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Projects will improve housing, services and flood resilience in eight communities

Vermont Business Magazine Brownfield clean-up and re-development in Richmond and Montpelier, and energy efficient affordable housing in Bennington and Hardwick, are among the eight projects receiving more than $2.9 million in grants from the Vermont Community Development Program announced today. “From Waitsfield to Wheelock, communities across Vermont will use these grants to build affordable housing, clean-up contaminated sites for re-development, expand services to their residents, restore historic buildings, and make their communities more resilient”, said Governor Peter Shumlin.

by Mike Faher/The Commons The battle over long-term storage of Vermont Yankee’s spent nuclear fuel has spilled into criminal court. Clay Turnbull, a trustee and staffer of the Brattleboro-based New England Coalition, was cited March 3 by the Windham County Sheriff’s Department for unlawful trespass at the plant property in Vernon. Turnbull is scheduled to appear in Windham Superior Court Criminal Division next month to answer the allegation. But in an interview the day after the incident, the 53-year-old Townshend resident said he was taking photos for use in the spent fuel debate and did not know he was on Vermont Yankee property.

Vermont Business Magazine Mary Peterson, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Taxes, along with Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, St. Albans Mayor Liz Gamache, and other community leaders, today urged all eligible Vermont residents to use the IRS and Vermont Free File programs to save money and time during this tax season. According to the Department of Taxes, the majority of returns filed last year would have been eligible for Free File.  This year, Free File’s name-brand tax preparation software products can help more Vermonters prepare and securely file their tax return online at no cost. Mayors Lauzon and Gamache and Commissioner Peterson attended a briefing at the Vermont State House to explain how the program can ensure taxpayers receive the largest refund possible this tax season.

Vermont Business Magazine As spring approaches, maple producers throughout northern Vermont and New Hampshire are collecting sap and producing some of the world's finest maple syrup. During this exciting period, a national campaign focused on maple producers in Vermont and northern New Hampshire has been under way to raise awareness of maple as a health-conscious alternative to artificial sweeteners. Part of the campaign includes a free online recipe book of locally sourced maple-based recipes.

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Professor Taylor Ricketts has made Thomson Reuters’ prestigious list of the world’s most-cited scholars for the second consecutive year. In its annual list of Highly Cited Researchers, Thomson Reuters recognizes Ricketts among the world’s 130 most influential researchers for the category of Environment and Ecology. Thomson Reuters’ list recognizes more than 3,000 global researchers across 21 science and social science fields – from Agricultural Sciences to Space Science – representing institutions and agencies across North America and five other continents.

by Howard Shaffer, PE In a recent press release, Vermont Speaker of the House Shap Smith made statements about Vermont Yankee groundwater management. His claims merit an informed response. First: The plant is shut down and not circulating any steam, or the water to make it. Groundwater is leaking into the basement of the turbine building. Do any houses in Vermont also have leaky basements? In a nuclear power plant, any water is “guilty until proven innocent” so must be sampled.

Vermont Business Magazine Weitz & Luxenberg and Erin Brockovich broadened their investigation into regional water contamination today, announcing they will begin looking into the recent detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the local drinking water of Merrimack, NH. The announcement comes after the consumer advocate and law firm started similar investigations in New York and Vermont. In addition, Brockovich and Weitz & Luxenberg recently announced an investigation into suspected causes and consequences of PFOA water contamination affecting North Bennington and Petersburgh, NY.

Erin Brockovich. Courtesy photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz spoke today in front of the full Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on Vermont’s relationship with the federal EPA and its approach to the increased number of regulatory mandates implemented at the state level. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, called today’s hearing to examine “Cooperative Federalism: State Perspectives on EPA Regulatory Actions and the Role of States as Co-Regulators.” Secretary Markowitz spoke on behalf of Vermont’s work with the EPA on important environmental issues that cross state borders, such as air and water pollution, and the extent to which state government relies on the EPA to provide scientific and technical support for its environmental initiatives.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association David Snedeker, NVDA Executive Director in the following report updates economic development projects in the Northeast Kingdom, including at Q Burke, the airport and at AnC Bio in Newport. Along with construction and planning, workforce development will require a major effort.

Vermont Business Magazine Wednesday evening the Vermont State Colleges congratulated its first alumni Hall of Fame class and raised over $107,000 for student scholarships. The event drew over 300 to Montpelier’s Capital Plaza Hotel, where six people were inducted into the new Vermont State Colleges’ Hall of Fame.  Governor Jim Douglas emceed.  College presidents introduced their alumni awardees and Governor Shumlin gave the Award for Distinguished Service to Governor Phil Hoff. His daughter, Dagney Hoff, accepted the award and spoke on behalf of her father.

“The outpouring of support for the Vermont State Colleges and our students exceeded our expectations.  We are very grateful for the recognition of the critical role the VSC plays in the state’s economy and in opening doors of opportunity for Vermonters,” said VSC Chancellor Jeb Spaulding.

2016 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees are:

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the successful negotiation of the contract between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 300 and the City. The agreement between IBEW Local 300, the union that represents 79 staff members of the Burlington Electric Department (BED), and the City, was the first in many years to be reached without the need for arbitration or fact-finding.

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group today released its consolidated financial results for 2015, reporting records in life insurance sales, flow annuity sales, and insurance in force. Total revenues in 2015 were $1.8 billion while core earnings were $189.9 million. Core earnings decreased $3.9 million, or 2.0 percent, in 2015 from $193.8 million in 2014. This was primarily the result of implementing new mortality tables that impacted both the pension expense and reserves related to the Guaranteed Income Lifetime Rider (“GLIR”), which was offset by favorable actuarial assumption changes as compared to prior year and the results of continued growth. Net income decreased $35.0 million to $109.3 million in 2015 from $144.3 million in 2014. Included in net income are the market related impacts on the product related embedded derivatives of ($33.7) million and $12.3 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively. Revenues were up $60 million.