Current News

Perrigo Company (Nasdaq: PRGO;TASE) has announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire PBM Holdings, Inc. (PBM), the leading store-brand infant formula manufacturer, for approximately $808 million in cash. PBM has a manufacturing plant in Georgia, Vermont, where it employees about 300. Employment is not expected to be effected.
Based in Gordonsville, Virginia, privately-held PBM manufactures and distributes over-the-counter (OTC) store brand infant formula and baby foods sold by leading retailers in the mass, club, grocery and drug channels in the United States, Canada, Mexico and China. The acquisition is expected to close in the Company’s fiscal 2010 fourth quarter pending regulatory approval.

The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2010 was 6.6 percent, down one tenth of a point from the revised January rate and down one tenth of a point from a year ago.
“Vermont saw modest job growth across a number of sectors in our labor market in February,” said Patricia Moulton Powden, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor. “While this is promising news, we would need to see this pattern continue to determine that employment recovery has begun in the state.”
Seasonal Job Growth

On March 23rd, the Vermont House of Representatives approved a broadly supported bill that would provide free and convenient recycling of electronic waste to residents, charities, schools, and small businesses in the state. S.77, which received tri-partisan support in the House and Senate, now makes its way to the Governor's desk for the final step in the legislative process."This is an incredible victory for consumers," said Charity Carbine, environmental health advocate for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). "Instead of storing old computers in their basements or waiting for once a year collection events, Vermonters will now be able to easily and responsibly recycle their e-waste for free."Unlike traditional recycling programs, S.77 requires electronics manufacturers to share in the cost and responsibility of collecting and recycling their products.

Governor Jim Douglas highlighted three clean air initiatives at his weekly press conference. The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) is undertaking an Outdoor Wood-Fire Boiler (OWB) change out program, a Diesel School Bus Replacement Project and a demonstration project to upgrade diesel engines at sawmills.
“I am proud of the actions we have taken in recent years to improve air quality and protect our environment,” said Governor Douglas. “Although we have among the cleanest air in the nation, we can always do more to reduce emissions. These three initiatives do just that and build on Vermonters long-standing commitment.”

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) is recognizing 13 regional organizations as ‘Business Leaders for Energy Efficiency’ for their outstanding efforts to advance energy efficiency at the Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit in Boston, MA on March 31. Together, these organizations, including Brattleboro's FiberMark, have achieved a cumulative annual cost savings of over $4.5 million by investing in energy efficiency measures throughout their organization.
The Northeast Business Leaders for Energy Efficiency recognition program highlights the accomplishments of organizations that are participating in energy efficiency programs across the region. This year's honorees, made up of manufacturers, universities, a public authority and one restaurant, were selected for recognition based on their commitment to:

Geoffrey R. Hesslink, Senior Lender and Senior Vice President of Merchants Bank, announced the appointment of Reginald E. Greene to Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of Corporate Banking for Merchants Bank. Reggie’s primary responsibility will be to manage a lending team in the southern region in addition to corporate banking accounts throughout the state.
“As Vermont’s last statewide independent bank, Merchants is well positioned in the marketplace,” stated Hesslink. “We are adding structure and capacity to corporate banking and credit to grow market share and to best serve our customers’ needs. Reggie is a highly experienced and skilled manager and commercial lender. His terrific presence and manner, extensive knowledge and Vermont-based experience will make a strong contribution to our Corporate Banking division.”

A $6,000 donation from KeyBank is going to help the American Red Cross provide emergency services in Haiti and here in Vermont.“Efforts to help feed and shelter the earthquake victims continue, and we’re pleased to be able to support the work of the American Red Cross in Haiti,” said Scott Carpenter, President of KeyBank’s Vermont District. “We also recognize the vital role the Red Cross plays when Vermonters are in their greatest time of need.”“KeyBank represents the very best of corporate citizenship,” said Rob Levine, Regional Red Cross Executive. “Not only have they stepped forward to support relief efforts in Haiti, but they also have a deep appreciation for the work of Red Cross volunteers right here at home. This generous donation to our Heroes Campaign helps assure our local teams are better prepared to respond to fires, floods and other disasters across Vermont,” said Levine.March is Red Cross month.

Central Vermont Public Service is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of someone who cut their way into a Bennington substation and cut out copper ground wire.
"This incident put the culprit, public and CVPS workers in serious jeopardy, and caused thousands of dollars in damage," CVPS spokesman Steve Costello said. "The amount of copper stolen probably wasn’t worth more than $40, but the risk to the public was far greater. Anyone near the substation during a fault could have received a severe electrical shock, as a substation ground grid is critical for return currents and fault dissipation."

The Town of Hartford now has a state-designated Growth Center, a move that will help streamline permitting for future development and pave the way for additional benefits to support development in the town.
The Vermont Downtown Development Board approved the town’s revised Growth Center plan at its meeting on Wednesday after accepting some alterations to address concerns about the boundaries of the district.
“This is a very important step for Hartford,” said Kevin Dorn, Secretary of Commerce and Community Development and chairman of Vermont Downtown Development Board. “It will encourage denser and more mixed use development in appropriate areas, and give the town some valuable tools to aid future growth.”

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture announced this week that it will discontinue its Vermont Seal of Quality program. Agriview, a newsletter published by the Agency of Agriculture, stated that since the 1990s, budget and staffing issues at the Agency have resulted in a lack of quality standards enforced on products which bear the seal. Launched in 1982, the program originally had 14 distinct product categories with separate quality standards. According to Agriview, any Seal of Quality only has integrity with consumers if quality standards exist and are enforced.
According to a press release from the Secretary of State s office, all new applications to the program were denied starting January 1, and all references to the program have been removed from the department s Web site. The decision, which was announced on Monday, has drawn criticism from both Secretary of State Deb Markowitz and Lt Governor Brian Dubie.

Michelle Kwan, the most decorated figure skater in US history (five World Championships, nine US National titles, two Olympic medals), who is also an author and US diplomatic envoy, will add doctor to her already impressive resume, when she receives an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Southern Vermont College’s 83rd Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 8.
Kwan, a California native, will also address the graduating class as its commencement speaker. Named the nation’s first Public Diplomacy Envoy for the U.S. State Department in 2006, Kwan travels widely to speak with youth across the globe about America, its culture and values, and the life lessons learned through sports. She is currently a graduate student at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of International Affairs.

A $2.5 million federal Stimulus Grant from the federal Agency of Commerce, announced today, completes the funding to launch the $3.8 million e-Vermont Community Broadband Project. This major campaign to stimulate broadband use in 24 Vermont towns will be produced by a partnership of organizations dedicated to expanding broadband access and its practical use. The “e-Vermont Partnership” will be led by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) over the next two years. VCRD is a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of the locally-defined progress of Vermont's rural communities. Additional support for this project came from Vermont philanthropists and corporate associates.