26 condominiums in Shelburne, with all units remaining permanently affordable for future generations. The $55 million Bay Ridge development includes federal Hous…
South Burlington's new five-year union contract includes unprecedented language allowing city workers to engage in union actions "promoting and defending democratic principles" once per year for up to three business days. The agreement, which covers City Hall, Public Works, and library employees,…
UVM's educator licensure programs have received the prestigious Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement Award from the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The award recognizes the College of Education and Social Services' seven-year self-study process and com…
The Lake Champlain Chamber's signature leadership program has selected 31 participants for its Class of 2026, representing organizations from GlobalFoundries to the Milton Family Community Center. The nine-month program, now in its 37th year, includes eight full-day seminars exploring Vermont iss…
Kimmel's back on air after a week's suspension for comments about Charlie Kirk's murder, but Vermonters still can't watch because local ABC affiliate WVNY is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which continues to preempt the show. Senator Bernie Sanders sent a letter to Nexstar's CEO calling the decisi…
[Vermont Textile Producers Eye a 'Farm-to-Closet' Movement](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/culture/vermont-textile-producers-eye-a-farm-to-closet-movement/)
This marks a significant shift for CEO Kyle Clark, who previously touted the benefits of remaining private. The South Burlington electric aviation startup has raised over $1 billion in private capital, most recently $300 million from GE Aerospace. Multiple Beta job ads seek applicants with public…
The health network's president and CEO resigned Thursday, less than a week after state regulators slammed the Network for high executive compensation and cost of care. The announcement comes as the network's 19 top executives collected $3 million in bonuses last year while ending kidney transplan…
Williston Road's international markets face mounting challenges as Trump's tariffs hit imported goods, with Indian products facing 50% tariffs and European goods seeing increases too. India Bazaar owner Harish Nair tries not to pass costs to customers who travel hours for authentic Indian product…
ADL becomes Vermont's first middle school to achieve Special Olympics Unified Champion School national banner recognition, meeting 10 excellence standards for inclusive sports and activities. CVU renewed its 2020 designation, demonstrating continued commitment to bringing together students with a…
Big John Van Hazinga has been living on a futon in the shop's basement without a shower, prompting his landlord to issue a termination notice for the end of October. The Battery Street fixture since 2003 survived Van Hazinga's near-fatal 2007 longboarding crash and his 2019 federal weed dealing i…
Despite 9% more homes selling in 2024 and inventory finally loosening from pandemic lows, the statewide median home price jumped to $353,000 last year, with Chittenden County hitting $500,000. The rental vacancy rate has climbed to 3% from under 1%, but Vermont's housing deficit remains deep enou…
Main Street businesses have shifted operations dramatically during construction, with Honey Road unable to set up outdoor seating and Burlington Wine Shop pivoting to email marketing as foot traffic plummeted. The irony of newly widened sidewalks appearing just as The Gryphon announced its closur…
Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" featured Burlington this week in a five minute segment examining the city's efforts to woo Canadian tourists back after pandemic disruptions. Correspondent Jordan Klepper visited during the Vermont Brewers Festival, interviewing local business leaders about initi…
Governor Phil Scott announced his administration will present recommendations to Burlington leaders in coming weeks to address what he termed a crisis of homelessness and public drug use. The governor met with Burlington business owners Tuesday and plans additional meetings with residents and aca…
Burlington Square, the long delayed redevelopment of the former downtown mall site, will partially open next month with luxury apartments and hotel rooms commanding top dollar prices. The AC Marriott opens September 18, with apartments following October 1, featuring rents from $1,950 monthly for …
Burlington's inaugural Sex Week, September 14 to 20, will feature 18 events ranging from educational panels to performances and workshops, organized by Earth + Salt sex shop owner Beth Hankes and Pride Center health director Kell Arbor. Events vary from free to $20 and include sessions specifical…
Chittenden Solid Waste District has partnered with Vermont Language Justice Project to produce recycling instruction videos in 15 languages including Arabic, ASL, Burmese, Dari, French, Kirundi, Mandarin, Maay Maay, Nepali, Pashto, Spanish, Somali, Swahili, and Vietnamese. The videos guide viewer…
