Current News

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

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

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.

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)

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

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.

Vermont Quadricentennial Commission Endorses Events for 2009
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Commission Events Committee has given the green light to more than 40 event proposals for the 2009 celebration that will honor the anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's arrival to the lake in 1609. Application review and approval is ongoing with even more events anticipated to be added over the next several weeks and months.
While the year-long celebration will feature several unique, special events in and around the Champlain Valley, the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial will also feature existing events that explore Quadricentennial themes. Events recently approved for the Quadricentennial celebration include the Regatta for Lake Champlain, the Winooski River Sojourn, Teddy Roosevelt Day in Isle La Motte and the D'Olobaratz Voyage, which is a weekend race between re-created French and British longboats on Lake Champlain.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: David Mace (802) 828-5229

March 4, 2008
State Launches New Economic
Development Web Site

Revamped Site Will
Make It Easier To Use For Businesses, Entrepreneurs

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The state has launched a newly
overhauled website for economic development that officials say will make it
easier for people who want to do business in Vermont.

The Department of Economic Development’s new Thinkvermont.com
site has an updated look and improved navigation that makes it more user-friendly
and consistent with state government’s main site, Economic Development
Commissioner Mike Quinn said.

“The goal of this new website is to
provide businesses with easier access to the information, resources, and
tools that the Department of Economic Development offers,” Quinn said.

General Dynamics Armament invests in Maine production site
Arlington, VA based General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is investing over $50,000 in production equipment and hiring 60 to 90 new employees to accelerate its enterprise-wide focus on Lean/Six Sigma-based process improvements at its Saco, ME, gun manufacturing facility. The site serves as General Dynamics' core production site for single- and multi-barrel aircraft and crew-served weapon systems.
Products manufactured in Saco include the MK19 and MK47 40 mm grenade weapon systems, high-speed multi-barrel Gatling guns and M2 50-cal. machine guns.

The company employs approximately 83,500 people worldwide and reported 2007 revenues of $27.2 billion. General Dynamics' Gatling gun systems are onboard every U.S. fighter aircraft, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and the company has manufactured more than 30,000 MK19 gun systems.

Breaking News

Dave Provost to Become New Deputy Commissioner

Dear Friends,

Dave Provost, CFE has been named the successor to Len Crouse as Deputy Commissioner of Captive Insurance. Dave is an Assistant Chief Examiner within
the department and is a veteran of the captive industry having spent 18 years in both the private and regulatory sector.

"His strengths should help Vermont build on its long established pre-eminence in the field of captive insurance regulation. He can offer us both continuity and perspective for maintaining responsive regulatory paths, and bring vision for
shaping our future." said Commissioner Paulette Thabault.

Provost will take over as deputy when Crouse steps down on June 1st.

Click here to read the complete release from the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration.

Upcoming Events:

March 5
Scottsdale, AZ

EXHIBITION SPACE STILL AVAILABLE AT BARRE GARDEN SHOW
Barre, Vt. (March 3, 2008) Organizers of the first-ever Central Vermont Garden Show are looking for more vendors and exhibitors.
The event, slated for March 14-16 at the Barre Civic Center, includes landscape exhibits, a garden railroad, floral competitions, a silent auction and educational workshops. Well-known author and herbalist Rosemary Gladstar -- founder of the Sage Mountain Retreat and United Plant Savers International, respectively -- will deliver the keynote address. In addition, industry experts will present on several topics, such as rain gardens, landscaping and bonsai.

For more information contact: Melissa Hersh, (802) 865-5402
BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Champlain College's Workforce Development Center has formed an alliance with HRSentry, an online human resources management and compliance service, to deliver online workshops in human resource management, using HRSentry's 6,000 plus resources as the virtual textbook for each workshop.
The workshops feature facilitated online readings and discussions led by noted human resource professionals. Real work scenarios are integrated into each class. The opportunity to share resources and problem-solve with colleagues across the state and country will be invaluable to those who are responsible for HR functions. The workshops are specifically designed to meet the needs of managers who work in small and medium-sized organizations and businesses.