Current News

Champlain College s Emergent Media Center is the recipient of three gifts, totaling $21,000, given in honor of former Dwight Asset Management CEO Laura Dagan s 22 years of service to the company and her recent retirement.
The financial gifts from Dwight Asset Management, its parent company, Old Mutual Asset Management and its client, Graybar Electric Company, were presented to Ann DeMarle, director of Champlain College s Emergent Media Center (EMC).
Dwight Asset wanted to thank and honor Laura for more than two decades of service to our company and the community with these gifts, said David J. Thompson, Dwight s CEO and President. Supporting the EMC and the project they are currently working on with the Population Media Center and the United Nations Population Fund to create an e-game designed to help reduce violence against women, fit perfectly with Laura s desire to make a significant difference in the community.

by Chris Graff.
Fueled by overwhelming disapproval of how Congress has handled health care, Vermonters are fed up with Congress in general and are even unhappy with the job of Vermont s delegation.
President Obama, however, still retains a high job approval rating from Vermonters.
According to a poll of 400 Vermonters released today:
62 percent of those surveyed disapprove of the way Congress has handled health care;
58 percent disapprove of Congress overall performance;
And 44 percent disapprove of the job Vermont s delegation is doing.
Those numbers are some of the lowest ratings recorded for Congress and the Vermont delegation.
Putting that in perspective, though, a New York Times-CBS News poll of 1,000 Americans last week found that just 15 percent of those polled nationally approve of the job Congress is doing.

Governor Jim Douglas, chairman of the National Governors Association (NGA), will lead the nation’s governors at their annual winter meeting in Washington this weekend. At the meeting, governors will address critical issues, including health care reform and the economy. They will also meet with President Obama, members of his Administration, business leaders and other experts for discussions on a host of issues and challenges facing states.
“It is a great honor and responsibility to chair the National Governors Association,” said Governor Douglas. “This is a critical time as our nation and the states are facing enormous fiscal and economic challenges. This weekend is an opportunity for governors to meet with one another, the President and his Administration and others from the public and private sector to discuss ways to get our economy back on track, create jobs and address pressing challenges, like health care.”

People's United Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: PBCT) announced today that it completed its acquisition of Financial Federal Corporation, a $1.3 billion financial services company providing collateralized lending, financing and leasing services nationwide to small and medium sized businesses nationwide. The combined company has over $22 billion in assets. People's United owns Chittenden Bank. The deal is valued at $738 million in cash and securities.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced an estimated $12,603,596 in financial relief to Vermont. This help will be provided to states by reducing the amount Vermont will have to pay the federal government to offset the cost of Medicare coverage for prescription drugs for state residents eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
Thursday s announcement is part of a nationwide action that will provide some budget relief to states in these difficult economic times.

Chittenden Superior Court issued an order on Friday that prevents Burlington from spending any city funds on a $386,000 interest payment that was due Wednesday towards Burlington Telecom's $33.5 million dollar debt, according to a story in the , according to a story in the Burlington Free Press, unless they are granted permission by the state Public Service Board. On Tuesday, the PSB denied the city that permission.
The order was a response to a request by the attorneys of Eugene Shaver and Fred Osier, who have filed a suit to require the city to repay $17 million that it spent on BT. By using city money to fund BT, city officials violated Condition 60 of the company's state license. The order prevents any spending that violates Condition 60, and says that the city must document and prove to the court that any money from the city account used to fund BT can be repaid with revenue from BT.

Today, during the Vermont Aerospace & Aviation Association (VAAA) Open House, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas signed a proclamation declaring February as General Aviation Appreciation Month, highlighting the significance the industry has on Vermont s statewide economy. Douglas also presented a $30,000 grant to South Burlington to fund preliminary work on a new Burlington Aviation Technical Training Center at the Burlington International Airport.
The VAAA is a division of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce which manages this association in partnership with Lt. Governor and VAAA Chair Brian Dubie, who also serves as National Chair of the Aerospace States Association. The event was attended by general aviation (GA) leaders from around the country including Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA) Executive Director Selena Shilad.

Governor Jim Douglas today announced his full support for both the Future’s Plan concept and the specific recommendations of the Department of Mental Health. The Governor also announced a funding plan that will allow these new facilities to open starting in 2012 and fully close the Vermont State Hospital by 2014. The Governor proposes to appropriate any future extension of enhanced Medicaid matching funds (also known as FMAP) to fulfilling the plans outlined in the Future Group report.
“Even in difficult financial times,” said Governor Douglas, “good ideas can move forward and be funded in a fiscally responsible manner. It is fortuitous that the estimated amount of one-time enhanced ARRA funding matches up squarely with the need for one-time funding to build the Futures Plan.”

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today announced the launch of an innovative biomass energy project at Vermont Technical College. A wood pellet boiler will serve both as a practical heating source for a building on the college campus and as an invaluable hands-on learning tool for students interested in the growing field of renewable energy jobs.
Sanders, chairman of the Senate Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee, secured $184,995 in federal funding for the project through the U.S. Department of Energy. Vermont Technical College will provide an additional $55,865.
Sanders said the project is part of an effort he and others around the state are making “to transform Vermont’s energy system so that we can become more energy independent, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and create good-paying local jobs. As we move forward toward improved energy efficiency through wind, solar, and geothermal energy, we also must understand the importance of biomass.”

LEDdynamics hired a new employee this week – and they hope to hire more. Despite the economic downturn, this Randolph business, a national leader in energy efficient LED lighting technology, is growing. In part, they credit their success to marketing efforts funded with Recovery Act dollars.
Through a $65,000 USDA Rural Development Rural Business Enterprise Grant backed with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, the Randolph Area Community Development Corporation (RACDC) was able to finance marketing services and technical assistance for two Randolph companies - LEDdynamics and the Randolph Farm Stand.

Ben & Jerry s announces its commitment to go fully Fair Trade across its entire global flavor portfolio. From Americone Dream to Chocolate Fudge Brownie, all of the flavors in all of the countries where Ben & Jerry s is sold will be converted to Fair Trade Certified ingredients by the end of 2013.
Ben & Jerry s was the first ice cream company in the world to use Fair Trade Certified ¢ ingredients starting in 2005, and today it s racing ahead as the first ice cream company to make such a significant commitment to Fair Trade across its global portfolio.
Company co-founder Jerry Greenfield said, Fair Trade is about making sure people get their fair share of the pie. The whole concept of Fair Trade goes to the heart of our values and sense of right and wrong. Nobody wants to buy something that was made by exploiting somebody else.

A new lighting technology that saves energy and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions may be coming soon to a street near you. Green Mountain Power has submitted a plan to the Vermont Public Service Board to offer LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights to replace worn-out mercury vapor lights in streetlights throughout its service area. The Colchester utility is the first electric utility in New England -- and one of only a handful in the country -- to offer an LED-specific rate to customers for outdoor lighting.
"Offering this new lighting technology to our customers furthers Green Mountain Power's commitment to being an environmentally responsible company," said Mary Powell, Green Mountain Power president and chief executive officer. "By promoting energy efficient technology we help customers to reduce the amount of energy they use and we also protect Vermont night sky." The type of LED lights being used are full cut off, meaning no light will shine above the fixture.