Current News

Proposed rules published today for comment in The Federal Register by the US Small Business Administration would adjust the size definition of small businesses in 29 industries in one sub-industry in two broad categories of businesses, ranging from real estate and property management to colleges, junior colleges and universities.
The proposed adjustments to size standards in 20 industries and one sub-industry in Sector 53 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), ‘Real Estate and Rental and Leasing,’ and in nine industries in Sector 61, ‘Educational Services,’ reflect changes in marketplace conditions in those sectors.
In both sectors, the proposed changes are based on annual gross revenues. The standards delineate how large a business can be and still qualify as small for federal government programs. The dollar limits refer to annual revenues averaged over three years.

Vermont farmers devastated by Tropical Storm Irene will receive much-needed disaster assistance through two important federal programs. The funding levels for both programs were agreed to by a House-Senate conference committee negotiating fiscal year 2012 funding levels for US Department of Agriculture programs.
‘Many Vermont farmers were knocked down by Tropical Storm Irene but they are characteristically fighting to get back on their feet. This funding will give them a much-needed boost,’ Welch said. ‘We were ultimately successful in our efforts because Republicans and Democrats in the House worked together to secure disaster relief. And Senator Leahy, with the strong support of Senator Sanders, delivered once again for Vermont farmers by helping secure this final agreement.’

Dartmouth-Hitchcock (D-H) today began implementation of a reduction in the size of its workforce, notifying approximately 50 employees system-wide of the elimination of their positions. The action comes as the health system works to fill a $100 million budget deficit created by increasing costs and decreasing reimbursements, all within a rapidly shifting health care environment.
‘I am extremely sorry this action is necessary,’ wrote D-H CEO James N Weinstein, in a message to all of Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s 8,500 employees. ‘While our Voluntary Early Retirement Offer and other streamlining efforts have allowed us to make up a significant portion of our budget shortfall, the remaining gap and continued challenges we face force us to take the step of further reducing the size of our workforce.’
On November 4, Weinstein told employees at a Town Hall meeting that up to 100 positions would be eliminated over the next two months.

The United States needs unprecedented collaboration among electric utilities, government, industry and academia to create a smart grid with clear policies, empowered customers, demonstrated cost savings and a greener environment, according to early results in Vermont Law School’s national smart grid research project.
Researchers at VLS’s Institute for Energy and the Environment are studying the legal, policy and regulatory hurdles to upgrading the US electric system with smart grid technology. The federal government has awarded $3.4 billion in stimulus funds to utilities and other entities, making the smart grid a key part of the US clean energy agenda.
Vermont, California, Texas and a handful of other states have taken the lead in finding a well-balanced approach to demonstrating and implementing a smart grid system.

The proprietors of The Vermont Country Store, one of America’s most beloved retail experiences, will join the legendary daytime TV host Martha Stewart to talk recipes and share the success story behind their three generation family business in a special segment of The Martha Stewart Show. Lyman Orton and his three sons, Cabot, Eliot and Gardner Orton will be with Martha for an entire segment highlighted by the baking of a Vermont Country Store food favorite, the Maple Mountain Crunch Cake.
The Vermont Country Store proprietors are l-r; Eliot, Lyman, Cabot and Gardner Orton. (Photo: Business Wire)

A significant hurdle for Vermont getting more aid from the federal government for Tropical Storm Irene recovery was cleared yesterday. Congressional House and Senate conferees Monday afternoon agreed to extend and increase transportation funding in the wake of damage done to roads and bridges. Without the extra $150 million, Vermont would have to use regular transportation funds to pay for the emergency repairs, thus taking money away from ongoing tranportation needs. Governor Peter Shumlin has put Irene-related repair costs at $175-250 million.

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at the company's newest Zero-Sort® facility located in Rutland, Vermont on Friday, November 18, 2011, from 1-4 pm. Attending the ceremony, and making remarks on the occasion, will be Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and Casella Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Casella.
Prior to the ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 pm, tours of the 57,000 square foot Zero-Sort facility will be available to all attendees as well as members of the media.
Zero-Sort Recycling does not require customers to sort their recyclable materials. In communities where Casella has introduced the Zero-Sort service, overall customer participation and recycling efforts have increased significantly.
RUTLAND, VT--(Marketwire - November 14, 2011)

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) on Saturday, November 19, will close a section of Route 125 in Hancock so that a culvert damaged by Tropical Storm Irene can be replaced.
The closure, which will take place along Route 125 about two miles west of its intersection with Route 100, will render the road impassible for two days. Work crews will close Route 125 at sunup on Saturday, November 19, and plan to reopen the road sometime on Monday, November 21.
‘There is no doubt that this closure will inconvenience some travelers,’ said VTrans Secretary Brian Searles. ‘Fortunately, most of the work can be done quickly and over the weekend to minimize impacts on people’s commute to work.’

US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced Monday that House and Senate negotiators have agreed to include in a final transportation budget bill for the coming year his provision to replenish the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Fund and provide important cost waivers that Governor Shumlin and others consider to be crucial to repairing and rebuilding roads and bridges damaged by Tropical Storm Irene.
The bill also includes Leahy’s truck weight provisions for Vermont, to move heavy trucks from smaller state roads, including roads crossing through the downtowns of several Vermont communities, onto the state’s interstate highways.
Leahy is number two on the Senate Appropriations Committee and also a senior member of its Transportation Subcommittee, which handled the writing of the bill.

A new center of excellence at Champlain College, offering students a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art facility in which to learn and practice digital forensics investigation techniques, has been named in honor of U.S. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, according to Champlain College President David F. Finney.

The rock band Phish through its WaterWheel Foundation announced the initial grants from their September 14 concert at the Champlain Valley Exposition via their WaterWheel Fund for Vermont Flood Recovery, housed at the Vermont Community Foundation. The bulk of the concert proceeds are now in the fund, as the final accounting and vendor payments for the concert were recently finalized. The fund now holds approximately $835,000; an additional $300,000 - $400,000 is expected to be added to the fund as supplementary revenue totals from webcast, digital audio download, and merchandise proceeds are confirmed in the near future.
The band’s WaterWheel Foundation has worked closely with philanthropic advisors at the Vermont Community Foundation to jointly develop a comprehensive giving strategy for the concert proceeds. The first round of grants from the fund will be distributed this week.

Lyndon State College has recently established the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (CRE). The creation of the CRE is the latest step in fulfilling the college’s mission of educating first-in-family and low- and moderate-income students, and serving as an economic engine for Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.
The CRE represents a natural outgrowth of two existing programs at the College: Incubator Without Walls (IWoW) and the Northeast Kingdom Manufacturing Training Program. These and other new initiatives on the drawing boards will now be under the umbrella of the CRE and its director, Ann Nygard, who has been promoted from her previous position as director of IWoW. The CRE will continue to work alongside the College’s Leahy Center for Rural Students to raise student aspirations in the Northeast Kingdom and to spark workforce development.