Current News
by tim
King Street Youth Center wins national award from the USTA
The King Street Youth Center wins National Junior Tennis League Section of the Year Award from the United States Tennis Association. As part of this Award Executive Director Vicky Smith and Development Director Kelli Shonter were given scholarships to attend the Community Tennis Development Workshop in Las Vegas, NV (Feb. 21-24, 2008).
The USTA National Junior Tennis League seeks to develop the character of young people through tennis and to emphasize the ideals of Arthur Ashe by:
" Reaching out to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play
the sport.
" Instilling in youngsters the values of leadership and academic excellence.
by tim
The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) is pleased to announce its 10-year anniversary of grant making and to highlight the accomplishments of its grantees in helping to accelerate the development of Vermonts green economy.
From 1997 to 2007, the VSJF made grants in excess of $2.7 million to 150 recipients representing over 8,000 businesseswho utilized these funds to leverage an additional $11.8 million to implement their projects, test their ideas, create and retain at least 800 jobs, and assemble the building blocks of a green economy. Our technical assistance programs have assisted 15 Peer to Peer Collaborative clients (representing 384 employees), 132 Business Coach clients and hundreds of other businesses who have sought some form of assistance over the past 10 years.
by tim
Montpelier,
VT - Secretary of
Administration Michael K. Smith Announces that General Fund, Transportation Fund
and Education Fund Revenues Exceeded Target for February.
General Fund
Secretary of Administration Michael K. Smith
today released General Fund revenue results for the month of February, the eighth
month of fiscal year 2008. General Fund
revenues totaled $64.16 million, +$5.32 million or +9.04% more than the $58.84
million consensus revenue target for the month. The resulting fiscal year-to-date General Fund
revenue total of $767.19 million is +$6.65 million or 0.87% above the recently
revised consensus forecast of $760.54 million.
We are pleased to have exceeded our General Fund forecast. However, it should be noted that some of the
above target revenue is due to the timing of certain insurance tax receipts
which were targeted for March. Excluding
by tim
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2008
CONTACT: David Mace (802) 828-5229
VERMONT TO PROMOTE 'GREEN VALLEY' AT ENVIRONMENTAL TECH SHOW
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The State of Vermont will be looking
to generate some green by being green at an upcoming international
environmental technology trade fair and conference in Vancouver.
Representatives of the Vermont Department of Economic
Development and the Vermont Global Trade Partnership will be joined by several
Vermont companies at GLOBE 2008, a biennial trade fair and conference scheduled
for March 12 through 14.
"Vermont has an internationally-recognized image as a
clean, 'green' state; we are the healthiest state in America; and
we have more institutions of higher learning per capita than any other
state," said Kevin Dorn, Vermont Secretary of Commerce and Community
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At Future Einsteins we believe that the building a better future starts with preparing today's young children with the skills they will need to be successful in school and later in life. Our program is not only about teaching children technology skills, our Imagine Tomorrow Classes are enriched with critical learning experiences designed to build literacy and understanding.
by tim
Aviatron to announce $6.2 million contract today
Governor to promote aviation industry
Will urge Legislature to make permanent a tax exemption for aircraft parts
Montpelier, Vt. -- Governor Jim Douglas today will congratulate a Vermont aviation firm -- Aviatron of South Burlington -- for landing a $6.2 million aircraft maintenance contract. The governor will urge lawmakers to make permanent a tax exemption on aircraft parts to encourage additional job creation in this economic sector.
ANNOUNCEMENT
WHEN: Friday, March 7, 2008 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Aviatron, Inc.
25 Customs Drive, South Burlington
SCHEDULE:
Ø 11:15 a.m. Introductions and Contract Announcement (Open Press)
Ø 11:20 a.m. Briefing and Site Visit (Open Press)
Ø 11:45 a.m. Q & A with Media (Open Press)
by tim
Governor Releases Report on Meeting Renewable Energy
Goal
Administration seeks 25% Renewable
Energy from Farms, Forests by 2025
Montpelier, Vt.
