Current News

North Springfield, VT, February 5, 2008 - It took five tractor-trailers to deliver the parts. A crew of eight installers spent six weeks assembling the machinery. At Springfield Printing on Thursday, brothers Bruce and Mark Sanderson watched intently as the console on their new Mitsubishi Diamond 3000 LX printing press lit up and sheets of paper were passed through the unit for the first time.

For the Sandersons, whose family has been managing Springfield Printing since 1967, the installation of the Diamond 3000 LX reflects their ongoing commitment to providing state-of-the-art services to their customers. The new six-unit press was manufactured in Japan and replaces a press that was only 15 years old. The advanced technology of this new press will be a benefit to our customers and improve our business noted Bruce.

CVPS met all service quality standards for 2007

Dorset Inn, Vermont's oldest, sold
February 4, 2008

Fairpoint gets written approval to buy Verizon's Maine lines

Maine Public Utilities Commission on Friday, February 1, 2008, issued a written order approving FairPoints proposed acquisition of Verizons wireline business in Maine. The PUC had previously agreed to the deal and this latest move formalizes its ruling. It stated that it will reserve the right to re-visit its decision based on what the regulators in Vermont and New Hampshrie ultimately rule.

In a joint release at the end of January, FairPoint Communications, Inc and Verizon said they expected transer of ownership of Verizon Communications' 1.6 million landlines in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine for $2.7 billion to be done by February 29.

Governor Douglas
Awards $1.3 Million In Community Development Grants
Ten
Communities To Receive Funds For Housing, Economic Development Projects

MILTON, Vt. – Creating affordable housing, jobs, and
alternative energy sources in Vermont were on the agenda as Governor Jim
Douglas on Monday announced the award of $1.3 million in community development
grants to ten communities.

“These grants will rehabilitate affordable housing;
create new elderly housing units and adult day care; help plan for responsible
future housing projects and promote job creation in Vermont,” Governor
Douglas said.

The $1,345,498 in Vermont Community Development Program
grants will also leverage $10,152,714 in other private and public resources, he
said during a ceremony in Milton.

A $297,500 grant to Meadowlane Housing Associates and

FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Amanda
Ibey

223-0575 (office) or 802-505-0406 (cell)

[email protected]

Vermont Business
Leaders Deeply Concerned
Over Energy
Pricing, Reliability

New Survey Also
Shows Attention to Efficiency; Strong Support for Vermont Yankee, Wind, Biomass
and Other Energy Options

Montpelier, VT/February 4, 2008 – A new survey of 256 business leaders
throughout Vermont finds strong concerns about energy costs and reliability,
overwhelming support for developing renewable sources of electricity and
approving the license renewal of Vermont Yankee, and that a majority of
respondents currently maintain efficiency and conservation measures in their
business operations.

“Vermont

LYNDON CENTER, VT. Lyndon State College is pleased to announce a gift of $100,000 from a Normal School graduate who wishes to remain anonymous. This gift will be used to create a new scholarship fund, the Northeast Kingdom Education Endowment, and to encourage increased support of the LSC Annual Fund for Excellence.

Half of the gift, $50,000, will be used to create the Northeast Kingdom Education Endowment fund for NEK students studying to become teachers. This gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar from the Valade Family Trust Endowment Development Fund to give this endowment an opening value of $100,000. The first scholarships from this endowment will be awarded in fall 2009.

Jim Leddy Named AARP Vermont State President
MONTPELIER, VT, February 1, 2008 - Former State Senator Jim Leddy has been appointed State President of AARP - Vermont, a volunteer position working closely with both staff and volunteers throughout the state to help AARP achieve its mission in Vermont. His responsibilities include serving as primary volunteer spokesperson, chairing the executive council, building networks and community partnerships and recruiting volunteers. Leddy takes over the position held by Nancy C. Lang since 2002. Lang has accepted the position of Regional Volunteer Director with AARP working with state offices throughout the Northeast.

PSB approves small CVPS rate increase
The Vermont Public Service Board today approved a 2.3 percent increase in Central Vermont Public Service rates, to take effect with bills rendered Feb. 1.
CVPS had initially filed for a 4.46 percent increase last May, but reached agreement with the Department of Public Service on a 2.3 percent increase in November. The PSB approved that increase in a decision today.
"No one likes to increase rates, particularly with the economic pressures Vermonters are facing, but the small rate increase is needed for reliable customer service," CVPS President Bob Young said. "For example, more than a third of the new revenues will pay for expanded tree-trimming and removal programs along power lines to reduce the risk of outages."

SymQuest Acquires Business Operations of UBIQ Imaging Solutions
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT Larry Sudbay, President and Chief Executive Officer of SymQuest Group, Inc. has announced that the company has recently acquired the business operations of UBIQ Imaging Solutions, with offices in Portland and Bangor, Maine. In addition to serving its clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and New York, the acquisition of UBIQ Imaging Solution's business operations will allow SymQuest to also service clients in the Seacoast region, as well as the immediate inland areas of both New Hampshire and Maine.

Randolph Center, VT - The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) has announced the election of manufacturing executive David Blittersdorf, Founder of NRG Systems in Hinesburg, Vermont, to its Advisory Board. VMEC also announced the hiring of Anne Wood as Office Manager and Erin Quatrini as Marketing & Training Manager. In addition, Board Member and manufacturer Mike Rainville, Owner and President of Maple Landmark, Inc. in Middlebury, VT, has been re-elected 2008 Chairperson of the 12-member VMEC Board. Existing Board member Ed Townley, Senior Vice President and Controller of Cabot Creamery, Inc., was re-elected for another 2-year term on the Board.

Montpelier, VT Vermont business development projects totaling $21 million will receive $5.2 million in financing assistance from the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). Principals of two of the manufacturing projects approved for VEDA financing estimate 100 new jobs will be created within three years of the investments.

VEDA is especially excited and pleased to offer financing assistance that helps stimulate jobs creation in the manufacturing sector of Vermonts economy, said Jo Bradley, the Authoritys Chief Executive Officer.

Among the projects approved by VEDA are: