Current News

Governor Peter Shumlin today announced the appointment of Mark Larson to head the Department of Vermont Health Access. Larson, who serves in the Vermont House, replaces Susan Besio as commissioner.
‘I am proud to add Mark Larson to my administration and look forward to his leadership at DVHA," Shumlin said. "Mark has a deep understanding of health policy in Vermont, including complex systems like Medicaid, which is central to health planning. Mark has also demonstrated his commitment to the principles behind Act 48, and will be a valuable member of my health care policy team.’
As commissioner, Larson will oversee management of Vermont's publicly funded health insurance programs. He will also play a key role in moving forward Vermont’s health care reform efforts, including the new Vermont Health Benefit Exchange and Green Mountain Care. Larson will officially begin the position on August 17.

The Federal District Court for the District of Vermont issued a decision Monday evening in favor of the State of Vermont and denied Entergy’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have prevented the State from enforcing its laws during the pendency of the litigation. In a prepared statement, Attorney General William Sorrell called the decision ‘a very good first step in an important case.’

The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) announced today that Southern Vermont Broadband Cooperative and Cloud Alliance, LLC, were selected to receive discounted commercial broadband connections on the Vermont FiberConnect network. Additional award announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
To meet the public interest needs of reaching more underserved areas of the state, VTA selected the last-mile providers while Sovernet Fiber Corp. will offer them deeply discounted network connections. Awards were based upon review and evaluation of the recipients’ responses to a Request for Proposal that was issued by the VTA in May. Each of the recipients demonstrated that their broadband service offerings would target the Hardwick area and Stamford which are among the most underserved communities in rural Vermont.

Vermont was the only New England state to experience a decline in median home price in June. However, its 22.3 percent increase in home sales was second only to Connecticut. All six New England States experienced a 3-month trend uptick in June of 21.7 percent. For the first time in the past three months, Vermont realized a price decline of -4.0 percent, with all other states continuing to see month-over-month price increases.
While year-over-year sales and prices remain sluggish in New England, the consistent monthly numbers suggests that the market has hit bottom. Changes in financing requirements, unemployment and overall uncertainty continue to be the barriers that are slowing recovery.

The Vermont Community Foundation recently received a three-year, $104,000 grant to build the capacity of public policy journalism in Vermont. The Foundation will partner with VTDigger.org, a nonprofit news website that provides in-depth coverage of statewide issues affecting Vermonters. The funding will allow VTDigger.org to hire a full-time investigative reporter to cover health care and energy issues in Vermont. It will also allow Founder and Editor in Chief Anne Galloway the chance to extend her energies beyond reporting.
‘VTDigger.org has grown from a very low-budget, all-volunteer operation to a funded news organization with paid staffers in just two years,’ says Galloway. ‘This generous grant will enable us to deepen our coverage of key issues that affect the daily lives of Vermonters and make it possible for us to focus on building the long-term sustainability of VTDigger.org.’

The US Small Business Administration reminds eligible Private Non-Profit Organizations (PNPs) of the August 15 deadline to submit disaster loan applications for damages caused by severe storms and flooding that occurred from April 23 through May 9, 2011.
PNPs located in Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orleans and Washington counties 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 Vermont Department of Labor announced today that Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits are now available to help those Vermonters left jobless as a result of the severe flooding damage that occurred in Washington and Caledonia counties during May 26, 2011 to May 27, 2011. The disaster assistance period awarded for Washington and Caledonia Counties began May 26, 2011 and ends January 7, 2012. The filing deadline for individuals deemed eligible for assistance is August 15, 2011. The first payable week will be the week ending June 4, 2011.

Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), the only business trade association focused specifically on the advancement of renewable energy sources deployment, announced today the selection of Gabrielle Stebbins as the organization’s new executive director at the annual membership meeting hosted by cow power supporter, Long Trail Brewery. On the anniversary of REV’s 10th year, Stebbins steps in as the new director to lead the renewable business trade association in what is a very active time for the renewable energy economy in Vermont. The roughly 300 member organization represents businesses, individuals, colleges, utilities and others committed to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and expanding the availability of renewable sources of energy in Vermont.

The opening of a new permanent exhibit that examines the life and times of President Calvin Coolidge is being rescheduled to a later date.
‘Calvin Coolidge: His Life & Legacy’ will not open as planned next month at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site. The state Division for Historic Preservation anticipates that the exhibit, which was scheduled to open Aug. 6, will debut later this year.
‘We are disappointed about the delay, but we simply need more time for an exhibit of this magnitude to be installed,’ said Vermont Historic Preservation Officer Giovanna Peebles. ‘When the exhibit opens, we’re confident that it will have been worth the wait.’

Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding released the Preliminary June 2011 General Fund Revenue results today. June marks the end of the fiscal year (FY) 2011. General Fund revenues totaled $112.82 million for June 2011, and were +$13.89 million or 14.04% above the $98.93 million consensus revenue forecast for the month. Preliminary FY 11 year end General Fund Revenues were $1,151.21 million or +$33.71 million or +3.02% ahead of target. Compared to the prior fiscal year, FY 2011 GF results are 10.9% ahead of FY 2010, but remain below the pre-recession FY 2008 results by -4.05%.

While federal negotiations continue on raising the U.S. debt ceiling, Vermont’s State Treasurer is cautioning that the seeming impasse could negatively impact Vermont’s hard-earned Triple-A bond credit rating.
‘Yesterday, we learned from Moody’s Investor Services that even the highest-rated states, including Vermont, would have their ratings reviewed next week in light of the continued U.S. debt ceiling debate,’ said State Treasurer Beth Pearce. ‘However, I’m confident Vermont’s track record of fiscal responsibility will serve us well in any rating review. Vermont has the highest credit rating in New England, one of the highest ratings in the country, a strong cash position and healthy reserves.’

Nicholas R. Clifford, Professor Emeritus at Middlebury College, will discuss The Troubled Roar of the Waters: Vermont in Flood and Recovery, 1927-1931, a seminal work on this tragedy, written by him and his late wife Deborah Clifford. It was following the 1927 flood that President Coolidge delivered the oft quoted speech Vermont Is the State I Love, which includes the phrase ‘I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all because of her indomitable people. They are a race of pioneers that have almost beggared themselves to serve others.’