– Governor Jim Douglas on March 6, 2008, released an advisory report showing that Vermont can meet the
goal of generating 25 percent of its total energy from renewable sources,
principally from farms and forests, by 2025.
Under Governor Douglas’ direction, Vermont
became the 14th state to join the 25 X ’25 Alliance in 2006, a coalition of more than
330 agricultural, forestry, businesses, labor, environmental and civic
organizations working to advance renewable energy solutions originating from
farms, forestry and other working lands nationally.
“In Vermont
we have many natural resources that can be converted into renewable and responsible
energy options,” Governor Douglas said. “Working toward, and
by tim
IBEW LOCAL 300 JOINS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TRADE GROUP
South Burlington, Vt. -- (March 6, 2008) -- The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 300 recently joined Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR).
Chartered in 1939, IBEW Local 300 represents 1,200 working Vermonters. Local 300 employers -- including Ben and Jerry's, Brown Electric, Burlington Electric Department, Central Vermont Public Service, Entergy-Vermont Yankee, E.S Boulos, Green Mountain Power, Peck Electric, Sherwin Electric, Vermont Gas and Washington Electric Cooperative -- are among the most successful enterprises in the state. They all pay a living wage and offer solid healthcare and retirement packages to union employees.
by tim
Vermont Quadricentennial Commission Endorses Events for 2009
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Commission Events Committee has given the green light to more than 40 event proposals for the 2009 celebration that will honor the anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's arrival to the lake in 1609. Application review and approval is ongoing with even more events anticipated to be added over the next several weeks and months.
While the year-long celebration will feature several unique, special events in and around the Champlain Valley, the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial will also feature existing events that explore Quadricentennial themes. Events recently approved for the Quadricentennial celebration include the Regatta for Lake Champlain, the Winooski River Sojourn, Teddy Roosevelt Day in Isle La Motte and the D'Olobaratz Voyage, which is a weekend race between re-created French and British longboats on Lake Champlain.
by tim
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: David Mace (802) 828-5229
March 4, 2008
State Launches New Economic
Development Web Site
Revamped Site Will
Make It Easier To Use For Businesses, Entrepreneurs
MONTPELIER, Vt. – The state has launched a newly
overhauled website for economic development that officials say will make it
easier for people who want to do business in Vermont.
The Department of Economic Development’s new Thinkvermont.com
site has an updated look and improved navigation that makes it more user-friendly
and consistent with state government’s main site, Economic Development
Commissioner Mike Quinn said.
“The goal of this new website is to
provide businesses with easier access to the information, resources, and
tools that the Department of Economic Development offers,” Quinn said.
by tim
General Dynamics Armament invests in Maine production site
Arlington, VA based General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is investing over $50,000 in production equipment and hiring 60 to 90 new employees to accelerate its enterprise-wide focus on Lean/Six Sigma-based process improvements at its Saco, ME, gun manufacturing facility. The site serves as General Dynamics' core production site for single- and multi-barrel aircraft and crew-served weapon systems.
Products manufactured in Saco include the MK19 and MK47 40 mm grenade weapon systems, high-speed multi-barrel Gatling guns and M2 50-cal. machine guns.
The company employs approximately 83,500 people worldwide and reported 2007 revenues of $27.2 billion. General Dynamics' Gatling gun systems are onboard every U.S. fighter aircraft, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and the company has manufactured more than 30,000 MK19 gun systems.
by tim
Breaking News
Dave Provost to Become New Deputy Commissioner
Dear Friends,
Dave Provost, CFE has been named the successor to Len Crouse as Deputy Commissioner of Captive Insurance. Dave is an Assistant Chief Examiner within
the department and is a veteran of the captive industry having spent 18 years in both the private and regulatory sector.
"His strengths should help Vermont build on its long established pre-eminence in the field of captive insurance regulation. He can offer us both continuity and perspective for maintaining responsive regulatory paths, and bring vision for
shaping our future." said Commissioner Paulette Thabault.
Provost will take over as deputy when Crouse steps down on June 1st.
Click here to read the complete release from the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration.
Upcoming Events:
March 5
Scottsdale, AZ