Current News

Champlain College to Buy Ethan Allen Club
Members to remain for two years while student housing plans are developed
BURLINGTON, Vt. (Nov. 4, 2008) - Champlain College announced today it has entered into a purchase and sale agreement to purchase the Ethan Allen Club located at 298 College St. The building and location, identified in Champlain's recent master plan, represents an opportunity for Champlain to develop apartment-style housing units for its students, according to officials at Champlain College.
Champlain College President Dave Finney explained the decision, "This property represents a big step towards the College taking responsibility for all of our undergraduate students in Burlington. We currently have more than 1,000 students living in apartments in Burlington neighborhoods and our goal is to house all of them in Champlain housing by 2016."

Week Ending November 1, 2008
There were 1,253 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, an increase of 63 from the week before, according to the Vermont Department of Labor. Altogether 7.545 new and continuing claims were filed, 640 more than a week ago and 2342 more than a year earlier. In addition, the Department processed 1,136 claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008, a decrease of 25 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

Vermont Public Television Wins PBS Award for Excellence, Other Awards
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) recently honored Vermont Public Television with four national awards for innovation and fundraising at the annual Development Conference. VPT was the PBS member station to receive the top award, the Award for Excellence, in the On-air Achievement category. Three other awards recognized VPTs work in Local Corporate
Underwriting, On-air Achievement and Planned Giving.
Staff members who led the award-winning efforts were Lee Ann Lee, vice president for marketing and development; David Donegan, membership manager; Brynn Wikgren, pledge/events coordinator; and Peter Shea, corporate services director.
Vermont's statewide public television network raises 85 percent of its revenue from local sources, most of that directly from local viewers.

Sales Increase for 18th Consecutive Quarter at Bruegger's
Last update: 5:52 p.m. EST Nov. 3, 2008
BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov 03, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Guest-focused Business Strategy Spells Success for National Bakery-Cafe Brand

Marking 18 consecutive quarters of growth, Bruegger's Enterprises, Inc. has announced third quarter system-wide gross sales of $45.13 million; a 8.7 percent rise over the same period in 2007. Revenue for comparable sales grew 1.7 percent at company locations and 1.7 percent system-wide for the third quarter ending October 30, 2008.

Anchor Building & Movie Theatre in Downtown St Johnsbury Sold
St. Johnsbury, VT The building that houses the Star Theatre and other popular retail and business establishments in downtown St Johnsbury was sold this week, along with the movie theatre business.
The property, located at 17 Eastern Avenue was owned by Recreation, Inc. and successfully owned and operated by the late Bill Costa, Orlando Costa, Jim Heath and the Costa family. Jim Heath, owner/manager of the Star Theatre said, "After many years of providing entertainment to the greater St. Jay area, we felt it was time for us to pass the torch onto a new owner. It has been our pleasure to be a part of this community, and we know that the new owner will continue to serve the area."

GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER FILES FOR
RATE ADJUSTMENT OF LESS THAN TWO PERCENT
COLCHESTER, VT& (October 31, 2008) Green Mountain Power has asked the Vermont Public Service Board to authorize a 1.58 percent rate adjustment to go into effect on January 1, 2009, as part of its alternative regulation plan. The increase is largely due to increases in regional transmission costs.
"While we know any increase in rates can be difficult for our customers, we are pleased to have been able to keep our adjustment extremely low at a time when many of our customers are facing difficulties as a result of turmoil in the broader economy," said Mary Powell, Green Mountain Power President and Chief Executive Officer. "We have worked hard and very successfully to manage the costs within our control."

Central Vermont Public Service Schedules Third Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call/Webcast

Shelburne, VT - October 20, 2008 - Kilawatt Technologies is pleased to announce another educational offering in the company's continuing series of free business webinars focusing on current environmental and energy issues. Today, many companies are interested in achieving LEED certification for their existing buildings awarded through the US Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED has become the standard for measuring energy and environmental sustainability in both new and existing facilities. In this free webinar, we examine the "Energy and Atmosphere (EA)" section of the LEED for Existing Buildings certification and show how Kilawatt Technologies measurement and verification tools can help an organization earn points in this specific LEED category.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - October 24, 2008 Doubletree Burlington Vermont today announced the launch of its Meetings by Doubletree package, along with more than 190 participating hotels throughout North America. Customers who book a block of more than 25 guestrooms on their peak event night will receive an all-inclusive package of meeting incentives and premiums designed to simplify and make meetings and events easy.
Ideal for either business or social functions, the Meetings by Doubletree package at the Doubletree Burlington Hotel Vermont includes the following:

~ Complimentary meeting room with minimum 26-room block on peak nights

~ Complimentary high-speed Internet connection in designated meeting room with minimum 26-room block

~ A dedicated Event Services Manager at each hotel

~ Flexible food and beverage options

Downtowns Share $300,000 In Transportation Grants

Business Grants Available for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Systems from USDA Rural Development
By David H. Robinson

Farmers and Food Buyers Hook Up at Local Foods Matchmaker Event