Business Briefs for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 | Local News

MORRISVILLE — In celebration of the grand re-opening of Market 32 located at Route 15 and 370 Munson Ave. in Morrisville, Market 32 donated more than $11,000 to two local nonprofit organizations.

As part of the re-opening festivities on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16 and 17, customers received 5% off grocery purchases. In turn, Market 32 donated an additional 5% of total store sales across the two days to Lamoille Community Foodshare and Morrisville Soccer Club. Each organization received $5,650.

Lamoille Community Foodshare works to address food insecurity throughout Lamoille County, while Morrisville Soccer Club provides youth with opportunities to learn teamwork, build confidence, and stay active through sport.

— Salvation Army bellringers at Market 32 and Price Chopper stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire raised over $623,000 during the six-week “Red Kettle” holiday campaign in November and December 2025. The money raised will help fund services, including food assistance, shelter and emergency relief.

Red Kettle campaign contributions collected at Market 32 and Price Chopper stores directly support local Salvation Army programs, ensuring donations stay within the communities where they are given. Based in Schenectady, New York, Market 32 and Price Chopper operate 128 supermarkets, employing 15,500 in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

UVM Extension is hosting a series of in‑person events across Vermont to help farmers navigate USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service funding programs. At each event, participants will hear directly from a farmer and their NRCS Conservation Planner, connect with FSA staff, and receive hands‑on support completing the paperwork needed to become eligible for funding.

These workshops are free, lunch is provided, registration of one location choice is required. All are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as follows: March 5 in Brattleboro; March 7 in St. Albans; March 9 in Morrisville; March 17 in Middlebury; March 24 in St. Johnsbury; April 2 in Williston. For more information, email Rachel.Stievater@uvm.edu.

BARRE — Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce announced Richard J. Wobby Jr., executive vice president of Associated General Contractors of Vermont, has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Chamber’s St. Patrick’s Day Award, recognizing him as Central Vermont’s Citizen of the Year.

Wobby will be honored during a St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast Celebration at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, at the Barre Elks Lodge. Tickets are $25 per person. To register for the event, email kfinnegan@centralvt.com.

With more than 28 years of AGC/VT service, he is known as a leader in workplace safety, organizational advocacy and industry education. He has delivered motivational and leadership seminars both locally and nationwide. He is a certified MSHA instructor, an authorized OSHA instructor, and holds certifications in safety and construction practices.

Wobby’s community service for over 20 years includes initiatives such as Wheels for Warmth, helping provide heating assistance to Vermont families in need.

MANCHESTER — The Bank of Bennington made a $100,000 donation to support the Riley Rink Capital Campaign focused on planning for long-term investments needed to maintain and improve the facility, including eventual replacement of the rink floor.

BARRE — The BeneFit Shop, nonprofit organization and thrift store in Barre, has given $10,000 to support the Health Care Scholarship Program at UVM Health-Central Vermont Medical Center. The gift will fund four, $2,500 scholarships for local high school students and adult learners pursuing careers in health care.

High school seniors and adults learners who live within the hospital’s primary service area and have been accepted to an accredited school to study for a health care profession are eligible to apply through the scholarship program. The program will award a total of six scholarships this year. This year’s scholarship application process is now open. Additional details are available on the hospital’s website and social media.

Over the past three years, CVMC’s Health Care Scholarship Program has received more than 70 applications and awarded 24 scholarships, 16 to high school students and eight to adult learners seeking new careers in health care or pursuing professional development.

The BeneFit Shop nonprofit traces its origins to the former CVMC Auxiliary. The group managed the BeneFit Shop and the Gift Shop located in the hospital for many years. Proceeds from both shops continue to support the scholarship program. Last year, Katie Sweeney, who has volunteered with CVMC for more than a decade, agreed to take over operation of the BeneFit Shop. The BeneFit shop operates with 15 volunteers and provides affordable secondhand clothing; it also runs a voucher program that supports individuals and families in need.

Vermont State University announced it was named educational partner for the 2026 Vermont Cannabis Convention. The partnership connects the state’s cannabis industry gathering with VTSU’s Cannabis Studies Certificate Program, a 12-credit interdisciplinary program that introduces students to the cultural, economic, legal and scientific dimensions of cannabis, and includes hands-on experience in cultivation, research and commercial operations. Students also complete the Cannabis Employee ID Card Compliance Training required for anyone working in the Vermont cannabis sector.

As the educational partner, VTSU faculty help shape convention programming that reflects the needs of the industry and the students preparing to join it. VTSU Cannabis Studies faculty will also host colleagues from Ghana’s cannabis industry as participants in panel and workshop discussions.

