Current News

FairPoint Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRP), a provider of advanced data, voice and video technologies to residential, business and wholesale customers, today announced the availability of Ethernet-based bandwidth and transport capacity of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) for its business, government and education customers. Now, more than 35,000 eligible service locations in 32 markets across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont can enjoy powerful Ethernet connections with fast, symmetrical, dedicated data transport speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

FairPoint's Ethernet Private Line and Ethernet Dedicated Internet Access products meet the demands of some of the region's largest institutions, such as regional health care facilities, financial institutions, and government and education entities. These speeds also far exceed the guidelines of 100 Mbps set forth in educational mandates like ConnectEd.

Vermont Tech is proud to announce that 2014 Vermont Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) student Indra Acharya has received the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. The second Vermonter ever to receive this distinction, Acharya will attend Georgetown University this fall on a full ride, where he plans to study law and politics. VAST is an independent, accredited high school program that allows high school seniors to take a full year of college-level classes at Vermont Tech while completing their high school degree.

Established in 1999 and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program selects 1,000 talented students nationwide each year to receive a scholarship to the college or university of their choice. The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide opportunities for outstanding minority students.

Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean, best known for its iconic Maine-made Bean Boot and 100 percent satisfaction guarantee is set to expand its retail operation with the opening of its Burlington store. The new L.L.Bean store will be located in the Burlington Town Center at the Church Street Marketplace. The 18,290 square-foot store will employ approximately 100 people and will feature two levels showcasing an assortment of active and casual apparel and footwear, outdoor gear including hiking, fly-fishing, kayaking, and camping products. This will be L.L.Bean’s 20th retail store outside of Maine and its first store in Vermont.

Second-year Vermont Tech architecture students are taking their studies outside of the classroom and constructed an innovative public space that was installed in downtown Montpelier this week. The parklet, a culmination of Vermont Tech’s Architectural Design series and partnership with Montpelier Alive, is a civic installation that utilizes a few downtown parking spaces on Montpelier’s Rialto Bridge. The small deck features seating and greenery, allowing pedestrians space to pause and socialize. The 15 students involved with the parklet spent eight weeks designing, acquiring permits and pitching the project.

Governor Peter Shumlin and Environmental Conservation Commissioner David Mears today released the Phase One Plan establishing the steps that Vermont will take to reduce the phosphorus load into Lake Champlain. That Plan and a letter from the governor to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy were forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency.

“As the sixth largest freshwater lake in the United States, and the source of vital economic, recreational, and cultural opportunities, Lake Champlain is a water of critical importance to Vermont, the region and our nation,” Gov. Shumlin wrote in the letter to McCarthy. “We share the nation’s interest in returning this treasured water body to full health.”

A $5 million gift from class of 1964 graduate Jack Silver and his wife Shirley will ensure the restoration of two Victorian-era jewels on the University of Vermont campus while also expanding scholarly research and programs for alumni. The commitment, which ranks among UVM's largest donations in recent years, supports improvements to the Billings Library and renovations at the planned Alumni House, designed to be a hub of activity and educational programs for graduates and their families.

"This generous gift places us on track to finish two of my highest strategic investment priorities -- the renovation and restoration of two architectural masterpieces on the University of Vermont campus, the Billings Library and the future Alumni House on Summit Street," said President Tom Sullivan, who announced the gift at a reception Wednesday evening sponsored by the University of Vermont Foundation and hosted by the Silvers at their New York City residence.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Bsuiness Magazine Governors from eight states, including Vermont, today announced a groundbreaking initiative to put 3.3 million zero-emission vehicles on the roads in their states within a dozen years. These governors have joined forces to revolutionize the automobile market by promoting zero-emission vehicles. The use of these clean vehicles will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and public health, enhance energy diversity, save consumers money, and promote economic growth. Zero-emission vehicles include battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel-cell-electric vehicles. These technologies can be used in passenger cars, trucks and transit buses.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service has announced that the City of Burlington has been awarded a $1.5 million grant to enhance boating opportunities at the Perkins Pier Marina. This grant was one of 16 competitive grants given out this year through the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Boating Infrastructure Grant program to enhance boating opportunities throughout the country. The project will improve Burlington’s harbor protection, provide public access to the water and increase the number of transient boat slips available on the waterfront.

“The visitors to Lake Champlain who come to boat, fish, swim and enjoy the beautiful scenery provide an important boost to Vermont’s tourist economy and other local businesses,” said Gov. Peter Shumlin. “This project will provide additional opportunities for people to shop, dine and support the city’s waterfront district.”

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced $17.5 Million in awards to 46 different recipient organizations to assess and clean up Brownfield sites across New England. In Vermont, six grants were awarded for a total of $1,475,500. The grants go to municipalities and organizations to protect public health and the environment and to revitalize communities by providing funding to assess, clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies, and create jobs. These investments in the region’s communities leverage an average of $17 for every dollar spent on grants.

by John Herrick vtdigger.org Opponents of the F-35 fighter jet are bringing the issue of noise to the Vermont Supreme Court. Four F-35 opponents Wednesday appealed a lower court decision rejecting their request that Burlington, which owns the Burlington International Airport, obtain an Act 250 development permit to host a fleet of F-35 fighter jets set to arrive in 2020. The US Air Force estimated noise levels around the airport will increase with the new jets and will include thousands of more homes within an area considered “unsuitable for residential use,” a chief concern that critics of the F-35 basing decisions want addressed through permit conditions that would limit noise impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods.

Governor Peter Shumlin and Michael Obuchowski, Commissioner of the Department of Buildings and General Services, announced today that the State is accepting the donation of two plug-in hybrid electric sedans from Toyota. The two Toyota Prius plug-in hybrids will be delivered to Montpelier in the next few weeks to be added to the state’s fleet.

“I want to express my gratitude for this generous donation. It comes at a perfect time, as we are taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint by encouraging industry and consumers to look seriously at building charging stations and purchasing Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs)” Shumlin said.

“The State of Vermont is leading by example,” said Toyota General Manager George Brenner. “Providing Vermonters with more hands-on experience should benefit the state as it moves forward with policies and investments to support greater consumer acceptance of ZEVs.”

Carris Reels has been named a 2014 “Northeast Business Leader for Energy Efficiency” for its commitment to lowering energy use. Nominated by Efficiency Vermont, the Rutland based reel and spool manufacturer is being honored for cumulative efforts that have reduced its annual energy costs by more than $190,000. The award is given annually by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), a non-profit energy efficiency advocacy organization, to highlight the energy-saving achievements of organizations throughout the region.

“We are proud to recognize Carris Reels for their success and commitment to energy efficiency,” said Sue Coakley, Executive Director of NEEP. “Carris Reels provides an excellent example of how energy saving investments can improve a company’s bottom line, contribute to economic growth, and reduce environmental impact.”