AGP Executive Report

Suicide care expansion: UVM Health Network and Four Pines Fund opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient program focused on suicide care with internationally recognized experts led by Dr. Craig Bryan. Workforce and affordability: A Vermont Business Magazine commentary argues low unemployment (2.6% in July) masks a shrinking labor force, with housing and child care costs making it harder for people to live and work in the state. Education reform push: Gov. Phil Scott told school leaders “do not slow down” on district mergers, warning delays mean lost opportunities and higher costs, even as districts face staffing and budget pressure. Labor rights on the ballot: Vermont voters will decide in November on a constitutional amendment protecting workers’ right to organize and collectively bargain (Proposal 3), alongside Proposal 4 on equal protections. Local business news: Wilmington Trust’s Rutland office hired Caralee Kennedy as a wealth advisor, and Peckham Industries named John R. Peckham interim CEO. Grants for working lands: VHCB’s Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program awarded more than $1 million in 2026 grants to improve water quality and business viability for farm and forest enterprises.

Suicide care expansion: UVM Health Network and the Four Pines Fund opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient program focused only on suicide care, led by Dr. Craig Bryan, aiming to connect patients with therapies proven to reduce attempts and improve quality of life. PFAS research funding: Landmark College is part of a $7.9 million NSF PFAS Environmental Research Network, bringing together Vermont colleges and state partners to track “forever chemicals” in groundwater and soil with student-led sampling. Homelessness response change: Vermont 211 will stop handling intake for the new Vermont Homelessness Response Continuum after 4:30 p.m. weekdays and on weekends/holidays, with applications routed through the state’s Economic Services Division during business hours. Transportation planning grants: The state announced a Better Connections Grant Program with $200,000 for 2027 cycle planning support for two municipalities outside Chittenden County, covering multimodal needs and water-quality improvements. Local business leadership: Peckham Industries named John R. Peckham interim CEO, promising no day-to-day changes while transitioning leadership. Community events: Vermont Business Magazine plans a free Constitution Day event in Burlington focused on First Amendment freedoms, featuring speakers including a FCC commissioner and VT Digger founder Anne Galloway.

PFAS Research Funding: A $7.9 million NSF grant will create a PFAS Environmental Research Network led by Bennington College, with Landmark College, Middlebury, and UVM among partners, using student-led sampling to track “forever chemicals” in Vermont groundwater and soil. Suicide Care Expansion: UVM Health Network opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient model focused on suicide care and led by researcher Dr. Craig Bryan, with support from Four Pines Fund. Local Business & Jobs: Kelley Bros Access Control Group in Barre added Tyra Lanpher as its first female technician, expanding commercial electrical and access systems work across Vermont. Transportation Planning: The state is accepting applications for the Better Connections Grant Program, with $200,000 available for two towns outside Chittenden County to plan multi-modal transportation and water-quality improvements. Road Work Ahead: AOT’s weekly construction report flags paving and bridge work on I-89 and I-91, including lane closures, speed reductions, and delays around Randolph-Bethel, Exit 2 in Brattleboro, and Waterbury. Community Calendar: Okemo Valley’s new Fall Foliage Train and Pop-Up Fall Festival runs Oct. 3–4, adding a rail-based autumn option alongside its winter Holiday Express.

Universal Vote-by-Mail: Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas is urging voters to make a voting plan for the November General Election, stressing that Act 60 means ballots are automatically mailed and should arrive in the first half of October, with options to mail back, return to a clerk, use an official drop box, or vote in person with the mailed ballot. Suicide Care Expansion: UVM Health Network opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient program focused exclusively on suicide care, led by Dr. Craig Bryan and supported by the Four Pines Fund to expand access to proven treatments. PFAS Research Push: Landmark College is part of a $7.9 million NSF-funded PFAS Environmental Research Network, teaming with Bennington, Middlebury, UVM, and state partners to track “forever chemicals” in Vermont groundwater and soil. Local Community Process: Wardsboro is launching “Wardsboro Turns Up,” a three-month community-led planning effort with free dinners and forums starting Sept. 17 to set priorities and build action plans. Cyber & Privacy: A HumanEdge data breach may have exposed names and Social Security numbers; Edelson Lechtzin LLP says it’s investigating the privacy claims and is offering free case evaluations. Business & Infrastructure: Vermont’s Better Connections Grant Program will award $200,000 for 2027 planning grants for two municipalities outside Chittenden County, and the state also posted a week of highway construction updates affecting traffic.

