Current News

BURLINGTON, Vt.- Champlain College has created a new, need-based scholarship program that will broaden access to a bachelors degree for Vermonters who are first-generation college students. The Vermont First Scholarships will help those students who are the first in their family to attend college.
Targeted at college-bound high school seniors, applicants must qualify for admission to Champlain College, plan to enroll as a full-time, undergraduate student, and be eligible for the Pell Grant Program. This scholarship, in combination with expected family contribution, federal and state programs to include work-study, student loans, grants and other gift aid, will provide funding for up to the full cost of attendance at Champlain College. The Vermont First Scholarship is renewable for a students four years at Champlain.

Statement to the media on proposed
sale
of Green Mountain Power Corp.:

MONTPELIER, VT, October 17, 2006 -- In the interest of protecting Vermont ratepayers,
AARP Vermont has elected to intervene in the proposed sale of Green Mountain
Corp. (GMP) to Northern New England Energy Corporation. In our motion for
summary judgment, appearing below, AARP Vermont outlines its intention to see
that the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) upholds its order of Jan. 23, 2001
as it relates to this sale.

Simply put, the PSB ordered that a portion of the proceeds from any GMP
company sale or merger be returned directly to ratepayers. Instead, the
company has proposed to charge ratepayers for an investment in an efficiency
program to try to satisfy the above order. If allowed to go forward,
ratepayers would be denied their legal right to nearly $9 million – monies

HUNTINGTON, Vt. Green Living Now, LLC (www.greenlivingnow.com) announced today that their web-based natural and organic household products business was voted one of the top ten finalists for the Coop America People's Choice Award for Green Business of the Year. The award recognizes business leaders committed to social and environmental responsibility. Thousands of companies were nominated, but only the ten highest vote getters made it to the finals. All of the companies had to be Coop America members, having passed their strict screening process.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its plans to host the inaugural Vermont Hospitality EXPO on Monday, November 6, at the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center in Burlington. The show will provide owners, managers, buyers, innkeepers and chefs at Vermont's lodging and restaurant properties with a forum to meet and network and find resources for their businesses.
This show has been designed to replace the former Vermont Lodging & Restaurant Showcase with new energy, fresh focus and expanded industry opportunities. The Vermont Hospitality EXPO Tradeshow is open from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Monday, November 6, and will feature more than 60 exhibitors representing hundreds of new products and services designed specifically for lodging and restaurant properties.

Renewable energy credits, green power, energy-efficient equipment, and hybrid cars have emerged as solutions for organizations looking to cool their carbon footprint in the fight against global warming. But who truly benefits from these environmentally supportive ideas?
If the vision of Jeffrey Frost, Co-Founder of the farm-centered AgRefresh, is clear, then the answer is Vermont family farmers, organizations that consume a lot of energy, the environment, and Vermont's rural economy.

The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) and the Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association (VWMA) teamed up to produce this comprehensive, user-friendly guide for architects, builders and institutional purchasers throughout New England.
The Resource Manual gleams with sleek photos of everything from lustrous pine conference tables to graceful maple staircases and contains detailed information for well over 50 Vermont wood products manufacturers. The Resource Manual highlights Vermont wood products manufacturers that sell or are capable of selling to institutional or large volume buyers and has been mailed to over 700 architects, builders, and institutional purchasers throughout New England. It's also intended to help building professionals source FSC certified products for the growing number of LEED® building projects underway in the region.

Mr. Leonard is a graduate of Rice High School and Boston University with a Bachelors of Science degree in hospitality administration. Adam was most recently employed in the Human Resource office at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, a Starwood Hotel, in downtown Boston. Mr. Leonard is originally from Jeffersonville and is happy to return home to Vermont and remain with Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

pMs. Blow is a compliance specialist in the customer service department and has been with Blue Cross and Blue Shield since 2003. She is cited for her professional attitude, her willingness to help her co-workers, and for her dedication. A co-worker stated, "Katy is consistently an innovative, positive, thoughtful hard worker."

Berlin, VT Members of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and The Vermont Health Plan now have access to a sophisticated, web-based informational program that will allow them to view treatment options and cost estimates for a variety of health conditions, and to research and compare hospitals in their area.
The decision-support tools are included in a new, online Health Advisor program, according to BCBSVT, and they are designed to be easy to use and help members better manage their health care services and expenses.
The Health Advisor suite of tools is powered by Subimo, LLC, a Chicago-based company and leading provider of web-based healthcare decision-support tools.
"These tools, which have been added to our website, will help our members make better-informed decisions about their own healthcare," said Dave Krupa, vice president and chief marketing officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont.

“Citizens
Job Bank” offers $150 million loan fund for New England businesses

BURLINGTON, VT. - Citizens Bank today announced a $150 million fund that will offer low-interest
loans to companies that commit to creating or expanding jobs in New England.
The
Citizens Job Bank, the first of its kind in the Green Mountain State, will help create more than 2,500 new jobs in Vermont and throughout New England.
Created
in response to concerns raised by government leaders and Citizens’ customers
that they needed help in creating jobs, the Citizens Job Bank program is
designed to provide creative, effective solutions to spur local business
expansion. It offers companies financing at below-prime rates in return for the
creation of new, full-time jobs.
The loan
pool requires borrowers to create a minimum of one full-time job for every

Commissioner Trims Rate Increases in Establishing 2007 Hospital Budgets

Montpelier -- The Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Health Care Administration (BISHCA) administers the annual binding budget program for all Vermont hospitals in an effort to understand and contain hospital costs. The annual budget process includes an analysis by the Department and testimony by the hospitals at public hearings held before Commissioner John Crowley and the Public Oversight Commission. The hearing process took place over a three-day period, August 22, 23 and 24, 2006. The Vermont hospital fiscal year for 2007 runs from October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Tom Shampnois is the new Vermont Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Travel & Tourism.
Shampnois is the former Vermont Chamber Director of Advertising Sales and Marketing. In his new capacity he will manage the Vermont Chamber tourism department and the Vermont Hospitality Council, a division of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. His duties will include publication management and legislative advocacy.
I am delighted to take the reigns in this position at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Shampnois commented. I look forward to continuing to build upon my experience with the Vermont Chamber, its members, and Vermont businesses.
Vermont Chamber President Duane Marsh stated, We are delighted to welcome Tom to our executive team. His broad knowledge of the businesses throughout the state will allow us to continue to form strong relationships with our Vermont employers.