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With several representatives for various building, construction and realty organizations present, Governor Jim Douglas (during his weekly press conference yesterday) called for enhanced efforts to help build the economy and grow Vermont jobs by embracing his proposed Economic Growth Plan. One of the critical components of the plan is permit reform.
"It is critical for us to get to work building the economy and growing jobs, said Governor Douglas. But we can t do that in our current environment we are going to have to change how we allow business to work in our state. We need to be more welcoming to those who want to grow in our state, he said.
Also speaking were Chris Snyder, from Snyder Home Construction, and Santo Longo, an Attorney from Paul, Frank and Collins. The group discussed the many challenges that Vermonters face when applying for building and construction permits, including high costs, uncertainty and very long delays.

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John Casella, chairman and chief executive of Casella Waste Systems, started his Rutland-based business in 1975, working with his brother and one garbage truck. In 1977, Casella Waste opened Vermont's first recycling center.
Fast forward to 2009: The company has grown into a national leader in recycling, reduction of landfill greenhouse gas emissions, and the generation of renewable energy. At its five gas-to-energy landfills, Casella Waste captures the methane that is produced by waste and converts it into electricity that can be distributed over the grid. The 25 megawatts of power produced by methane capture is enough to power 25,000 homes and results in substantial emissions reductions.

The request by Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE: CV) to defer the extraordinary service restoration costs associated with a December 2008 ice storm has been approved by the Vermont Public Service Board. The amount approved for deferral under the company's alternative regulation plan is $4.1 million of the approximately $5.3 million total cost of the service restoration effort. As noted in its press release of Jan. 21, 2009, this deferral will allow the company's 2008 earnings to return to the level of $1.45 to $1.55 per diluted share. The amount deferred will be collected over a 12-month period beginning July 1, 2009.

William Maclay Architects & Planners (WMAP) won an Honor Award in the 2009 Vermont Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Open Space Competition for their design work on the Pyralisk Arts Park project in Montpelier, Vermont. Governor Jim Douglas presented the award to designer Ward Joyce and firm president William Maclay at the annual VT ASLA awards meeting held at the State Capitol on February 17.
We are honored to receive this design award, said Ward Joyce of WMAP. It highlights the value of creative design for downtown green spaces, especially along our riverfront.

Same designers led Burlington’s waterfront renewal

Vermont housing affordability improved significantly in 2008, the second year of improving affordability. This is the main conclusion of the annual affordability study performed by The Vermont Economy Newsletter. The study was based on an analysis of all the residential housing sales in Vermont from 1987 to 2008.
The share of median family income needed to finance the payments on a median priced home in Vermont fell to 17.2% in 2008, the lowest percent of income needed to service a mortgage since 2004, said Art Woolf, co-author of the study.
Housing prices fell by 1% in 2008, according to Vermont property transfer tax data from the Vermont Department of Taxes, said Dick Heaps, the study s co-author. At the same time, the median family in Vermont earned $68,000, an increase from 2007, and mortgage rates fell from 6.3% in 2007 to 6.0% in 2008. All three of these factors contributed to the improvement in affordability.

The third annual celebration of National Entrepreneurship Week (NEW) is February 21 - 28, 2009. Launched in response to a congressional resolution in 2006 advocating recognition of entrepreneurship at the local, state and national level, NEW celebrates the heritage of entrepreneurial leadership in America, and promotes entrepreneurship education as a lifelong learning process. This year, NEW is hosted by the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.

In response the projected $28 million UVM budget shortfall, President Fogel has announced that the university's general fund will be reduced by nearly $11 million in the first phase of a budget reconciliation. In phase two, additional cuts of $4 million might be made depending upon revenue projections. Employees that could be affected will be informed by Friday, February 20. Fogel asserts that he has been working with all members of the UVM community to mitigate negative effects of the budgetary actions.
The following was sent to all University of Vermont students from UVM President Daniel Fogel on February 17, 2009:

Today, the Senate passed a bill that encourages large commercial trucks to travel on Vermont’s interstate highways by reducing the penalty for overweight violations of the federal weight limit to one dollar. In some cases, trucks that exceed the federal weight limit of 80,000 pounds on the interstate will avoid paying significant penalties by traveling on secondary roads. With S93, An Act relating to Commercial Vehicle Operation on the Interstate System, those trucks are expected instead to stay on the interstates. The bill received broad bipartisan support and was passed unanimously through all stages of passage.
“The current system causes large commercial trucks to travel on our local state highways and through our downtowns,” said Senator Dick Mazza, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “This traffic disrupts downtown business and damages our roads.”

Green Mountain Power has filed a request with the Public Service Board to lower the premium its customers can choose to pay to support the development of renewable energy in Vermont. Currently, under the GreenerGMP program, customers can opt to pay four cents per kilowatt hour more than their normal rate to help GMP support renewable energy projects. The company is requesting the fee be lowered to three cents per kWh.
GreenerGMP gives our customers a way to act on their own commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By making it less expensive for them to participate, we hope more customers will join us in supporting new renewable projects right here in Vermont, said GMP president and chief executive officer Mary Powell.
Green Mountain Power supports renewable projects by purchasing the power and the Renewable Energy Credits they generate. Because the cost to buy RECs has dropped, we want our GreenerGMP rate to reflect that, Ms. Powell said.

The Office of Vermont State Auditor Tom Salmon, CPA, introduced an updated website today for citizens and state employees with ideas for savings or concerns about potential fraud, waste or abuse in government programs. These are not ordinary financial times, said Auditor Salmon in a statement. It has never been more urgent to remind everyone involved in government spending that the money comes from the people and should be spent wisely and efficiently, he noted.

On March 3, the State Treasurer s Office will offer approximately $50 million in general obligation bonds to raise needed funds for the construction and maintenance of a wide range of State building and transportation projects.
The opportunity to purchase the State of Vermont bonds will be offered first to Vermont residents and businesses. Any bonds remaining after Vermonters have had the opportunity to invest will then be made available to retail and institutional investors from outside of the state. Bonds may be purchased in $1,000 increments.
We want to make certain that Vermonters are aware of the availability of these bonds, which my office issues on an annual basis, said State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding.