Current News

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is now accepting funding applications for 2011 Transportation Enhancement projects. The Agency anticipates awarding up to $1.5 million to municipalities, non-profits, and State and Federal agencies that can be used to enhance Vermont’s transportation system in 12 broad categories.
Grant awards will be made in the $10,000 to $300,000 range. Projects require a 20 percent local match and must have a strong transportation connection, but they cannot be roadway projects or maintenance activities.
“All towns, cities and non-profit agencies operate with limited financial resources,” said VTrans Secretary David Dill. “The transportation enhancement grant program is a great opportunity for them to acquire funding for projects that otherwise they could not afford.”

US Representative Peter Welch on Monday called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to expand its investigation into allegedly fraudulent securities sold by Goldman Sachs to determine whether the federal government can recoup bank rescue funds.
In a letter to SEC Chairwoman Mary Schapiro, Welch joined Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) in asking the SEC to determine whether taxpayer support received by the American International Group (AIG) was transferred to Goldman to cover fraudulent activities.
On Friday the SEC filed a civil suit against Goldman alleging the firm misled investors by failing to disclose that one of 25 collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) sold by the firm was designed to fail. Seven similar CDOs were guaranteed by credit default swaps from AIG. Of the $180 billion AIG received in taxpayer assistance, $12.9 billion was transferred to Goldman to settle the bad credit default swaps.

The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, of which Chittenden Bank is a division, announced today that it has awarded $10,000 to Vermont Works for Women in Winooski, Vermont.

Governor Douglas will the the recently passed e-waste bill into law at the Chittenden Solid Waste District's Williston Drop-Off Center on Redmond Road. The signing is scheduled for 3 pm.
Attendees at this event will include legislators who worked on the bill, Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Jonathon Wood, CSWD staff and board members, VPIRG, and other interested parties. This event coincides with Earth Day week.

Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont moved just 0.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.90/g today. This compares with the national average that has stayed flat, moving just 1 cent per gallon in the last week to $2.87/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Vermont during the past week, prices today are 87.2 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 5.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 5.9 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 83.4 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.
Source: VermontGasPrices.com. 4.19.2010

The Board of Trustees of Goddard College has elected Dr Barbara Vacarr as its next president. Dr Vacarr is currently serving as Director of Lesley University’s School of Education PhD Programs in Cambridge. The announcement came following a special meeting of Goddard’s Board of Trustees. Vacarr is expected to assume leadership of Goddard College on July 1, 2010, when President Mark Schulman steps away. Dr Schulman, Goddard’s third-longest serving president, has led Goddard since 2003.

The National Governors Association (NGA) has selected Vermont, as one of only six states, to develop high-quality, comprehensive state early childhood systems through a new initiative, Ready States: A Project to Develop Key Components of State Early Childhood Infrastructure. With a history of successful investments in early childhood systems and a high rating for child health and wellbeing, Vermont has the vision, team, and commitment to use this technical assistance to help ensure that all Vermont’s young children get what they need to grow, learn and thrive.
“This opportunity comes at a perfect time,” Governor Douglas said of the award. “Vermont is committed to redesigning how we provide government services with a focus on performance-based measures and greater accountability using data to improve outcomes and service delivery. The NGA’s “Ready States” initiative will help us develop a much needed early childhood data system.”

The Vermont Farm Women's Fund (VFWF) is offering its next round of grants to help women farmers improve their businesses or become more involved in agricultural policy development. The proposal deadline is May 15, 2010.
VFWF will also offer two free workshops – an in person session and another via conference call. These workshops are designed to answer questions and help prospective applicants understand the elements of a successful proposal. Both workshops will be held on April 27, and registration information is available at http://www.uvm.edu/~vfwf.

TruexCullins Architecture and Interior Design and Heritage Aviation received the Burlington Business Association's Hertzel N Pasackow Architectural Excellence Award for the General Aviation facility project in South Burlington, Vermont. The total renovation of this vacant 60,000 SF 1955-era Army National Guard hangar, located at the south end of the Burlington International Airport, stripped the existing building of all exterior walls and windows to expose the underlying steel and concrete structure. A 25-foot wide addition at the runway-side of the building increased the size of the existing hangar space and includes a two-story passenger lobby with views to the airport and Vermont landscape through two-story glass windows. The exposed structure was outfitted with a high-performance exterior envelope including insulated metal panels, thermally efficient windows and a new high-insulation-value roof.

During a Friday afternoon press conference with Vermont dairy leaders in Fairfax, Representative Peter Welch outlined new legislation to prevent volatility in the dairy industry and help Vermont farmers. At the McNall family farm in Fairfax, Welch announced he will introduce the Dairy Price Stabilization Act next week with Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA). The bill seeks to stabilize the milk market by creating a disincentive for farmers to rapidly increase their herd size when prices increase.
“Following last year’s devastating dairy price crisis, the need for a plan to match supply with demand is clear. To delay in addressing the enduring challenges of price volatility is to leave Vermont farmers vulnerable to a system that simply is not working,” Welch said. “Introducing this bill is just a first step, but it is an important step. Working together, we will refine it to ensure that it works for dairy farmers – in Vermont and throughout the country.”

(Vermont Business Magazine) The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2010 was 6.5 percent, down one tenth from the revised February rate and down five tenths from a year ago.

Shelburne Shipyard has been recognized by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation as the First Vermont Clean Marina. This recognition is for the Marina’s ongoing efforts in protecting and enhancing the quality of Vermont’s environment...”We made a commitment to be Vermont’s First Clean Marina and our staff made it happen” said Mary Griswold Shelburne Shipyard’s President.