Current News

The Community College of Vermont will receive a $2.5 million job-training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Vermont congressional delegation announced today.
The grant comes through a career training program, said Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
‘The Community College of Vermont has a proven record of effective service to students, communities, and employers in Vermont,’ the delegation said in a joint letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis supporting the grant request.
The college has matched course offerings with what employers say are the most-needed skills. A new Community College of Vermont program offers a fast-track associate degree for adults enrolled in courses that provide training in high-demand, high-growth career fields.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2011

Secretary of State Jim Condos has announced the 2012 Request for Proposals (RFP) under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to improve voting opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Municipal Voting Access for Individuals with Disabilities (MV AID), is intended to help ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to polling places. Funding will be available to municipalities. If the polling place is in a school, the school district is considered a municipality and may apply for funding. Municipalities may apply to receive funds to ensure that their polling facility is accessible to individuals with a full range of disabilities. This may include activities such as paving parking areas, building ramps inside/outside buildings, building curb cuts, improving lighting and replacing door knobs with lever handles.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation opened a nearly 20-mile stretch of Route 100 between West Bridgewater and Ludlow Friday that had been closed since Tropical Storm Irene.

Vermont State Auditor Tom Salmon today announced that he will run for re-election. Salmon had been considering, or been considered for, several other statewide offices. The Republican from St Johnsbury had been linked to possible runs for governor, Congress and US Senate. It was generally thought that the GOP office-seekers would wait for former Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie to decide his future political plans before making their moves. Dubie lost the governship narrowly to Peter Shumlin last year. Dubie has yet to annouce his intentions.

Together with her children, Cynthia Hoehl, wife of the late Robert Hoehl, has fulfilled a pledge for a major gift to student scholarship at Saint Michael’s College, made by the couple during Visions, the college’s last comprehensive campaign. The gift of $2 million will be announced tonight by Saint Michael’s President John J. Neuhauser, at the annual Athletic Hall of Fame dinner at the Doubletree Hotel Burlington.
‘Saint Michael’s is a part of our life. It means a great deal to all of us and did especially to Bob,’ said Cynthia Hoehl.
The gift is designated to support scholarship aid for students who meet admission criteria of the college, but could not afford to attend Saint Michael's College without financial assistance.

The US Small Business Administration announced today that Grand Isle County is added to the disaster declaration for Private Non-Profit Organizations (PNPs) in Vermont that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature. The deadline to submit disaster loan applications is Oct. 31, 2011 for damages caused by Tropical Storm Irene that occurred on Aug. 27 - Sept. 2, 2011.
Non-Profit Organizations located in Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin,Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor and the newly added Grand Isle County in Vermont are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

The Richmond-based Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) is now harvesting the sun for energy. Through a new solar orchard, the nationally-renowned VYCC will derive the power for its conservation, education, and agricultural programs from the sun, connecting their two iconic monitor barns in a contemporary way.
The VYCC will formally commission the solar orchard at its annual meeting and celebration -- Denim & Diamonds ‘ tomorrow, Saturday, September 24th.

There were 717 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week. This is a decrease of 359 from the week before, as new claims returned closer to typical levels following a two-week spike in claims resulting from tropical storm Irene. The week prior to the storm saw a seasonal low of fewer than 500 claims. Altogether 6,375 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 425 from a week ago and 962 fewer than a year earlier. The Department also processed 1,444 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 14 fewer than a week ago. In addition, there were 727 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is a decrease of 8 from the week before. The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/.

Any crisis in a disaster situation, from a server malfunction to a flooded basement, could force a business to close its doors, reducing productivity and profits and possibly resulting in a permanent shut-down. Next week, in the fourth of four weekly webinars during National Preparedness Month, the U.S. Small Business Administration and Agility Recovery Solutions three business owners who faced losses of property and income after a disaster will share their experiences and what they learned about preparing for the next disaster.
On Wednesday, Sept. 28, bank vice president Scott Jenkins, insurance company president Terry Flood, and Joel Simpson, vice president of a plastics and glass supplier, will described how their companies recovered from losses caused, respectively, by a tornado, water damages from a burst pipe, and flooding. The three will also offer tips on how to protect themselves and their bottom line, based on their own experiences.

Award-winning Reporter Andy Potter announced his retirement from WCAX-TV this month after 14 years in front of the camera. The longtime journalist decided it was time to slow down after a series of health issues related to knee replacement surgery.
‘It’s been an honor to be able to tell the stories of Vermonters over the years,’ stated Potter, who is also a veteran of the Vietnam War. ‘I am looking forward to a slower beat in the days ahead,’ added Potter, a Middlebury College grad, whose affinity for Vermont has spanned decades.
From reporting on strikes to special elections, Potter has received numerous awards. His broadcast career includes television and radio; before becoming a TV journalist, Potter worked at several radio stations in Chittenden County.

Some Vermont municipalities that didn’t join or failed to comply with provisions of the National Flood Insurance Program ‘ potentially making their residents ineligible for some disaster assistance ‘ will be getting a second chance. Most of the towns are small, but the list includes Essex Junction and Manchester Village.
Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that some 39 Vermont communities who are listed as ‘sanctioned’ will be given until March 1, 2012, to apply for entrance into the NFIP (SEE LIST BELOW).

The Green Mountain National Forest, including the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, has re-opened to all Vermonters and visitors as of September 16th.
However, the damage to roads, bridges and trails in the Rochester and Middlebury Ranger Districts is extensive. Areas popular with tourists, Texas Falls and the Robert Frost trail, remain closed.
Please check the list of closures before directing visitors into the forest or venturing there yourself.