Current News

Business loans and bond financings in excess of $10.4 million have been approved by the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). It is estimated that the VEDA financing will help stimulate $15.5 million in economic development activity throughout the state.
‘VEDA is very pleased to offer financing support to a number of small business projects around Vermont,’ said Jo Bradley, VEDA Chief Executive Officer. ‘In addition, bond financing has been approved for several large facility expansion projects.’
Among the projects approved by the Authority for financing assistance:

The US Small Business Administration is inviting states and US territories to apply for $30 million in grants that can be used in a variety of ways to help increase exporting by small businesses. SBA began accepting applications on March 27.
‘Federal investment in small business exporting is already beginning to pay dividends in foreign sales and economic development, which translates into a stronger economy and job creation,’ said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. ‘Through the STEP program, new-to-export and new-to-market firms are selling American products and services in markets all over the world. The future looks even more exciting - with key marketing initiatives ranging from South Korea, to India and the European Union. This year’s grants will further help states assist small businesses enter and succeed in the global market.’

Vermont’s congressional delegation ‘ Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Peter Welch ‘ today announced $153,000 in federal funds to provide permanent housing and support services to 25 homeless Vermont veterans.
The funds will bring 25 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers to Vermont to cover the cost of qualifying rental apartments for homeless veterans. The vouchers will allow veterans to move from homelessness or temporary shelter into more permanent housing. Today’s announcement brings the total number of VASH vouchers in Vermont to 120.
Leahy said, ‘We train our men and women for service and supply them during conflict, and we owe them our continuing support when they return home.’

by Alan Panebaker vtdigger.orgThe state of Vermont and its two largest utilities are one step closer to an agreement that could seal the deal for an historic merger.

Mr Jefferson’s Economics’ is the topic of the next progam in the Sheraton Economic Series, Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at the University Amphitheature,Sheraton Burlington Conference Center, 7:30 pm.
Former Ethan Allen Institute President John McClaughry, a lifelong student of Jefferson’s thought, will examine Jefferson’s economic thinking and how his principles might relate to today’s far different global economy. John will be introduced by former Gov. Jim Douglas.
The program is open to the public and reservations are not necessary.
The program is hosted by the Sheraton Burlington and cosponsored by the Ethan Allen Institute, Vermont Economy Newsletter, Vermont Business Magazaine, True North Reports, Vermont Tiger, the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Jefferson Legacy Foundation.

The LCBP is pleased to announce the 2012 Local Implementation Grant programs. The LCBP anticipates awarding more than 40 grants, designed to help implement Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin. Project categories include pollution prevention, aquatic invasive species spread prevention, shoreline restoration and habitat improvement, and education and outreach initiatives. Funds have been made available to the LCBP through the efforts of Senator Patrick Leahy and other members of the Vermont and New York Congressional Delegation, from the International Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Maximum grant awards, depending on the category, will range from $7,500 to $15,000.

Laureate Learning Systems, Inc., a leading developer of special education software, recently received a $1.6 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) to develop research-based vocabulary intervention software for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other communication disorders.

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org March 26, 2012 This year, the revenue minus spending equation has been a little more complicated to perform, thanks to Tropical Storm Irene, which added a great deal of expense and difficult decision-making to the usual formula.
But as of this week, the House will finish putting the money bill puzzle pieces together, and once that is finished, lawmakers will see a clear path to adjournment one month hence.
Last week, the House passed the $1.3 billion Big Bill, and the largest transportation budget in the state’s history ‘ $639 million.
This week lawmakers finish up on two other key pieces of financial legislation ‘ the miscellaneous tax and the capital budget bills.

Under a letter of intent signed today, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center (CVPH) in Plattsburgh, NY, and Elizabethtown Community Hospital (ECH) have agreed in principle to become part of a four-hospital, cross-lake affiliation under Fletcher Allen Partners, the parent organization of Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vermont, and Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) in Berlin, Vermont. The purpose of the proposed affiliation is to establish a coordinated, highly integrated health care system that will improve quality, increase access, and lower costs of health care in the communities served by the four hospitals in Vermont and upstate New York.

Kilawatt Technologies has great pleasure to announce the start of an Energy and Environmental Management project with Vermont Electric Coop.
This project will include the collection of total energy consumption data across the entire building on a one to three minute interval. A statistically based model will be developed to understand the energy momentum of the building. From this we will develop building specific control algorithms so only the energy needed to provide a comfortable environment is delivered to the building, where it is needed, at the lowest possible cost.
A few advantages of Kilawatt’s program that will be realized by Vermont Electric Coop include:
1) elimination of occupant comfort issues within the building,
2) reduction of total energy consumption which is projected to be 15% or greater, and
3) avoidance of non-scheduled HVAC and mechanical equipment expenses.

The nation's urban population increased by 12.1 percent from 2000 to 2010, outpacing the nation's overall growth rate of 9.7 percent for the same period, according to the US Census Bureau. The Census Bureau released the newlist of urban areastoday based on 2010 Census results.

Operating in its third century, the Woodstock Aqueduct Company has a long history of providing reliable water service to its village and local customers. Now, the private regulated utility founded in 1886 has chosen innovative solar technology to keep competitive and improve its sustainability.
Woodstock Aqueduct Company, located in Woodstock, Vermont, has installed a 14 solar tracker, 60KW orchard near its main pump house.
The Aqueduct Company’s largest utility expense is pumping water and it regularly amassed utility bills that are close to $2,000 per month.