The Shumlin Administration says the job of crafting next year's state budget is made easier now that Washington has tackled some of the fiscal issues facing the country. Meanwhile, the administration and lawmakers are working to address gaps in the current year budget.

Gov. Peter Shumlin and Vermont lawmakers have agreed to push the governor's annual budget address back a week, to give the fiscal situation in Washington a chance to become more clear.

Planners looking to boost downtowns around the state have been focusing on home grown stores that specialize in fresh produce and local products. In Barre, a group hopes a new co-operative grocery store will revive the city's central business district.

Vermont has proved fertile ground for food co-ops and farmers' markets. But advocates for a strong local food economy say it's not enough to make nutritious local foods available. They want to get fresh locally grown food to everyone.  

The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation will add a new face to its leadership team -- but one with a familiar name. The nonprofit group has hired Patricia Moulton Powden as its Director of Workforce Development and eventually, its executive director.

As travelers rush to catch planes for the holiday season, the municipal airport in Lebanon looks less busy than its competitors in Burlington and Manchester.

In Vermont, the effort to boost local food production is a priority that's spelled out explicitly in state law. The Legislature passed the Farm to Plate investment program in 2009. The program aims to create jobs in the farm economy and improve access to healthy, local foods.

In Rutland, organizers of the city's newly expanded winter farmer's market say they're thrilled with the community support they've gotten. The larger location has boosted attendance and sales for participating vendors. 

When Jay Peak co-owner Bill Stenger made a stunning proposal earlier this fall to bring over $500 million and about 10,000 jobs into the Northeast Kingdom, there were loud cheers, and only a few skeptics. Now the hard work has begun: finding investors and training workers.

The head of a company targeted by Senator Bernie Sanders for allegedly overcharging for gasoline says his stations are competitive.

At least 11 new businesses have set up shop in Bennington this year.

The bankruptcy of a large chain of radio stations has led to the sale of 10 Vermont stations. Many of the stations are being purchased by local buyers with a background in station ownership.

The state has given Barre authority to establish a special tax district that's designed to help the city pay for public works that will attract economic development.

There was some unwelcome holiday news in St. Johnsbury recently, where layoffs were announced at one of the best-loved institutions in town.

A group of concerned residents in Burlington wants to create a co-operative to buy the city's embattled telecommunications utility. The grassroots idea comes as city officials are hoping to settle a federal lawsuit aimed at reclaiming taxpayer money from the municipally-owned Burlington Telecom.

Food and food products increasingly have become a key part of the state's economic development strategy. From small-scale farming to value-added agricultural products, the business of food could become the business of Vermont.

On Route 7 in Shelburne a winery, a brewery, two farms and other food-related businesses have created what some are calling a "culinary corridor." A refurbished factory there is home to two food businesses and efforts are under way part of the effort to bring more food ventures to the area.

The  Korean company planning to build a bio-tech facility in Newport is now likely to create 450 permanent and 50 seasonal jobs, double the number proposed in September.

In recent years, the state's small inns and B&Bs haven't had their own organization, but that is now changing with the formation of a new association that's designed to give innkeepers a bigger voice in state policy and more power to market themselves to visitors. 

Vermont labor officials say hundreds of people could lose their unemployment benefits if Congress fails to avert the so-called fiscal cliff. The federal unemployment insurance program that has been providing additional weeks of benefits to the long-term unemployed is set to expire.

Union Institute and University is closing its Montpelier operations and consolidating its Vermont footprint in Brattleboro.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters shares gained ground late Tuesday and into Wednesday on the heels of a fiscal fourth quarter performance that far exceeded expectations.

The Vermont Law School is hoping staff members will take voluntary buyouts to help deal with a projected budget shortfall on the South Royalton campus. 

The state has closed down the Border Lodge Credit union in Derby Line. The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation says the action comes after examiners raised serious concerns about the credit union's operation.  

Governor Peter Shumlin says he'll ask lawmakers to close a $50 million budget shortfall by making cuts to state programs and not by raising any broad-based taxes.