Cannabis professionals and experts are invited to submit an application to be a speaker, and more information can be found at: necann.com/speaker. All other information about tickets, sponsorship, volunteer opportunities, and signing up as an exhibitor, can be found at: necann.com/vermont.

FieldWatch Inc., a nonprofit that promotes communication and stewardship among crop producers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators, announced Vermont has joined as the “32nd geography.” Vermont joins FieldWatch along with 27 other states, three Canadian provinces and the District of Columbia. Vermont’s membership decision was motivated by the needs of crop producers and beekeepers who wanted to register the locations of their apiaries and crops.

The membership will enable Vermont beekeepers (hobbyist and commercial) and crop producers (organic and conventional) to use a mapping registry to identify and map the locations of apiaries and crop fields that pesticide applicators should avoid. The free and voluntary registries, DriftWatch and BeeCheck, will be available to all Vermont beekeepers and crop producers. FieldCheck is the desktop and mobile portal that pesticide applicators may use to improve decision-making and avoid damage from spray drift to crops and beehives.

WARREN — Peak Pitch 2026, to be held Tuesday, March 10, at Sugarbush Resort, is now open for registration. Presented by FreshTracks, Peak Pitch is a start-up business pitch event for entrepreneurs and investors to gather for a version of the classic “elevator pitch.” A shared chairlift ride gives entrepreneurs opportunity to pitch their business plans to venture capitalists, individual investors, commercial lenders and other entrepreneurial advisors during a day of skiing and snowboarding at Sugarbush. To sign up for the event, visit: Peak Pitch VT Registration.

Contributors include Premier Sponsor, Gallagher Flynn & Co., and Vermont innovation economy supporters: VT ACCD/DED (Founding Sponsor), Merritt & Merritt (Founding Sponsor), Vermont Community Loan Fund, Bellmark Partners, Gravel & Shea, The Fund at Hula, Vermont Community Foundation, VCET, UVM Office of VP for Research, Dinse, Moulton Law Group, M&T/People’s, Alcon Partners, Moody Advisors, Catamount Financial, VEDA, Mascoma Bank, Integrity Capital, TD Bank, Community Bank N.A. & JP Morgan Startup Banking Division Boston.

CHELSEA — An Orange County jury returned a verdict awarding $1,400,000 to a Tunbridge man after finding that Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center committed malpractice in connection with treatment he received for testicular cancer. The plaintiff was represented by Robert Hemley and Celeste Laramie, of Gravel & Shea PC in Burlington. Dartmouth was represented by Tris Coffin and Jennifer McDonald, of Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, a Burlington law firm.

Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development is launching a new Small-Scale Developer Training Program to help Vermonters build the skills needed to create housing in their own communities. These efforts are part of the state’s broader Homes for All initiative, which connects training, technical assistance and ready-to-use housing tools. Four training workshops are scheduled, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

— Feb. 21: Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.

— April 22: Middlebury Town Hall Theater, 72-76 Merchants Row.

— June 22: Brattleboro, TBD.

— Sept. 23: Lyndon, TBD.

Homes for All brings together programs led by the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Land Access and Opportunity Board to support more Vermonters in developing small-scale and community housing. Together, these efforts focus on practical, people-centered solutions that help residents navigate financing, permitting, design and construction barriers to building homes.

Along with the Small-Scale Developer Training Program, the state is offering a six-week online course for people interested in diving deeper into housing development. The Incremental Development Alliance, a national consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs and civic leaders strengthen their neighborhoods, is teaching the courses.

Additionally, the Land Access and Opportunity Board is hosting peer-learning sessions called Small-Scale Developers Community of Practice, which offer in-person and online engagement with fellow developers to continually support Vermonters looking to improve their communities. With support from Vermont Housing Finance Agency, beginning developers can also receive one-on-one technical assistance from a qualified advisor.

DHCD’s Homes for All initiative includes the “Design & Do” Toolkit, the Small-Scale Developer Training Program, and 802 Homes, three programs representing statewide investment into small-scale housing development, providing developers skills in project feasibility, financing, design, permitting and delivery.

St. JOHNSBURY — Passumpsic Bank has launched its annual food drive with the theme of “Cold Weather, Warm Hearts.” This is the 14th year Passumpsic Bank has partnered with local food shelves in support of their work. Community members can stop by their local Passumpsic Bank branch during the month of February to drop off nonperishable food and necessities, including canned and boxed food, shelf stable drinks, baby food, diapers, formula, pet food, toilet paper, tissues, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash and more. Monetary donations are also accepted.

Passumpsic Bank serves individuals, families and businesses across northern and central Vermont and northern New Hampshire.

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