Current News

Vermont's General Fund finishes year with surplus; Education, Transportation down
Montpelier, VT - Secretary of Administration Michael K Smith announced on July 18, 2008, the fiscal year 2008 revenue results for the state of Vermont: the General Fund surpassed fiscal year 2008 revenue targets by $9.87 million; transportation and education fund revenues were below target for the fiscal year.
General Fund

Exterus Technology for Business of Shelburne announced that Nik Crapo was hired as a Systems Engineer. Mr. Crapo joins us from the San Diego, CA area. Having been in the US Navy for four years, he is an accomplished Microsoft LAN Administrator and has strong technical and analytical skills. While in the Navy, he worked both on shore and on deployment in the Persian Gulf. As an IT Network Administrator in the Navy, Mr. Crapo was responsible for maintaining 250+ nodes, both remotely and directly. He also helped supervise the Naval Communication and Telecommunication Stations Help Desk in his first year. He has achieved his A+ Certification and is well on his way to achieve more.
To contact Nik directly call 802.658.8225 x221 or email [email protected]
Visit www.exterusbusiness.com for more information on our products and services.

Congress Overrides Bush Veto on Medicare
WASHINGTON, July 15 Congress overrode President Bushs veto of a bill (HR 6331,the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act) that would protect doctors from cuts in their Medicare payments. The Senate vote to override the veto was 70 to 26. US House overrode the president's earlier Tuesday, 383 to 41.
The legislation prevents a 12.3 cut in Medicare reimbursements planned by the federal government, including for Vermont physicians.
President Bush vetoed the bipartisan legislation early Tuesday, thus leading to the override votes.

CVPS proposes innovative renewable plans, grants

Governor Announces Free Software for Students and Teachers
Promotes Enhanced Science, Technology, Engineering and Math as Economic Development Tools
Montpelier (July 16, 2008) Governor Jim Douglas announced today that Vermont's students and teachers will soon be eligible for free access to some of the world's most powerful design and mechanical engineering software as part of the Real World Design Challengea partnership between the State of Vermont, the US Department of Energy, the Federal Aviation Administration, Parametric Technology Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Corporation and Flomerics, Inc.
Governor Douglas said the partnership, and the challenge at the center of its curriculum, would help generations of young Vermonters obtain the skills they need to succeed in this century and help Vermonts economy grow.

(July 16, 2008) The Vermont Department of Labor reports that there were 712 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, a decrease of 60 from the week before. Altogether 7,139 new and continuing claims were filed, 190 more than a week ago and 999 more than a year earlier.
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

CVPS begins Shareheat campaign months early, commits $100,000 to match incoming donations

General Dynamics Awarded Gun System Contract by Raytheon
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Raytheon Missile Systems of Louisville, Ky., has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a $22 million contract to produce gun systems for the Phalanx Block 1B Close-In Weapon System and the Centurion Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
The Phalanx Block 1B Gun System is an upgrade of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. Phalanx is a fully autonomous, radar directed, rapid-fire 20mm Gatling gun system that provides naval ships with the last line of
defense against a variety of threats including anti-ship missiles, aircraft, high- speed water craft and other air and surface threats. The Phalanx Block 1B upgrade adds enhanced fire control capability, optimized gun barrels and an integrated Forward Looking Infrared system.

The 4th Grade Class at Central Vermont Catholic School, St. Monica Campus in Barre got the chance to learn about money management and life skills in a session
taught by Granite Hills Credit Union on June 6, 2008.
The class focussed on understanding basic finance, the importance of saving for the future, setting short and long term savings goals, and distinguishing between needs
and wants.
Susan Poczobut, CEO, Granite Hills Credit Union explains, "This class is part of Granite Hills Credit Union's School Savings Program which we created to encourage children to take a more active role in their own financial future."

VBSR Welcomes New Hire, Tara Pfeiffer-Norrell;
Pfeiffer-Norrell to Manage VBSR Intern Program

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) announces the hire of Tara Pfeiffer-Norrell as the Intern Program Manager. Pfeiffer-Norrell will manage VBSR's intern program which links students approaching graduation from Vermont colleges and universities to exciting job opportunities with VBSR member companies. With a grant from the Department of Labor, VBSR creates paid internships at companies that are creating new job opportunities.

Pfeiffer comes to VBSR from VABIR, where she was an Employment Representative. As an Employment Representative she worked with the business community on opportunity creation and job placements for people with disabilities.

Technology Firm Serving National Power Utilities Lands Job Creation Incentives
Mica paper manufacturer also approved; two firms could create 34 new jobs
MONTPELIER, Vt. - A utility-focused risk management company and the last mica paper maker in the US have been approved for over $700,000 worth of incentives that could produce 34 new jobs over the next five years.
At its recent meeting, the Vermont Economic Progress Council gave initial approval to incentives for Utility Risk Management Corporation (URMC) to move their utility-focused risk management company from Pennsylvania to Vermont and add new jobs.
In addition, the council gave final approval to an application from Isovolta, Inc. to ensure an expansion of their mica paper manufacturing operation in Rutland instead of adding capacity at one of their many international locations.

Governor says first RGGI auction date is set for Sept. 25
CO2 allowance auctions will help drive innovation, produce cleaner energy
MONTPELIER - Governor Jim Douglas has announced that Vermont and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative have released preliminary guidelines for the nation's first-ever carbon credit auction on Sept. 25.
The guidelines outline requirements and preparations bidders must follow to be ready to purchase their share of nearly 12.5 million carbon emission allowances at the first auction.
"The stage is set for Vermont and nine other states to take unprecedented action and lead the nation on a path of economic and environmental security through reduced use of fossil fuels like oil," Douglas said. "This is an important milestone as Vermonters struggle under the burden of the federal government's failure to lead on fundamental energy and environmental issues."