Current News

by Morgan True vtdigger.org A new report says growing income inequality will have a negative impact on the health of Vermont’s children.’ Childhood poverty in the state has increased 25 percent since 2007, according to an annual report compiled by Voices for Vermont’s Children.
‘Even in the healthiest state, we are not all equally healthy,’ the authors wrote.The report, ‘The State of Our Children: KIDS COUNT,’ was issued Friday and is part of a national initiative by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable organization ‘dedicated to helping build better futures for disadvantaged children in the United States.’
Childhood poverty has lasting impacts on physical and social-emotional health and can result in long-term health complications, including stunted growth, obesity and a host of developmental issues, according to the report.
Despite the sobering growth in childhood poverty, the report makes a number of positive findings too.

Robert De Cormier, who founded the VSO Chorus in 1993, is retiring after serving as its director for the past 20 years.

Mayor Miro Weinberger announced Monday the slate of Public Investment Action Plan (PIAP) projects for the Waterfront Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District that will strengthen existing waterfront resources, resolve the uncertainty surrounding the future of Moran, and increase public access and use of the waterfront.’
In an Open Letter to the People of Burlington, the mayor shared his selection of the following six PIAP projects in support of which the City plans to invest $9.6 million in TIF funds to leverage an additional $33 million of direct investmen.

An analysis released today by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) found that only 35.7 percent of adults ages 18 to 64 years old got the flu shot last season (the most recent period data with available data). By comparison, 56.6 percent of children (ages 6 months to 17 years old) and 66.2 percent of seniors (ages 65 and older) were vaccinated.’ The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all American 6 months and older get vaccinated each year.
According to the CDC, the flu season in’ the United States’ is beginning to "ramp" up and flu is nowwidespread in 35 states.’ Rates are particularly high in’ 13 Southern and Central/Western states(Alabama,’ Arkansas,’ Indiana,’ Kansas,’ Louisiana,’ Mississippi,’ Missouri,’ Nevada,’ New Mexico,’ North Carolina,’ Oklahoma,’ Texas’ and’ Utah).

Citizens Bank has announced the introduction of the Citizens Bank Education Refinance Loan, creating a new option for students looking to refinance their private student loan debt. Designed to help simplify private student loan payments, the loan enables borrowers to refinance or consolidate their private student loans at a competitive rate with flexible repayment terms.

Revision Military, a world leader in protective soldier solutions,’ wins a contract to supply the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) - Troop Support, ‘ with 90,000 Advanced Combat Helmets (ACH). One of only two qualified and approved suppliers for the current ACH, Revision expects this $21 million award to bring 43 jobs back to Newport, Vermont, where the helmets are manufactured.

Small Business Administration microloans funded throughout Vermont increased significantly in 2013 with 41 microloans worth more than $688,000. As a result, microloan recipients were able to create and retain more than 120 Vermont jobs.
The 2013 microloans exceeded both the volume and value from the previous two years combined. From Jan. 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2012 Vermont microloan intermediaries funded 30 microloans totaling $680,564.
‘Vermont’s SBA microlenders are helping the state’s underserved communities access loans at reasonable rates and terms,’ said Darcy Carter, SBA Vermont District Office Director.
Microloan intermediaries are nonprofit community-based organizations with experience in lending. They administer the SBA Microloan Program by providing direct loans up to $50,000 to small business owners who are often startups or early stage microenterprises.

Chris Graff has been elected chair of the Vermont Long Term Disaster Recovery Group, Inc, which administers the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund and coordinates long term disaster recovery in Vermont.
He succeeds David Coates, who was named to chair the panel by Governor Peter Shumlin immediately following Tropical Storm Irene.
At the time of Irene Vermont did not have a formal structure to provide direct relief to individuals. That led to the creation of the Vermont Long-Term Recovery Group and the incorporation of the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund.
Under Coates’ leadership the board hired staff, built a case management system to help disaster survivors rebuild their lives, and raised more than $7 million to provide disaster recovery assistance. The Vermont Disaster Relief Fund is designed to meet the unmet needs of disaster survivors ‘ after federal and state assistance, private insurance, aid from regional and local recovery groups and private foundations.

Historic meeting houses, churches and libraries are among a list of community buildings across 17 Vermont towns receiving preservation grants in 2014. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation recently awarded matching grants totaling $257,404 to help restore and maintain Vermont’s historic buildings.
‘Vermont’s architectural heritage is important not only to understanding our past, but to the current and future economic vitality of our state,’ said Noelle MacKay, Commissioner of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. ‘Protecting and maintaining these historic buildings ensures that we honor our past as we look to the future.’ The efforts of this year’s grant recipients to preserve important civic community buildings demonstrates their commitment to a vibrant Vermont economy.’

The Vermont Attorney General’s Office has settled a lawsuit alleging that VerMints, Inc, violated the law by labeling its flavored mints as ‘Vermont’ products when in fact they were made in Canada largely from out-of-state ingredients. The settlement requires VerMints and its President, Gary Rinkus of Braintree, Massachusetts, to donate $35,000 to the Vermont Foodbank, pay the State of Vermont $30,000, and add corrective labeling to its products for 18 months.
‘Use of the term ‘Vermont’ has great economic value,’ said Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell, ‘and many businesses go to the expense of sourcing their ingredients and processing within the state in order to market their products as Vermont products.’
‘We need to maintain a level playing field when it comes to claims of geographic origin, and to ensure that consumers who care about where their food comes from get accurate information in the marketplace,’ he added.

The Fletcher Allen Partners’ Board of Trustees has announced changes to the structure of the Board, most significantly, a reduction in the number of board members from 27 to 19 to improve operational effectiveness. Fifteen Board members have been elected from the Boards of the four affiliated hospitals. Upon expiration of their terms, replacements will be elected by the Partners Board and do not need to be trustees of any subsidiary board.
Two seats are for ex officio members -- the president and chief executive officer of Fletcher Allen Partners, and the dean of the University of Vermont College of Medicine. Two seats are vacant and reserved for possible future affiliations.

Montpelier Mayor John Hollar has announced he will seek a second term. Montpelier has a city manager and the position of mayor is to lead the city council. Hollar is also a partner with the law firm Downs Rachlin Martin. His statement announcing his re-election bid is below. He previously ran uncontested.
Announcement of Plan to Seek Re-election
Someone asked me recently if I appreciated being mayor of Montpelier because, he said, this is an extraordinary town. He wanted to make sure that I knew what a privilege it is to serve as mayor of this great community.