Current News

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Friday that eight Vermont communities, as well as the Vermont Department of Public Safety (VDPS), will receive more than $1.32 million in federal grants to help combat crime. The grants will provide police departments across the state with funding for equipment, training other and resources.

Central Vermont Public Service Corp Chairwoman Mary Alice McKenzie and Director Bruce Lisman have resigned, effective last Monday, over a dispute involving the strategic direction of the company. CVPS, based in Rutland, is the state's largest electric utility. Company CEO Robert Young will serve as interim chairman of the board until a successor is determined. The text of the Securities & Exchange filing is below. A company spokesman said the company could not further comment.
McKenzie told Vermont Business Magazine, "I resigned effective Monday August 24th over a dispute with the board involving the strategic direction of the company as set by the board and the process by which the board chose to review the direction. I am secure in the knowledge that I did the right thing." She said that would be the extent of her comments.

The Democratic Governors Association is moving Vermont into its top tier of targeted 2010 pickup races, as Governor Jim Douglas announced his retirement today.
Vermont voters have always embraced common sense leaders who are willing to deal with problems like creating jobs, improving transportation, protecting the environment, expanding health care access and strengthening schools, said DGA Executive Director Nathan Daschle. Democrats in the state have long responded to those problems with the sort of the practical solutions and progressive values that Vermonters embrace. We believe that Vermonters are eager for Democratic leadership from the governor s office.

Saint Michael's College is ranked 105th in the Best (national) Liberal Arts Colleges category of the 2010 edition of the U.S. News & World Report magazine s popular, but controversial, rankings of American colleges and universities. Having moved two years ago from North Regional Masters University category to National Liberal Arts College category, Saint Michael's entered a much more competitive, much larger category of colleges. The rankings, which include some 1,400 schools nationwide, are available today at www.usnews.com/colleges, will also be published in the September issue of the U.S.News & World Report magazine, on newsstands starting August 20th.

Four-term Vermont Governor James Douglas said today at a morning press conference that he will not seek re-election in 2010. He added that he does not intend to run for another political office. The unexpected news caught the state by surprise. The governor did not take questions, but said he would not be an "absentee landlord" for the duration of his term. The man known for his gentlemanly ways was famous for his political success as a Republican in what became a Democratic state and for his fabulous gift for remembering people's names.

The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) will receive $1.4 million in funding to spur development of affordable housing in Vermont, it was announced by to US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and US Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) on Wednesday .
The VHFA plans to use the grant, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), to provide sufficient equity funding to develop Blake Commons, a 16-unit, multi-family, affordable housing project in Swanton. Blake Commons is being developed in partnership with Housing Vermont and Champlain Housing Trust and will provide homes to families earning 50-60 percent of the area median income.

Vermont Technical College this week was named among the top 10 best public baccalaureate colleges in the North by U.S.News & World Report. In its 2010 “Best Colleges” issue, Vermont Tech placed seventh among the best public baccalaureate colleges in the North and 22nd among all northern colleges, up two notches from its number 24 ranking in 2009, and eight notches from its number 30 ranking in 2008.
U.S.News & World Report’s annual college rankings are widely anticipated, circulated and respected throughout the United States. There are 319 baccalaureate colleges ranked within four regions of the United States: North, South, Midwest, and West. Vermont Tech is one of just two Vermont colleges to make this year’s “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” list.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell by more than 100 claims last week, or 20 percent as seasonal labor needs have steadied. Claims in 2015 generally were lower than in 2014, but since the holiday season they have been generally running slightly ahead of the prior year. The winter tourism hiring season was delayed by warm, wet weather until earlier this month. For the week of February 13, 2016, there were 531 claims, down 134 from the previous week's total and 17 more than they were a year ago. By industry, claims were mostly unchanged for most categories, but decreased by more than half for Manufacturing. 

Altogether 7,285 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 144 from a week ago, and 683 fewer than a year ago.

The Vermont Hospitality Council, the tourism division of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce the winners of the five highly anticipated Vermont Hospitality Awards.
This year’s recipients are:

Stantec is the second-fastest growing design firm in the country, according to The Zweig Letter s 2009 Hot Firm List, which identifies the 200 fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and environmental firms in the United States. The annual list recognizes Stantec, which has two offices in Vermont, as outperforming the economy and competitors.
The 2009 Hot Firm List is based on a comparison of gross revenue for both fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2008, as verified by financial statements or income tax returns reviewed by third parties. During this period Stantec s gross revenue increased 233 percent, from $194 million to $646.7 million.

US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced yesterday that USDA will establish a Dairy Advisory Committee and is requesting nominations to the committee. This committee will review key issues impacting the dairy industry and generate additional ideas about how USDA can help struggling producers.
I have been working jointly with my counterparts in New England and the Northeast including New York and Pennsylvania to encourage USDA to put a dairy advisory committee in place over the past few months, said Vermont agriculture secretary Roger Allbee. We are extremely pleased that he has taken this step.

Less than seven weeks after Eagle Publications and the Twin State Valley Media Network of Claremont, NH announced they were bankrupt - instantly closing the doors of the Eagle Times daily and the weekly Message for the Week, The Connecticut Valley Spectator and The Weekly Flea - most of the staff of The Message are now involved with a new paper, The Messenger.
The Messenger s 32-page first issue hit the streets on Tuesday, August 25.