Current News
by tim
Nicholas A. Fiore, P.E. was hired as the new project engineer at Engineering Ventures, Inc.'s Lebanon, NH office. Fiore brings experience in civil engineering, project management, site design and transportation solution, among other areas.
Meghan McCarthy recieved a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Tufts University, with a minor in Architecture. She brings experience in both structural and civil/site engineering.
Engineering Ventures, Inc. is an experienced consulting engineering firm operating in Vermont, New Hampshire and the surrounding area.
by tim
Job counts up slightly in October, jobless rate unchanged at 5.2%
Montpelier (November 21, 2008) -- The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2008 was 5.2% percent, unchanged from the revised September rate and up 1.3 points from a year ago.
"Though our employment and job numbers looked relatively good in October we believe that the impact is temporary," said Patricia Moulton Powden, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor. "The increases we saw in seasonally adjusted employment and jobs may have been due to our surveys capturing a favorable foliage season. Never-the-less we welcome the stability in our unemployment rate in an environment where our national rate grew four-tenths of a point."
Job Growth
by tim
SVMC Introduces HDTV Technology for Tests that Find Cancer, Other Disease
BENNINGTON - If you've seen the difference high-definition television makes in your living room, you can imagine what a difference it makes in diagnosis. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) now has a new state-of-the art tool: high-definition endoscopes that help doctors diagnose disease in the gastrointestinal tract and lungs.
Not only that. Even before they had high-definition equipment, surgeons at SVMC had a better track record at detecting colon problems than their counterparts.
Endoscopy is used to diagnose and treat diseases, including colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among Vermont men and women. It can be prevented with colonoscopy.
by tim
CVPS prices public offering
RUTLAND, Vermont Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (NYSE:CV) announced November 17, 2008, that it priced a public offering of 1,190,000 newly issued shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $19.00. Central Vermont expects to grant the underwriters of the offering a 30-day option to purchase up to 119,000 additional shares of Central Vermont common stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any. Central Vermont intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt, capital expenditures, investments in Vermont Transco LLC and working capital requirements.
by tim
General Dynamics to Acquire AxleTech International
Global manufacturer of heavy duty vehicle components will expand General Dynamics' product
offerings, customer base
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) and The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm,
have entered into a definitive agreement for General Dynamics to acquire AxleTech International, a global
manufacturer and supplier of axles, axle components, planetary axles, independent suspensions, brakes and
aftermarket parts for military vehicles, commercial specialty trucks, and off-highway machines used in the
construction, material handling, forestry, mining and agricultural markets.
The effects of the acquistion on the Burlington, VT, plant are not yet known.
by tim
Governor announces Climate Change Grant Program
Funds will help towns reduce energy use, save money and promote green jobs
MONTPELIER (November 20, 2008) Governor Jim Douglas today unveiled the Vermont Community Climate Change Grant Program, which will make $360,000 available to local communities for improving energy efficiency, saving tax dollars and strengthening local economies.
"Among the key recommendations of my Commission on Climate Change was the call to expand Vermont's efficiency efforts," Douglas said. "We've always had a tradition of coming up with some of the best solutions at the local level and I believe we need to foster that innovation and entrepreneurial spirit."
The funding for this initiative comes from the first installment of Vermont's $1.8 million, five-year settlement payout against American Electric Power Corp., the nation's largest operator of coal-fired power plants.
by tim
Grand Opening of Upstart Marketing
St. Johnsbury, VT - Upstart Marketing, LLC will hold a Grand Opening event and presentation to mark the official launch of operations today St. Johnsbury.
Leaders from the business community will gather at the Northeastern Vermont Development Association conference room located at 36 Eastern Avenue in St. Johnsbury. The event will take place from 2:00 to 3:00pm and will feature a presentation given by company founder Tom Stillwell.
Upstart Marketing is an Internet based company designed to provide entrepreneurs and new business owners with the marketing tools they need to launch a business. Upstart is offering three different all-inclusive packages that feature design and print of logos, business cards, brochures, and stationary, plus web site design, hosting, and maintenance.
by tim
Week Ending November 15, 2008
There were 1,207 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, a decrease of 29 from the week before. Altogether 8,427 new and continuing claims were filed, 560 more than a week ago and 2,295 more than a year earlier. In addition, the Department processed 1,077 claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008, a decrease of 39 from last week.
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
by tim
NATIONAL NEWS MAGAZINE RANKS BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF VERMONT AS VERMONT'S TOP HEALTH PLAN
Berlin, Vt. - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont has been ranked as the top health plan in Vermont - as well as one of the best in the country -- by a respected national news magazine. The rankings, released in the November 17-24 issue of US News and World Report, is based on quality review information from the National Committee Quality Assurance (NCQA).
"This objective recognition confirms Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont's long tradition of providing high quality care to its members," noted Don George, Interim President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. "The rankings are based on the quality of the care our members received and how well we managed to continuously improve health care for those members."
by tim
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont Saves Nearly a Half-Million Dollars with a Microsoft Partner Compensation Management Solution
Health plan streamlines incentive compensation and broker management processes and goes paperless.
REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT), Vermont's largest private health carrier, has saved nearly a half-million dollars with a Microsoft partner compensation management system. Implemented to overhaul incentive compensation and agent management capabilities, Computer Solutions & Software International's (CSSI) VUE Compensation Management, a Microsoft .NET Framework-based application, has also enabled BCBSVT to decouple broker commissions from insurance premiums, reduce manual interventions by 97 percent and go paperless with broker commission statements.
by tim
Casey Promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff
Montpelier, Vt. November 19, 2008 Dennise Casey has been appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, Governor Jim Douglas announced today.
Governor Douglas said Casey's new duties as Deputy Chief of Staff will include, among other things, coordinating the administration's legislative relations.
"Dennise is smart, energetic and understands the important work we have before us," Governor Douglas said. "I have every confidence in her and her ability to help make this legislative session a success as we work to pass an economic growth plan in the first 100 days, balance our budget in very challenging times and enact comprehensive safe communities' legislation."
by tim
November 18, 2008
Construction Input Prices Fall in October
Summary
Construction input prices fell 2.8 percent in October – the largest one-month decrease since July 1986 – according to the November 18 producer price index (PPI) report by the U.S. Labor Department. Despite the dramatic decline, construction input prices remain 10 percent higher than October of last year (see graph below).