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Governor Peter Shumlin today highlighted two major rural economic development investments at Vermont Technical College that will bring 45 jobs to the region and help prepare Vermonters for the hundreds of advanced manufacturing jobs available statewide. Joined by Vermont Tech and Vermont State Colleges officials, cabinet members, and representatives from Vermont advanced manufacturing businesses, the Governor pointed to two projects included in the recently signed Capital Bill that will benefit Vermont Tech and the region’s economy.

US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) announced today a new form of assistance for small businesses and startups at the launch of the Vermont Patent Pro Bono Program. The event, at the Burlington Generator in downtown Burlington, was held in conjunction with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Vermont Small Business Development Center, the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston, and the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts.

The Patent Pro Bono program was created as part of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, a comprehensive update to U.S. patent law authored by Leahy in 2011. The program will help qualified Vermont inventors and small businesses procure pro bono patent prosecution services from registered patent agents or attorneys. The Vermont program will be part of a regional New England effort run by the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts and the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine The massive earthworks at the Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport is the largest of its kind in New England. The top three largest employers represent health care (Rutland Regional Medical Center, 1,300 employees), high-end manufacturing (GE Aircraft Engines, 1,000 employees) and hospitality (Killington/Pico Ski Resort, 800 employees). Rutland downtown is as good as it’s been in anyone’s memory. Higher education, until recently a weakness, is becoming a significant contributor to the economic landscape. But all of that is not what local development specialists mention first when talking about the local development: It’s energy innovation.

“We’re leading the way in the state with respect to energy innovation and sustainability and knocking down the barriers between the competing elements of adaptation and mitigation regarding climate change,” long-serving Rutland Mayor Chris Louras said.

by Matt Durkee NBT Bank Most financial institutions across the country are facing similar challenges, but we see that many are taking different approaches to try to address these challenges. No matter how they chose to move forward, banks need to evolve into something new – something that surpasses customer expectations. One trend many banks are seeing – in Vermont and throughout the industry – is that as customers continue to show their preference to complete banking transactions from the comfort of their home, office or on the go.

People's United Bank, NA has released its 2015 company-run stress test results. In accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, People's United Bank is required to conduct annual stress tests ("DFAST") to assess the potential effect of hypothetical economic scenarios on earnings and capital. The results of the Bank's 2015 DFAST indicate that the Bank will have the financial resources to successfully navigate a severe and protracted economic downturn and will maintain capital levels that exceed regulatory minimums throughout the nine quarter planning period under the Federal Reserve's Supervisory Severely Adverse Scenario.

Over 40 dairy farmworkers and dozens of community supporters gathered at the Migrant Justice office Saturday in the old north end of Burlington preparing to march to Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop on Church Street to call on the ice cream company to join a new worker’s rights initiative--the Milk with Dignity Program. Before the march got under way Migrant Justice organizer Abel Luna broke the news that, “Just yesterday Ben & Jerry's was in touch with Migrant Justice. They say they’ve heard the voices and hardships of farmworkers and have committed to work with Migrant Justice to negotiate an agreement in order to adopt the Milk with Dignity Program into their Northeast supply chain! So today, we are gathered here to recognize this significant step forward.

by Sarah Olsen vtdigger.org The nurses’ union at University of Vermont Medical Center is threatening to strike over pay and excessive overtime. The president of the nurses’ union at the University of Vermont Medical Center told the hospital’s board of trustees she and other nurses are particularly concerned about staffing levels.

Laurie Aunchman, interim president of the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, addressed the trustees as they entered the final three days of negotiations for the new nursing contract at UVMMC.

Standing on the shores of Lake Champlain, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and local officials Friday announced the availability of $1.1 million to be provided in small Local Implementation Grants to prevent pollution, support cultural heritage and encourage educational outreach relating to Lake Champlain and its watershed. The Lake Chaplain Basin Program will use the federal funds to distribute grants to up to 100 small watershed groups, schools, towns and others across the Champlain Basin.

The Brattleboro Retreat Board of Trustees has announced that outgoing President and CEO, Dr Robert E. Simpson, Jr, will be presented with the hospital’s 2015 Anna Marsh Award this fall. Named for the founder of the Brattleboro Retreat, the Anna Marsh Award is an annual recognition that was established in 2009 to honor individuals for their advocacy on behalf of people with mental illness and addiction.

Past honorees include Representative Bill Lippert, Governor Peter Shumlin, former Retreat Board members Larry Cassidy and Julie Peterson, the late Senator Robert Gannett, and film and television actor Ken Howard.

The Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, in partnership with Dealer.com, unveiled on Thursday evening the first ever Floating Gallery – a collection of original artwork printed on sailboat sails. The product of an eight-month long project, Floating Gallery features work by four local artists – Scott A Campbell, Michael Sipe, Abby Manock, and Mary Lacy – all with a vision to create a one-of-a-kind waterfront experience for the Burlington community.

Scott A. Campbell

The sixteen appointed members of the state agency, the Vermont Commission on Women, have re-elected Marcia Merrill of Jericho to serve a 4th term as Chair. Merrill has served in this leadership role since 2006. Established in 1964, the Vermont Commission on Women (VCW) is a non-partisan state government commission advancing rights and opportunities for women and girls.

by Erin Mansfield vtdiger.org Federal regulators will allow the owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant to use money earmarked for dismantling the plant to manage radioactive waste. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted requests from Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc. to use some of the $665 million of its decommissioning fund to store used fuel rods that will remain radioactive for thousands of years. Thursday’s decision from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will allow Entergy to use about $225 million to manage spent fuel — only after it uses up about $143 million from a line of credit.

Dry casks for used fuel rods at Vermont Yankee. Courtesy.