Current News

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was appointed today to chair the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging.
‘With more Americans heading into retirement, we need to focus on supporting our seniors and ensuring their quality of life. I look forward to working side by side with Sen. Sanders to protect the benefits that our seniors have worked hard for, from pensions to health care, while also advocating for programs like community health centers and LIHEAP that are vital to families across the country in these tough economic times,’ said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the chairman of the full Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.
Sanders’ panel is responsible for several areas that are among his top priorities, including community health centers, home heating assistance, seniors programs, pensions and dental care.

Building on the success of its Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Marlboro College Graduate School introduces a new Master of Science in Management for Mission-Driven Organizations. Applications are currently being accepted for classes starting in May 2011.
The 36-credit program provides MBA-level coursework tailored to nonprofit organizations, such as fundraising, outcomes and evaluations, budgeting and strategic planning. As a master of science in management, the program can also benefit social entrepreneurs with a mission-driven focus.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA issued a Notice of Solicitations of Applications and regulations implementing the 2008 Farm Bill for the broadband loan program.
‘Broadband investments are an essential part of Vermont’s future. These investments will increase economic opportunity and enhance community connections.’ Molly Lambert, State Director USDA Rural Development said.
The interim regulation for the Broadband Program requires that certain definitions affecting eligibility be revised and published annually by the agency in the Federal Register. For the purposes of this interim regulation, the agency has amended two definitions: Broadband Service and Broadband Lending Speed and Incumbent Service Provider. The application guide to assist in preparing of applications is available at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_farmbill.html

There were 1,012 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, an increase of 275 from the week before. Altogether 12,325 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 266 from a week ago and 2,799 fewer than a year earlier. The Department also processed 2,052 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 8 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 992 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is an increase of 3 from the week before. The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/. Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc

Vermont’s small businesses are key to the state’s well-being and account for a significant share of the state’s economic production and hiring, according to the Office of Advocacy’s Small Business Profile for the state, released today. The profile uses the most recent data available to provide details about small business employment, business starts and closings, bank lending, business ownership by minorities, women, and veterans, and firm and employment change by major industry and firm size.
‘Small business is a catalyst for economic growth in Vermont and in our nation,’ said Winslow Sargeant, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. ‘In today’s economic climate, we need to continue to support entrepreneurship and promote policies that help small businesses grow and prosper.’

Farm Stay US today named the top states for farm travel and tourism, finding that Pennsylvania, California and Vermont lead the nation in "haycation" destinations with the largest number of farm vacation listings in its FarmStayUS.com database.
The FarmStayUS.com searchable website has grown within a year to become the largest online source for farm vacations in the US, having expanded rapidly to 721 listings in all 50 states. That number has more than doubled since FarmStayUS.com launched in June 2010, and will continue to grow as farm tourism and interest in sustainable and local agriculture expands.
Farm Stay US found that Pennsylvania, California and Vermont lead the nation in farm tourism: Pennsylvania has 73 farm and ranch stay listings; California 52 and Vermont 45.

The February 2011 RE/MAX Housing Report indicates that New Hampshire was the only New England state to show an increase in month-over-month increase in sales, while Vermont was the only state to show year-over-year increase in sales for the month. RE/MAX stated that tighter credit standards and unfavorable weather conditions resulted in a decrease in home sales for the region in February. Overall sales declined -13.8 percent month-over-month in New England, led by Massachusetts, while prices declined overall by -2.6 percent.
New Hampshire was the only state to see an uptick in sales month-over-month, and Rhode Island was the only state to experience an increase in median price during the same period.
In Vermont, however, there were 243 homes sold in February 2011, a 12.5 percent increase from the 216 homes sold the same time last year. RE/MAX of New England predicts that with expected inventory increases, Vermont should experience a positive spring market.

The State Board of Education elected officers at its March 15, 2011 meeting, the Department of Education announced today. Fayneese Miller of South Burlington was re-elected Board chair, and Kathy Larsen of Wilmington will continue serving as vice-chair.
Miller of South Burlington is the Dean of the College of Education and Social Services at University of Vermont. She came to Vermont after a 20-year career at Brown University where she was associate professor of education and human development and an internationally recognized expert on the social, academic and political development of adolescents. She led Brown’s Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity and was the university’s first coordinator and chair of ethnic studies. Her State Board term will expire in 2012.

Governor Peter Shumlin and other state and local officials joined the staff of eCorp English and a host of supporters in celebrating the opening of their new global headquarters in Middlebury, Vermont today. The 6700 square foot facility will house the corporate office, IT development and serve as the primary remote instruction center for the international operation that provides online English-language training to the personnel of global corporations including Google, Alcatel Lucent, UPS, HSBC, BNP Paribas, etc.
‘I am very pleased to welcome eCorp English to Vermont and appreciate the caliber of jobs this company brings to our state and the Middlebury region,’ Gov. Peter Shumlin said. ‘English language training is a relatively new and expanding market, and we work hard to ensure eCorp English is able to prosper and grow here in Vermont.’

Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding announced today Vermont’s February tax revenues were above the February 2010 results, but are behind economist projections. February is the eight month of fiscal year (FY) 2011.
General Fund
General Fund revenues totaled $51.30 million for February 2011, -$2.71 million or -5.02% below the $54.01 million consensus revenue forecast for the month. Year to date, revenues through February are $738.46 million or -0.58% below target. Compared to the same period for the prior fiscal year, FY 2011 GF results are 9.7% ahead of FY 2010, but remain below the FY 2008 results by -3.6%.

Governor Peter Shumlin said today he’s pleased that the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is designating the Northeast Corridor (NEC) as a ‘high speed rail corridor,’ a definition that allows NEC states to compete for federal rail funds.
As Chair of the Transportation Committee for the Coalition of New England Governors (CONEG), Shumlin has been working with his counterparts across the region to advance the vision for a regional high speed rail network.
‘This is an important step for advancing the New England rail network. It will finally enable the Northeast Corridor to compete for federal rail dollars,’ Gov. Shumlin said. ‘Enhancing passenger rail investments throughout our region will benefit Vermont’s vision of a robust and vibrant passenger rail network connecting Vermont with New York, Boston, and Montreal.’

Over 175 women (and a few men) in blue t-shirts turned out at the state capitol today as early educators from across the state gathered to support legislation giving them a voice in making decisions to improve the quality of early childhood education.
‘This is about children and the quality of care that we are able to provide. This is also about professionalism and respect for the 10,000 early educators who care for kids every single day,’ said Cathi Ste. Marie, who owns and operates a certified home care for 14 children in North Troy ‘I, and all the early educators here today are not babysitters ‘ we are professionals who care deeply about the children we are entrusted with. And our children will be better served if we are here as full partners in this process.’
H.97 has received hearings in the House and has been endorsed by Governor Shumlin, former Governor Howard Dean, 53 Representatives and 11 Senators from all 3 major parties.