Current News

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.

Brendan Kinney has been named Vice President for Development and Marketing for Vermont Public Radio. Kinney will oversee all of VPR s fundraising efforts, including major and planned giving, membership, underwriting, foundation grants, and capital campaigns. He ll also be responsible for crafting a strategy to reach new listeners. Kinney joined VPR last month.

"We are delighted to welcome Brendan to VPR, said VPR President Robin
Turnau. His 15 years of work in development and public relations, along
with his leadership experience and enthusiasm for public radio, will
help VPR achieve its goals of growing our local news effort and web
presence, as well as expanding the VPR Classical network."

Kinney comes to VPR from SUNY Plattsburgh, where he served as Associate
Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of
Marketing and Public Relations. Previously, he was Director of Saint

Secretary of Administration Neale F. Lunderville and Vermont Troopers Association
(VTA) President Michael O Neil today announced that the Administration and VTA have reached
agreement on a new one year labor contract, subject to ratification by the VTA membership.
The agreement will produce over $970,000 in total savings in FY11, $162,540 attributable to General
Fund savings and $719,679 in Transportation Fund savings. In entering into the agreement, the State will
achieve the same level of savings in FY11 as it would have achieved if the VTA took a 3% pay cut and
step freeze, as other bargaining units agreed to do recently.
The cost saving achieved from the agreement is good news for the taxpayers of Vermont. I appreciate
that the troopers are doing their part to address budget concerns during these challenging times, said

The US Senate Wednesday night confirmed former Vermont Assistant Attorney General Julie Brill for a vacancy on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Brill served for more than 20 years as Vermont s Assistant Attorney General for Consumer Protection and Antitrust, from 1988 to 2009. Since February 2009 she had been the Senior Deputy Attorney General and Chief of Consumer Protection and Antitrust for the North Carolina Department of Justice.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced Brill at her Commerce Committee confirmation hearing. Leahy chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over many of the antitrust, consumer protection and consumer privacy laws enforced by the FTC and by the U.S. Department of Justice. Leahy called Brill Wednesday night with the news of the Senate s action and congratulated her.

Burlington Police Chief Michael E Schirling testified Tuesday afternoon before a congressional panel chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). Leahy invited Schirling to testify at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Encouraging Innovative and Cost-Effective Crime Reduction Strategies.
Leahy has made state and local law enforcement issues a priority for the Judiciary Committee this Congress. He dedicated the first hearing of the 111th Congress to examining the needs of state and local law enforcement. Last year, Leahy worked to secure $4 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for state and local law enforcement, including the successful Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. Twenty-five police departments in Vermont were recipients of COPS funding included in the ARRA. In 2008, Leahy twice brought the Judiciary Committee to Vermont to hear testimony about community efforts to address crime.