Current News

The Rutland County Community Advisory Board (RCCAB) of
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) announced today the release
of its Worksite Wellness Grants for 2011. The grants, available to
businesses in Rutland County, will range from $250 - $750 per site,
according to program scope and need. The grant applications are due on
March 22, 2011.
To request an application or to get more information, please contact Megan
Peek at (802) 764-4858 or by email at [email protected]
The organizations will be selected based on the strength of their grant
applications ‘ with a focus on the potential improvement of employee
health, as well as the level of innovation, creativity, intended impact and
evaluation plan. All of the organizations will report their program
outcomes to the RCCAB.
The Rutland County Community Advisory Board, which is supported by BCBSVT,

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee and coffee makers, and Dunkin’ Donuts, a market leader in the hot regular, flavored and iced coffee categories, today announced a promotion, manufacturing and distribution agreement that will make Dunkin’ Donuts coffee available in single-serve K-Cup portion packs for use with Keurig® Single-Cup Brewers. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
‘GMCR’s agreement with Dunkin’ Donuts is part of our strategy of aligning with the strongest coffee brands to support a range of consumer choice and taste profiles in our innovative Keurig Single-Cup Brewing system’

Darn Tough Vermont, manufacturer of premium all-weather performance socks, will meet increasing consumer demand and prepare for expected growth in 2011 by making several major infrastructure investments throughout the year. The company’s Northfield, Vermont hosiery mill will increase its number of knitting machines by nearly 50 percent, half of which will be the latest generation of seamless knitting machines. Furthermore, the company plans to add more staff and will install the most modern computer software for managing supply chain, inventory and manufacturing.

The University of Vermont Center for Rural Studies (CRS) has awarded funds to three university/community food system projects in Vermont. The funding was made available in a USDA grant secured with the help of Senator Patrick Leahy.
The funds awarded include $11,332 for a project led by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, $12,000 for a project led by VT FEED, and $12,000 for a project led by the Center for Sustainable Agriculture
"These partnership grants are important for the future of Vermont as a leader in the development of a vibrant, economically sustainable regional food system," says CRS Director Jane Kolodinsky. "The community partners will implement the projects and UVM researchers will evaluation their impact. Together, we can help move Vermont agriculture forward."

Dave and Perk Perkins of The Orvis Company were recognized for their achievements by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) at its third annual Capitol Conservation Dinner, held in Washington, DC.
Orvis Chief Executive Officer Perk Perkins and Orvis Vice Chairman Dave Perkins receiving their Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership's Lifetime Conservation Achievement Awards in Washington, DC.
"Through the TRCP's Capitol Conservation Dinner, the sportsmen's community celebrates the incalculable contributions of our nation's most dedicated conservationists," said Whit Fosburgh, TRCP president and CEO. "Following a trail blazed by President Theodore Roosevelt, the sportsmen honored at this year's event exemplify the uniquely American drive to responsibly manage and enjoy our irreplaceable fish and wildlife resources."

Rising out of the ashes of a barn which was destroyed in a fire on January 12 at Pete’s Greens is an initiative to ensure that funding is available for other Vermont farmers in the future. Recent donations through a variety of fundraisers will provide Pete’s Greens with an opportunity to rebuild the barn as a more efficient building that will better suit the farms needs. However, Pete Johnson, owner of Pete’s Greens, anticipates that within two to three years, the farm will be able to pay the money forward and has plans to create a fund that will support Vermont agricultural businesses.

The Governor of Vermont and the Vermont Department of Labor have annually recognized Vermont based companies that have made outstanding achievements in Workplace Safety and Health starting in 2005. The Governor’s Award on workplace safety is the highest honor given by the State of Vermont to recognize an employer’s commitment to excellence in workplace safety and health. The Governor’s award now has three categories for small, medium and large companies, as well as a special recognition category. The Governor is scheduled to announce recipients of this award during the 7th Annual Workplace Safety Award Ceremony, which will take place on Thursday, May 12, launching the Annual Vermont Workplace Safety Conference in Burlington. Information including official State press releases, nomination forms and other data are now posted on the Vermont Department of Labor’s web page at:

TruexCullins Architecture and Interior Design is pleased to announce that the Heritage Aviation facility at the Burlington International Airport has achieved LEED® Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
This major renovation and building addition project for Heritage Aviation started with the complete reconstruction of a vacated 1954 hangar. The original structure was formerly occupied by the Vermont National Guard and has since been repurposed and transformed into a state-of-the-art aviation services facility totaling 75,800 sq.ft.
Aviation is an energy-intensive industry, accounting for 3% of global carbon emissions. The Heritage Aviation facility has taken extraordinary measures to counteract this impact and promote a sustainable model for the industry. Some of the most notable environmental accomplishments of the building include these features:

IBM has renamed its campus located in Essex Junction and Williston, Vermont to the Champlain Valley Technology and Innovation Park.
The new campus name reflects the expanded role of the IBM-owned 725 acre site as a location for both IBM and other technology companies.
The name change corresponds with the completion of the relocation of General Dynamics’ Technology Center from Lakeside Avenue in Burlington, VT to approximately 112,000 square feet of space leased from IBM in Williston. The Technology Center, with approximately 450 employees, is part of the General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products business unit.
IBM also welcomed ASK IntTag, a manufacturer of secure identification cards, to the campus last year. ASK occupies approximately 15,000 square feet of space leased from IBM in Essex and has approximately 40 employees.

The Connecticut River Watershed Council has filed a petition asking the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to either grant or deny Entergy’s application for a renewed Clean Water Act permit for the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The petition seeks to ensure adequate protection for the fish populations of the Connecticut River. The Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic at Vermont Law School filed the petition on behalf of the Watershed Council.
Vermont Yankee is operating under an expired, administratively-extended permit that allows it to discharge heated water into the Connecticut River and to draw river water into its cooling water intake structure to cool the plant. Both activities can harm many life stages of fish, particularly American shad and Atlantic salmon.

Champlain College has consolidated eight of its administrative departments under one roof at a new building located at 175 Lakeside Ave. Departments began moving into the new open office space in early February.
The new three-story facility, built by REM Development of Williston, offers 36,000 square-feet of office, meeting and classroom space bringing together employees from the College's Continuing Professional Studies, Human Resources, Campus Planning, Finance, Marketing, CRM and Graduate Admissions, Information Systems and a new Digital Forensics student lab. The Emergent Media Center, currently located at the Champlain Mill in Winooski, is slated to move to Lakeside later this year.

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org
Fresh from a two-day jaunt to Montreal, Governor Peter Shumlin announced to the press on Wednesday that he hopes to see the construction of a high speed passenger rail line that links Montreal to New York in the near future. In addition, he is looking to solve the state’s long-term energy needs through an enhanced power agreement with Hydro-Quebec and the extension of a natural gas line from Chittenden County to Rutland.