Current News

Search engine marketing company @Web Site Publicity, announced today the signing of a new client, 800response, a leading provider of vanity 800 phone numbers and call tracking solutions based in Burlington, VT. @Web Site Publicity will support the 800response website with search engine marketing strategies, specifically search engine optimization consulting. The goal is to make 800response's informative Web content and online services even more accessible to the businesses that use the major search engines to find the best resources to support their marketing initiatives.

New Jersey Edges New York for Nation's Highest State-Local Tax Burden
Washington, D.C., August 7, 2008 - New Jersey taxpayers bear the heaviest state-local tax burden in 2008, and Alaskans have the lightest tax burden, according to a new report from the Tax Foundation.

In Tax Foundation Special Report, No. 163, "State-Local Tax Burdens Dip As Income Growth Outpaces Tax Growth," senior economist Gerald Prante computes each state's combined state-local tax burden, accounting for taxes paid out of state.

The nation as a whole paid 9.7% of its income in state-local taxes, down from 9.9% in 2007 primarily because income grew faster than tax collections between 2007 and 2008.

CVPS provides $50,000 grant for solar project

BURLINGTON, Vt (August 6, 2008)&America's oldest and most renowned flour company, King Arthur Flour, has named Kelliher Samets Volk as its agency of record, according to Tim Volk, president of the independent advertising agency. The account, previously handled by Digital Flannel in Woodstock, Vermont, was awarded after a quiet national review of agencies. Billings for the account were not revealed.

Based in Norwich, Vermont, King Arthur Flour has been making naturally pure flour for more than 200 years. Each of their numerous types of unbleached flour is milled from premium wheat, and the results are lauded by baking professionals around the country. The company is also famous for its catalogue, award-winning cookbooks, and baking education classes.

We are thrilled to be working with such a strong food brand, said Mr. Volk. Their national reputation, dedication to quality, and socially responsible business model inspires us to create great work.

Vermont falls in Forbes' "The Best States for Business" rank

Vermont fell to 36th in the Forbes "The Best States for Business" rankings. Last year Vermont was 32nd. Once again, Virginia was first and West Virginia was last. Vermont tied with Massachusetts, one place ahead of New York. New Hampshire was the highest New England state, falling six spots to 20.
Vermont ranked highest in "Quality of Life" (10) and "Labor" (12) and lowest in "Growth Prospects" (44) and "Business Costs" (43). The other two categories were "Regulatory Environment" (33) and "Business Climate" (31).

The table with state ranks can be found at Forbes Rank.

Governor Douglas and CONEG Urge President to Release Contingency LIHEAP Funds Immediately
Waterbury (August 5, 2008) - The Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG), chaired by Governor Jim Douglas, today urged the President to release the remaining $120 million in contingency funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The Governors had also voiced their support for Senator Bernie Sanders' (I-VT) efforts to provide an additional $2.73 billion in FY2008 funding for LIHEAP in regular program and contingency funding; and now say the prompt release of the remaining contingency funding is critical to ensuring states-particularly those in the Northeast-can adequately prepare for the fall heating season.

$1.5 MILLION AWARDED FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM
Montpelier, Vermont - The Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS) has awarded the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) a two-year contract to administer the Vermont Small-Scale Renewable Energy Program following a competitive bidding process, the Douglas administration announced.
Governor Douglas said nearly $1.5 million will be available to Vermonters to support photovoltaic, solar hot water, wind installations and hydropower stations.
"This important program is helping us to further diversify our energy portfolio and reduce the need for more expensive oil and other fossil fuels by helping individuals, businesses, farms, schools, and municipalities install solar, wind or hydropower systems," Governor Douglas said. "And we've put an emphasis on helping schools, local governments and low-income multi-family housing buildings reduce their energy costs using these innovative renewable sources."

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2008 Third Quarter Results

- Success of Keurig single-cup brewing system and K-Cups drives strong sales and earnings growth -

WATERBURY, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., (NASDAQ: GMCR) has announced its fiscal 2008 third quarter results for the thirteen weeks ended June 28, 2008.

Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 were up 43.3% to $118.1 million as compared to $82.4 million reported in the third quarter of fiscal 2007. During the third quarter of fiscal 2008, approximately 153,000 Keurig brewers were shipped, up 61% from the 95,000 Keurig brewers shipped during the third quarter of fiscal 2007. The Green Mountain Coffee segment shipped over 134 million K-Cup portion packs, which was 49% more than the year-ago quarter.

Green Mountain Coffee to Add Manufacturing Facility in Knox County, Tennessee

WATERBURY, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR), has announced it has chosen Knox County, Tennessee as the future home of a new manufacturing and distribution facility for the Green Mountain Coffee segment. The Company has closed on the purchase of a 334,000 square foot building on a 31 acre parcel of land in Knox County for approximately $10.4 million. The new site will support the brand's national expansion and continued growth in the single-cup business.

PSB approves innovative CVPS renewable plans

VERMONT CAPTIVE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION TO HOLD LARGEST CAPTIVE INSURANCE CONFERENCE IN THE WORLD

Vermont's road and bridge conditions have been under fire for the past few years, however the Reason Foundation's study may tell another story. The Reason Foundation has been conducting surveys on all state owned interstates and highways since 1984. This year Vermont ranked 30th up from 37th last year. The Reason Foundation ranks states based on categories including traffic fatalities, congestion, pavement condition, bridge condition, highway maintenance costs, and administrative costs.

Despite recent budget problems, VTrans recently found out that it must cut $8 million from its budget, Vermont road conditions appear to be steadily improving. However a closer look reveals a little more. While Vermont ranks low for number of fatalities it ranks 40th in conditions of rural roads and 44th in deficient bridges. So though it appears some things are improving there is still quite a bit of work to be done.

For more information about the entire study browse here