Current News

Following the termination of service by the Ticonderoga Ferry, the New York State Department of Transportation has announced increased bus service to assist commuters who previously used the Champlain Bridge. The following is an update from NYSDOT regarding those transportation changes around the area of the former bridge, which was demolished December 28.
Construction of the new temporary ferry continues to be fast-tracked in order to reestablish a consistent transportation connection between New York and Vermont across Lake Champlain at Crown Point.
As you already know, the Ti Ferry was unable to obtain insurance to continue its service past January 3, 2010. Since New York State can not insure a private company, and since all the marine insurers approached by the Ti Ferry declined to provide insurance, the Ti Ferry is now uninsured and cannot operate.

Vermont residents may now obtain an Enhanced Drivers License (EDL) at the Burlington office of the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, which is located at 1193 North Avenue. Until recently, the only place an EDL was available was in Montpelier. The Rutland DMV began issuing EDLs in December, and now the service is available in Burlington.
An EDL provides Vermonters with all the motor-vehicle privileges of a normal drivers license, but it has the added advantage of being recognized by the United States federal government as proper documentation to cross the Canadian border by either land or sea.
“Many Vermonters have inquired about obtaining an EDL, but for many the trip to Montpelier was just too much trouble,” said Vermont DMV Commissioner Robert Ide. “Employees at the Rutland and Burlington offices now have received the extensive training necessary to issues this passport-type document.”

General Electric Aviation in Rutland, Vt., was awarded $11.9 million in tax credits for a clean energy manufacturing project, Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced today. GE Aviation will take advantage of the tax credit to buy machinery and equipment for manufacturing a new aircraft engine designed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce fuel consumption.
The award to the Vermont manufacturer was one of 183 for projects in 43 states that will share in $2.3 billion in advanced energy manufacturing tax credits. The investment tax credits, worth up to 30 percent of each planned project, will leverage private capital for a total investment of nearly $7.7 billion in high-tech manufacturing in the United States.

Governor Jim Douglas and Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie where joined by Senator Economic Development Committee Chair Vince Illuzzi and committee members Senator Tom Ashe and Senator Bill Carris today to roll out a bill that would use federal stimulus money for job creation programs. The announcement was made at a press conference held at an economic outlook conference where Governor Douglas was speaking.
This $8.6 million investment of federal stimulus funds will help train workers, provide capital for businesses, and assist our farmers and tourism-related businesses, the Governor said. We must dedicate ourselves to putting the economic strength of Vermonters first and I am pleased that Senator Illuzzi and his committee will move quickly on these proposals.

Following is a statement submitted by Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin and House Speaker Shap Smith regarding Governor Douglas' State of the State Address given yesterday: "Like Vermonters, the state is facing tough economic times. As we work to address this crisis and a budget shortfall of $150 million we intend to best serve Vermonters by working together, across party lines and branches of government.
"We are pleased that the Governor shares our commitment to making the economic success of Vermonters a top priority. Too many Vermonters are unemployed and underemployed facing stagnant incomes and mounting bills. In order to help our fragile economy get back on track we will be holding a jobs forum on January 21. We will hear from employers across the state to learn how we can better partner with them to create more opportunities for Vermonters.

Vermont Yankee released a statement yesterday reporting that, for the first time, a small amount of tritium, a radioactive isotope, has been identified in a sample taken from a monitoring well at the plant. Tritium is a form of hydrogen that occurs naturally and is also a byproduct of nuclear plant operation. It is also used in illuminated products such as exit signs. Based on the experience of other US nuclear plants, Yankee has been specifically monitoring for tritium as part of an industry-wide monitoring program.

Connor Homes received a national home building accolade, capturing the three award(s) or honorable mention(s) in the 2010 BSC Excellence in Home Design and Marketing Awards program. The honor was awarded by the Building Systems Councils (BSC) of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)—a trade association that represents the concrete, log, modular, and panelized building system industries—at their annual awards program on November 2, 2009.
Sponsored by the NAHB Building Systems Councils, the BSC Excellence in Marketing and Home Design Awards has promoted excellence in the systems-built housing industry for more than ten years. All winners were announced at an awards luncheon in Marco Island, Fla., held in conjunction with the BSC SHOWCASE event—the leading trade show and conference based centered on the systems-built housing industry. Home manufacturers, builders and industry associates were among the groups recognized.

City Market, Onion River Co-op donated the proceeds from its 12th annual Holiday Tree sale to the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS). City Market staff presented the check totaling $8,500 to COTS Director of Development Kim Borsavage. The annual tree sale to benefit COTS has been held at the Co-op for the past 12 years, bringing the total donation to over $52,000.
“We are so grateful to City Market for this annual event, these are difficult times for many struggling Vermonters and the number of families turning to COTS for shelter has increased dramatically,” said Borsavage. “The funds raised through the Holiday Tree Sale will go directly to providing a warm, safe refuge for those who have no place left to turn.”

Governor Douglas this afternoon gave his final State of the State address before the Vermont Legislature. His budget address will come next week. But most of this speech dealt with the budget and the economy. Certainly the centerpiece of this speech concerned public education reform.

The State of Vermont licensed 39 new captive insurance companies in 2009 as it approaches the 900-license milestone, according to data released by the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration (BISHCA). Despite challenging economic conditions, Vermont licensed its 6th highest tally of captives in its 29-year history.
A strong and growing captive industry is good for our economy, Governor Jim Douglas said. That this industry is growing in Vermont, even during this difficult time for our economy, is a testament to the hard work of our economic development officials and the professionals at BISHCA. It also demonstrates our state s economic potential when we put in place policies that make us competitive in an industry or sector.

This past June a television production team came to Vermont to scout out locations, food producers and chefs for a series of Vermont-based episodes of celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse's Emeril Green fresh, whole foods cooking show airing on Planet Green, a division of Discovery Communications. The Inn at Weathersfield, an historic 12-room inn and restaurant in Perkinsville, and Cedar Circle Farm, a 50-acre certified organic farm and education center in East Thetford, were selected to represent southeastern and central Vermont. Filming took place in September and the Emeril Green episode premieres next week.

The Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) was recently awarded a $235,000 economic development grant from the US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support the region’s businesses in minimizing economic dislocations resulting in natural or man-made disasters.
In 2008, towns within the TRORC area were impacted by severe flooding and Congress appropriated funding to EDA to assist businesses in disaster recovery efforts by conducting proper planning in advance of disasters. TRORC sought this nationally competitive funding to meet with the region’s businesses and conduct “business continuity of operations planning”. This effort will identify the vulnerability of a business to disruptions in raw materials and supplies, finished product transportation, employee movement and other factors.