Current News

US Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vermont) on Wednesday voted against a bill that he said would harm Vermont s small businesses by diverting key federal funding to larger, venture capital-backed firms. The Enhancing Small Business Innovation and Research Act of 2009 (H.R. 2965), which passed Wednesday afternoon on a vote of 386 to 41, reauthorizes the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The bill rewrites the definition of small businesses to allow large corporations to compete for this vital seed money, effectively crowding out true small businesses.
Created in 1982, the SBIR program has been highly effective at spurring entrepreneurial innovation, resulting in more than 60,000 patents and launching countless Vermont small businesses. The program funds $2.2 billion a year in research and development.

Governor Douglas will join via interactive television U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, Education Secretary Duncan, and White House Homeland Security Advisor Brennan today for an all-day H1N1 Influenza Preparedness Summit with representatives from 54 states and territories. Vermont officials participating in Washington, DC include AHS Secretary Rob Hofmann, VDH Commissioner Dr. Wendy Davis and Vermont Homeland Security Unit Director Captain Chris Reinfurt.
The Flu Summit will focus on preparation and planning at every level of government for a fall flu season that is expected to include the seasonal flu and the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. The Summit will be held at the Natcher Conference Center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) has made a $25,000 donation to Burlington s Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS). Appearing onstage on July 2 at the Flynn Theater before the Queen City Music Hour, NEFCU President John Dwyer presented the donation to COTS Grants Manager Beth Krueger.
We at NEFCU feel strongly about supporting our community, and today we d like to recognize an organization that we believe deserves our special support, said Dwyer. For more than 25 years, the Committee on Temporary Shelter, better known as COTS, has provided needed services and shelter for the homeless Among its many services, the COTS family Services program focuses on the unique needs of families with children under the age of 18. On behalf of our management, employees and members of NEFCU, we are pleased to make this contribution to COTS to help them continue their good work.

Commissioner Paulette Thabault of the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration (BISHCA) announced that her Department has received no 4th quarter rate increase requests for Catamount Health Insurance. The state-subsidized health plan is sold by both Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP Health, and neither has filed for an increase since the inception of the program in October 2007. Commissioner Thabault said, The rates are so far holding steady. That speaks well for the early success of Catamount as a public/private partnership to provide affordable health insurance to all Vermonters. All health insurance rate changes must be filed with and reviewed by BISHCA, and may be approved, adjusted or denied by the Commissioner.

According to a new study from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Vermont s economic outlook now ranks 49th out of 50 states. The second edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index offers a roadmap for economic recovery based on state policies that have a proven impact on growth. High personal income taxes, high property taxes, along with some of the highest labor costs in America all hurt Vermont s economic outlook. On the positive side, the study gives good marks to Vermont for a relatively low sales tax burden and a quality legal system.
Among bordering states, New Hampshire ranks 37th, Massachusetts ranks 26th and New York ranks 50th.

For the Week of 08/01/2009. There were 785 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, a decrease of 45 from the week before. Altogether 12,752 new and continuing claims were filed, 324 fewer than a week ago and 5,423 more than a year earlier. The Department also processed 3,862 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 63 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 749 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is an increase of 8 from the week before. The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/. Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc

Boralex Inc and Gaz Metro Limited Partnership have learned that the minister of Quebec's Natural Resources and Wildlife, Nathalie Normandeau, has approved for their two wind power projects in the northeast part of the province. The installed capacity of the facilities is 272 megawatts. Gaz Metro owns both Vermont Gas and Green Mountain Power.
"The announcement of this decree, the first to be awarded to a project under the latest Hydro-Quebec call for tenders, is excellent news for the Consortium and clearly proves the environmental merit and social acceptability of the Seigneurie de Beaupre wind farms. We are enthusiastic about contributing to the expansion of wind power in Quebec," said Patrick Lemaire, president and chief executive officer of Boralex and Sophie Brochu, president and chief executive officer of Gaz Metro.

Long-time Burlington auto dealer Bill Shearer acquired Lewis Motors in South Burlington effective July 1, 2009, adding three new brands to the Shearer family of dealerships in Vermont. The current location on Shelburne Road will be retained, but each brand will have its own dealership identity. The names will be changed to Shearer Acura, Audi South Burlington and Volkswagen South Burlington.
"Acura, Audi and Volkswagen are flagship brands that have become mainstays in Vermont. The Lewis family has set a solid foundation for their future" said Shearer.
Alex Lewis founded Lewis Motors in 1974 as a Volkswagen dealership. The Audi franchise was added in 1976. Alex's son David joined the firm in 1987 after graduating from Norwich University. The Acura dealership opened in 1995 and David Lewis purchased Lewis Motors from his Dad in 1996.

Douglas administration officials announced three major affordable housing grants on Tuesday that will create or restore housing in Springfield, Johnson, and Bellows Falls. At a ceremony at the Rockingham Canal House in Bellows Falls, Deputy Commissioner of Housing and Community Affairs Tayt Brooks presented a grant for $3.5 million to Stewart Property Management, which will be used to assist in the purchase and rehabilitation of Rockingham Canal House, a 41-unit affordable senior housing property.

Rep. Peter Welch announced $100,000 in federal funding for the St. Albans Police Department at a press conference Tuesday morning in Houghton Park.
The Welch-secured Community Oriented Police (COPS) grant will be used to fight increased drug activity in the region. The funds will help the St. Albans Police Department upgrade and improve communications equipment and make use of Mobile Data Computer Terminals.
Welch was joined at the announcement by Police Chief Gary Taylor and several other members of the Police Department, along with Mayor Marty Manahan and Chad Spooner, who leads a neighborhood watch program in the Houghton Park area.

Governor Douglas will host dignitaries from Canada, France and Britain for the signature celebration of the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain s exploration of the lake that bears his name at the Burlington International Waterfront Festival starting Friday.
The Lake Champlain Quadricentennial is an exciting opportunity to celebrate, learn and deepen our appreciation of Vermont s fascinating history, rich culture and scenic landscape, said Governor Jim Douglas. Vermont is looking forward to hosting leaders and thousands of visitors from around the world for this historic event.

A dairy processing plant in Brattleboro; a food processing center in Hardwick; a slaughterhouse in Westminster; and a Barre facility that recycles furniture and other goods for distribution to needy Vermonters were among more than $3 million in job creation grants announced today. At a ceremony at Recycle North s new facility in a former granite shed in Barre, Governor Jim Douglas announced the award of $3.3 million in Community Development Block Grants for those projects, as well as others.
These grants are a great resource for companies, municipalities and organizations looking to grow and answer their unique challenges and needs, said Governor Douglas. I m pleased to honor each of these recipients today with grants that will help with planning, redevelopment, expansion, handicap accessibility and more. These recipients are very deserving of our support.