Current News

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org Barre is in makeover mode. Mayor Thom Lauzon, through dint of irrepressible boosterism and determination, has brought together public and private investors to develop abandoned lots and old buildings in the city. The investment has paid off. For the first time in decades, there is now only one empty storefront downtown — the old JJ Newberry’s five and dime. A half dozen new businesses have opened in Barre in the last year or so. The city also recently leveraged federal dollars to restore the downtown streetscape with new sidewalks, granite curbs and lighting.

Dan Normandeau, President of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC), has announced that the 60-year-old regional development corporation has launched its search for the next Executive Director. Pat Moulton, who most recently served in this position, has been named Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, the top economic development position in the state.

Normandeau said, “This is an exciting time for BDCC as we continue to grow and serve the economic development needs of the greater Brattleboro and Windham County region.” BDCC owns and operates 450,000 square feet of industrial and mixed-use space in three buildings which are home to over 150 businesses. The primary objective of the organization is to create and retain a flourishing business community that supports vibrant fiscal activity, and improves the quality of life of all its residents.

Vermont Business Magazine New unemployment claims in Vermont rose again. Claims have been going through a cycle of steady increases followed by a steep drop the last few months, climbing about 1,100 before settling back to under 600. However, they have been consistently below the numbers from 2013. For the week of May 17, 2014, there were 701 new, regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont. This is an increase of 165 from the previous week's total, and 148 fewer than they were a year ago.

Altogether 6,001 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 288 from a week ago and 750 fewer than a year ago. The Department also processed 30 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 1 fewer than the previous week.

Northern Stage has recently embarked on The Campaign for Northern Stage, a $9 million plan to build a new theater on the site of the former Miller Auto Garage on Gates Street in White River Junction, Vermont. Plans call for construction to begin in September 2014 and for the new theater to open in time for the company’s 19^th season in the fall of 2015. Janet Miller Haines, Chair of the Board of Directors, stated, “The company has long envisioned a new theater venue for our audiences and artists to convene. I could not be more excited about helping to make this dream come alive.”

This week the Vermont Downtown Development Board approved the South Burlington New Town Center (City Center TIF District) as a Neighborhood Development Area. This designation provides regulatory relief as an incentive to develop mixed- income and mixed-use projects in the City’s future downtown.

Neighborhood Development Areas are a community sustainability tool available to State designated centers targeted for growth. The most notable incentive is that eligible projects will no longer require Act 250 permits.

Sovernet Communications, Inc, a leading telecommunications provider, announced the launch of high capacity transport from Boston to Sovernet’s network in New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. The contiguous transport from the major regional interconnection Point of Presence (POP) located at One Summer Street in Boston will provide carriers with Ethernet long haul transport capability throughout Sovernet’s expansive 4500 fiber route mile, geographically diverse footprint.

Sovernet’s Boston fiber connection enables protected, high capacity, carrier transport to all other major POP’s, including 60 Hudson Street in New York City and 1 Sundial in Manchester NH. With its upstate New York subsidiary ION, the company now has entrance facilities into more than 50 central offices and POP’s across the network.

Vermont Business Magazine A protest at Vermont Gas Systems this morning resulted in one protester being led away in handcuffs. It also resulted in Vermont Gas accusing the Rising Tide Vermont protesters of "assault" on an employee during this morning's demonstration at the Vermont Gas headquarters in South Burlington.

Sara Mehalick is interviewed by a WPTZ Channel 5 reporter Tuesday morning as she is chained to the front door of Vermont Gas Systems in South Burlington. Photo by Katie Kittell, Vermont Business Magazine.

Standing on the front porch of the recently rehabilitated St. Albans House, Governor Peter Shumlin today signed into law three bills to address the critical issues of jobs and community revitalization, housing affordability, environmental protection and transportation investment.

“Together these bills, along with an additional $500,000 in tax credits, will ensure that more historic buildings like the St. Albans House are rehabilitated, that more businesses and jobs are located in our downtowns, and that new homes are built within walking distance to stores, restaurants, schools and public transit,” Shumlin told the group of business owners, homebuilders, and environmental groups attending the signing event.

“By directing more development to community centers, we also support our agricultural renaissance and assure our productive farms and forests remain a vital part of the Vermont landscape,” he added.

by Chris Graff This is not a column about Grace Potter. It easily could be. She is a star on the national stage who never loses sight of her Vermont roots and her Vermont neighbors. She is amazingly generous and has lent her voice and her star power to help Vermont and Vermont organizations.

by Laura Krantz vtdigger.org Many Vermont opiate addicts say their habit started with a legitimate prescription from a doctor. Others first bought pills stolen from someone else’s medicine cabinet. As Vermont combats opiate addiction, the state board that oversees doctors has issued a new policy on how to prescribe opioid painkillers, such as oxycodone.

The Vermont Board of Medical Practice in April adopted a new set of guidelines for physicians prescribing the highly addictive and easy-to-abuse drugs to people who suffer from long-term pain.

The Vermont Supreme Court has affirmed the Agency of Natural Resources’ issuance of an operational-phase stormwater permit for the wind development in Lowell. “The Court made clear that it will not second-guess the Agency’s expertise in highly technical areas like stormwater management,” said Attorney General William H. Sorrell. “The Court affirmed that the Agency may use its expertise to approve innovative approaches to manage stormwater that fully protect Vermont’s waters,” he added.

The Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees will have a new Chair for the first time in eight years. At its Thursday meeting held at Castleton State College, the VSC Board elected Martha O’Connor of Brattleboro to take the gavel from outgoing Chair Gary Moore of Bradford.

O’Connor is serving in her third six-year term on the VSC Board. She was first appointed by Governor Howard Dean in 1999 and subsequently reappointed by Governor Jim Douglas in 2005 and Governor Peter Shumlin in 2011. She has chaired the Board’s Finance and Facilities Committee since 2006. O’Connor has a rich record of public service in Vermont.