Vermont Stage nearly folded last year after facing a $175,000 deficit, its largest operating loss in 20 years, prompting board members and producing artistic director Cristina Alicea to question whether audiences still wanted live theater post pandemic. The company's production of tick, tick... B…
Eric Kelley of Williston Coffee Shop has purchased Nomad Coffee on Flynn Avenue, bringing stability to a beloved South End spot that faced uncertainty after baker-owner Chris Johnson's unexpected death in March. Kelley's team has already been supplying pastries to keep Nomad running, and he plans…
Burlington's famously permissive stance on public nudity appears headed for extinction after a committee unanimously approved a ban Friday, with fines ranging from $100 for first offenses to $500 for third violations. The ordinance, which still needs full council approval, responds to mounting co…
The Gryphon's weekend closure announcement adds another name to Burlington's growing list of shuttered businesses, following Nectar's recent bombshell closure after nearly 50 years just up the street. Both establishments cited similar struggles with public safety concerns and construction-related…
Princeton professor Arvind Narayanan, co-author of "AI Snake Oil" and recipient of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI recognition, will speak at Saint Michael's College on September 11 at 7 PM about distinguishing genuine AI capabilities from industry hype. His book serves as this year's co…
New York native Celine Eid will bring authentic NYC-style pizza to 294 North Winooski Avenue in mid-September, taking over the former Despacito space with seasonal pies featuring locally sourced toppings. After running a successful weekly pizza pop-up in New York City through 2023 and 2024 where …
The Old North End sandwich shop at 88 Oak Street scored $50,000 from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to renovate its century-old former corner market building. Owner Abby Portman, who opened Poppy in November 2020 as part of the Oak Street Cooperative that purcha…
Former Human Services secretary Mike Smith's scathing memo accused UVM Medical Center of "spinning" the narrative about its proposed $2.4 billion budget, noting that despite claims of cost-cutting through layoffs and service reductions, the hospital actually projects increases in revenue, staff, …
The governor and Burlington's mayor are locked in a public blame game over who's responsible for addressing the city's visible struggles with homelessness and drug use. Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison called visiting Burlington "terrifying" while Scott suggested the mayor's strategie…
In a rare bipartisan move, councilors voted 9-2 to demand greater police presence and overnight clearing of City Hall Park, where drug dealing occurs openly and homeless residents regularly camp despite ordinances prohibiting both. The resolution comes after the recent fatal beating and ongoing c…
Governor Scott is requiring most state employees to return to the office at least three days per week starting December 1, ending the pandemic era of widespread remote work. The administration claims the change will improve collaboration and make government more accessible to Vermonters, though u…
The incoming class includes 563 Vermonters, with 221 taking advantage of the expanded UVM Promise program that now covers tuition for families earning under $100,000. First-generation students jumped to 14% of the class while male enrollment rose to 40%, bucking national trends of young men skipp…
Marlene Tromp officially began July 1 as UVM's 28th president after leaving Boise State amid Idaho's intense anti-DEI political climate, bringing along CFO Alicia Estey who helped eliminate a $15 million deficit at their former institution. Tromp's $575,000 salary comes as she inherits Vermont's …
Pizzeria Verita owner Leslie Wells reports sales down 30% from last year during Tuesday's virtual town hall with Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak. Business owners attribute the slump to multiple factors: fewer Canadian visitors, downtown construction, and public safety concerns including open drug use. Iron…
Governor Phil Scott responded to Burlington's cry for help, though tensions are evident between state and city leadership. WCAX's data analysis shows Burlington's retail, restaurant and bar tax revenues have been declining when adjusted for inflation, suggesting the Queen City is losing business …
The new "Why We March" mural on Howard Center's building facing City Market celebrates community activism through vibrant imagery of protesters at recognizable Burlington landmarks. Lead artists Julio Desmont and Raphaella Brice, both of Haitian heritage, incorporated feedback from over 60 commun…
The People's Kitchen has joined Food Not Cops in providing free meals at City Hall Park, now serving hot dinners three nights a week. Organizer FaReid Munarsyah launched the effort after 150 businesses complained about Food Not Cops' impact on downtown. Recent Tuesday dinners have served 120 to 1…
