Current News
by tim
Governor
Urges NRC to Approve Independent Safety Assessment
Montpelier, Vt.March 12, 2008 -- Governor Jim Douglas has called on the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission to support a reliability and safety
assessment-commonly called an Independent Safety Assessment
(ISA)-of the Entergy Vermont Yankee nuclear power station in Vernon.
In a letter to NRC Chairman Dale Klein, Governor Douglas said the
operation of Vermont Yankee is at a critical juncture and events during the
summer of last year raised questions about the reliability of the
station. Vermont Yankee had several events that included the partial
collapse of a cooling tower and a reactor scram that have each been traced to
shortcomings in the maintenance of equipment.
"These events have shaken the confidence of Vermonters and our
neighbors in New Hampshire and Massachusetts about the
by tim
New
Business Starts Slow Down in 2007
Filings with Vermont's Secretary of State's Office show
new business starts lagging in 2007
Montpelier. Secretary of State
Deb Markowitz announced March 13 that the number of new businesses registered with
her office's Corporations Division during the year 2007 have declined as
compared to prior years. As of January 1, 2008, there were
registered in Vermont 16,561 Vermont corporations, 8,848 foreign corporations
(out-of-state companies doing business in Vermont), 43,143 trade names (sole
proprietorships), and 15,641 limited liabilities companies. Of these, 9,452
were newly formed in 2007. This is somewhat less than the 9,971 new
businesses that registered in 2006.
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz
said, The slow down of newly formed business entities is a change from
by tim
TLC Nursing Associates, LLC, is pleased to announce the beginning of its third year in business. From humble beginnings, Mohamed Basha, owner/operator of TLC, has brought TLC a long way.
TLC Nursing Associates, LLC, now offers a wide variety of medical and non-medical staffing services. TLC places RNs, LPNs, LNAs and homecare associates with a wide variety of clients. Whatever the need, from post-operative homecare to per diem shift coverage, TLC will work with the client to meet their needs.
With an ever expanding demand, of a rapidly aging population, TLC looks forward to being there to provide a touch of Tender, Love, and Care for its clients.
Please contact Leon Smith for further information about TLC Nursing Associates. TLC is always looking for quality, dependable and experienced RNs, LPNs, LNAs and caregivers.
Leon Smith
TLC Nursing Associates, LLC
by tim
Montpelier -- The Vermont Department of Labor announced March 11 that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January 2008 was 4.2 percent, up three-tenths of a point from last month and up two-tenths of a point from a year ago. The observed seasonally adjusted monthly changes in the unemployment levels and unemployment rate are statistically significant from December values. For comparison purposes, the US seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 4.9 percent, down one-tenth of a point from December 2007.
Unemployment rates for Vermonts 17 labor market areas ranged from 3.0 percent in Hartford to 8.6 percent in Newport. Local labor market area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. For comparison, the unadjusted unemployment rate for Vermont was 5.0 percent, up one and three-tenth points from December 2007.
by tim
King Street Youth Center wins national award from the USTA
The King Street Youth Center wins National Junior Tennis League Section of the Year Award from the United States Tennis Association. As part of this Award Executive Director Vicky Smith and Development Director Kelli Shonter were given scholarships to attend the Community Tennis Development Workshop in Las Vegas, NV (Feb. 21-24, 2008).
The USTA National Junior Tennis League seeks to develop the character of young people through tennis and to emphasize the ideals of Arthur Ashe by:
" Reaching out to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play
the sport.
" Instilling in youngsters the values of leadership and academic excellence.
by tim
The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) is pleased to announce its 10-year anniversary of grant making and to highlight the accomplishments of its grantees in helping to accelerate the development of Vermonts green economy.
From 1997 to 2007, the VSJF made grants in excess of $2.7 million to 150 recipients representing over 8,000 businesseswho utilized these funds to leverage an additional $11.8 million to implement their projects, test their ideas, create and retain at least 800 jobs, and assemble the building blocks of a green economy. Our technical assistance programs have assisted 15 Peer to Peer Collaborative clients (representing 384 employees), 132 Business Coach clients and hundreds of other businesses who have sought some form of assistance over the past 10 years.
by tim
Montpelier,
VT - Secretary of
Administration Michael K. Smith Announces that General Fund, Transportation Fund
and Education Fund Revenues Exceeded Target for February.