Suicide Care Expansion: UVM Health Network opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient program focused exclusively on suicide care, led by researcher Dr. Craig Bryan with support from the Four Pines Fund. Community Planning: Wardsboro kicks off “Wardsboro Turns Up,” a three-month, community-led process starting Sept. 17 with free dinner and forums, then moving to priority-setting and action plans. PFAS Research Funding: Landmark College is part of a $7.9 million NSF PFAS Environmental Research Network, pairing students and Vermont partners to track contamination in groundwater and soil. Vermont Elections: Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas is urging voters to make a voting plan ahead of universal vote-by-mail, outlining options to return, drop off, or vote in person. Local Business & Jobs: Kelley Bros Access Control Group added Tyra Lanpher as its first female technician in Barre, expanding commercial electrical and security installation capacity. Transportation Grants: The state announced a 2027 Better Connections grant cycle with $200,000 available for two municipalities outside Chittenden County to plan multimodal transportation and water-quality improvements. Road Work Alerts: AOT listed upcoming highway paving and bridge work across I-89 and I-91 corridors, with lane closures and speed reductions.

Suicide Care Expansion: UVM Health opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient program focused on treating suicidality with internationally recognized clinicians and research-backed therapies, funded by the Four Pines Fund. Mental Health Access: The clinic’s launch comes as Vermont continues to face high suicide risk and seeks to expand capacity beyond emergency settings. Local Housing: Champlain Housing Trust and partners celebrated completion of 38 new affordable apartments in downtown Burlington, including homes for people exiting homelessness and veterans. Vermont Elections: Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas urged voters to make a voting plan ahead of November, emphasizing universal vote-by-mail and drop-box and in-person options. Education & Cleanup Costs: Schools dealing with PCB contamination face uncertainty as state remediation funding runs out, leaving districts to navigate safety and learning disruptions. Cyber & Business: Quinn Emanuel and McDermott disclosed cyber breaches involving client-related files, underscoring ongoing risks for firms handling sensitive data. Transportation Planning: Vermont’s Better Connections grant program will offer $200,000 for municipal planning outside Chittenden County to improve multimodal transportation and water quality.

School Merger Talks: Vermont Learning Collaborative named seven regional facilitators for Act 170 school merger study committees, with committees still forming and first meetings set for next month. Homeless Shelter Reversal: Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity abandoned a plan for a 100-bed South Burlington shelter after city staff warned it would strain services and worsen retail theft and drug use. Cannabis Debate in Royalton: Royalton’s selectboard moved cannabis retail to the November ballot, but residents raised concerns about “normalizing drug use.” Local Business & Community: Vermont Public announced fall 2026 events statewide, and Sen. Peter Welch opened registration for the Sept. 19 Women’s Economic Opportunity Conference in Randolph. Vermont Economy & Growth: Governor Scott appointed Renée Grzankowski to the Vermont AI Economic Taskforce, and NEK Broadband hit a milestone with its 2,500th customer in Victory. Public Safety & Privacy: A national report highlights growing backlash over Flock license-plate cameras and surveillance concerns.

Local News & Safety: A Burlington editorial argues the city’s response to knife and gun incidents and drug markets is too vague, calling for tougher action alongside better treatment options. Vermont Politics & Elections: Democrat Amanda Janoo outraised Gov. Phil Scott in the Vermont governor’s race, with analysts pointing to low fundraising urgency and Scott’s focus on down-ballot races. Affordability: A new poll finds Vermonters’ affordability worries cut across party lines, with many saying income isn’t keeping up and skepticism about education spending and Prop 3. Energy & Environment: Vermont’s PFAS research gets a $7.9 million NSF grant to build a statewide environmental research network. Outdoor Recreation: VOREC announces new grants (up to $50,000) to help towns and nonprofits develop and market outdoor recreation. Community & Culture: Norwich University cut the ribbon on its new Cyber Fusion Research and Development Center, funded in part by $16.4 million in directed spending. Local Media: The National Trust for Local News is buying the Vermont Community Newspaper Group, keeping staff and aiming to stabilize coverage. Public Health: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Windham County Out of the Darkness Walk is set for Sept. 20 in Brattleboro.