[Mystery Solved: Old Holiday Inn Now UVM Housing](https://www.wcax.com/2025/08/20/whats-going-with-old-holiday-inn-property-south-burlington/)
[CVS Manager Wins National Recognition](https://patch.com/vermont/burlington-vt/burlington-store-manager-receives-prestigious-cvs-health-company-recognition) Church Street CVS manager Kevin Richer earned a 2025 National Paragon Award for community impact and business savvy. His pre-eclipse mercha…
The Great Streets BTV project has hammered downtown businesses with months of orange cones and construction noise, prompting hundreds of merchants to plead for relief. The city's compromise opens Main Street to traffic after 5:30pm on weekdays and all weekend through Thanksgiving, though you stil…
Indiana-based Gardens Alive! completed its $9 million bankruptcy acquisition of the iconic Vermont company, promising to keep five of six retail locations open and retain all store workers. Only the seasonal Shelburne location gets the axe. The deal's darker side: 40 customer service and warehous…
Over 2,500 unionized UVM employees are protesting a mandatory insurance audit requiring them to submit birth certificates and marriage licenses to Willis Towers Watson, a company that reported a data breach in 2023. The university's paying up to $114,000 for the audit to verify dependent eligibil…
Andy O'Brien's Charlotte Sailing Center got the boot after 20 years when Lake Champlain Transportation declined to renew his lease at the end of July. The ferry company has given boat owners until September 1 to remove land-stored vessels and October 1 to vacate moorings. While the Pecor family, …
Vermont Green FC's championship season showcased more than athletic prowess, with fan-organized fundraisers collecting over $25,000 for Migrant Justice and the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund during the team's playoff run. The club's identity intertwines environmental justice with communit…
Drivers take note: the Maple and Pine intersection will be completely shut down 24/7 this week for traffic signal installation as part of the Champlain Parkway project. Pine Street access will be limited to local traffic only, with sections accessible from either north or south depending on your …
The iconic Vermont company that's won "Best Garden Center" awards for two decades is laying off 40 workers with less than two weeks' notice and no severance as it prepares for a $9 million sale to Indiana-based Gardens Alive. By August 6, both the Intervale call center and Milton warehouse will c…
Seven Days celebrates its 30th anniversary with a zodiac-themed readers' choice awards recognizing 241 winners and 946 finalists across Vermont. From favorite folk bands to creemee stands, the Daysies highlight what makes the Green Mountain State special at a time when downtowns are struggling an…
Vermont's largest hospital system is cutting 77 non-clinical positions and leaving dozens more vacant to save over $5 million as part of $185 million in spending reductions by next year. The cuts span finance, patient registration, HR, and IT departments, with some layoffs immediate and others ex…
Burlington City Arts' Festival of Fools will happen after all this weekend, though scaled down to a two-day block party after funding cuts initially forced its cancellation. The grassroots rescue effort began when Café HOT. owners Travis and Allan Walker-Hodkin rallied fellow business owners to d…
New UVM President Marlene Tromp arrives from Boise State at a precarious moment, facing federal research funding cuts, enrollment pressures, and ongoing budget challenges. In her first major interview, Tromp committed to increasing Vermont student enrollment while acknowledging the demographic re…
The Boys and Girls Club unveiled its newly renovated pool Monday, a $600,000 project four years in the making that now serves 100 kids daily with swimming lessons and recreation. The surprise dedication to longtime staff member Joyce McEntee added an emotional touch to the ribbon-cutting ceremony…
Sunday's "Paddles Without Borders" event at Blue Paddle Bistro addressed a painful reality: Canadian border crossings into Vermont are down 24% since February's tariff threats. For the Champlain Islands, where Canadian visitors form the backbone of summer tourism, this represents an existential t…
Randolph electrical engineer Patrick Schlott is resurrecting pay phones for the digital age, installing free internet connected calling stations in cell service dead zones across central Vermont. His company RandTel has placed three phones so far in North Tunbridge, Thetford, and Randolph, each c…
CCTV Center for Media & Democracy kicks off a 24 hour telethon tomorrow at 6pm to save 41 years of Burlington's community media archives currently stored on 11,000 VHS tapes and DVDs. The marathon broadcast, running straight through Saturday's Ramble festivities, features everything from Death to…
Burlington Square's south tower opens in August, finally transforming the former mall site downtown after years as an eyesore nicknamed "the Pit." The $300 million two tower project features Vermont's first AC Hotel by Marriott occupying floors 2-7 with 161 rooms, while floors 8-11 house 53 apart…
Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 26, when OGE throws what's essentially Burlington's biggest block party of the summer. Running from 11 AM to 10 PM, the celebration kicks off with a staff band at 12:30 PM followed by local musicians throughout the day. The real genius here is their raffle s…
The Vermont Foodbank has laid off seven employees, nearly 9% of staff, as federal COVID funding dries up and USDA food allocations drop by 20%. CEO John Sayles assures that food distribution won't be affected, but these cuts highlight how fragile our safety net remains. The silver lining: the sta…
Federal cuts are hitting our regional public media hard: Vermont Public faces a $4 million shortfall (10% of budget), North Country Public Radio loses $650,000 over two years, and Mountain Lake PBS takes a devastating 35% cut. Vermont Public CEO Vijay Singh acknowledges they'll need to lean even …
If you've tried driving through Winooski lately, you know the Main Street project is a major undertaking. For the small businesses in the Onion City, it's been devastating, with some reporting revenue drops as high as 75%. In response, the city is urging residents to buy gift cards directly from …
In what's already becoming a legendary chapter in the club's young history, Vermont Green FC clinched the division title in stunning fashion. After being down for the first time all season, the team rallied in added time with a storybook goal from Owen O'Malley, a fan favorite from the inaugural …
If you're looking for a dose of nostalgia, the Vintage Inspired Marketplace on Dorset Street is delivering. After a decade tucked away in Burlington's South End, the multi-vendor market moved to a highly visible South Burlington location and is thriving. With over 50 vendors packing the 4,500 squ…
Dorset Street is getting a couple of new options this weekend, with the return of Wings Over and the grand opening of Playa Bowls this Saturday. This new energy comes with some bittersweet news, as the beloved local ferment company Sobremesa announced it's ceasing wholesale distribution. Their mo…
This is a seismic event for our region's social safety net. As Vermont's designated agency for mental health and substance use, the Howard Center is a linchpin; its stability affects our hospitals, emergency services, and schools. The fact that it was down to "single-digit days of operating cash"…
This story perfectly illustrates how abstract global trade policy creates concrete problems on our doorsteps. The tariffs mean a local manager at Girlington Garage has to tell a neighbor their repair cost just tripled without warning. This forces a difficult choice on customers: pay a surprise pr…
A Montpelier based film company is tackling a complex and important topic with its new documentary, "Gone Guys." The film, which features interviews with Vermont educators and young men, explores a documented decline in the well being and engagement of boys. It’s not just a movie though, it's the…
The situation with the Food Not Cops meal service remains complicated. After pressure from businesses, the group relocated from the downtown garage but their new, self selected spot in City Hall Park was chosen without city input. This unilateral move has frustrated the Burlington Business Associ…
This is an interesting move to address a common frustration in Vermont's job market: connecting the right people to the right opportunities in a state where networks are key. By creating a free, curated, and local-focused job board, VCET is trying to cut through the noise of huge national platfor…
This federal grant is a significant step towards tackling a problem every Vermonter is aware of: the severe shortage of mental health professionals, especially outside of Chittenden County. By funding Ph.D. students and partnering with community health centers, UVM is directly addressing the work…
Holy smokes, that’s intense. The swift reversal on the Perkins Pier overnight parking program highlights the intense pressure and division surrounding solutions to homelessness in Burlington. While the city intended it as a temporary, controlled measure, the backlash was immediate and severe. Thi…
The Gardener's Supply bankruptcy is sending a cautionary ripple through Vermont's dozens of employee owned companies. The case reveals a potential vulnerability in the model when a wave of retirements coincides with economic volatility. It’s a crucial conversation about long term financial planni…
This is a classic Burlington story of collaboration over competition. With Nectar’s temporarily closed, both The Skinny Pancake (hosting free Friday shows) and Einstein’s (hosting Tuesday shows) independently moved to save the weekly Dead tribute nights. Their decision to coordinate efforts ensur…
The annual celebration of local entrepreneurship saw Vship, a vehicle shipping platform, win the $15,000 grand prize. Xander Medical, a surgical device company, took home the $5,000 Audience Choice Award. The event highlights the strength of Vermont’s startup ecosystem and the robust support netw…