General Fund
Secretary of Administration Michael K. Smith
today released General Fund revenue results for the month of February, the eighth
month of fiscal year 2008. General Fund
revenues totaled $64.16 million, +$5.32 million or +9.04% more than the $58.84
million consensus revenue target for the month. The resulting fiscal year-to-date General Fund
revenue total of $767.19 million is +$6.65 million or 0.87% above the recently
revised consensus forecast of $760.54 million.
We are pleased to have exceeded our General Fund forecast. However, it should be noted that some of the
above target revenue is due to the timing of certain insurance tax receipts
which were targeted for March. Excluding
by tim
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2008
CONTACT: David Mace (802) 828-5229
VERMONT TO PROMOTE 'GREEN VALLEY' AT ENVIRONMENTAL TECH SHOW
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The State of Vermont will be looking
to generate some green by being green at an upcoming international
environmental technology trade fair and conference in Vancouver.
Representatives of the Vermont Department of Economic
Development and the Vermont Global Trade Partnership will be joined by several
Vermont companies at GLOBE 2008, a biennial trade fair and conference scheduled
for March 12 through 14.
"Vermont has an internationally-recognized image as a
clean, 'green' state; we are the healthiest state in America; and
we have more institutions of higher learning per capita than any other
state," said Kevin Dorn, Vermont Secretary of Commerce and Community
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At Future Einsteins we believe that the building a better future starts with preparing today's young children with the skills they will need to be successful in school and later in life. Our program is not only about teaching children technology skills, our Imagine Tomorrow Classes are enriched with critical learning experiences designed to build literacy and understanding.
by tim
Aviatron to announce $6.2 million contract today
Governor to promote aviation industry
Will urge Legislature to make permanent a tax exemption for aircraft parts
Montpelier, Vt. -- Governor Jim Douglas today will congratulate a Vermont aviation firm -- Aviatron of South Burlington -- for landing a $6.2 million aircraft maintenance contract. The governor will urge lawmakers to make permanent a tax exemption on aircraft parts to encourage additional job creation in this economic sector.
ANNOUNCEMENT
WHEN: Friday, March 7, 2008 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Aviatron, Inc.
25 Customs Drive, South Burlington
SCHEDULE:
Ø 11:15 a.m. Introductions and Contract Announcement (Open Press)
Ø 11:20 a.m. Briefing and Site Visit (Open Press)
Ø 11:45 a.m. Q & A with Media (Open Press)
by tim
Governor Releases Report on Meeting Renewable Energy
Goal
Administration seeks 25% Renewable
Energy from Farms, Forests by 2025
Montpelier, Vt.
– Governor Jim Douglas on March 6, 2008, released an advisory report showing that Vermont can meet the
goal of generating 25 percent of its total energy from renewable sources,
principally from farms and forests, by 2025.
Under Governor Douglas’ direction, Vermont
became the 14th state to join the 25 X ’25 Alliance in 2006, a coalition of more than
330 agricultural, forestry, businesses, labor, environmental and civic
organizations working to advance renewable energy solutions originating from
farms, forestry and other working lands nationally.
“In Vermont
we have many natural resources that can be converted into renewable and responsible
energy options,” Governor Douglas said. “Working toward, and
by tim
IBEW LOCAL 300 JOINS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TRADE GROUP
South Burlington, Vt. -- (March 6, 2008) -- The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 300 recently joined Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR).
Chartered in 1939, IBEW Local 300 represents 1,200 working Vermonters. Local 300 employers -- including Ben and Jerry's, Brown Electric, Burlington Electric Department, Central Vermont Public Service, Entergy-Vermont Yankee, E.S Boulos, Green Mountain Power, Peck Electric, Sherwin Electric, Vermont Gas and Washington Electric Cooperative -- are among the most successful enterprises in the state. They all pay a living wage and offer solid healthcare and retirement packages to union employees.