Current News

Vermont’s Congressional Delegation and Governor Peter Shumlin today announced a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) award of $2.4 million to the Community College of Vermont in Waterbury for job training. The funds are a part of a $2 billion DOL program investing in job training at community colleges around the country.

“These funds will be a big boost to the Community College of Vermont’s efforts to prepare Vermonters for tomorrow’s economy,” said Senator Leahy, Senator Sanders and Representative Welch in a joint statement. “In order for Vermont to stay competitive, our colleges must equip the workforce with skillsets that match the changing needs of local businesses. This award affirms the important work that CCV is doing training Vermont workers and it is an important investment in our economy’s future.”

Today, Vermont Realtors announced the results of an August 2014 telephone survey of Vermont registered voters which demonstrates significant dissatisfaction with current property tax rates and increasing support for candidates who are committed to working towards meaningful property tax reform. VR has shared the results of the survey directly with candidates for office in an effort to initiate a dialogue about the need for property tax reform, and the level of importance this issue has for voters this election season.

The survey reached 500 adults, age 18 or older that indicated they were registered to vote and who plan to vote in Vermont’s November. The survey was conducted August 20-24, 2014.

Fletcher Allen Health Care filed a Certificate of Need (CON) application today with the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) seeking the Board’s approval to build a 128-bed inpatient building to replace the most outdated inpatient facilities on the Medical Center Campus. The submission of this CON is part two of a three-part process, where part one was preliminary planning under the Conceptual CON issued August 2013 and part three will be the submission of final project costs in November 2014 after construction costs associated with the final design documents have been verified.

· Building would contain 128 single-bed inpatient rooms

· Estimated cost of $187.7M to be confirmed in November

· Occupancy anticipated in September 2018

by John Herrick vtdigger.org Spent radioactive fuel will be removed from the reactors at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant by 2020, the plant’s corporate owner told a citizen oversight panel Thursday. But Louisiana-based Entergy said it does not know when it will begin tearing down Vermont Yankee after it stops producing power in December. The plant has already begun to slow power production and plans to cut 40 percent of its workforce by January.

According to the Vermont State Police, at approximately 1315 hours on 09/27/14 Burlington Airport Tower notified the Vermont State Police, New Haven of a possible Aircraft crash at the Basin Harbor Airport, Ferribsurgh, VT. Upon arrival it was discovered that a 1958 Piper "Tri-Pacer" fixed wing prop-plane had made and emergency landing in a field near the Basin Harbor Airport. The Pilot, Roger Teese and his passenger were not injured as a result of the field landing.

IBM’s semiconductor manufacturing facility in Essex Junction, VT, has immediate openings for those interested in working in an advanced technology environment. Openings exist for candidates with a high school diploma (GED), 2 and 4 year college degrees, experienced and entry level.

When: Friday, October 3, 2014 from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m.

Where: Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center,

Williston Road, South Burlington, VT

Immediate Job Openings

IBM’s semiconductor manufacturing facility in Essex Junction, VT has immediate openings for those interested in working in an advanced technology environment. Openings exist for candidates with a high school diploma (GED), 2 and 4 year college degrees, experienced and entry level.

Immediate openings exist for the following positions:

Manufacturing Operators (Supplemental)

Champlain College will celebrate the grand opening of the College's MakerLab and expanded Emergent Media Center (EMC) on Friday, October 3 from 3:30-6:30 pm at Champlain's Miller Center at Lakeside Campus located at 175 Lakeside Ave.

BRP's Ski-Doo brand is partnering with Burton Snowboards, the world's leading snowboarding company based in Burlington, Vermont, with Ski-Doo becoming the official snowmobile for Burton Snowboards' team of pro riders. The two companies also agreed to co-develop products to suit the needs of snowboarders and snowmobilers and Ski-Doo becomes sponsor of the Burton Mountain Festival.

The emerging trend of riders using snowmobiles to access the backcountry is on the rise, as people find it a more economical way to enjoy their sport. Feedback from Burton and Ski-Doo pro riders will be used to develop products and activities that are exciting and relevant for snowboarders and snowmobilers.

A majority of home-based early educators have come together and asked the Vermont Labor Relations Board to begin the process certifying Vermont Early Educators United, AFT, as the organization that they have formed to negotiate as equals with the state.

"We have been organizing for this moment for five years," said Kay Curtis, a licensed home provider in Brattleboro, "once we prove our majority, providers will negotiate as equals with the state and advocate for what is best for Vermont's children."

Providers may now organize because of Act 187, signed into law by Governor Peter Shumlin in June. The new law allows home-based early educators in Vermont who provide child care services that are subsidized by the state to form a union and negotiate with the state over payment, professional development and other mutually agreed upon issues.

NPI (Network Performance Inc) a South Burlington Technology Management firm, has completed a survey gauging the use of technology at 178 Vermont based manufacturers. The results projected that the overall state of the Vermont manufacturing economy will be slightly above average in the coming year. However, the respondents indicated that their own businesses will perform well above average in the next 12 months due in part to the contribution of their technology investments. The survey indicated that technology will contribute significantly to their success; many anticipate significant capital investments in technology for the next 12 months. Most of the Vermont manufacturers also indicated their existing technology investments are not yet utilized to the full extent possible.

Site work has begun and construction officially gets under way Sept. 30 on National Life Group’s 500 kilowatt solar power project, which will help move Montpelier toward its “net zero” goal. Mehran Assadi, National Life Group president and CEO, and Gov. Peter Shumlin will formally launch the project September 30 at 10:30 am at the site at 157 Northfield Street. In case of rain, the event will be held at National Life Group’s headquarters building, 1 National Life Drive. Once the new solar arrays go on line by the end of the year, more than 15 percent of the electricity demands of the company’s 525,000 square feet of buildings will be provided by solar. The company’s first solar arrays were installed on the main building’s roof in 2008.

Local gear shop owners Marc Sherman and Mike Donohue are investing in the future of Outdoor Gear Exchange (OGE) by purchasing the building currently occupied by their store on the corner of Church and Cherry Streets in downtown Burlington. What’s different about this real estate transaction is they are rewarding customers for their help with the investment. OGE designed a tiered program (think Kickstarter) that allows customers to participate while being rewarded up to 130% with merchandise, discounts, quarterly certificates. “More or less participating customers will prepay for future OGE purchases and get a discount. For us and many of our customers it’s a win-win,” said store founder Marc Sherman. The program has several tiers of support that allow customers to participate at a level they can afford, ranging from $100 to $25,000, at which the reward includes a multi-day hike, bike, climb or paddle adventure with the OGE owners.