Current News

Governor Peter Shumlin has announced that Sue Minter, Deputy Secretary of the Agency of Transportation, will replace Neale Lunderville as Irene Recovery Officer. Minter will step into the new post on January 6, as Lunderville returns to his job at Green Mountain Power.

‘Neale has been critical in bringing Vermont through the immediate aftermath of the worst storm to hit this state in nearly a century, and to help shape the recovery plan as we move into 2012,’ Shumlin said. ‘I appreciate his willingness to help his state in a crisis.’

Minter, the Governor noted, has also been a pivotal player in the Irene recovery effort, working with AOT Secretary Brian Searles and the transportation crews to get 500 miles of damaged roads and 34 closed bridges re-opened before the brunt of the winter season hit Vermont. The last road ‘ Route 107 ‘ re-opened today.

The State of Vermont has awarded $409,532 in Municipal Planning Grants to 42 communities across the state to help them plan for a variety of forward thinking objectives including economic development, village revitalization and future housing needs. These grants of up to $15,000 cover a variety of planning initiatives and projects.
Funded projects include village planning in Peru, Hinesburg and Fairfax, innovative form-based plans and bylaws in St. Albans, Burlington and Newport, a housing assessment in Rutland, public works and capital planning in Cavendish, standards for highway commercial development in Waltham and New Haven, and an economic development plan in Bennington that will involve all the key businesses and organizations. Municipalities have 18 months to complete their planning projects.

Governor Peter Shumlin and legislative leaders have announced that the state would add $6.1 million to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, to help ensure Vermonters can afford to heat their homes and stay warm this winter.
Despite the heavy lifting of Vermont’s Congressional delegation, the federal contribution to LIHEAP will be about $8 million less than last year. Vermont received $27.6 million in fuel assistance from the federal government for heating assistance last year, providing an average benefit of $866. This year Vermont expects to receive $19.5 million, providing an average benefit amount of $750, the Governor said.
‘We should not let vulnerable Vermonters freeze in their homes this winter season,’ Gov. Shumlin said. ‘The state will provide the additional funding to help ensure every Vermonter stays warm. In addition, we will review the program to find ways of ensuring that heating assistance is sustainable in future years.’

Central Vermont Public Service today announced a $10,000 company donation and $100,000 in matching funds for CVPS Shareheat, a last-resort program that provides emergency fuel assistance to hundreds of Vermont families each year.
‘With federal cutbacks in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Shareheat will be more important than ever this winter,’ CVPS spokesman Steve Costello said. ‘As a result, CVPS is making a special $10,000 donation to Shareheat, in addition to a pledge of $100,000 in funds to match customer contributions dollar for dollar.’

Last Mile Celebration ‘ The planned reopening of Vermont Route 107 between Bethel and Stockbridge ‘ the final segment of state highway closed due to Tropical Storm Irene.
WHO: VTrans, State and Local Officials, Contractors, Local Partners, Community Members
WHEN: Thursday, December 29, 1:00 pm
WHERE: Stockbridge Central School
2933 VT Route 107
Stockbridge, VT
SUMMARY: To coincide with the planned reopening of Vermont Route 107 this week, state and local officials will join with project partners and community groups to celebrate this important step in Vermont’s recovery. This event is open to the public.

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s EB-5 Regional Center has again received the EB-5 Regional Center of the Year Award for the second year in row by the Artisan Business Group.
The Artisan Business group is one of the largest EB-5 brokers in the world, dealing primarily with the Chinese investor marketplace. In giving the award, the Artisan group noted that as the only government-run regional center in the country, Vermont stands out with its strong governmental support, including direct involvement in the program from Gov. Peter Shumlin and Sen. Patrick Leahy. Artisan further states that Vermont’s intensive application process and oversight has led to stronger than average projects, creating a strong market brand for Vermont.

New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) has donated $5,000 to the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation. Created in 2005, the Foundation serves to meet the emergency financial needs of the men and women of the Vermont National Guard and their families.
Bill Smith, NEFCU Senior Retail Delivery Executive, presented a check to Brigadier General Steven Cray on Wednesday, Dec. 7. According to Smith, ‘NEFCU is proud to recognize the men and women of the Vermont Guard in their significant service to our country and state, especially their contribution during Tropical Storm Irene and in Iraq and Afghanistan. We will not forget their service and loss.’
General Cray stated that ‘The Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation is grateful for the donation and partnership with NEFCU. Donations like this will be used to improve the lives of the National Guard members and their families that are proud to serve the citizens of Vermont.

The City of Burlington responded yesterday to a lawsuit filed by Citibank over Burlington Telecom, calling the financier "disingenuous" and even going so far as to blame it for some of Burlington Telecom's troubles. Citibank filed the action in Federal District Court Monday saying the situation was "irreparable."
Burlington's response was swift and sharp. The city stated that Citibank knows very well, through agreements it signed, that it cannot simply repossess the BT equipment. The city also charges that Citibank had agreed to continue financial assistance through the process of BT's buildout. Citibank never came through with that support and the city maintains that without it BT's buildout was stunted and its business model suffered.

Lead developer Adam Winstanley of Winstanley Enterprises announced today that the company has entered into a joint venture agreement with Weston Solutions, Inc of Concord, NH, and West Chester, PA, for the development of a 25-35 megawatt woodchip-burning electric generating plant in the North Springfield Industrial Park. The companies filed a petition earlier today for a Certificate of Public Good from the Vermont Public Service Board for the project, which is known as the North Springfield Sustainable Energy Project (NSSEP). The project has been in the planning stages for several years.

At a meeting on December 6, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board presented funding awards to the Addison County Community Trust and the Central Vermont Community Land Trust to create affordable rental housing in the towns of Hancock and Barre. The Windham and Windsor Housing Trust will rehabilitate two properties with 12 apartments in Chester and Gageville. Grants to the network of HomeOwnership Centers and non-profit housing organizations will provide financial counseling and homebuyer education to households who lost their homes in Hurricane Irene and assist communities in rebuilding after Irene. The Upper Valley Land Trust, the Nature Conservancy, the Stowe Land Trust, and the Vermont River Conservancy will use VHCB funding to conserve 413 acres of agricultural land, recreational land and wildlife habitat.

January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and there is no better place to experience the thrill of learning to ski or ride than in its original state. Here in Vermont, we have the best, and most experienced instructors in the world, and plenty of terrain specifically for those starting out. Best of all, first-timers can learn for as little as $29. This unprecedented offer is only in January; only in Vermont.
‘In a state that welcomes seven times its population in skier visits annually, we’ve truly earned our reputation as being the premiere learn to ski and ride destination,’ Ski Vermont President Parker Riehle said. ‘Newcomers to these sports can appreciate Vermont’s iconic landscape, its esteemed ski heritage and highly certified professional instructors.’

The Vermont Community Foundation and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture announced that the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund has awarded $897,300 to 126 farmers affected by Tropical Storm Irene in the fund’s fourth round. To date, the grant committee has received applications from 210 farmers and has awarded grants to 171 farmers totaling in excess of $1.5 million. As of December 22, total contributions received or pledged to the fund exceeded $2.25 million.