Current News

The Vermont Department of Labor is pleased to announce that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved an Individual Assistance Declaration for three additional counties: Franklin, Lamoille and Orleans Counties.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) are jointly holding a series of six meetings to discuss progress on the Lake Champlain Phosphorus cleanup plan, technically referred to as the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The first round of meetings will be from October 4-6, 2011.
These meetings are the next step in gathering stakeholder input on practices, policies, and funding commitments necessary to achieve phosphorus pollution load reductions required by the TMDL. The meetings will also explore additional actions that should be taken if certain nonpoint source actions are not implemented according to the established timeline. Participants will also hear from a technical team tasked with updating and analyzing watershed and lake modeling data. These meetings will build on progress described in the Revised Implementation Plan for the Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL, dated January 15, 2010.

Mobile home park residents will talk about the devastating impact of Irene on mobile home parks and speak out about what they describe as the lack of assistance for the specific needs of mobile home park residents after the storm.
What: Press conference with mobile home park residents from across Vermont to set the record straight about the recovery efforts that are leaving them out and announce a petition for additional assistance for some of Vermont’s most vulnerable residents.
When: Saturday September 24th, 2011 at 11 am
Where: Weston’s Mobile Home Park off Rt 12 in Berlin
Who: Weston’s Mobile Home Park residents have invited peers from across the state to join them along with their state representatives, Governer Peter Shumlin, and Vermont’s Federal Congressional Delegation.

At the 5x5x5 Growth awards on September 15, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin took the occasion to not only acknowledge the Vermont companies being recognized for their five-year growth, but in the midst of Tropical Storm Irene recovery, he talked about the spirit of Vermonters that has led to such a fast recovery from the devestation left by the August 28th storm.
Irene photos contained in the video were taken by Steve Costello of CVPS, and VBM reporters Ed Barna, Robert Smith and Joyce Marcel. The video was shot by Nick Rivers.
Vermont Business Magazine and KeyBank celebrated the achievements of the five fastest growing businesses in five categories over the last five years in Vermont at the DoubleTree in South Burlington.
The 25 extraordinary companies are listed below. AllEarth Renewables had the distinction of being the fastest overall company with 5,250 percent growth over five years.

Governor Shumlin was joined by business leaders and individual Vermonters today to thank them for their generous donations to the Irene recovery efforts.
‘These donors have stepped forward to provide well over one million dollars towards Vermont’s recovery,’ said Governor Shumlin. ‘This assistance will provide both short and long term recovery opportunities to Vermonters who need help getting back on their feet.’
The state of Vermont recognizes the importance of all donations, large and small. Governor Shumlin was joined today by Edmunds Elementary School Principal Dr. Shelly Mathias and students Emma Goodwin and Aviva Strong, who raised 51 dollars for Rochester Elementary School by singing on their block for two days and holding a bake sale.

Efficiency Vermont is working with contractors and community-based organizations to help residents and small businesses rebuild after Tropical Storm Irene.
Free services from Efficiency Vermont for flood-damaged structures include:
· Free flood repair assessments and air sealing by certified contractors, including moisture assessments, blower-door tests to identify areas of air leakage, air sealing, combustion safety testing to determine carbon monoxide levels and recommendations for rebuilding safely and energy efficiently;
· Enhanced weatherization and appliances replacement for low-income Vermonters, in collaboration with local weatherization assistance programs;
· Special custom ‘Button Up’ workshops scheduled around the state, to help Vermonters rebuild safely and energy efficiently, in partnership with the Central Vermont Community Action Council (CVCAC);

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) today opened a storm-damaged bridge along Route 7 in Clarendon. Opening the bridge to public travel removes the last impediment to free-flowing traffic along the entire length of Route 7, which is western Vermont’s most significant highway.
VTrans today also opened the storm-damaged portion of Route 100 between Warren and Rochester, eliminating a significant detour around Granville.
Tropical Storm Irene swelled the Cold River in Clarendon, which runs underneath Route 7, causing it to wash away the a large section of the roadway’s approach to the bridge just south of Route 7’s intersection with Route 4. The damage severed the roadway, leaving a nearly 30-foot deep opening to the ground below.
Crews rebuilt the roadway approach and repaired the bridge damage in little more than three weeks, restoring normal traffic and eliminating the need for detours.

The Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS) has named Asa S. Hopkins, Ph.D., as the new Director of Energy Policy and Planning. Dr. Hopkins will lead the Department’s policy and planning division, which serves as Vermont’s State Energy Office. In conjunction with the Commissioner of Public Service, the Governor’s office, the Legislature, and other energy stakeholders, Dr. Hopkins will develop and implement statewide energy policy, including energy efficiency and demand resource management programs, renewable energy policy, and electric utility planning.

Governor Shumlin was joined by Treasurer Beth Pearce and other state leaders today to announce an Irene recovery package for municipalities struggling with the effects of the tropical storm.
‘We recognize that the disaster is putting a strain on local governments,’ Shumlin said. ‘This assistance package will help ensure that they have the support they need to emerge stronger than before the storm hit.’
The financial package includes:

KeyBank (NYSE:KEY) announced that it will provide $5 billion in capital to qualified small business owners over the next three years. The announcement comes on the heels of this morning’s meeting between Vice President Biden and 13 top U.S. banks, including Key, where the discussion included the state of small businesses lending.
To meet the bank’s lending goal, hundreds KeyBank Relationship Managers throughout several of the bank’s segments will work closely with local business owners in Key’s 23 districts. KeyBank segments committed to the goal include: Small Business, Business Banking, Commercial Banking, Key4Women, Small Business Administration (SBA), Community Development Lending, and Native American/Agriculture. Forums, workshops, in-person financial reviews, and the infrastructure of more than 300 ‘business intensive’ branches will bolster their efforts.

The Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration (BISHCA) has been awarded a three-year, $3.8 million grant from the federal Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The grant is part of the ‘Affordable Care Act ‘ Rate Review Grant Program’ and was awarded through HHS’s Office of Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight.
‘We are extremely pleased to learn that we’ve been awarded this grant,’ said Commissioner Steve Kimbell. ‘Linking knowledgeable Vermont consumers to the health insurance rate setting process is an important tool in controlling health care costs. This grant is yet another example of the benefit to Vermont of President Obama’s health care reform legislation.’

The state of Vermont will be among a group of states selected to lead an important effort to improve science education for all students.
Vermont is one of 20 states that will lead the development of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which will clearly define the content and practices students will need to learn from kindergarten through high school graduation. The NGSS process is being managed by Achieve an education reform non-profit organization.
‘Vermont has always had rigorous science standards, but it was time for them to be reviewed, said Armando Vilaseca, Vermont Commissioner of Education. Being a lead state will give Vermont access to current edge research and thinking around scientific principles. This partnership will provide content insights to inform the incorporation of engineering in science instruction and provide new, engaging learning opportunities for all students.’