Current News

Governor Jim Douglas attended the kick-off event for the Vermont Biosciences Alliance. The Vermont Biosciences Alliances is a partnership of businesses that make-up Vermont s growing bioscience industry as well as academic partners from the higher education community.
It is great to see business leaders from the bioscience community coming together to support one another, Governor Douglas said. These cutting-edge employers will play a leading role in our economic recovery and provide great job opportunities for Vermonters.

Ledyard National Bank recently completed a three-year commitment to the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies. The total contribution was $3,000.
Ledyard National Bank proudly supports the Center s mission to raise new ideas and improve debates through quality information and analysis on issues shaping New Hampshire s future.
Ledyard Financial Group, Inc., headquartered in Hanover, New Hampshire, is the holding company for Ledyard National Bank. Ledyard National Bank, founded in 1991, is a full service community bank offering a broad range of banking, investment, tax and wealth management services in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region. Ledyard National Bank has eight offices with locations in Hanover, Lebanon, Lyme, New London, and West Lebanon, New Hampshire and in Norwich, Vermont.

Senator Patrick Leahy has announced that he will seek re-election to the United States Senate in 2010. Below is is a video of his annoucement, also if you haven't read our Profile on Leahy from the May issue of Vermont Business Magazine check it out here.

A new Vermont cheesemaker will begin producing high-quality artisanal cheeses this summer at the Plymouth Cheese Factory, located at the President Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth.
Fairfield Farms Artisan Cheese has signed a lease with the State of Vermont that will begin July 1. The company will create three types of hand-crafted, limited supply cheeses from raw milk at the facility. The site will be operated by Jesse Werner, cheesemaker and owner of Fairfield Farms Artisan Cheese.

Shelburne Museum Director Stephan Jost announced the election of James Pizzagalli as chairman of the board of trustees at Shelburne Museum.
Pizzagalli, of Shelburne, has served as a museum trustee for over 20 years. He succeeds Charles L. Granquist whose term as chairman expired, but who will remain on the board.
Shelburne Museum is fortunate to have such a capable and outstanding leader at the helm. Jim brings a combination of business acumen and an appreciation of the arts that will serve the museum well as we continue our work to bring great art and design as well as new educational opportunities to the community, Jost said.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce announced today the selection of Betsy Bishop as the President of the state s premier business organization, representing a diverse cross section of businesses around the state.
Charged with leading the Vermont Chamber and its 1,500 members, Bishop said, I look forward to this opportunity to work with Vermont businesses, many of which are facing unprecedented challenges. With the volunteer board and Vermont Chamber members, I will continue to provide a strong voice for Vermont businesses as they strive to maintain employment levels and grow in this economy.

Governor Douglas today officially opened the new Bridge Street Bridge in Richmond marking the completion of Vermont s first ARRA funded project. Douglas was joined by Vermont Agency of Transportation Secretary David Dill, Federal Highway Administration Deputy Vermont Administrator Larry Dwyer, Richmond Selectboard Chairman Pete Parent and numerous Richmond residents to celebrate the opening of the Richmond Bridge Street Bridge, which opened for traffic last Friday.
I want to thank the Agency of Transportation, Federal Highway and the Town of Richmond for their cooperation and hard work to get this project done so quickly, said Governor Douglas. The quick and wise deployment of ARRA funds will help us make much needed and long overdue improvements to our transportation infrastructure. They will also give our economy a much needed boost during our construction season.

Vermont Housing Finance Agency announced today the selection of Paul Stewart, President of Stewart Property Management, Bedford, NH, as the new owner of Rockingham Canal House in Bellows Falls. The historic building, a former hotel built in the 1870s, will also be an example of how important housing preservation is to the larger strategy of providing affordable housing.
"Paul Stewart has almost 40 years of experience in affordable housing, and he's been managing the Canal Street building since last fall, so we're confident he has the background and skills necessary to make this property a showpiece," said VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter.

Less then a week after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) raised concerns with the inadequacy of Vermont Yankee’s decommissioning fund, Speaker Smith and President Pro Tem Shumlin vowed to place another decommissioning bill on Governor Douglas’ desk at the beginning of the 2010 legislative session, which begins next January.
The leaders called on Governor Douglas to join them in their support for this important piece of legislation.
“We are pleased that the NRC has joined the Vermont legislature in voicing its concern with the decommissioning fund shortfall for Vermont Yankee,” said Speaker Smith. “It is a shame that Governor Douglas chose to veto the legislature’s decommissioning bills but we intend to move forward by crafting legislation to protect Vermonters from what is clearly a potentially significant financial risk.”

Vermont Public Radio Commentary. Monday June 22, 2009
McQuiston: Tax policy perspective LISTEN
By Timothy McQuiston
(HOST) Commentator Timothy McQuiston suggests that when you hear politicians talking about taxes, it isn't so much about fairness, it's about jobs.
(McQUISTON) Tax policy is all in your perspective, it seems to me. While the Legislature has focused on the property tax and the direct impact it has on local constituencies, governors have generally looked at the bigger picture and the income tax.
In the latest, harrowing row over the state budget, which resulted in the first-ever budget veto, the Legislature cut the income tax, albeit slightly, for anyone making under 200,000 dollars and raised it for everyone else.
Governor Douglas proposed lowering the highest marginal rate for income over 375,000 from 9.5 percent to 9 percent - and you might well be wondering, "Why?"

Governor Douglas will be in Washington again tomorrow for a meeting with President Barack Obama and a bipartisan coalition that includes five others governors to discuss health care reform.
Vermont is a leader among states when it comes to important reforms to our health care system. Many of our programs serve as a national model and are being implemented in other states and municipalities across America, said Governor Douglas. Through my work as Governor and at the National Governors Association, we are making health care reform a top priority, highlighting the critical steps we have taken here at home and the steps we need to take nationally.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) today announced finalization of a bi-state agreement between New York and Vermont for the progression of a project to rehabilitate or replace the Lake Champlain Bridge, spanning Lake Champlain between Crown Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont. HTNB Corporation of New York City has been selected as design consultant. This project is being jointly progressed by NYSDOT and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).