Current News

Secretary of State Deb Markowitz will officially announce her candidacy for governor Monday, at a public event in Barre at the Barre Auditorium's Alumni Hall. Markowitz will tour the state Monday and Tuesday, listening to Vermonters' ideas about jump starting the economy and she will lay out her vision for economic development, education and the state's energy needs.
Source: Markowitz campaign.

Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont moved just 1.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.79/g today. This compares with the national average that has increased 4.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.74/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Vermont during the past week, prices today are 84.9 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 2.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 9.7 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 80.8 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.
About VermontGasPrices.com
GasBuddy.com operates over 200 live gasoline price-tracking websites, including VermontGasPrices.com. GasBuddy.com was named one of Time magazine's 50 best websites and to PC World's 100 most useful websites of 2008.
Source: VermontGasPrices.com 3.8.2010
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City Market, Burlington’s only community-owned grocery store, is officially powered by the sun. After a year of planning and a few weather delays, the installation of 136 solar panels on the Co-op’s roof is completed. The project will generate 31 kilowatts of power which will help the Co-op to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by at least three percent.

An inspection Friday by Vermont Yankee engineers and technicians revealed a dime/quarter size hole at an elbow in a 1 to 1.5 inch diameter AOG drain line, according to a statement released late Friday afternoon. Water and steam Could be seen coming from this hole. Concrete blocks at the junction of the Advanced Off Gas pipe tunnel and the OG-100 drain line connection have been removed allowing telescopic camera and Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) inspection of the tunnel.

Governor Jim Douglas today awarded more than $630,000 in Community Development Block Grants to South Burlington, Montpelier, Vergennes, Georgia and Bristol. At a ceremony at the American Legion Post 14 in Vergennes, the Governor announced funding for an affordable housing project for the elderly, as well as money for improvements to make the Georgia and Bristol municipal buildings handicapped accessible.
This project will provide much-needed housing for seniors in Vergennes, with on-site services and easy access to nearby services and the community, Governor Douglas said. These kinds of projects are an important part of Vermont s housing stock, particularly as more of our population seeks to remain in their communities as they age. (See list below)

The Vermont House is expected to begin working next week on an $8.7 million economic stimulus bill that its Senate sponsor says will put a lot of contractors to work.
The federally funded measure, which would pump money into several of the state's economic development programs, passed the Senate on a voice vote last month (see summary attached). Governor James Douglas says he supports the legislation.
The funding is available to Vermont as part of the national economic recovery package developed last year by President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress .
Senator Vincent Illuzzi (R-Essex-Orlean), the bill's main architect, says its provisions are intended to help repair some of the damage inflicted on Vermont's economy by the national recession. While there's no firm estimate of the number of jobs the legislation may create or save, Illuzzi suggests that its impact will be felt in many parts of the state and by Vermonters in many industries.

Laid off workers at the former Monahan Filaments (formerly Specialty Filaments) plant in Middlebury will be eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance through the US Department of Labor. This could lead up to an additional $12,000 in benefits. The DOL announced yesterday that approximately 5,500 workers from companies in 12 states California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Vermont are eligible to apply for assistance related to jobs lost to foreign trade. Monahan laid off 69 workers when it closed the bristle and broom manufacturing facility last November. It previously laid off 54 workers in April 2009.

As predicted based on a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) for the nonpartisan and nonprofit Civil Society Institute, the vast majority of Vermont Town Meetings deliberating this week the fate of the Vermont Yankee came out in support of closure of the controversial nuclear reactor by 2012. The final tally of Town Meetings in Vermont opposing the relicensing of Vermont Yankee was 14-1. The town of Rockingham was alone in passing a pro-Vermont Yankee resolution and, even then, only by a margin of three votes, according to reports. Towns voting in favor of shutting down Vermont Yankee were: Thetford, Bristol, Fayston, Brookfield, Montgomery, Woodstock, Moretown, Waitsfield, Danville, Cabot, Huntington, Sharon, and Jamaica. Additionally, Cambridge elected to table the issue.

The Lamoille Valley Chamber of Commerce named Garret Hirchak of Manufacturing Solutions Inc Community Business Leader of the Year an honor recognizing business persons who are active in their communities, demonstrate dedication to employees and co workers and are leaders in their fields.

This week, Allen Lumber, the Vermont building supply company, joined forces with local dairy farmers to launch the Keep Local Farms initiative throughout its six Vermont stores. Allen Lumber is the second retailer in the country to implement the Keep Local Farms program. Hannaford Supermarkets announced their partnership in January. The initiative will help raise funds for local northeast dairy farmers, ensure a local, fresh supply of milk, and provide customers a way to support local dairy farmers and the local food network they help to sustain.
We see the Keep Local Farms program as an opportunity to support our dairy industry. Supporting local businesses is important to our business and there is nothing more local than our Vermont dairy farmers, said Lance Allen, Manager of Allen Lumber.

First Student drivers, mechanics and dispatchers in Berlin, Vermont, have voted overwhelmingly, 41-6, in favor of representation by Teamsters Local 597 in South Barre. The workers came together seeking respect, fairness and improved safety. There are 63 workers in the bargaining unit.
"I'm really happy we're Teamsters. I'm going to be respected as a driver now," said Marina Gorton, a First Student worker. "I walked right into the Teamsters office several months ago because we needed job security, better communication and no more favoritism. Even overnight, since our vote, the atmosphere has gotten better in the office."
This is another example of how Joint Councils and local unions, working together, provide an organizing opportunity for workers that definitely need help in the workplace," said Ronald Rabideau, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 597.

One of Vermont s fastest-growing companies remains on track for continued expansion despite a recent round of layoffs, its CEO says. Choice Care Card, based in Waterbury, was a recipient of a 2009 Vermont Business Magazine award in recognition of the 711 percent growth in sales that it achieved during the previous five years. The company holds the sixth position on the magazine s list of the top 10 growth firms in the state as of 2008. CEO James Hunter acknowledged in a March 4 interview, however, that the company recently laid off fewer than 20 employees.

"We re-engineered our process to become more efficient, Hunter said. That resulted in the ability to reduce the workforce.