The city is spending an extra $600,000 to offer a reprieve to businesses, but it comes at the cost of extending the Great Streets project’s overall timeline. It’s a classic Burlington compromise, attempting to balance immediate economic relief against the long term pain of construction. The move …
Responding to a letter from over 100 downtown businesses, the council is exploring a public nudity ordinance. The proposal now heads to a committee, which will have to sort out the details, such as potential exceptions for events like UVM’s traditional naked bike ride. This is a delicate balancin…
When institutional funding fell through, local businesses stepped in to save a beloved summer tradition. Spearheaded by the brothers who own Cafe HOT., the effort has resurrected the event as the "Fools Block Party" for August 1 and 2. It’s a testament to the business community's commitment to pr…
This is a perfect example of a smart, symbiotic local business partnership. The well established team from the Daily Planet is bringing a permanent food option to a popular South Burlington brewery. It’s a win-win, giving Weird Window’s customers a reason to stick around and offering a new ventur…
This is a welcome infusion of federal cash that will have a direct local impact. The EPA funds, secured by Rep. Becca Balint, will help modernize the facility with energy efficient heat pumps. This move will not only cut the plant's carbon footprint significantly but also help keep utility rates …
The Chapter 11 filing of the Vermont-based, employee-owned company has raised concerns about the fate of its retail locations and employees' stock. An Indiana-based catalog business, Gardens Alive!, is expected to purchase the company in what's described as a "going-concern sale," meaning the ope…
Eight years after its ambitious $20 million South End expansion, City Market is facing some financial headwinds. The member owned co-op hasn't seen the sales growth it projected and is currently operating at a loss, meaning no profit sharing for its members. This is a sobering reality check for t…
In news that might cause a collective sigh across the city, Shy Guy Gelato is on the market for $200,000. Owner-operator Paul Sansone, after a decade of crafting beloved flavors, is ready to move on. He and his co-owner are assuring the public that the St. Paul Street shop will continue business …
Amidst local news of budgets and businesses, there's a significant point of pride for our community's healthcare. The University of Vermont Children's Hospital has been recognized as one of the top pediatric centers in the nation. This accolade speaks volumes about the quality of care and the ded…
Vermont is set to receive nearly $22 million from the massive settlement with Purdue Pharma, the company widely blamed for helping to fuel the national opioid crisis. While a significant sum, it pales in comparison to the vast resources the state has spent combating the epidemic's devastating eff…
This piece from VTDigger highlights the journey of Burlington Beer Company founder Joe Lemnah. It tells a familiar Vermont story of passion turned into a successful enterprise, but also sheds light on the crucial role of financing organizations like the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VED…
After GlobalFoundries announced its own sweeping investment plans last week, the other shoe dropped this week in the form of a massive federal grant. To be clear, this isn't the company's money, but rather a $1.5 billion award directly from the federal CHIPS Act to make those ambitions a reality.…
Winooski is getting a fantastic new food option just in time for summer. Elom Essiba is turning her catering business, Le Bon GoûT, into a daily takeout spot at the Myers Memorial Pool, offering authentic African dishes like jollof rice and fufu. After building a following at local farmers market…
While the headline number is huge, the local takeaway is a bit more modest but still significant for Chittenden County's largest private employer. This $125 million for the Essex Junction facility, combined with recent federal CHIPS Act funding, signals a continued commitment to the Vermont plant…
It’s that time of year again when you can’t walk a block downtown without hearing a saxophone. The festival couldn't come at a better time for downtown businesses feeling the pinch from construction and other concerns. As festival curator Anthony Tidd notes, a majority of the shows are free, maki…
The Mayor is moving forward with her "ModernGov" initiative, merging the city’s economic development office (CEDO) with business and workforce development, including the Church Street Marketplace. This move aims to create a more unified strategy for tackling Burlington's big challenges like the h…
It's a mixed bag of news for the local food scene. The highly anticipated reopening of Philo Ridge Farm's restaurant and market is set for June and July, a big win for fans of their farm to table dining. However, we've also seen the closure of several spots, including Café St. Paul, Sushi Maeda, …
