Current News

In response to high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and other drug abuse, domestic violence and mental health challenges among uniformed professionals (police, fire, military, EMTs, etc.) the Brattleboro Retreat is proud to announce the opening on Tuesday, August 11 of a new 16-bed, partial hospitalization program designed specifically to meet the unique mental health and addiction treatment needs of this population. Most participants will also take advantage of the program’s residential component, which offers single and double rooms in a newly renovated property on the Retreat campus.

Shirley Pewter of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Danforth Pewter of Middlebury, Vermont, have announced that as of August 10, Danforth has become the exclusive manufacturer and marketer of Shirley Pewter. Danforth will operate the Shirley Pewter Shop on Merchant’s Square in Colonial Williamsburg and the Shirley website at www.shirleypewtershop.com, and has become the exclusive importer and marketer of the Four Points Pewter wholesale brand.

U.S. Small Business Administration announced the appointment of Jeanne Hulit, as the regional administrator in Region I, to oversee the SBA’s programs and services in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The Region I office, headquartered in Boston, oversees the SBA’s district offices in Boston; Augusta; Concord; Montpelier; Providence; and Hartford.

Tom James, Chairman of the Vermont State Board of Education, announced today he will be stepping down from the Board. His final monthly meeting will be held September 15, 2009. James was appointed to the Board by Governor Douglas in February 2005 after filling two years of a vacant term. A retired IBM executive, James has served as a member of the Essex Planning Commission, the Essex Town School Board, the Essex Town Selectboard and the Essex Rotary. His State Board term was scheduled to end in 2011. However, State Board terms are six years in length, and James has served on the Board for over six years. He has served as State Board Chair since 2005.

On Wednesday, August 5, 2009, Stripes Group of New York completed a $13 million equity investment in MyWebGrocer Inc., a rapidly growing and profitable Colchester, Vermont-based software-as-a-service company providing leading regional and national grocery store chains and consumer packaged goods companies with online commerce and digital media services. As part of their unique platform, MyWebGrocer operates the nation s largest grocery ad network with over 4 million monthly shoppers.
Dan Marriott, Managing Partner of Stripes Group, will be joining the MyWebGrocer Board of Directors.
About Stripes Group

Governor Jim Douglas announced he will lead a delegation of Vermont business leaders seeking investors for their companies, especially through the EB-5 program, on a mission to Asia in October, which will include stops in South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program gives preferential consideration for permanent resident visas to immigrants who make qualified investments in a new commercial enterprise that will create at least 10 full-time jobs. In most areas of Vermont the required investment is only $500,000 – half the standard $1 million required in most other areas of the country.
“Vermont’s economy has benefited tremendously from the investments made in our businesses through the EB-5 program,” Governor Douglas said. “This trip will allow us to showcase the opportunities for investors here in Vermont, as well as to promote general trade with these countries.”

The Vermont Public Service Board has approved spending on a series of renewable energy projects and studies proposed by Central Vermont Public Service. The CVPS proposals, filed with the PSB in July, include seven renewable projects and studies at a total cost of about $350,000. The board approved them in a decision received late Friday. The three studies are intended to help CVPS expand its popular Cow Power program, learn about the potential for algae as an energy source, and possibly expand production at an existing Rutland County hydroelectric facility.
Studies focus on manure, algae and water
A $10,000 Essex Partnership study will evaluate a new Cow Power model of collecting methane gas from a group of smaller farms and using it to generate electricity at a central facility.

Green Mountain Power is taking an important step in its exploration of wind power in Lowell, Vermont, by filing with the Vermont Public Service Board for a permit to measure the wind resource on a portion of the Lowell Mountain range. Known as Kingdom Community Wind, the project would be owned by Green Mountain Power and would provide electricity to customers of Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Cooperative.
"We have spent months determining whether building a wind plant in Lowell will help us provide power to our customers, and hopefully Vermont Electric Cooperative customers, that is low cost, low carbon and reliable. After meeting with local communities and researching environmental considerations, we are ready to move forward with gathering additional information about the quality of wind in the area," said Mary Powell, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today welcomed an opinion by the Vermont attorney general that could substantially increase wages for workers on Vermont construction projects funded by the federal economic stimulus program.
As the stimulus package works to rebuild our infrastructure, roads and bridges and create new jobs, it is important that those jobs pay a living wage, Sanders said. I m glad that the attorney general upheld the state law that says construction companies in Vermont need to pay the most up-to-date prevailing wage. Construction workers have a right to earn a fair wage for their labor.

The U.S. Labor Department has approved trade adjustment assistance for Ethan Allen employees in Beecher Falls, Vt., Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced. The Vermont congressional delegation supported an application submitted by the Vermont Department of Labor on behalf of the employees for assistance after Ethan Allen announced up to 260 employees would lose their jobs at the company s Beecher Falls location. Members of New Hampshire s Congressional delegation, Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Vt.) and New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D-N.H.) also supported the application.

The U.S. Senate Friday confirmed two nominees for the top federal law enforcement offices in Vermont, steered through the Senate by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). Tristram Coffin and David Demag became the first U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal nominees of President Obama to be confirmed by the Senate.
In March, Leahy recommended Coffin to fill Vermont s U.S. Attorney position, and Demag, a longtime law enforcement officer in Vermont, to be the state s U.S. Marshal. Coffin was the President s first nominee to fill 93 U.S. Attorney positions across the country. Demag became the President s first U.S. Marshal nominee on July 31. By longstanding practice, the state s senior senator from the President s party makes recommendations for nominations to federal vacancies in the senator s state. Leahy also chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, which handles the confirmation process for U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals.

Central Vermont Public Service reported today consolidated earnings of $12.4 million, or $1.04 per diluted share of common stock, for the first six months of 2009, compared to $9.9 million, or 94 cents per diluted share of common stock, for the same period last year. CV reported second-quarter 2009 consolidated earnings of $5.5 million, or 46 cents per diluted share of common stock, compared to $4 million, or 38 cents per diluted share of common stock, for the same period last year.
The entire quarterly report can be found by clicking this link. For further information on the company click Vermont Business Magazine's link here. For online information and stock tracking, click here.
-- Year-to-date earnings of $12.4 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, up 10 cents from last year
- $2.3 million decrease in operating revenue
- $4.0 million decrease in purchased power expense
- $0.7 million increase in equity in earnings of affiliates