Current News

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce hosted the White House Business Council at BioTek in Winooski on Wednesday afternoon. Vermont business leaders had the opportunity to connect with Administration officials and share their ideas for how the Obama Administration can continue to grow the economy and put Americans back to work
The discussion focused on the importance of expanding investments in innovation and industry. ‘If we as a people can adopt a strategic vision where policy is dictated by the priority to preserve the USA as the world’s beacon for innovation, our future can be very bright indeed," commented BioTek Vice President, Adam Alpert, as he welcomed the White House Business Council and attendees.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) today announced plans to transport and lift into place the center arch span of the new Lake Champlain Bridge this Friday, August 26, weather permitting. The public will be able to watch the transport and lift, but some marine and vehicle traffic restrictions will be in place. There will also be a webcam showing the event (see link below).
‘The arch lift will provide clear and tangible evidence that we’re moving very close to reopening the Lake Champlain Bridge to the public,’ said NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald. ‘This is an exciting and historic moment for the people in the region who heavily depend on the bridge for their livelihoods. I would like to extend my appreciation to them for their patience as we move forward toward the final phase of the project.’

Champlain Bridge, August 24, 2011, NYSDOT.

The legislature hired contractors, Lawrence O Picus and Associates, to evaluate Vermont’s education finance system per Act 45 of 2011. Two public hearings are scheduled on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, to seek public input as part of the Picus and Associates’ evaluation of Vermont’s education finance system.
The purpose of these hearings is to gain an understanding of the issues and concerns facing citizens and education stakeholders regarding the financing of K-12 education in Vermont. Lawrence O. Picus and Associates will use the information from these public hearing sessions to help guide their study. Individuals testifying at the hearings are asked to address three specific questions:
 What do you think are the two or three major advantages or strengths of the
current Vermont funding system?
 What do you think are the two or three major shortcomings of the Vermont
school funding system? For each, what recommendations do you have for

Having completed its beta testing, and with the Phase I project nearly complete, ECFiber began connecting its first customers today. Eight customers have been beta-testing the system for the past two weeks, getting sustained 5Mbps symmetrical service.
The Barnard General Store, one of the beta sites, has been offering the experience to customers via WI-FI, and has been finding folks on their doorstep at all hours, trying out the system.
‘It’s been amazing,’ says Kim Furlong, one of the store’s proprietors. ‘Because so much more of what we do is online, it is truly a joy to reap the reward of high-speed internet. Dial-up, and even satellite, is such a time-robber. Fiber is very different ‘ you can be more efficient, and that is exciting. At the same time, I have some trepidation. People are going to relocate here more permanently because of what is available, and that is probably going to change the fabric of the community.’

Dale Tatro, President of Tatro Brothers Concrete in Hyde Park, Vermont, is retiring from the construction business and has retained the Thomas Hirchak Company to sell all of his rolling stock, equipment and tools.
The auction will be held at their 878 Route 15, Hyde Park location on Tuesday, September 27th at 10 am. Auction will be available for online Real Time Bidding through www.proxibid.com/ThomasHirchak.
Highlights include: Concrete Pump Truck, Dump Trucks, Hydraulic Excavators, Skid Steer & Wheel Loaders, Pick Up Trucks, Trailers, Crane Truck, 18,000 Square Feet of Symons Forms, Finishing Equipment, and more.
Tatro has been in business for 24 years.
Source: August 22, 2011 Thomas Hirchak Company www.THCAuction.com

Landlords, tenants and municipalities now have a place to find Vermont’s law on the legal health and safety requirements of rental housing: www.rentalcodes.org. The website features checklists of the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, including links to relevant codes and contacts. The website was developed by the Attorney General’s Office working in conjunction with the Vermont Housing Finance Agency and other state agencies and stakeholders as a part of a safe rental housing study committee.

