Current News
by tim
Republican gubernatorial candidate and current Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie released his economic development proposal on August 30.
Brian Dubie's plan is below. The full version can be found at:
http://briandubie.com/
Pure Vermont
Blueprint for Job Growth and Economic Expansion
My blueprint to grow the economy starts with an honest assessment of Vermont’s strengths and weaknesses.
by tim
State highway conditions are the best they’ve been in 19 years, according to Reason Foundation’s 19th Annual Highway Report. Unfortunately, the recession is partly responsible for the improvement in road conditions: people are driving less, which has helped slow pavement deterioration and reduced traffic congestion and fatalities.
The annual Reason Foundation study measures the condition and cost-effectiveness of state-owned roads in 11 categories, including deficient bridges, urban traffic congestion, fatality rates, pavement condition on urban and rural Interstates and on major rural roads, and the number of unsafe narrow rural lanes. National performance in all of those key areas improved in 2008, the most recent year with complete data available.
Overall, North Dakota, Montana and Kansas have the most cost-effective state highway systems. Rhode Island, Alaska,California, Hawaii and New York have the least cost-effective road systems.
by tim
USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager announced yesterday that two Vermont towns were among 61 organizations in 46 states, the Western Pacific region and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico that will benefit from funding made available under the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program (RBEG).
The town of Shoreham was selected for a $59,457 grant to conduct a feasibility study in bulk processing and quick/long-term freezing to allow more regionally produced foods to be used in local institutions. The project will include market analysis, operational design of a USDA approved facility and financial strategy to convert a former apple storage warehouse to a multipurpose regional food center.
by tim
For three weeks this month, VPR reporter Steve Zind will report from Afghanistan, where he’ll be embedded with 1,500 members of the Vermont National Guard.
Zind will be based at Bagram Airbase in Kabul, and will travel with the guard to rural outposts where Vermonters are stationed, providing a unique and local perspective on the war in Afghanistan. He’ll file stories and interviews from the field, capturing the sounds of the soldiers’ daily lives, and accompany them on patrols and training missions.
He will also keep an online journal, where he’ll post photos and share thoughts and observations about his experience. He has also asked listeners to share the questions they would like answered about the mission, or suggestions for stories he should pursue.
by tim
Governor Jim Douglas announced today that a new cheese manufacturing company will be locating in Swanton, creating up to 55 jobs over the next several years. Swan Valley Cheese will occupy the former Via Cheese facility in the Swanton Town Industrial Park. Via Cheese stopped production and laid of its workers in May.
‘I am very pleased to welcome Swan Valley Cheese to Vermont,’ Governor Douglas said. ‘This new entity will not only create jobs in Swanton, but will also use milk from Vermont farms. Swan Valley Cheese will occupy a production facility that has been vacant for some time.’
The company received assistance from the Vermont Economic Development Authority and has initial approval for $384,133 worth of Vermont Employment Growth Incentives from the Vermont Economic Progress Council.
With extensive experience in the cheese-making industry, Swan Valley will produce asiago, fontina and other artisanal cheeses, as well as mozzarella.
by tim
Is your nonprofit a century old? If yes, then the Secretary of State is looking for you! Secretary Deb Markowitz is seeking applicants for the 2010 Vermont Centennial Nonprofit Awards program. This program honors nonprofits that have operated in Vermont for at least 100 years. Any nonprofit that has been in operation in Vermont for 100 years or more can participate in this awards program by filling out an application form.
Secretary Markowitz said, “The Vermont Centennial Nonprofit Award acknowledges Vermont's oldest nonprofits for enriching our heritage. This program deepens our understanding of how Vermont's nonprofits have enhanced our community life during the last hundred years.”
“It is important to recognize Vermont's nonprofits for their longevity," added Markowitz. “It takes a tremendous amount of dedication to keep a nonprofit active for 100 years.”
by tim
Construction is well under way at the new Tupelo Music Hall in White River Junction, and all systems are go for the grand opening performance on Friday, October 1. Scott Hayward, the owner of the venue, has also booked an ambitious and eclectic schedule of almost forty shows, already stretching into May of 2011.
The grand opening weekend will kick off with Vermont favorites Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams followed on Saturday night by veteran folk-singer-songwriter Tom Paxton. On Sunday, Tupelo will host the awards presentation for the ‘First Upper Valley Owl Awards for Excellence,’ sponsored by The Complete Hoot, who has named Tupelo as co-sponsor.
by tim
The Vermont Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) has received a 2010 Consortium Development Competition Award of $185,000 from the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) to fund a research project entitled, ‘The Vermont Frozen Landscape Monitoring Project".
‘This is an exciting project at the intersection of NASA research interests and a critical Vermont concern,’ says Dr. William Lakin originator of the grant request. ‘It is also a clear indication that NASA recognizes the quality of the research teams being developed by the VTSGC with our Space Grant faculty research funding.’
by tim
Governor Jim Douglas announced today that Chief Technology Officer Tom Evslin will retire from state government on September 15. Evslin, 67, was recruited from retirement by Governor Douglas in March of 2009 to be Chief Recovery Officer to oversee Vermont’s use of stimulus funds and applications for competitive stimulus grants. When the temporary Office of Economic Stimulus and Recovery finished its job, Evslin was named Chief Technology Officer for the State and has been the Administration’s lead on Challenges for Change.
by tim
While the recount of the primary vote gets under way, Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie said he is eager to debate the eventual Democratic nominee, challenging his opponent to a series of debates throughout the state.
‘Whether my opponent ends up being Peter Shumlin or Doug Racine, our plans to address the economic challenges that face Vermont could not be more different,’ Dubie said. ‘I look forward to letting Vermonters decide who they think best represents the interests of Vermont families, workers and job creators.’
Dubie's campaign said that 12 debates over seven weeks, as well as several joint appearances, will make increasingly apparent to Vermonters the many differences between Lieutenant Governor Dubie and either State Senator Peter Shumlin or State Senator Doug Racine.
by tim
The Secretary of State's office has posted the official results for the primary conducted August 24, 2010, for all the statewide races. Further below are results for all Vermont primary races.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CANVASSING COMMITTEE
UNITED STATES AND VERMONT STATEWIDE OFFICES
Primary Election, August 24, 2010
In accordance with the provisions of the 17 V.S.A. 2368‑2371, we have met and canvassed the returns of votes for the United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress and State Officers cast at the August 24, 2010 Primary Election in Vermont as filed in the Office of the Secretary of State. http://vermont-elections.org/soshome.htm
(Winners = Bold*)
VOTING STATISTICS
by tim
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has chosen the winners of the five highly anticipated 2010 Vermont Hospitality Awards. These awards honor individuals in the hospitality industry who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the industry and who exemplify standards of professionalism. The awards will be given at the Vermont Chamber Hospitality Gala on September 21 at Sugarbush Resort in Warren.