Current News

The "aging of America" extends far beyond urban boundaries; 25 percent of all U.S. "elders" live in rural communities, a panel recently told the Vermont Farm Health Task Force at its quarterly meeting. Those who actively continue to farm exhibit the effects of an exceptionally vigorous life combined with a lack of relevant health care opportunities and access.
Seventy percent of Vermont farmers are older than age 45. Often there is no next generation waiting to take over the tractor seat. Many older farmers suffer from osteoarthritis; they tend to have a higher percentage of work-related disabilities than the general population, caused by repetitive motion and the dangers inherent to farming. Fifty percent of older farmers lack power take off protection shields, roll over protection systems (ROPS) on their tractors, stated Karen Burke, M.D., Fletcher Allen Medical Center (FAMC), Family Medicine Physician/Geriatrics.

An innovative new maple spout developed by the University of Vermont’s Proctor Maple Research Center with funding secured by Senator Patrick Leahy will have a dramatic impact on maple syrup production and boost job creation and economic development in the state, the senator announced at a press conference today. The new spout, which already has a million advance orders, will increase sap yields by 50 to 90 percent per tree, Senator Leahy said.
The announcement was made at Progressive Plastics in Williamstown, which began commercial production of the device, called a check valve spout, the day of the press conference. Progressive Plastics is manufacturing the spout for Leader Evaporating Company of Swanton, which licensed the technology from UVM and will market and sell it.

delSECUR CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation, (Pink Sheets: DLSC) announced today that its Board of Directors has accepted the majority Consent vote of over 60% of its shareholders in favour of the agreement to purchase the Intellectual Property Assets of delSECUR CORPORATION which was announced on August 4(th). The consideration for such purchase is in the form of a 49% interest in the shares of common stock of Q Tech Systems, Inc., an Ontario, Canada, corporation.

Secretary of Administration Neale F. Lunderville has released General Fund revenue results for the month of July, the first month of Fiscal Year 2010. General Fund revenues totaled $83.54 million for July 2009, +$0.62 million or +0.75% above the $82.91 million consensus revenue forecast for the month and year-to-date.
“While the General Fund finished above target for the first month of the new fiscal year (FY 2010), this was achieved only after the FY 2010 target was reduced on July 16th,” said Secretary Lunderville. “The pattern of quarterly reductions that we saw throughout FY 2009 has continued into the new fiscal year,” said Lunderville.

A foreclosed apartment building will be refurbished and two blighted downtown buildings razed for redevelopment after the City of Barre was awarded a nearly $1.8 million grant by the Douglas Administration. In a ceremony at City Hall Park, Deputy Commerce and Community Development Secretary Jim Saudade announced the $1,769,400 Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant, funded by the federal government in response to the mortgage foreclosure crisis that gripped the country last year.
“This money will help Barre revitalize its downtown, as well as preserve much-needed affordable housing,” Saudade said. “And it will help the economy in the short-term as well by creating jobs for local contractors and others.”
The Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant will be used for three projects:
1) $994,400 will be sub-granted to Central Vermont Community Land Trust who will buy the foreclosed apartment building at 8-10 Laurel St. and completely rehabilitate it;

Sam Palmisano of Pulcinella’s in South Burlington took home the title of the Top Chef of the Champlain Valley for the second year in a row. Palmisano competed against Chef Robert Barral of Café Provence and JJ Vezina of the Windjammer Restaurant and Upper Deck Pub in an Iron Chef competition using all fresh Vermont produce, cheese and proteins donated by area farmers. The secret ingredient was announced to the chefs and the audience at the start of the competition and each chef had 50 minutes to create an appetizer and entrée highlighting this year’s secret ingredient, honey. Chef Palmisano’s winning dish was a honeyed lamb tartare on mesclun greens in a ring of lightly roasted green pepper and for his entrée offered up a sweet and savory crusted lamb on wilted greens and gnocchi with honey sauce.

Two of Vermont’s most innovative trade associations have decided to join forces. Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) and Local First Vermont are merging their memberships. VBSR is a statewide business membership organization made up of over 600 Vermont companies representing over 30,000 employees and $4.5 billion in annual sales. Local First Vermont has been one of the leading voices in the “Buy Local” movement in Vermont.
“A new economy is taking shape in Vermont.” said VBSR board chair Julie Lineberger. “It features an old-fashioned appreciation for supporting our neighbors and communities and taking care of our land. Local First Vermont and VBSR are leaders in the creation of that new economy. We are delighted to team up with the hundreds of business members of Local First Vermont to promote strong local communities.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $2,424,030 in recovery funding to the Burlington International Airport for taxiway rehabilitation and extension, Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced. The funding will be used to rehabilitate and repave the intersection of two taxiways and to extend a third taxiway. The projects are part of the airport's multi-phase South End Development program, which will enhance cargo, aircraft maintenance and general aviation capabilities. Airport officials estimate the program could create as many as 350 new jobs at the airport over the next 10 years.
The award is the latest federal grant made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was signed into law in February.

Vermont continues to have by far the lowest foreclosure rate in the nation, more than four times lower than the next best state. RealtyTrac(R) (www.realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, has released its July 2009 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows foreclosure filings -- default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions -- were reported on 360,149 U.S. properties during the month, an increase of nearly 7 percent from the previous month and an increase of 32 percent from July 2008. The report also shows that one in every 355 U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing in July.

The Douglas Administration has announced that Vermont State Parks are going solar as part of the state’s strategy to fight back against the recession, create jobs and grow the economy. The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is planning to install solar hot water systems at its toilet buildings and bathhouses in state park campgrounds statewide. The Department has designated $600,000 for these solar hot water conversions.
“The potential to tap renewable energy in more locations throughout the park system is a high priority for my administration,” said Governor Jim Douglas. “This project puts people to work, helps the state parks save money and is another small smart step in addressing climate change.”
As part of the 2010 capital bill, the Legislature approved the funds specifically for energy efficiency and alternative energy systems in the parks.

Via Cheese, a Swanton-based cheese manufacturer, will receive three-quarters-of-a million dollars from the state to help modernize the former Lucille Farms cheese factory. In a ceremony at the plant Wednesday, Commerce and Community Development Secretary Kevin Dorn announced the $750,000 Community Development Block Grant to the Town of Swanton, which will be loaned to Via Cheese, a manufacturer of mozzarella, provolone, and other products. Additional funding is being provided in the form of a $150,000 loan from the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation. The total project cost is estimated at just over $1 million and work is expected to begin at the plant in the coming months.

Following announcements that they would be moving their corporate headquarters from Waterbury, Vermont, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters have revealed that the company will nonetheless remain in Vermont.
According to the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters had been planning to relocate out of state, possibly to Seattle, Boston, or Tennessee. The company ultimately chose not to leave Vermont, although it declined to explain what factors were involved in its final decision, or what towns and cities were being considered for the new headquarters.