Current News

Today, Secretary of State Deb Markowitz announced that over $87,000 in grants were awarded to 19 municipalities to help them to continue to meet the mandates of the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) which was signed into law on October 29, 2002. HAVA provides opportunities for municipalities to improve the administration and access to elections in Vermont. As Vermont s chief election officer, the Secretary of State oversees this process.
This year grants in amounts of up to $7,000 will be used by municipalities to improve accessibility to polling places used for the primary and general elections. Since the program began, the Secretary of State s Office has awarded 136 grants totaling $634,289.72. Markowitz said, This round of grants is intended to help ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to polling places. Funds may be used for improvements such as paving parking areas, building ramps, and improving lighting.

The Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund Board announced today that the Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) has made available $5.5 million to support the installation of solar and small wind projects on homes and businesses across Vermont. The funds are part of the US Department of Energy s State Energy Program funds provided by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
The $5.5 million will allow Vermont to continue the Small Scale Renewable Energy Incentive Program that was first established in 2003. The program exhausted available State funding in 2009. The newly funded and expanded program will begin to take incentive reservations on Earth Day- April 22ed.

All the major candidates for Vermont governor have now released their federal income tax returns. The adjusted gross income for each candidate for 2009 was: Susan Bartlett, $95,969; Brian Dubie, $165,395; Matt Dunne, $198,435; Deb Markowitz, $122,614; Doug Racine, $136,192; and Peter Shumlin, $974,732. To also view Vermont Business Magazine's video statement from each candidate, go to: Why Do You Want To Be Governor? To see the statewide poll conducted in February by Vermont Business Magazine, WCAX-TV and WDEV RadioVermont, go to: Vermont Gubernatorial Poll.

BioTek Instruments is celebrating the manufacture and shipment of the 1000th Galileo Echo automated blood testing instrument. This single instrument, manufactured by BioTek for Immucor, Inc (Norcross, GA), marks a milestone in the Winooski company's growth, accounting for an incremental $33 million in revenue, and $5 million in additional research and development, brought into Vermont since 2007.
BioTek continues to grow and flourish despite the global economic downturn. In its 42nd year, it continues to bring revenue into, and provide long-term employment for, the state of Vermont.
BioTek Quick Facts
· Global leader in the development, manufacture and sale of microplate instrumentation and software
· Privately held, founded in 1968 by University of Vermont physiologist Dr. Norman Alpert
· Headquartered in Winooski, VT; satellite offices in China, France, Germany, India, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom
GROWTH

SBE Inc (dba SB Electronics) has officially broken ground on its new high‐volume manufacturing facility in Barre Town. Event speakers included Governor Jim Douglas, Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie, Representative Peter Welch, the US Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi and Susan “Sam” Matthews, Executive Vice President of the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation.
Earlier in the year, SBE Inc won a matching grant of $9.1 million as the major piece of funding for an $18 million project under the US Department of Energy’s Electrical Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative, part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to expand its electric car technology manufacturing. SBE’s new manufacturing plant facility will be dedicated to the transportation market and will have capacity to produce Power Ring capacitors for over 100,000 plug-in hybrid and electric drive vehicles within 3 years.

Mark Snelling will be officially kicking off his campaign for Lt. Governor Thursday April 22, 2010, in the Cedar Creek Room at the Statehouse in Montpelier at 12:30 pm. Friends and supporters have been invited to listen to the kickoff as Mark describes his vision for the future of Vermont. All are welcome.
Snelling has been working hard on the campaign trail for several months already and has attended over 70 campaign related events in all corners of the State.
Snelling also promised to unveil his new look – a clean shaven face. Snelling has had a beard for many years.
He explained, “Years ago, I dared my father to grow a beard and he said he would if I shaved mine. He fulfilled his part of the bargain and I am now fulfilling my part of the bargain.”
Snelling said joking, “I am trying to do my part for the economy. I’ll be buying razors and shaving cream now.”

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is now accepting funding applications for 2011 Transportation Enhancement projects. The Agency anticipates awarding up to $1.5 million to municipalities, non-profits, and State and Federal agencies that can be used to enhance Vermont’s transportation system in 12 broad categories.
Grant awards will be made in the $10,000 to $300,000 range. Projects require a 20 percent local match and must have a strong transportation connection, but they cannot be roadway projects or maintenance activities.
“All towns, cities and non-profit agencies operate with limited financial resources,” said VTrans Secretary David Dill. “The transportation enhancement grant program is a great opportunity for them to acquire funding for projects that otherwise they could not afford.”

US Representative Peter Welch on Monday called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to expand its investigation into allegedly fraudulent securities sold by Goldman Sachs to determine whether the federal government can recoup bank rescue funds.
In a letter to SEC Chairwoman Mary Schapiro, Welch joined Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) in asking the SEC to determine whether taxpayer support received by the American International Group (AIG) was transferred to Goldman to cover fraudulent activities.
On Friday the SEC filed a civil suit against Goldman alleging the firm misled investors by failing to disclose that one of 25 collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) sold by the firm was designed to fail. Seven similar CDOs were guaranteed by credit default swaps from AIG. Of the $180 billion AIG received in taxpayer assistance, $12.9 billion was transferred to Goldman to settle the bad credit default swaps.

The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, of which Chittenden Bank is a division, announced today that it has awarded $10,000 to Vermont Works for Women in Winooski, Vermont.

Governor Douglas will the the recently passed e-waste bill into law at the Chittenden Solid Waste District's Williston Drop-Off Center on Redmond Road. The signing is scheduled for 3 pm.
Attendees at this event will include legislators who worked on the bill, Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Jonathon Wood, CSWD staff and board members, VPIRG, and other interested parties. This event coincides with Earth Day week.

Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont moved just 0.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.90/g today. This compares with the national average that has stayed flat, moving just 1 cent per gallon in the last week to $2.87/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Vermont during the past week, prices today are 87.2 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 5.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 5.9 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 83.4 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.
Source: VermontGasPrices.com. 4.19.2010

The Board of Trustees of Goddard College has elected Dr Barbara Vacarr as its next president. Dr Vacarr is currently serving as Director of Lesley University’s School of Education PhD Programs in Cambridge. The announcement came following a special meeting of Goddard’s Board of Trustees. Vacarr is expected to assume leadership of Goddard College on July 1, 2010, when President Mark Schulman steps away. Dr Schulman, Goddard’s third-longest serving president, has led Goddard since 2003.