Vermont Politics: The Vermont Republican Party is running a “placeholder” candidate, Milton software engineer Jace Laquerre, against Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George—then says he’d resign if elected, creating a vacancy for Gov. Phil Scott to fill. George called it an attempt to co-opt the election. Public Health & Environment: Vermont leaders are reacting to the death of women’s rights icon Gloria Steinem, while Attorney General Jeff Jackson is urging the EPA to require monitoring microplastics in drinking water. Business & Jobs: EY is investing $100M in a new rewards program for “future-focused” skills as AI reshapes professional services. Local Economy & Food: Hannaford is bringing back seasonal in-store farm stands with produce from 125+ Northeast growers. Energy & Costs: Gas prices in Vermont rose to an average of $4.27 per gallon ahead of Labor Day. Recreation: Okemo Valley Trails is holding a grand opening for the Fletcher Farm Trail Network in Ludlow on Sept. 12. Water Protection: Vermont is asking large groundwater users to report yearly withdrawals as the state works to protect a key resource.

Voting Rights Fight: Vermont is joining a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s move to restrict mail-in voting, with state leaders warning it could interfere with how Vermont runs elections and push the U.S. Postal Service to “weaponize” ballot delivery. Healthcare Access: Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark is also part of a coalition suing to block a new federal rule that would bar Medicaid and CHIP reimbursement for gender-affirming care for low-income transgender youth. Public Safety & Community: Burlington’s mayor says safety is the top priority amid recent knife and gun incidents, but a local editorial argues the city must do more than talk about “interrupting conditions.” Local Health & Recovery: Turning Point Center of Central Vermont is holding a grand opening for a new recovery center in Barre, expanding peer recovery support. State Outdoors: Vermont Fish & Wildlife is adding 16 archery days in deer hunting zones starting Sept. 15, and reminds hunters about bear season rules starting in September. Business & Community Events: The Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce will host its ATHENA leadership awards gala Nov. 7 in Barre, with nominations due Sept. 21.

Homelessness & Housing: Vermont is tightening access to state-funded motel vouchers, requiring people to call during weekday business hours and limiting both availability and length of stays as the Vermont Homeless Response Continuum rolls out. Public Safety & Accountability: A Burlington City Council push for more state funding comes amid debate over public-safety and homelessness results, with critics arguing the city needs measurable outcomes, not just more spending. Courts & Procedure: The Vermont Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure is set to consider updates to electronic filing, appellate and trial-court rules, and potential new guidance on out-of-state service and clerk recordkeeping. Wildlife Management: Vermont expands archery deer hunting days starting Sept. 15 in eight targeted areas to reduce deer damage and collisions, with antlerless-only rules in the expanded zones. Business & Community: Mount Holly’s Master Plumbing & Heating celebrates a new facility, while CCV highlights continued enrollment strength and flexible pathways for students. Consumer Protection: Vermont is among states joining a multi-state effort targeting Amazon over alleged secret ad surcharges and inflated pricing.

Homelessness & Housing: Vermont is ending night and weekend intake for state-funded motel rooms, requiring people to call during weekday business hours as the Vermont Homeless Response Continuum rolls out tighter access and shorter stays. Public Safety & Community Response: In Burlington, a local editorial argues the city must do more than talk about “interrupting conditions” behind drug markets, theft, and violence. Environment & Recreation: A Lake Champlain discovery found thousands of tires on the bottom near Plattsburgh, raising health concerns for officials and locals. Local Economy & Tourism: After repairs wrapped up, the Quechee Gorge Bridge is back to two lanes, and nearby shops say traffic is improving ahead of fall. State Politics & Civic Life: Rep. Becca Balint visited Highgate Elementary as Kid Governor students learn how leaders listen and turn local concerns into policy. Business & Agriculture: Franklin County Cheese officially took over the Enosburg cheese plant, starting production of baker’s cheese and plant-based cream cheese. Regulation & Industry: Vermont is among states facing growing scrutiny over data centers, with lawmakers weighing moratoriums and tougher oversight.

