Current News
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Vermont will get $8.5 million as the US Department of Labor today announced fiscal year 2010 allotments to states and outlying areas under the Workforce Investment Act and Wagner-Peyser Act. New Hampshire will get over $10 million. The nearly $4 billion in total funds will be used to help Americans get back to work through high quality employment and training services, which are delivered largely through the department's national network of One-Stop Career Centers.
"These funds, and the employment and training services that they support, are a cornerstone of our nationwide effort to prepare America's workers for good jobs the kind that spur the economy and pay family-supporting wages," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "As they seek out careers in promising local industries, workers need access to high quality training and employment services. I am pleased that this funding will help support those efforts."
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As the extraction well pumping continues, Vermont Yankee technicians continue to sample for tritium via the monitoring wells. According to Vermont Yankee, a recent positive reading for tritium in one of the deep (70 feet) overburden wells was mischaracterized in news reports as a new source of tritium. It is not. The groundwater monitoring data shows that the flow of groundwater is east/northeast with a slight downward gradient. With the leakage stopped, the down-gradient soils and well readings had not reached an equilibrium. Therefore, slightly elevated levels to the east/northeast are due to the residual tritiated groundwater flow in that direction. Since the leakage was stopped, the monitoring wells near plant equipment show a definite downward trend in tritium concentration. The overall flow gradient in the bedrock is upward and there has been no tritium detected in any drinking water wells or in the river.
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The NRC today canceled a closed-door session to discuss Vermont Yankee and instead is inviting elected officials to attend an already-scheduled meeting in Brattleboro April 12. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) had called on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to reconsider its decision to hold a closed-door meeting with local, state and federal officials in Keene, NH, on April 14. Those interested in attending the meeting April 12 should be aware that the NRC might move the location to a larger venue.
The Vermont delegation s letter follows. The NRC statement follows the letter:
March 30, 2010
The Honorable Gregory B. Jaczko
Chairman
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, D.C. 20555-0001
Dear Chairman Jaczko:
by og
Vermont Business Magazine recently interviewed all six gubernatorial candidates: Democrats Susan Bartlett, Matt Dunne, Deb Markowitz, Doug Racine and Peter Shumlin, and Republican Brian Dubie. During the course of these conversations, we asked them all the same question on the record. No one knew before hand what question we were going to video and no one got a re-do. The question was: Why do you want to be governor? Here are their responses.
With a career as both a business executive and an innovative public servant, Matt Dunne has the unique experience necessary to take Vermont forward into the next era. Whether as a leader at global firms, a state legislator, or as director of the federal AmeriCorps*VISTA program, Matt's professional life exhibits energy, experience, and innovation.
by tim
2010 Best Places to Work in Vermont awards ceremony held in Burlington
Wells River Savings Bank and Merchants Bank were the top winners at a ceremony held last night to honor the top employers in the state. The ceremony was held at the Main Street Landing Film House in Burlington to reveal the 2010 Best Places to Work in Vermont rankings and honor the recipients. A joint project of Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the awards went to 15 companies from around the state.
by intern
Friday, April 9, 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.>, at the Shapiro Fieldhouse at Norwich University , the Physical Education Instructors representing the class of 2010 Vermont elementary schools, and PE Majors from Norwich University will receive their introduction, training, equipment and curricula for The Vermont First Tee National School Program Initiative. Vermont PGA Professionals representing the golf clubs that will offer the First Tee students transitional golf opportunities will join in the training.
The hands-on nature of the event will give the media interview, photo and video opportunities.
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Governor Jim Douglas today announced that 30 Vermont communities in 2010 will receive a combined $3.8 million for transportation enhancement projects.
Since 1995, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) has awarded enhancement grants to communities and non-profit organizations for a wide range of federally-eligible projects such as restoring historic buildings, rebuilding and extending sidewalks, enhancing the environment, improving hiking and biking trails, purchasing scenic easements and repairing historic bridges. Since the programs inception, more than 330 grant awards have been made to Vermont communities totaling over $45 million.
These grants provide seed money so communities can complete important transportation projects they otherwise might not be able to afford, Governor Douglas said. The projects not only improve our existing transportation system, but they provide a significant contribution to the state s economy.
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Comcast, a leading provider of entertainment, information and communications, today announced that it has completed a 300-mile network expansion in Vermont, bringing more than 6,000 additional homes and businesses in 25 communities access to the cost savings, innovative features and reliability of Comcast’s digital TV, high-speed Internet and voice services. Four of the communities – South Hero, Grand Isle, North Hero and Brookline – had not previously had access to Comcast’s advanced broadband services prior to the extension of the company’s fiber-optic network. With the recent additions, Comcast has extended its fiber-optic network by more than 1,200 miles since arriving in Vermont in 2006.
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The Vermont Community Foundation awarded a total of $10.6 million in grants in 2009, including $281,250 made at the end of the year to 60 organizations as part of the Foundation’s Community Fund grant program. The program awards grants to organizations that support Basic Human Needs (children, elderly and family services, housing, food and shelter, health); Successful Communities (civic engagement, diversity and equity, education); and Sustainable Communities (arts, humanities and cultural heritage, environment, economic development).
All grants were made for general operating support.
Statewide
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Project WorkSAFE, Vermont’s Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program, is pleased to announce that Long Trail Brewing of Bridgewater Corners has successfully completed and met the requirements of the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
The company and the Vermont Department of Labor’s, Project WorkSAFE Program began working on the certification process over 12 months ago.
“We applaud the employees and management of Long Trail Brewing in this accomplishment, especially in these tough economic times” said Scott Meyer, Manager of Project WorkSAFE.
“We are excited about Long Trail’s continued leadership as a Vermont based brewer”, said Brian Walsh, President of Long Trail Brewing. Walsh went on to emphasize, “The SHARP recognition is an extension of the company’s passion to make award winning beer, but with emphasis on a safe and healthy environment for our brewing team.”
by tim
On March 24, Lund clients, staff, legislators, trustees and friends joined together in the Cedar Creek Room at the Vermont State House, to celebrate Lund Family Center’s services to families throughout Vermont at the kick-off celebration honoring Lund’s 120th Anniversary Year. Event Co-Chairs Jeanne Kennedy and Kit Stone cut the congratulatory cake and served it to the large group of supporters and friends gathered in tribute to Lund’s mission and accomplishments. A resolution had been adopted earlier in the day in the Vermont House of Representatives to recognize Lund’s dedication to strengthening families and helping children thrive. The resolution was sponsored by Rep. Johanna Leddy Donovan of Burlington, a former member of the LFC Board of Trustees, and co-sponsored by over sixty House members, who represented a full spectrum of legislators.
by tim
Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont moved just 0.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.85/g today. This compares with the national average that has stayed flat, moving just 1.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.79/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Vermont during the past week, prices today are 83.7 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 7.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 10.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 76.6 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.