Current News

After more than 20 years as a public nonprofit, the Vermont Center for Geographic Information (VCGI) will become a division of state government once again. Specifically, it will become a division of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) on March 30, 2015. Originally created as the Office of GIS (geographic information system) in the late 80’s, and then re-formulated as a nonprofit in the early 90’s, VCGI’s mission has never changed and it will continue to provide a one-stop free-data experience for those seeking digital map layers for Vermont.

Patricia Moulton, secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), and Susan L Donegan, commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), announced today that DFR has agreed to assist ACCD in providing oversight of EB-5 projects. EB-5 is federal program that ACCD has been approved to administer in Vermont. The EB-5 program was designed to grant permanent residence visas to foreign investors and their immediate family members in exchange for the new economic development and job creation.

Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that Commissioner of Economic Development Lisa Gosselin will be leaving her post in April to take a job outside of state government. She will be replaced by Joan Goldstein who currently serves as Executive Director of the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation.

Gosselin is leaving state government to become the vice-president of Addison Press Inc, the Middlebury-based publisher of regional newspapers (including the Addison Independent), magazines, web sites and digital apps.

“It’s been a tremendous honor to serve the state under Governor Shumlin,” Gosselin said, “and to work with so many of the state’s growing businesses. However there is an opportunity now to focus on our own family business’s growth.”

Vermont Business Magazine In a joint announcement dated today, FairPoint Communications, Inc (Nasdaq: FRP); System Council T-9 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (AFL-CIO) Locals 2320, 2326, and 2327; and the Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO) Local 1400 have reached tentative agreements on the terms for new collective bargaining agreements. The strike affected approximately 1,700 workers in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

The village of Jeffersonville has found a major break in its main water line. There is a concern that water from the break may have damaged a section of Pleasant Valley Road near Jeff Heights. Crews are working on the leak and on Pleasant Valley road itself, so motorists are asked to avoid unnecessary travel in the area until the problem is resolved.

That break is interrupting the flow of water to the Jeffersonville reservoir - causing it to drop to critically low levels. Users of Jeffersonville water are still asked to conserve until further notice.

The deep frost is causing many lines to break. Even small leaks can become a serious problem. If you see water leaking or pooling in an unusual area, please notify the Jeffersonville village office during normal business hours. All other times contact Cambridge Emergency Management (802-644-6601).

Source: Vermont State Police 2.19.2015

Today Keurig Green Mountain, Inc (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee, coffee makers, teas, and other beverages, launched its tenth annual Sustainability Report. The report focuses on Keurig's efforts to strengthen its global corporate citizenship and sustainability leadership, highlighting recent sustainability initiatives, progress against the Company's 2020 sustainability targets, and a new water stewardship target. The report underscores accomplishments and opportunities within Keurig's sustainability practice areas, with a particular focus on water stewardship, supply chain resiliency, and sustainable products - especially K-Cup recyclability.

After closing its car parts plant in Bennington almost a year ago, Plasan North America has announced that it is closing its military equipment plant on Bowan Road in Bennington. According to Vermont Business Magazine, Plasan employs 120 and manufactures plating for armored vehicles. Plasan Carbon Composites had employed 143 when it announced last February that it would close, which it did last spring. The Bennington Banner reports today that it will move operations to Walker, MI, by July. In the Banner story, Keith Rayborn, president of Plasan North America, cited declining military budgets in driving this decision. Plasan also consolidated the car parts operation in Michigan.

See Bennignton Banner story

Vermont Health Connect announced today that some Vermonters who missed this year’s Open Enrollment still have an opportunity to apply for 2015 health coverage. Specifically, Vermonters who don’t have health insurance and learn about the new Shared Responsibility Payment when they file their 2014 taxes now have a chance to avoid paying the full federal fee next year.

“Our goal is to help as many Vermonters find quality health coverage as possible,” said Lawrence Miller, Chief of Health Care Reform. “When our federal partners expressed an openness to providing this enrollment flexibility, we jumped at the opportunity. Our insurance issuers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP Health Care, were also supportive – and we thank them for that.”

It’s been a full year since Jimmy Fallon ascended the throne to take over the NBC powerhouse and longest running talk show in television history. What more inspiration was needed to celebrate? To recognize the accomplishment, ice cream co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield served up the aptly named “The Tonight DOUGH” to the Fallon faithful who were in the audience to witness the very first episode of season two. The concoction is caramel and chocolate ice creams with chocolate cookie swirls & gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough & peanut butter cookie dough. If the flavor becomes half as popular as the unflappable Fallon, who was recently dubbed “entertainer of the year,” it may give Ben & Jerry’s other classic combinations a run for their money.

Though the local food movement has become bigger than ever in restaurants, Vermont establishments often have a hard time sourcing local food in the winter, especially vegetables. This past fall, Sugarbush Resort’s Timbers Restaurant in Warren looked to solve that by purchasing 1800 pounds of produce from Gaylord Farm, located down the road in Waitsfield, Vermont.

“What’s great about working for a resort is that we have the resources and the storage area to make a purchase of this size,” said Timbers General Manager Bruce Hyde. “Vermont winters don’t usually allow for much local produce, but this way we can continue to provide it year-round.”

by John Herrick vtdigger.org Cheat sheets, glossaries and power supply pie charts cover the table in the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee as first-year committee members decipher H.40, a bill requiring electric utilities to cut carbon emissions in Vermont. “If you have your glossary, bring it out,” chairman of the committee Representative Tony Klein, D-East Montpelier, told his fellow legislators as they dove into the complicated renewable energy bill three weeks ago.

On Wednesday February 4th, National Bank of Middlebury, together with customers and community members, celebrated Caroline R. Carpenter the 11th president. She is the first female president of the bank since incorporation in 1831.