Vermont residents now have access to a free prescription assistance program. The statewide program, called Vermont Rx Card, is scheduled to officially commence today. Vermont Rx Card is being launched to help the uninsured and underinsured residents of Vermont gain access to significant savings on prescription medications at local pharmacies.
The Vermont Medical Society (VMS) is working to generate support for the program by encouraging their physician members to offer the program to their patients. VMS works closely with Vermont Rx Card to educate all clinics, hospitals, county health departments and urgent care clinics throughout the State about the program. Additionally, VMS is working directly with physicians and hospitals across Vermont to distribute hard cards to anyone in need.

US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced Tuesday that Vermont has secured more than $9.2 million in federal grants from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help with prevention and preparedness.
‘Preserving our national security starts with prevention and preparedness,’ said Leahy. ‘First responders in Vermont are on the front lines each and every day, protecting our communities, securing our borders and ports of entry, and keeping our citizens safe. Governments from Washington to local communities in Vermont are all tightening their fiscal belts, but these grants are an investment in our safety and security. They will help Vermont ensure our borders and our communities are safe and secure.’
Vermont will receive grant awards under seven different DHS programs:

Dealer.com (www.dealer.com), the global leader in automotive internet marketing solutions, was today recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest growing companies for the fifth year in a row. With a three-year sales growth of 390 percent, Dealer.com placed No. 800 on the fourth annual Inc 5000 list, and also ranked No. 57 in the Business Products and Services category in the United States.
‘Making the Inc. 5000 list for the fifth year running is a strong testament to our innovative products, incredible growth, strong client relationships, and dedication to our employees,’ said Mark Bonfigli, Founder and CEO of Dealer.com. ‘We are honored to be listed among such excellent company, and look forward to continuing to grow Dealer.com for years to come.’

Gifford Medical Center’s sixth annual Last Mile Ride held on Saturday, Aug. 20, attracted a record 219 motorcyclists, 23 cyclists and raised $48,000 for end-of-life care.
The charity motorcycle ride was the Randolph hospital’s sixth annual. Since it’s start in 2006, rider numbers and money raised have climbed significantly. That first year just 74 riders turned out and $7,000 was raised.
The leap in participation is due to word of mouth and support for the cause, according to hospital organizers. Gifford offers special care in a garden-side suite for patients at the end-of-life. The ride supports extra services for these patients and their families and also helps patients in advanced illness or choosing to die at home with special needs and last wishes.
The steady climb in dollars raised for the cause is due to the support of sponsors, including many area businesses, and riders’ fund raising efforts. Riders who raise the most win prizes.

The Pew Charitable Trusts announced the launch of the Cultural Data Project (CDP) in Vermont, giving nonprofit arts and cultural organizations state of the art technology to help them strengthen their management capacity and demonstrate their impact across Vermont. The project’a web-based data collection tool for arts and cultural organizations and their advocates’launched with funding from the Vermont Arts Council, The Vermont Community Foundation and The Kresge Foundation.
‘As cultural organizations navigate a challenging economic climate with limited resources, the CDP provides the information they need to track programmatic, operational and financial trends,’ says Neville Vakharia, CDP director. ‘Arts and cultural organizations in Vermont will be better able to understand their financial condition, improve management practices and plan for the future.’

Vermont citizens and news media can now readily find out the names of vendors selling goods and services to state government, and the purpose and amounts of the transactions involved. The Vermont Transparency site (www.vttransparency.org) now allows viewers to quickly sort through over 121,000 vendor transactions occurring over the first three quarters of FY 2011 (through March 31, 2011).
The site now reveals, for example, that in fiscal 2010 Vermont spent $25 million to provide heating fuel assistance, almost $24 million to rent heavy equipment and other construction machinery, and $22.5 million in interest on state bonds.
As other examples, the site shows that Newcomb Studios of Montpelier, run by cartoonist Tim Newcomb, received six payments from state agencies, totaling $9,238, for graphic arts work. The Vermont Natural Resources Council, with seven registered lobbyists, received one payment of $9,181.