Current News

The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for January 2012 was 5.0 percent, a decrease of two-tenths of a percent from the revised December 2011 rate. At 5.0 percent, Vermont’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is the lowest in New England and ranks as the fourth lowest in the United States. The comparable national rate for January 2012 is 8.3 percent; also a decline of two-tenths of a percent from the previous month. The Vermont rate is the lowest it's been since August 2008 (4.9 percent).
‘Recent economic data has been positive and reflects signs of the economic recovery. Vermont’s unemployment rate of 5.0 percent places the state as the 4th lowest unemployment rate in the nation. The Vermont Department of Labor continues to address current and future labor force challenges through both job placement services and training

Vermont Labor Force Statistics (Seasonally Adjusted)

EPA has completed the second five-year review of the remedial actions previously implemented at the Pine Street Canal Superfund Site located in Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont.This second five-year review concluded that while the remedy at Pine Street Canal is protective for most pathways of exposure to contaminants, a protectiveness determination of the remedy at the Site cannot be made until further information is obtained to evaluate potential vapor intrusion impacts at the existing Burlington Electric Department building.

Of the 55 gold medals won by the US for the World Cheese Championship, Vermont brought home three, tied with California for third in the US. Wisconsin dominated the competition with 30 gold medals. New York took nine. Idaho and South Dakota each earned two gold medals. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio and Utah each took one gold medal.

Switzerland came in second among the countries, with seven gold medals. Canada had six gold medals, Denmark five, the Netherlands four, while Germany and Spain each took two. Australia and Austria each captured one apiece.

Yet no matter how dominant the US was, the international panel of expert judges named a Dutch Gouda-style cheese named Vermeer as the 2012 World Championship Cheese.

Nineteen Saint Michael’s College students were awarded $3,700 each, from the college to enable them to carry out individual research projects with their professors over the summer. The grants totaling some $70,300, with living allowance on top of that, are titled Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Research Fellowships. Recipients were determined through a competitive process and were awarded by the Saint Michael's College Undergraduate Research Committee.
16 of the 19 grants were funded by the VPAA fund, and three by the Alumni Fund for Undergraduate Research, a fund established in 2009 by Shelia and Mark Nelson (Saint Michael’s 1991 graduate) to promote faculty-mentored student research.

The Burlington Country Club, USA Hockey’s Women’s National Team and Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont have partnered raising money to grant a Vermont child’s one-true-wish. A fundraising dinner will be held at the Burlington Country Club on Monday, April 9 at 6 pm. The dinner will include a visit and updates from representatives of the Women’s National Team, who will be in Burlington competing for their fourth straight gold medal at the 2012 IIHF Women’s World Championship, and a presentation from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont.
Tickets for the dinner are $50 per person with all proceeds going directly to sponsoring a Vermont child’s one-true-wish.

During a special awards ceremony held inWashington, D.C.onMarch 7- the eve ofNational Agriculture Day- theInnovation Center for US Dairyannounced the winners of the inauguralUS Dairy Sustainability Awards, a program to recognize dairy farms, dairy companies and collaborative partnerships for efforts that advance the sustainability of the American dairy industry.

With Vermont as one of the strongest states, hiring optimism among US employers is gaining momentum as positive outlooks are reported broadly across all industries and geographies, according to the latestManpower Employment Outlook Surveyreleased today by ManpowerGroup. According to the seasonally adjusted survey results, the Net Employment Outlook for Quarter 2 2012 is +10%, up from +8% during the same period last year and from the +9% Outlook during Quarter 1 2012.
ManpowerGroup's research concludes:

Bill Orleans, president of PP&D Brochure Distribution, announced that the firm will be managing all brochure displays on the Lake Champlain Transportation (LCT) ferries.
‘After 30 years of being asked, ‘How can I get my brochures on the ferries?’. I finally have an answer, Orleans said. ‘These are wonderful locations, very high traffic, and truly a captive audience. With limited slots available, I’m sure these brochure displays will be full very quickly.’

LCT operates seven boats on three crossings; from Charlotte, Vermont to Essex, New York; Burlington to Port Kent, New York; and Grand Isle to Plattsburgh, New York. They make over 50,000 trips per year and host almost a million passengers.

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports last week was recognized nationally by Newman's Own Foundation for its work with adaptive sports and recreation for people with disabilities. As part of the third-annual Newman's Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge, Vermont Adaptive was nominated by and partnered with University of Vermont Adaptive Sports for a Newman's Own Foundation grant. In a presentation during the America East Conference basketball championship in Hartford, Connecticut, Vermont Adaptive was awarded $10,000.

"This a huge honor to receive this grant and we extended our thanks to the students at UVM Adaptive Sports for working with us, as well as Newman's Own Foundation for making this program possible," said Erin Fernandez, executive director at Vermont Adaptive. "Every penny counts and this grant will contribute to the adaptive equipment and program needs for providing sports and recreation to our participants."

Representatives Peter Welch and Chris Gibson (R-NY) will join together on Tuesday for two bipartisan roundtables focused on expanding a successful veterans outreach program pioneered by the Vermont National Guard. The events will take place in Rutland and Saratoga Springs.

Welch and Gibson are working to pass a bipartisan bill to expand nationwide the Vermont Guard Outreach Program, which provides assistance

Closing the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant in Vernon on March 21, when its license expires, would have a devastating effect on the Windham County economy, costing hundreds of jobs and the loss of millions of dollars in local tax revenue. It would also cost the state of Vermont millions of dollars in both General Fund and Education tax revenues, according to a report issued yesterday by the Post-VY Task Force.

The HBRA has hired Josie Palmer Leavitt as its new executive officer.
Todd Leach, Leach Construction of Vermont and current President of the HBRA said, "We are thrilled to welcome Josie to the HBRA, and excited to bring on board someone of her caliber, expertise and commitment. Having served on our board of directors, Josie understands the needs of our members, and the housing industry. Her background in business, marketing, management, land development, sales and real estate makes her the perfect fit to dynamically lead our Association."