Current News

Maine Joins Vermont, Other States in NECAP Testing Partnership
MONTPELIER - Maine has joined New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont as the fourth member of the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP), the first and only multi-state testing partnership formed in response to the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

As the newest NECAP partner, Maine will join the other three member states in developing and administering the NECAP tests in reading, writing, and mathematics to all students in grades 3 through 8. The tests are developed in common by all partner states and are aligned with the state standards (what all students should know and be able to do at each grade level) that all NECAP states have adopted.
The results of the tests, which are required by NCLB, determine whether schools have made Adequate Yearly Progress and what actions state agencies will initiate to assist in improving student performance.

Merchants Bancshares, Inc Announces Participation in
FDIC's Temporary Liquidity Program
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT (Vermont Business Magazine via Merchants Bancshares)- Merchants Bancshares, Inc. ("Company"), NASDAQ: MBVT, the holding company for Merchants Bank ("Bank"), has announced that the Bank will participate in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's ("FDIC") Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program ("TLGP"), which consists of the Transaction Account Guarantee Program ("TAGP") and Debt Guarantee Program ("DGP").

Through the TAGP, the FDIC will provide unlimited deposit insurance coverage for all non-interest bearing transaction accounts through December 31, 2009. This includes traditional non-interest bearing checking accounts, certain types of attorney trust accounts and NOW accounts, as long as the interest rate does not exceed 0.50 percent. The program is designed to enhance depositor confidence in the safety of the United States banking system.

NSB BRANCHES COLLECTING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS
Northfield, VT - December 11, 2008 (Vermont Business Magazine via NSB)- You might notice something a bit different during your next visit to Northfield Savings Bank: a shopping cart. Each of NSB's thirteen branches is collecting non-perishable food items during the month of December for distribution to food shelves in their local communities. Shaw's Supermarkets generously lent a shopping cart to each Northfield Savings Bank branch office to help collect the donations. Northfield Savings Bank invites its customers to join in this effort to provide much needed support to local food shelves. The collection runs until December 31, giving people an opportunity to drop of any extra items from their holiday celebrations.
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Vermont Electors to Cast Official Ballots for President and Vice-President
Montpelier. (Vermont Business Magazine via Vermont Secretary of State) The Secretary of State's Office has announced that the three Vermont electors will meet on Monday, December 15, 2008, at 10 am in Room 11 of the Statehouse in Montpelier to cast official ballots for president and vice-president of the United States.
Vermont's electors are Claire Ayer of Weybridge; Euan Bear of Bakersfield; and Kevin B. Christie of Hartford. At the meeting the electors will take oaths of allegiance and oaths of office; organize by electing a president, clerk, and messenger; cast official ballots for the president and vice-president of the United States, and complete a Certificate of Vote to be sent to Washington.

SBE Ranks State Policy Climates for Entrepreneurship
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) just released its 13th annual rankings of the states according to their public policy climates for small business and entrepreneurship in the "Small Business Survival Index 2008: Ranking the Policy Environment for Entrepreneurship Across the Nation."
SBE Council chief economist Raymond J. Keating, author of the study, said: "The U.S. economy is in a serious downturn, and the outlook for a robust recovery seems remote. That means state and local policymakers face some very difficult decisions, especially on budget matters. Depending on the policy course that state lawmakers choose, they can either make the economic situation in their own state better or far worse."

Foreclosure Activity Decreases 7 Percent in November According to RealtyTrac(R) U.S. Foreclosure Market Report
Vermont Third Lowest Foreclosure Rate
Foreclosure Activity Still Up 28 Percent From November 2007
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ --RealtyTrac(R) (www.realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, today released its November 2008 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report(TM), which shows foreclosure filings -- default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions -- were reported on 259,085 U.S. properties during the month, a 7 percent decrease from the previous month but still up 28 percent from November 2007. The report also shows one in every 488 U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing in November.

Central Vermont Medical Center Seeks Support of Community
for New National Life Cancer Treatment Center
Berlin, Vt - Central Vermont Medical Center is seeking to raise $1 million towards its new National Life Cancer Treatment Center, which is projected to incur construction and equipment costs of $11.5 million.
According to CVMC President and CEO Judy Tarr, "As a charitable organization that exists solely for the benefit of our community, we rely on the generous giving of businesses and private individuals in order to continue to meet the growing health care needs of residents of central Vermont." Tarr emphasized that during fiscal year 2008 alone, CVMC provided $1,430,456 in free care to community members.

Chittenden Bank Helps Local Families by
Donating $2,000 to the Burlington Children's Space

Community Capital of Vermont Receives $1,000 from
Chittenden Bank For Micro Business Program
Barre, Vermont Earlier this year Community Capital of Vermont acquired the Vermont Job Start Loan Fund, and as a result Community Capital has become the "go-to" place for micro business loan needs. Established 13 years ago, Community Capital of Vermont grants financing to start-up and expanding businesses that do not qualify for a traditional bank loan. In addition, they also provide post loan business management assistance.

CHICAGO, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- TransUnion.com released today the results of its analysis of trends in the credit card lending industry for the third quarter of 2008. The report is part of an ongoing series of quarterly consumer lending sector analyses focusing on credit card, auto loan and mortgage data that may be found on TransUnion's Web site.
Statistics

St. ALBANS, VT - The work of some holiday grinches was undone today, as Central Vermont Public service donated $10,000 to replace holiday gifts - destroyed by vandals - gifts intended for low-income children.
An estimated $20,000 in toys were destroyed in late October, as vandals broke into the former Fonda Container building and discharged fire extinguishers onto the gifts. The Marine Corps League had been storing toys at the former Fonda plant that had been collected throughout Franklin and Chittenden counties, and were destined for families in both of those counties through the Toys for Kids Program.
The news hit the St. Albans Messenger Nov. 6, and CVPS employees began to discuss how the company might be able to help. Within days, the company offered a $10,000 donation.

JK Adams Awarded the Forest Stewardship Council
Chain-of-Custody Certification