South Burlington's Recreation and Parks department is proving that its mission goes beyond just sports and playgrounds. A new mobile produce market is providing free bags of fresh vegetables to residents twice a month at city parks. The program has been an immediate success, showing a clear commu…
Tonight’s City Council meeting at 6 PM (as this newsletter releases) will see Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak lay out her proposed 2026 budget. The administration is grappling with a significant $8 million shortfall, leading to some tough decisions including job cuts and the proposed end of adult programmi…
The discussion around downtown vibrancy and safety has taken a contentious turn. Following a letter from business owners expressing concerns and a subsequent City Council resolution to relocate the Food Not Bombs free lunch program, fraudulent letters misrepresenting business owners' views began …
A familiar face is poised to take the helm of the Church Street Marketplace. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak has announced Samantha McGinnis as her nominee for the Director role. McGinnis, currently the Assistant Director of Downtown Projects & Programs, brings significant experience in organizing many of …
A collective sigh of relief might be heard from the Old North End as the beloved Shopping Bag, a cornerstone for 50 years under the Clayton family and home to the legendary Sizzler burger, has new proprietors. Brothers Yogeshkumar and Jigar Patel have taken the reins, and while some cosmetic upgr…
The debate over the Food Not Cops meal service, particularly its presence near the Marketplace Garage, has a new development with the Mayor asking the City Council to reconsider a resolution to move the program. This situation brings familiar Burlington tensions to the forefront: how to support d…
The contentious City Council decision mandating the meal program relocate from the downtown parking garage by July 14 vividly exposed the deep divisions within the community. While over 100 businesses cited negative impacts and safety issues, program organizers and supporters emphasized they are …
In response to recent calls for boycotts after the decision to move the downtown meal program, some residents organized a "passeggiata" this past Wednesday. The idea was a gentle show of support for downtown businesses by encouraging people to shop and dine locally. While turnout was reportedly l…
This resolution addresses some pressing concerns, especially with local leaders noting a 10% drop in municipal revenue over the past year. It is not just talk; the proposal sets some firm deadlines for action. For instance, the Department of Public Works has a June 15th target to figure out costs…
This is a significant leadership change for a key city department, especially as it coincides with a planned merger between CEDO and Business & Workforce Development aimed at addressing the city's budget gap. Alnasrawi, currently leading the Church Street Marketplace and Business & Workforce Deve…
Plant shopping and taco feasting can now go hand in hand in Shelburne. The Mad Taco has rolled out its food truck at the new Gardener's Supply, offering their well loved menu of tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. They'll be serving Thursday through Sunday, making your weekend errands potentially m…
A significant coalition of downtown businesses has voiced serious concerns to city leadership, outlining a 10 point call to action. The letter highlights impacts on foot traffic and safety, urging measures from increased police presence to relocating a pop up soup kitchen and even addressing publ…
Despite a damp welcome this past Saturday, the Burlington Farmers Market still drew a respectable crowd. It’s a testament to Burlington’s hardy spirit and love for local goods that even a bit of rain couldn't entirely wash out opening day. Here’s to sunnier market Saturdays ahead for the rest of …
The city is navigating some challenging financial waters, leading to the difficult decision of workforce reductions intended to address an $8 million budget gap. Mayor Mulvaney Stanak emphasized that these measures followed careful assessment, aiming to maintain core services despite what she des…
This news about Nectar's, a true Burlington institution, is definitely a shocker. Citing the Main Street construction and a quieter downtown, the team hopes this is just a summer break. We will all be watching to see if this cornerstone of our music scene makes its return. In the meantime, take t…
The beloved Saturday market returns for its 45th year with over 75 vendors each week, a full music schedule, and new kids’ activities. The market’s also laying the groundwork for something more permanent—a foundation was just launched to help secure a long-term home. Whether you’re braving mornin…
Senator Welch’s bill to rein in presidential tariff powers didn’t clear the hurdle this week. For Vermont businesses still juggling high costs on imports, that means more waiting—and more number crunching—before any changes arrive.
