Current News

United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki will deliver the address to graduates at the University of Vermont s 2010 commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 23. Secretary Shinseki will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the ceremony.
Secretary Shinseki was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as the seventh secretary of Veterans Affairs on January 21, 2009. A retired U.S. Army four-star general, Secretary Shinseki served as chief of staff of the United States Army from 1999 to 2003, when he retired from active duty. During his tenure, he initiated the Army Transformation Campaign to address both the emerging strategic challenges of the early 21st century and the need for cultural and technological change in the United States Army.

Governor Douglas criticized senators who today voted to follow the lead of the House and pass a harmful tax increase on manufacturers, farmers, contractors and others by not extending the pass through domestic production deduction as expected. The domestic production deduction is meant to protect and grow domestic manufacturing and other productive activities. An amendment to prevent the tax increase failed by a vote of 17 to 12 on the Senate floor this afternoon.
Governor Douglas issued the following statement opposing the tax increase:

The Renewable Energy Atlas of Vermont, built on ESRI's ArcGIS technology, was launched on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. Web site visitors can identify, visualize, and analyze data about existing and promising renewable energy projects for Vermont's towns and counties.
Visitors to the Renewable Energy Atlas of Vermont Web site can select from biomass, efficiency, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, and wind renewable energy data layers and use geographic information system (GIS) tools to view existing and proposed projects by area. All renewable energy data layers were created and analyzed using ESRI's ArcGIS Desktop software and published with ArcGIS Server.

BURLINGTON, Vt., April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Dealer.com (http://www.Dealer.com), the global leader of online marketing solutions for auto dealers, chose Earth Week to reveal plans for the growth of its digital marketing operation in Vermont. The announcement was made by Mark Bonfigli, Founder and CEO of Dealer.com, at a press conference April 23, 2010 at the company's headquarters, a LEED-certified building that houses an un-matched corporate culture dedicated to the health and wellness of its employees.
The press conference included statements from United States Senator for Vermont, Patrick Leahy; Vermont State Governor, Jim Douglas; Vermont State Lieutenant Governor, Brian Dubie; and Burlington, Vermont Mayor, Bob Kiss.

The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) is excited to celebrate Earth Day with the launch of the Renewable Energy Atlas of Vermont, a state-of-the-art GIS-based web application that identifies, analyzes, and visualizes existing and promising locations for renewable energy projects.
The Atlas is the first tool of its kind in the United States to enable users to choose their town or county and then select from a suite of renewable energy options including biomass, efficiency, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, and wind.

Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) is receiving accreditation by the largest accrediting body for public and private schools in New England and the oldest regional accrediting association in the nation, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). At a record pace for an independent college, VCFA was recommended for accreditation at a meeting of NEASC s Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE). Achieving NEASC accreditation demonstrates VCFA s commitment to rigorous academics, a dynamic learning community, and a sustainable business model, said Thomas Christopher Greene, President of Vermont College of Fine Arts. This is a major accomplishment for our community.
What is normally as much as a five-year process was accomplished by VCFA in less than two. Con Hogan, Chair of VCFA s Board of Trustees stated, The accreditation gives VCFA an important acknowledgement of excellence at a key time in our renaissance.

Poultney, Vt. Governor Jim Douglas and Forests, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Jason Gibbs will join officials from Green Mountain College on Earth Day to inaugurate the schools new combined heat and power biomass plant.
This plant is an important step toward a cleaner environment, while supporting the growth of Vermont s forest products economy and jobs in the local economy, Governor Douglas said.
The new woodchip-fired plant provides 80 percent of the school s heat and 20 percent (400,000 kWh) of its electricity. Additionally, construction of the plant adds several fulltime jobs at the college, involved 100 temporary jobs at the Poultney site and the 4397 tons of locally harvested wood chips required for the facility significantly expands the energy market for Vermont s forest products.

Colchester, VT, April 21, 2010: In recognition of its potential for continued growth, the Vermont Economic Progress Council has awarded MyWebGrocer a Vermont Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI). The VEGI program is designed to encourage economic development within Vermont that would not have otherwise occurred.
Founded in 1999 by Jerry, Brian, and Rich Tarrant, Jr. and headquartered in Colchester, MyWebGrocer currently employs 87 people 75 of whom reside in Vermont. The company has expanded dramatically within the past five months and expects to continue significant growth throughout 2010 and 2011.

Companies enrolled in the VOSHA Green Mountain Voluntary Protection Programs (GMVPP) have, once again, performed at a higher level than the national average of their peers in the area of reportable jobsite injuries and illnesses, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and case types, 2008.

Today, Secretary of State Deb Markowitz announced that over $87,000 in grants were awarded to 19 municipalities to help them to continue to meet the mandates of the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) which was signed into law on October 29, 2002. HAVA provides opportunities for municipalities to improve the administration and access to elections in Vermont. As Vermont s chief election officer, the Secretary of State oversees this process.
This year grants in amounts of up to $7,000 will be used by municipalities to improve accessibility to polling places used for the primary and general elections. Since the program began, the Secretary of State s Office has awarded 136 grants totaling $634,289.72. Markowitz said, This round of grants is intended to help ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to polling places. Funds may be used for improvements such as paving parking areas, building ramps, and improving lighting.

The Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund Board announced today that the Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) has made available $5.5 million to support the installation of solar and small wind projects on homes and businesses across Vermont. The funds are part of the US Department of Energy s State Energy Program funds provided by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
The $5.5 million will allow Vermont to continue the Small Scale Renewable Energy Incentive Program that was first established in 2003. The program exhausted available State funding in 2009. The newly funded and expanded program will begin to take incentive reservations on Earth Day- April 22ed.

All the major candidates for Vermont governor have now released their federal income tax returns. The adjusted gross income for each candidate for 2009 was: Susan Bartlett, $95,969; Brian Dubie, $165,395; Matt Dunne, $198,435; Deb Markowitz, $122,614; Doug Racine, $136,192; and Peter Shumlin, $974,732. To also view Vermont Business Magazine's video statement from each candidate, go to: Why Do You Want To Be Governor? To see the statewide poll conducted in February by Vermont Business Magazine, WCAX-TV and WDEV RadioVermont, go to: Vermont Gubernatorial Poll.