Current News

Week Ending November 15, 2008
There were 1,207 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, a decrease of 29 from the week before. Altogether 8,427 new and continuing claims were filed, 560 more than a week ago and 2,295 more than a year earlier. In addition, the Department processed 1,077 claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008, a decrease of 39 from last week.
The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at:
http://www.vtlmi.info/
Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at:
http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc

NATIONAL NEWS MAGAZINE RANKS BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF VERMONT AS VERMONT'S TOP HEALTH PLAN
Berlin, Vt. - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont has been ranked as the top health plan in Vermont - as well as one of the best in the country -- by a respected national news magazine. The rankings, released in the November 17-24 issue of US News and World Report, is based on quality review information from the National Committee Quality Assurance (NCQA).
"This objective recognition confirms Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont's long tradition of providing high quality care to its members," noted Don George, Interim President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. "The rankings are based on the quality of the care our members received and how well we managed to continuously improve health care for those members."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont Saves Nearly a Half-Million Dollars with a Microsoft Partner Compensation Management Solution
Health plan streamlines incentive compensation and broker management processes and goes paperless.
REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT), Vermont's largest private health carrier, has saved nearly a half-million dollars with a Microsoft partner compensation management system. Implemented to overhaul incentive compensation and agent management capabilities, Computer Solutions & Software International's (CSSI) VUE Compensation Management, a Microsoft .NET Framework-based application, has also enabled BCBSVT to decouple broker commissions from insurance premiums, reduce manual interventions by 97 percent and go paperless with broker commission statements.

Casey Promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff
Montpelier, Vt. November 19, 2008 Dennise Casey has been appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, Governor Jim Douglas announced today.
Governor Douglas said Casey's new duties as Deputy Chief of Staff will include, among other things, coordinating the administration's legislative relations.
"Dennise is smart, energetic and understands the important work we have before us," Governor Douglas said. "I have every confidence in her and her ability to help make this legislative session a success as we work to pass an economic growth plan in the first 100 days, balance our budget in very challenging times and enact comprehensive safe communities' legislation."

November 18, 2008

Construction Input Prices Fall in October

Summary
Construction input prices fell 2.8 percent in October – the largest one-month decrease since July 1986 – according to the November 18 producer price index (PPI) report by the U.S. Labor Department. Despite the dramatic decline, construction input prices remain 10 percent higher than October of last year (see graph below).

Ed Shamy buys The County Courier in Enosburg Falls
Northern Vermont Lending Partners (NVLP), a revolving micro-loan program of the Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont, designed to assist small businesses, provided a loan to Ed Shamy and his wife, Kimberly Asch to help them purchase The County Courier in Enosburg Falls.
The news hit uncomfortably close to home for veteran journalist Ed Shamy when he was laid off from his job at Vermont's largest daily newspaper in August. Shamy and his family were eager to stay in Vermont, where they have made their home for 10 years, but the job outlook was weakening quickly.
When a weekly newspaper in Franklin County came up for sale, Shamy jumped at the opportunity but soon ran into another financial reality: the credit pipelines were in a deep freeze and a commercial bank turned down his request for a loan to buy the 130-year-old newspaper.

Energy Saving Pioneer Resumes Operations
Brattleboro, Vermont - November 10, 2008 - Window Quilt, the company that developed movable window insulation 30 years ago, is now shipping high performance insulated shades from their new Brattleboro factory. The company, whose products dramatically reduce energy losses through windows, was founded in Brattleboro. A local entrepreneur recently acquired the business, which had been moved to Seattle, Washington several years ago by its last corporate ownership, and returned it to Brattleboro under the direction of experienced management.

Home Energy Improvement Loan Rate Drops One Percentage Point
MONTPELIERIt just got a little more affordable for Vermont homeowners to prepare their homes for winter weather. The interest rate for the Warm and Weatherized Loan Program has dropped one percentage point since the program was first announced in September. The five-year fixed interest rate on program loans is now 2.75 percent.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- First Student workers in Vermont overwhelmingly voted to join the Teamsters Union in an election this week.
In Brattleboro, Vermont First Student drivers voted 25-4 to join Teamsters Local 597. The 30-person unit sought to improve their medical benefits and wanted a stronger voice in the workplace.
"We have a voice now," said Noni Fournier, a Brattleboro bus driver. "We hope for respect, to be treated fairly."
The workers reached out to the union just 28 days prior to the election. Extremely motivated, they quickly signed a majority of authorization cards just one day after meeting with union officials. The Teamsters petitioned for an election on their behalf the same day. Negotiations for a first contract have already begun for the unit.

National Life plugs into the sun
Financial Services Company Turns On Largest Solar Project in Vermont
Montpelier, Vermont (November 19, 2008) _ Electricity from the largest solar electric installation in Vermont - an array of 418 solar panels - is now helping to power National Life Group's Montpelier headquarters.
As the sun peeked out from the clouds, National Life CEO Thomas H. MacLeay and Gov. Jim Douglas joined together today in a rooftop ceremony to commission the new system and to praise the public-private financial partnership that made the project possible.
A $200,000 state grant helped finance the $500,000 73 kW photovoltaic (PV) system.
"This project is exactly what we envisioned when we created the Clean Energy Development Fund," said the Governor. "We are supporting a diversified portfolio of clean energy technologies and leveraging private investments."

Sugarbush Resort Plans to Open for the 2008-09 Winter Season this Weekend
Warren, VT (November 18, 2008)- It's time to get the gear out; winter is here. Sugarbush Resort will open for the 2008-09 winter season this Saturday, November 22nd when the Super Bravo and Heaven's Gate chairs begin spinning at 9 A.M.
"Our snowmaking crews have put down a great base from the top (of Lincoln Peak) to the bottom of the Heavens Gate lift," said Resort president Win Smith. "Mother Nature has lent us a helping hand over the last 10 days dumping about a foot up top and temperatures this week are allowing us to make every effort to have top-to-bottom skiing and riding come Saturday. We just ask that guests check the website for the latest info before coming up to the hill Saturday morning."

Tayt Brooks Named Deputy Commissioner of Housing & Community Affairs
MONTPELIER, Vt. A longtime advocate for the home construction industry has been named the new Deputy Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Tayt Brooks takes over the second slot at the department following the departure of interim commissioner Molly Dugan, who left earlier this fall to take a position with Cathedral Square Corporation.
"I'm very pleased to have Tayt join our team at this time," said Commerce and Community Development Secretary Kevin Dorn, whose agency includes DHCA. "His knowledge of housing issues and familiarity with many of the stakeholders in this arena will be invaluable as we work to address Vermonts housing challenges."