South Burlington’s newest storefront offers a second life for outdated gadgets—because somewhere, someone actually wants that drawer full of tangled chargers and retro consoles. It’s recycling, but with cash back and a bit more nostalgia.
A quiet effort to bring people back to Main Street. If you’ve been avoiding downtown during the week, this might be the nudge that gets you there. After all, who doesn’t like walking off lunch on a brick-paved street lined with shop windows and the occasional neighbor passing by?
Emergency gifts keep the Activating 21st Century Local History initiative alive through October, sparing one layoff. If you like your archives dust‑free and your historians employed, consider tossing a few coins in the collection jar.
Church‑Street old‑timers still miss the shop’s downtown charm, but the new South Burlington digs—and its recycled‑paper GaiaTone fingerboards—are apparently impressing buyers around the globe. Not bad for a business that started restringing student rentals.
Local markets are always a bright spot, especially when they chase those winter doldrums away. This expo is your chance to snag that perfect gift or tasty treat without resorting to mass-produced imports. Show up hungry and ready to discover a new local favorite.
Vermont’s high cost of living can feel like a constant battle, so it is no surprise that industry leaders are weighing in. With manufacturing pumping billions into the state economy, that call for affordability might carry some weight.
It is not every day that we get to see an electric plane go the distance across the entire country. This homegrown company keeps turning science fiction into science fact, which is huge for both tech lovers and eco-enthusiasts. Next time you hear that buzz overhead, it just might be Beta’s next b…
Construction delays have a knack for throwing a wrench in everyone’s plans, and it sounds like local shops have had enough. With roadway closures dragging on, folks are hoping for better timelines and less disruption to foot traffic. Here’s hoping City Hall offers a plan that keeps the commerce f…
Winter offered a rare stretch of calm for Winooski businesses—but the cones and crews are back. As traffic headaches return, local spots are bracing for another round of slow days and spoiled produce. If you’re headed that way, maybe build in some extra time and show them a little love.
The famous ice cream maker’s staff took a stand against corporate constraints with a midday march. Whether you side with Unilever or the local brand’s push for autonomy, it’s clear that folks in Vermont take both democracy and dairy very seriously. We’ll see how this corporate swirl shakes out in…
It’s a promising run for the Catamounts, who found a groove just in time for the conference playoffs. Expect the stands at Patrick Gym to stay packed if they keep up this energy. And yes, if you’re reading this before tip-off, they host UMBC tonight (Mar. 10) at 6:00 p.m. in the semifinals—so con…
BU caught the Catamounts on a tough night at Gutterson. With the Hockey East playoffs on the horizon, Vermont’s aiming to regroup and sharpen their defensive play. After all, nobody likes giving up a six-spot at home, especially on Senior Night.
When an offensive spark like that ignites, it’s a good day to be a Catamount. O’Connor and company are inching towards conference play with serious momentum. Keep tabs on this squad if you want to see more highlight-worthy moves and final scores.
If you’ve noticed any unusual upticks in fuel or certain groceries, you might blame the tariff drama. With so much cross-border trade, local businesses and consumers are prepping for whatever the feds decide next.
The women’s squad keeps racking up honors right before their playoff push. With Vito stealing passes and Olson lighting up the scoreboard, this team is ready to make noise in the conference tournament.
Local businesses that rely on Canadian imports (or attract Canadian tourists) are bracing for potential cost hikes, especially if cross-border shipments get pricier. We’ll see if there’s any last-minute change, but for now, heads up if your supply chain includes Montreal.
Longtime patrons hope that these hurdles can be cleared soon. Until then, the downtown spot that once buzzed with late-night slices is dark while owners work toward compliance.
It is a big boost for this Burlington nonprofit, which unites local agencies to protect children. If you care about supporting youth outreach programs, this is a good reminder that community-focused nonprofits are always appreciative of a helping hand.
