Current News

For the week of September 18, 2010, there were 659 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance, a decrease of 15 from the week before. Altogether 7,337 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 41 from a week ago and 2,351 fewer than a year earlier. The Department also processed 2,737 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 56 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 1,403 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is an increase of 18 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

The Public Service Board (PSB) has announced it will conduct a hearing on the Lowell wind project on Thursday September 23 at the Lowell Graded School at 52 Gelo Park Road, Lowell, VT at 7 pm. The hearing is the Board’s first in the process to determine whether the project will receive a Certificate of Public Good (CPG).
The project, proposed by Green Mountain Power, needs the CPG to begin construction. Green Mountain Power proposed the 21-turbine project last year, and hopes to have it built by 2012 to take advantage of expiring federal tax credits.

Jennifer Lawson, a middle school language arts and social studies teacher at Vergennes Union High School in Vergennes, was named by the State Board of Education as the 2011 Vermont Teacher of the Year at a ceremony held today at the school.
Also honored were:

Alternate Kathy Bennett, a high school French teacher at Enosburg Falls Middle and High School in Enosburg Falls.
Finalist Maria Dana Dezotell, a high school science teacher at Missisquoi Valley Union High School in Swanton.

The Vermont Department of Labor announced today the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2010 was unchanged from the previous month’s report holding steady at 6.0 percent. Compared to a year ago, the August unemployment rate is lower by 0.9 percent.
‘The momentum behind the national recovery seems to be waning. While we are encouraged by the local economic indicators available to us ‘ such as early taxable receipts data and a stable, low unemployment rate relative to the current environment ‘ the economic recovery remains uneven and uncertain. We continue to watch the national front for indications, as well as trends here in Vermont,’ said Valerie Rickert, Acting Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor.

Analysis of Job Changes by Industry

Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), and Congressman Peter Welch (D) on Tuesday announced that the Vermont Department of Health will receive $1.1 million in federal support for public health programs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding will support a new five-year program to link Vermont’s Blueprint for Health with existing public health data, support local public health programs and combat chronic disease. The Vermont grant is part of a $42.5 million nationwide investment in public health made possible by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590).

The Vermont Ski Museum is inducting four new members into its Hall of Fame. Larry Damon, Bob Gray, Hilary Engisch Klein and Johannes von Trapp will be inducted at a ceremony in Stowe on October 24.

Hall of Fame Induction 2010
Tickets are selling QUICK!
Please join us for a very special evening as we honor four of Vermont's most influential skiers: Larry Damon, Bob Gray, Hilary Engisch Klein and Johannes von Trapp.

The Town of Manchester has announced a full-featured online GIS
presence for its parcel, zoning, and tax maps. Information available
includes overall zoning maps, overall and individual parcel maps,
individual parcel data, and other useful information such as zoning
districts, flood hazard overlays, and aerial photos.
The site was created by Main Street GIS, and is available online at
http://www.mainstreetmaps.com/VT/Manchester/. This project was done as a
collaborative effort between the Town's planning and assessing departments.

The top renewable energy integrator in the northeast United States, Alteris Renewables, Inc., has introduced new financing options available to homeowners throughout the region that offer solar power systems with no money down. As the first renewable energy integrator to offer residential customers in Vermont and eight other states the opportunity to install high quality solar power systems with no money down, Alteris is committed to bringing reliable, sustainable power to the masses.

As over 7,000 students start classes at the Community College of Vermont’s 12 locations this month, CCV is marking its 40th anniversary.
In 1970, CCV’s founders imagined a place of open access to education and opportunity for all Vermonters, especially those working adults who at the time had very few options for attending college. In its 40-year history, CCV has not only experienced dramatic enrollment growth but has also expanded the programs and services it offers to students of all ages. As a critically important resource to the state, CCV has helped tens of thousands of Vermonters enter college, earn a degree, continue their studies at four-year institutions, and achieve secure employment. To fulfill its mission of access, affordability, and student success, the college has developed an extensive network of partnerships with employers, state agencies, high schools, other colleges, and community organizations across the state.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) today launched VTransparency, a new on-line tool designed to help Vermonters easily access information regarding roads, bridges and culverts.
Whether a bridge, culvert or roadway is in fine shape, being designed for improvement or under construction, VTransparency allows users to access information about transportation assets they will find useful. With just a few clicks of a mouse, Vermonters from their own computers can now access bridge inspection reports, pavement condition reports, and find out where in the process a future project in their neighborhood now stands.

Nearly six months after President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), Rep. Peter Welch on Monday announced new provisions of the health care law set to take effect this Thursday.
Passed by Congress and signed into law in March, H.R. 3590 will extend access to 32 million Americans, end abusive insurance company practices and cut the deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years.
“The health care reform provisions taking effect this week will give Vermont families peace of mind. No longer will they be subject to the abusive practices of the insurance industry, like being denied coverage because of a preexisting condition or being dropped from a plan after becoming sick. No longer will families with uninsured young adult children stay up at night worrying about what will happen if their loved ones become ill,” Welch said. “This legislation provides much-needed health care security and affordability to all Vermont families.”

The Vermont Workers Center, Vermont Early Educators United, and the Vermont Center for Independent Living will host 15 legislative events called ‘People’s Forums’ around Vermont, calling on incumbents and candidates for the State House and Senate to address pertinent issues affecting Vermonters.
Candidates will be expected to discuss their plans for developing a health care system that works for all Vermonters, ways to ensure affordable child care and access to quality early education for Vermont’s young children, job growth, and the impact of cuts to public services.
Every event will be open to the general public and venues will be handicap-accessible.
EVENT: 15 ‘People’s Forums’ to connect Vermont voters to their legislative candidates. The events are hosted by the Vermont Worker’s Center, Vermont Early Educators United’AFT, & the Vermont Center for Independent Living.