Current News
by tim
Today the City of Burlington kicks-off a week-long planning and design charrette focused on the future vitality of Burlington’s downtown and waterfront.
In the Fall 2010, the City of Burlington was awarded a Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop a land use and development master plan for the downtown and waterfront area. This project (a.k.a. ‘planBTV’) provides a unique opportunity to invest in Burlington's future, and advance the city’s place as one of America's most livable and sustainable communities. While many other planning efforts involving the downtown or waterfront have taken place over the years, none have been as comprehensive in scope and strategic in design. More information about this project can be found at: http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/PlanBTV/
by tim
The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for December 2011 was 5.1 percent, a decrease of two-tenths of a percent from the November rate. At 5.1 percent, Vermont’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is the lowest the statewide average has recorded since October 2008. The current comparable national rate is 8.5 percent which reflects a decrease of two-tenths of a percent from the previous month post revision.
Vermont Labor Force Statistics (Seasonally Adjusted)
Changes From
December
2011
November
2011
December
2010
November
2011
December
2010
Total Labor Force
362,100
363,200
361,200
-1,100
900
Employment
343,800
344,200
340,200
-400
3,600
Unemployment
by tim
The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has approved$13.4 million in financing to support economic development projects throughout Vermont.
‘VEDA is pleased to help stimulate economic activity and job creation in Vermont by approving financing for these business and farm projects,’ said Jo Bradley, VEDA’s Chief Executive Officer.
The projects approved for VEDA financing are:
by tim
KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) today announced fourth quarter net income from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders of $201 million, or $.21 per common share. Key's fourth quarter 2011 results compare to net income from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders of $292 million, or $.33 per common share, for the fourth quarter of 2010. The results for the fourth quarter of 2011 were negatively impacted by a $24 million charge resulting from VISA's late fourth quarter announcement of a planned litigation escrow deposit. In addition, Key recorded a $28 million gain on the sale of Tuition Management Systems during the fourth quarter of 2010. Fourth quarter 2011 net income attributable to Key common shareholders was $194 million compared to net income attributable to Key common shareholders of $279 million for the same quarter one year ago.
by tim
Vermont Law School has launched the Energy Security & Justice Project to expand global access to sustainable energy and craft national energy policies that adapt to climate change without worsening socioeconomic inequality.
The Project, which is overseen by Associate Professor Benjamin Sovacool, expands the international law and policy focus of VLS’s Institute for Energy and the Environment.
by tim
The Brattleboro Retreat is proud to announce the re-opening of its12-bed Children’s Inpatient Program following an extensive remodeling project that has resulted in a 21-century, state-of-the art environment of care for children ages 5 to 12 who are experiencing serious psychiatric challenges.
‘Our staff is very excited by the move into our newly renovated space,’ said Child Psychiatrist Paul Boutin, MD. ‘The design elements will allow us to provide care in an enormously child-friendly, calming and comfortable environment. We’ll also have new opportunities to incorporate sensory interventions into our treatment plans, and to better assure patient safety.’
New design elements include a centrally located nursing station, single bedrooms, an activities/play area, an alternative low stimulation area (ALSA) and a host of safety features ranging from slanted window sills to safety ceiling tiles.
by tim
At the 2012 DistribuTECH conference, IBM (NYSE:IBM) and the Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) today announced an agreement to build an intelligent fiber optic and Carrier Ethernet communications and control network across the State of Vermont. Spanning more than 1000 miles, this advanced fiber communications network will connect transmission substations to Vermont’s distribution utilities, delivering reliable electric service and the capabilities required for the state's future Smart Grid.
"As the transmission provider for the state of Vermont, VELCO is committed to improving power grid reliability and security," said Chris Dutton, President and CEO of VELCO. ‘Our collaboration with IBM to construct a network that both strengthens system reliability and enables Vermont utilities to execute our collaborative statewide Smart Grid initiative provides an innovative model for the rest of the country to build a 21st century Smart Grid."
by tim
BioTek Instruments, Inc., is proud to announce the opening of their newest subsidiary, BioTek France SAS as of 1 January 2012. The new office is located at 50, Avenue d'Alsace, Colmar, France.
Dirk Frese, European Managing Director and President of BioTek France, noted, "This office is a clear signal to our growing customer base, within France and throughout Europe, that BioTek is growing faster than the market. We are reinforcing our local presence by increasing our investment, when many other companies are driving cost saving strategies."
The BioTek France team includes:
Dr. Dirk Frese - President
Philippe Vivier - National Sales Manager
Damien Brechet - Sales Representative
Lionel Capelle - Sales Representative
by tim
In the month of December MyWebGrocer added six new members to their team, bringing the total of new employees hired in the fourth quarter of 2011 to 23. The new employees joined the departments of software engineering, advertising operations, retail operations, system analysts, search engine optimization and project coordination.
Ahmed Hamed
Ahmed Hamed joins MyWebGrocer as a software engineer. Hamed was born in Cairo, Egypt and has lived in the United States since 1997. He brings 15 years of software engineering and research experience to the position, and enjoys spending time with his four-year-old daughter, Laila.
John Cisar
John Cisar will act as a search content specialist for MyWebGrocer.Cisar was born in St. Albans, Vermont and obtained two degrees from Champlain College. Like a true Vermonter, his favorite winter activities include snowshoeing and winter photography.
Ripley Harrison
by tim
Shelburne Museum was recently awarded $25,000 from People’s United Bank for a new exhibit of Time Machines: Robots, Rockets and Steampunk. Time Machines: Robots, Rockets and Steampunk will be on exhibit between June 16 and October 28, 2012.
The exhibit will feature visions of the future that explore rapidly changing technology and technological dreams. From the Golden Age of science fiction to the space race to contemporary utopian views of technology, Time Machines will tell its story through art, textiles, decorative arts, toys, clothing, books, posters, and more.
by tim
Vermont Business Magazine The Faculty Practice Division of the University of Vermont Medical Group recently honored ten faculty members at The University of Vermont Medical Center and Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont who received awards for their exceptional teaching and research efforts.
by tim
byAnne Galloway vtdigger.orgLawmakers will be sequestered in committee for much of this week, listening to testimony, discussing policy questions and hammering out legislation.
The biggest bill to reach the floor of the House, probably on Tuesday or Wednesday, will bea ‘net metering’ proposalthat would raise the cap on how much residential solar power generators can feed back into the electrical grid. The legislation would also require power companies to offer a higher value credits for net metered power.
Redistricting and the Vermont State Hospital replacement plan will be on the front burner as lawmakers in House Government Operations and House Human Services, respectively, attempt to push bills out of committee this week.
Mental health