A rundown Pizza Hut and gas station on Shelburne Road are finally coming down. After years of graffiti and boarded-up windows, South Burlington officials say the plan is for commercial space plus 30 new housing units—some of which will be affordable. Here’s hoping that corner of Shelburne Road ge…
The city’s public works teams pounced on this week’s mild temperatures to tackle some of those legendary potholes dotting our streets. They’re patch jobs for now, since asphalt plants are still closed for the season. More permanent fixes roll out once the real spring arrives (whenever that might …
This means someone up north is suddenly feeling luckier. Double-check your pockets, because missing out on a million bucks would be quite a bummer.
Companies around here that secure government contracts may face cutbacks, leaving some locals concerned about paychecks and benefits. Global aid might be distant, but the ripple can reach us right at home.
Momentum is on their side as the postseason nears. Keep an eye on them if you love a defensive showdown.
Despite the scoreboard, the Catamounts showed flashes of top-notch play. They’ll have a chance for redemption in the Hockey East playoffs.
Some employees could see up to $10 million each after the private equity firm Warburg Pincus buys the company for about $1 billion, including debt. The sale’s windfalls highlight Vermont’s growing focus on employee stock ownership plans.
Applicants have until March 21 to apply, with winners announced April 17 in Burlington. It’s a key event for architects, developers, and property owners dedicated to sustainable design in Vermont.
Expect a boutique women’s clothing store, an independent bookstore and café, plus a casual Italian-American eatery among the new arrivals. Each locally owned shop hopes to enhance Williston’s bustling retail scene.
It’s still a big parking lot today, but maybe not forever. Keep an eye on Lakeside Avenue—2026 might bring fresh housing, jobs, and a new vibe to the South End.
That’s a lot of wins—and a lot of green banners. Rice basketball fans won’t be short on reasons to cheer as the season hits the playoff stretch.
Some lawmakers were openly skeptical about recent service cuts, while others offered more supportive feedback. The ongoing conversation signals that statehouse pressure on the network will remain high as officials debate funding, bonuses, and Vermont-to-New-York cash flow.
Ice in McNeil’s Cove forced the shutdown, leaving travelers to seek alternate routes across the lake. It’s a good reminder that winter crossing can be unpredictable, so check for updates before heading out.
Food lovers can add a new stop to their rotation. If you’re in the area, try a sub and know that a portion of each purchase supports public safety groups.
Town officials say the focus is on attracting more visitors and supporting local businesses. If you see a flurry of new events popping up in Shelburne, this commission might be the reason.
Vermont’s strict billboard ban is alive and well. After a notice from officials, the shop owner decided to comply and take them down, proving it’s often easier to keep your ads online than alongside a country road.
A new monoclonal antibody has significantly cut RSV admissions, and doctors say now’s the time to make sure your baby’s protected. Here’s hoping we see fewer of those anxious trips to the hospital for good!
Councilors voted to look into boosting the city’s commitment to affordable housing. Given the tough housing market (and eye-watering rents), a little extra support could go a long way.
This new certificate promises real-world training for folks eyeing a career in hotels, resorts, and restaurants—great news for anyone looking to jump into Vermont’s bustling tourism scene (and hopefully snag some sweet industry perks).
One of the area’s favorite music venues might set up shop near Burlington City Arts. The move hinges on a zoning tweak, but fans are hoping it all works out.
Big second periods have been Vermont’s secret weapon lately. They’ll look to build on that with playoffs looming.
Hey, if we can transform empty cubicles into cozy apartments, that might just help with Vermont’s perennial housing crunch; and turn ghostly hallways into vibrant new neighborhoods.
This is not just an upgrade in square footage; it is a hearty serving of community spirit with fresh flavors and nostalgic recipes making a comeback.
Bipartisan frustration is in the air if only the lobbyists would take a hint and ease up on the sky high rates.
Whether you are on the buying or selling side these rising numbers underscore a sizzling local market even if they make window shopping a bit more challenging.
Looks like the neighborhood might finally get a glow-up after years of graffiti and tumbleweeds. Fingers crossed for a new pizza spot that doesn’t vanish before we even get a slice.
Mamava pods have popped up in airports and offices like mushrooms after a rainstorm. Let’s cheer on a homegrown business that makes life easier for new moms—score one for #BTV innovation.