Current News

BENNINGTON, VT BMA Architects & Planners is pleased to add state-of-the-art infrared thermographic analysis to its Building Evaluation and Forensic Services.

Dan Douglas of BMAs Bennington office became accredited as a Level 1 Thermographer this past winter. This, combined with his experience in the field, and the purchase of a hi-tech IR camera, makes BMA well equipped to effectively conduct building evaluations to identify moisture and thermal problems with building envelopes, as well as inspect electrical and mechanical systems without performing invasive and costly demolition.

BENNINGTON, VT BMA Architects & Planners is pleased to announce that Kirk Moore AIA, Principal Architect, has earned the United States Green Building Councils (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional certification.

Kirk will lead BMA in the design of sustainable, cost effective buildings for both new and adaptive reuse projects as more and more clients look to the firm for long-term solutions to reduce their buildings global impact and overall building costs.

BMA is committed to taking a socially and environmentally sound approach in its work. The firm is a corporate member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and has instituted a policy that all design staff in the company must have their LEED AP certification within twelve months of being employed.

West Rutland, May 2, 2008- NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, a non-profit housing organization, has designed a complete housing program model that will help small towns across Vermont develop quality affordable housing for working families.

The model, named Westmont, shows communities from start to finish how to go from simply talking about affordable housing through the process to actually develop, create, and construct affordable housing.
The basic design for as Westmont home is centered on functionality and energy efficiency, and was drafted by architect Dan Pratt of Robert Carl Williams Associates, in Pittsfield, Vermont.

Dans floor plan for the Westmont house maximized space and allowed for the expansion of bedrooms without increasing the size of the footprint of the house, said Gregg Over, construction manager at NWWVT. These are high quality homes.

Speaker Symington's Statement on Economic Stimulus Plan
May 1, 2008
Addressing the bipartisan Committee on Economic Recovery and Opportunity today, Speaker Gaye Symington delivered the following
statement:
"I would just like to begin by thanking you for your work. You've brought good thinking and good questions to this effort and have improved the material that has been put before us and I thank you for that.
"Your work has built upon what we have accomplished throughout the session, focusing on what is putting pressure on Vermonters: their health care costs, their fuel costs, their food costs, housing prices.
I am pleased that your recommendations fit into the work that is already in motion in the House.
"The legislature has been fighting for more bonding for roads and bridges and making our transportation infrastructure more whole -- and we got that.

Statement of the Governor on Economic Stimulus Plan
May 1, 2008
Montpelier, Vt. - At his weekly press conference Thursday, May 1, 2008, Governor Jim Douglas delivered the following opening statement:
"As we approach Friday's adjournment and final agreement on the two remaining items of the economic growth initiative - the sales tax holiday and targeted assistance for high unemployment areas - I want to thank the Special Committee on Economic Recovery and Opportunity, and House and Senate leadership for evaluating, enhancing and passing the 15-point Economic Growth Initiative I presented. They've done swift and diligent work on this important task.
"Some said that this couldn't be done - or that it was somehow a distractionbut this is a good example of what state government can achieve when all points of view are considered, strengthening the economy is the top priority and progress triumphs over partisanship.

South Burlington, Vt. (April 29, 2008) The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 300 will once again sponsor the 74 Racing Teams Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.
The car, driven by 25-year race veteran Jerry Lesage, competes in the Late Model Division at Thunder Road, a renowned short track speedway in Barre. Lesage carries a four-person pit crew that includes IBEW Local 300 member Paul Weston.

The 74 Racing Team is very thankful for IBEW Local 300s support, said Weston. I have been a union member for 13 years and am enormously proud to promote our awesome work ethic and the many career opportunities in the electrical trades.

Dealer.com Launches Chrysler Canada's Web Solutions for Five Star Retailers

Legislature, business scuffle over Yankee, health, housing
by Art Edelstein
A variety of issues emerged from the 2008 legislative session of particular interest to Vermont's business community. The cost of workers' compensation, energy and the decommissioning of Vermont Yankee, health care, the declining quality of roads and bridges and the cross border passport issue are among several that came up in discussion with members of the Legislature and business leaders.

Legislators must also pass some parts of the governor's $214 million economic stymulus plan, which he announced April 19, 2008. (see www.vermontbiz.com for complete details of the plan)

VTrans schedules $130 million in construction projects for 2008 season
MONTPELIER – Vermont Agency of Transportation Secretary Neale Lunderville announced April 28, 2008, that VTrans in 2008 will spend about $130 million on road, bridge, culvert and highway safety construction projects statewide.
The money will fund the completion of 24 projects that began in prior years that were buttoned up for the winter, as well as fund 47 new projects that will begin sometime during the upcoming construction season.
Construction projects vary in size and scope, and include everything from safety improvements and intersection upgrades to roadway paving and bridge reconstruction.
“It was a very long winter, but construction season is finally here,” Lunderville said. “We are very excited to be putting the snowplows in storage and beginning what promises to be a very dynamic construction season. About 50 different towns will see new projects begin sometime this year.”

Fifty-five entrepreneurs, educators, policy leaders, and economic development professionals from around the state met on April 16th at the Vermont Tech Enterprise Center in Randolph to discuss how to better coordinate efforts and resources to boost entrepreneurship in Vermont.

The Convening was a follow up to Vermont Entrepreneurship Week festivities in February, the highlight of which was the proclamation of the week by Governor Douglas at the Statehouse.

Convening attendees worked together to develop a list of activities and strategies to promote and celebrate entrepreneurship, connect existing business development resources with one another and to entrepreneurs, inspire a new generation of Vermonters to consider entrepreneurship as a career, and engage opinion leaders and decision makers around supporting a strong entrepreneurial culture in Vermont.

Peter Crosby Named to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont Board of Directors

Berlin Peter F. Crosby, of St. Johnsbury, has been elected to the Board of Directors of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. Mr. Crosby was elected at the companys recent annual meeting.

The Vermont Employee Ownership Center (VEOC) has announced the date and location of its Sixth Annual Vermont Employee Ownership Conference. The event will take place on Friday, June 6th, 2008, at Champlain College in Burlington. Registration information is available at www.veoc.org.

Attendees will learn about the unique benefits and challenges of employee ownership at this full-day conference packed with 14 workshops. The event is geared towards members of employee-owned companies; business owners and managers considering employee ownership; bankers, accountants, attorneys, and financial planners; government officials and staff members; economic development professionals; and anyone interested in employee participation or sustainable business models.