Current News
by tim
Rep Peter Welch (D-Vermont) is leading a bipartisan effort in the House to reauthorize Brand USA, a voluntary public-private partnership that promotes global tourism to the United States. Today, Rep. Welch and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 201 (H.R.4450), which extends the Brand USA program for five years. According to the Vermont Department of Tourism, tourism contributed $1.7 billion of economic activity in Vermont in 2013, with almost 14 million visitors.
“Brand USA is making a tremendous contribution to US tourism,” said Welch. “This program works with the private sector to attract visitors to Vermont and attractions across the country. It’s a no-brainer to continue this partnership that is clearly having a positive economic impact.”
by tim
Related Company: Lake Sunapee BankNew Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc (NASDAQ: NHTB) has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 13 cents ($0.13) per share payable April 30, 2014, to stockholders of record as of April 23, 2014.
New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc is the savings and loan holding company of Lake Sunapee Bank, fsb, a federally chartered savings bank that provides a wide range of banking and financial services. Lake Sunapee Bank has four wholly owned subsidiaries: Lake Sunapee Financial Services Corp., Lake Sunapee Group, Inc, which owns and maintains all buildings and investment properties, McCrillis & Eldredge Insurance, Inc, a full-line independent insurance agency, and Charter Holding Corp, which wholly owns Charter Trust Company, a trust services and wealth management company.
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Vermont Law School, ranked Number 1 in the nation for environmental law and in the Top 20 for clinical training, has received a gift of $500,000 from an anonymous donor. Given by a trustee who wishes to remain anonymous, the unrestricted gift may be used to support any number of programs and initiatives at the school, from leadership and faculty development to scholarships.
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by John Herrick vtdigger.org Big box stores, parking lots and scattered rural development could become the target of the state’s land use and development law, under a proposal wending its way through the Legislature.
The Shumlin administration is backing a proposal that would amend the state’s Act 250 land use law to limit strip development as part of a plan to revitalize the state’s downtowns.
Noelle Mackay, commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, testified before a panel of lawmakers Wednesday on a proposal to make changes in the state’s land use and development permit process. Photo by John Herrick/VTDigger
Developers, meanwhile, are putting pressure on lawmakers to eliminate the new provisions.
by tim
Vermont Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding, on behalf of Governor Shumlin, today announced two key staff appointments integral to the governor's efforts to strengthen Vermont’s economy by growing jobs, helping to contain rising health care costs and reform health care delivery, and ushering in a universal, publicly financed health care system in Vermont. Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) Secretary Lawrence Miller will become Senior Advisor to the Governor and Chief of Health Care Reform. In this capacity, Miller will be tasked with overseeing the state’s health care reform efforts and transition to Green Mountain Care. He will report directly to the governor. To replace Miller as Commerce Secretary, the governor is appointing Patricia Moulton who served as Deputy Secretary at ACCD until February 2013.
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by Morgan True vtdigger.org The House Health Care Committee is working this week on revisions to a Senate-passed health care reform bill, S.252, which is likely to see significant changes before it hits the House floor.
Much of the bill focuses on requirements that the Shumlin administration furnish legislators with information they need to craft laws defining the contours of Green Mountain Care, Vermont’s planned universal health care program.
by tim
by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org Vermont’s union roots are shallow at best when it comes to construction and building trades. It’s estimated that less than 10 percent of the state’s construction workers belong to a union.
Legislation up for a final vote in the House on Thursday wouldn’t change that, but it would push companies toward a union business model when it comes to paying for labor on state-funded construction projects.
H.878 would require companies to offer certain benefits if they want to bid on state jobs. Alternatively, companies that don’t offer benefits could boost employee wages for an amount equal to the value of what their benefits otherwise would be. The bill would accomplish all this by shifting Vermont’s prevailing wage laws from a unique state model to a federal standard. “Prevailing wage” refers to standards for how much construction workers should be paid on publicly funded projects.
by tim
The results of the annual U-Haul National Migration Trend Report are in, reflecting the nation's top growth states for families that moved during 2013. The report, titled "U-Haul 2013 Top 10 US Growth States," indicates that for states with more than 20,000 families moving, Florida had the highest percentage of growth, with 4.85 percent more families moving into the state than out. In addition to Florida'sgrowth exploding in 2013, Texas and Washington also showed substantial growth increases.
For states with 5,000 - 20,000 families moving, Vermont had the highest percentage for the second year in a row, with an astounding growth rate of 8.12 percent in 2013. Maine and Delaware took second and third place respectively.
U-Haul Top 10 U.S. Growth States
January - December 2013
With More Than 20,000 Families Moving
RANK
STATE
%GROWTH
1.
FLORIDA
4.85%
2.
TEXAS
4.40%
3.
WASHINGTON
by tim
The first annual Made in Vermont Marketplace will take place this weekend, April 12th & 13th, at the Blue Pavilion Building at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. This the only trade show in Vermont that showcases the wide variety of quality products made right here in the Green Mountains. The show will feature wood producers, specialty food products, Vermont’s finest spirits and so much more.
This is your opportunity to come and enjoy browsing, tasting and purchasing products all under one roof. You will be able to meet and talk with each artisan, maker and manufacturer of these fine goods. With over 75 exhibits, you will discover products you did not know existed in Vermont. SEE LIST OF EXHIBITORS BELOW.
by tim
by John Herrick vtdigger.org An environmental consultant previously hired by the state has suggested placing a “broad-based fee” on plastic packaging materials sold in Vermont to support the state’s transition to new recycling program.
DSM Environmental Services, an environmental consulting group that wrote two reports guiding policy aimed at preparing for a transition to a new recycling system, told lawmakers they could raise millions by requiring manufacturers to pay a fee on plastic packaging materials.
“Without some type of a broad based fee on packaging in general we are missing a real opportunity,” Ted Siegler, the principal for the consulting group, told lawmakers on Friday. “And I think that’s an area where Vermont really could take the next step. Which is to say relatively small fees, I’m talking less than a penny per package.”
by tim
SCORE, mentors to America’s small businesses, is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Since 1964, SCORE volunteer mentors have assisted more than 10 million entrepreneurs in starting or growing their enterprises and are dedicated to serving another 1 million by 2017. 2014 marks the kickoff of a year-long celebration of the milestone that will showcase the great work SCORE mentors and clients have achieved in the small business world.
SCORE CEO Kenneth Yancey says, “We are so excited to be celebrating this monumental milestone in our organization’s history. In 50 years, our volunteers have made a real impact on the success of entrepreneurs across the country. We’re ready to kick off 50 more.”
Throughout the year, the Vermont SCORE District will be hosting:
- Local entrepreneur events
- Educational workshops
- FREE, confidential, one-on-one business mentoring
by tim
by Morgan True vtdigger.org At the suggestion of the Attorney General’s Office, Senate lawmakers will introduce false claims legislation this week targeted at preventing fraud in the state’s health care system.
“As we’re moving to a world where the state’s role in health care is greatly expanded, ensuring that Vermont has the tools to protect its money from waste fraud and abuse is critically important,” said John Treadwell, chief of the criminal division in the Attorney General’s Office.
Vermont’s planned universal health care program would make state government the primary payer of nearly all medical claims, hence the aphorism single-payer.