Tariffs and Vermont’s economy: Sen. Peter Welch held a Jay Peak Resort press conference warning that Trump’s tariff war and Canada’s retaliation are hitting Vermont businesses and communities, and he’s drafting legislation to protect the economy while relations are repaired. Big Tech and advertising costs: Acting Attorney General Cori Mills joined a multi-state FTC-backed lawsuit accusing Amazon of secretly inflating ad prices through its auction system, with claims that undisclosed surcharges overcharged about 1.2 million advertisers. Climate policy in court: A federal judge blocked New York’s $75 billion “Climate Change Superfund Act,” saying the state law overreaches into federal territory. Gas prices: GasBuddy forecasts Labor Day gas at $4.03 in 2026, the highest on record, with Vermont currently averaging $4.23. Public health: Vermont’s Department of Health reports COVID hospitalizations remain scarce as schools restart, with COVID still active but other major viruses low. Local life: Colchester’s Labor Day closures and property tax due dates were outlined in the town newsletter, and Vermont’s new deer hunting rules add 16 archery days starting Sept. 15. Workforce support: Vermont Care Partners will recognize direct support professionals Sept. 9 at the State House lawn.

Amazon Ad Lawsuit: The FTC and 22 states, including Vermont, sued Amazon over alleged “hidden surcharges” that inflated ad prices for more than a million advertisers, with plaintiffs estimating over $20 billion extracted; Amazon denies wrongdoing. Vermont Politics: The Vermont GOP named Jace Laquerre, a software engineer, to challenge Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, a move that could hinge on whether he resigns if elected. Public Safety Debate: A Vermont opinion piece argues Burlington must do more than talk about “interrupting conditions” after knife and gun incidents, calling drug sales a violent crime that needs removal plus better treatment options. Health & Care: Rutland Regional Medical Center earned top U.S. News “High Performing” ratings for diabetes and multiple procedures; a separate story highlights a St. Johnsbury woman’s hope after a new pancreatic cancer drug. Education & Research: Essex Westford Superintendent Mark Holodick shares goals for 2026-27, while UVM researchers report in Nature how bat genes may link immunity, longevity, and cancer resistance. Community Events: Constitution Day programming is set for Sept. 20 in Burlington, and a peer recovery center in Middlebury will hold a Sept. 2 grand opening.

Health Care: UVM researchers are recruiting Vermonters 65+ for a Phase 3 trial of a vaccine aimed at preventing C. diff, a hospital-linked infection that hits older adults hardest. Environment & Science: U.S. Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy Vermont are testing Dutch elm disease resistance by injecting 6,000 young elms with disease spores; survivors will feed a breeding program to restore disease-tolerant trees. Local Politics: Vermont’s fall election guide spotlights key statewide races, including Gov. Phil Scott vs. challenger Amanda Janoo, plus two proposed constitutional amendments on labor rights and equal protection. Business: KeyBank named Mark Williams as New England business banking market leader, covering Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont and Connecticut. Agriculture & Community: A Bennington Rotary speaker series Sept. 4 will feature Wing and a Prayer Farm in Shaftsbury, focusing on sheep-to-shawl fiber production and small-farm business. Energy: Green Mountain Power is holding an open house Sept. 1 in Westminster, with a Facebook Live option Sept. 2.

VA Health Care: The Brattleboro VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic will reopen Sept. 1 after a February closure for repairs, with patients directed to call specific specialty, primary care, and mental health extensions. UVM Research: A new Nature study led by UVM and Penn State links bat genes to pathogen-driven immune changes that may explain their longevity and unusual cancer resistance. Local Energy & Roads: Green Mountain Power invites customers to an open house Sept. 1 in Westminster, and Vermont’s weekly roadwork report flags I-89 paving and bridge work affecting travel times. Agriculture & Food Systems: Sodexo’s “Vermont First” grant will support farmers and producers supplying UVM dining and other Vermont accounts, with applications due Oct. 30. Community Events: Manchester Community Library’s Sept. 2 CommUNITY Gatherings spotlights Burmese food and culture with a free, drop-in event for all ages. Social Security Snapshot: Vermont ZIP 05408 reported 2,385 beneficiaries in Dec. 2024, up 55 from the prior year.