Current News

HowellMartin goes head-to-head with Volkswagen
BRATTLEBORO -- HowellMartin Marketing & Advertising was one of three finalists in its category in the ninth annual Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange (MITX) Awards for its design and development of the Real Log Homes® website. The website advanced to the final round from a field of more than 800 contendersmost of which are from Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Londonand was pitted against two Volkswagen sites. The winner in the manufacturing category was the Volkswagen Passat Site, which also won Best of Show.

The MITX Awards is the largest and most prestigious competition in the country recognizing the most innovative, effective and compelling achievements in the development of interactive technologies.
HowellMartin, and its technology partner Gravity Switch, was recognized with the other finalists at a gala awards ceremony in Boston, where the winners were announced.

SENATE PASSES JEFFORDS'CHAMPLAIN VALLEY HERITAGE BILL
WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Senate has given its final approval to a
bill introduced by U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., to establish a
National Heritage Partnership within the Champlain Valley. The bill, which
authorizes as much as $10 million for the effort, will now go to the
President for his signature.
The program would be funded by the National Park Service and
administered through the Lake Champlain Basin Program for
projects to explore, protect and promote the area. The
Partnership will bring together more than 100 local groups to
work towards that goal.
Military history and maritime commerce have been identified as themes for
the region. Visitors would explore sites such as Fort Henry, Fort
Ticonderoga, Crown Point, the Ethan Allen Homestead, and the St. Albans

VEDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES
FINANCING COMMITMENTS TOTALING $4.9 MILLION
Montpelier, VT - Business development, acquisition and expansion plans totaling almost $10.9 million will receive $4.9 million in financing assistance from the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA).
Projects approved by the Board include manufacturing, educational, travel and tourism, agricultural, and service businesses, said Jo Bradley, Chief Executive Officer of VEDA. We are pleased to be able to help these businesses grow and expand, bringing new jobs to their regions.
The VEDA Board approved financing for the following projects:
" Business Relocation to Shaftsbury Expected to Create 165 Jobs in Bennington County Within Three Years -

Vermont Achieves Attainment with the Fine Particle Air-Quality Standards
BOSTON - EPA analysis of air quality indicates that Vermont has ambient
concentrations of fine particles that meet current health standards.
Fine particles, frequently referred to as PM2.5, are less than 2.5
micrometers in diameter (approximately one-thirtieth the size of a human
hair). Fine particles are unhealthy to breathe and have been associated
with serious health impacts, including premature death from heart and lung
disease, aggravation of heart and lung diseases (including chronic
bronchitis and asthma), increased hospital admissions and doctor visits,
and absences from work and school. These particles are derived from a
variety of sources, including factories, power plants, trash incinerators,
motor vehicles, construction activity and fires. In addition, fine

Randolph Center, VTDecember 16, 2004The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) announced the addition of three new members to their Advisory Board. Monica Greene, Gerald Brown, and Gary Rabidoux have been elected to the 14-member VMEC Board that is comprised of Vermont manufacturers representing a broad cross section of industries and other leaders who strongly support manufacturing. Greene is President and CFO of Vermont Precision Tools, Inc., Brown is the President and Board Chairman of the Vermont Council for Quality, and Rabidoux is Senior Director, Value Net Integration at General Dynamics Armament & Technology Products (GDATP).

COUNCIL AUTHORIZES AND RESCINDS TAX INCENTIVES

Governor Announces Nearly $4 Million for Community Enhancement Projects
Montpelier, Vt. - Nearly $4 million dollars will be distributed among 40
towns and sponsoring organizations for projects that improve local
transportation, expanded recreational opportunities and encourage and
support economic development of Vermont's historic downtowns and village
centers, Governor Jim Douglas and Transportation Secretary Dawn Terrill has
announced.
Governor Douglas said these resources, from the 2005 transportation
enhancement projects fund, help to preserve historic transportation
buildings and create visitor centers; construct sidewalks, bicycle
pathways and bridges; and purchase scenic easements that enhance the
state's travel and tourism industry. "These funds are a significant
contribution to our intermodal transportation system and help us to
continue to strengthen our economy," Governor Douglas added.

QUEEN CITY HOUSING COSTS 35% HIGHER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE

CHITTENDEN BANK CELEBRATES 100 YEARS SINCE CHARTER
Burlington, Vermont - One hundred years ago a group of Burlingtonians
decided that a need existed for a new financial institution in Burlington.
On December 7, 1904 Chittenden County Trust Company was established and
given two years to gather the capital to start operations.
The founders of Chittenden County Trust Company were John. J. Flynn,
Edward J. Booth, J.H. Macomber, E.F. Gebhardt, W.B. McKillup, E.P.
Woodbury, A.O. Humphrey, J.S. Patrick and R.A. Cooke. On March 30, 1906,
these individuals organized what is today Chittenden with only $50,000
capital.
"Chittenden has been a part of the Vermont community since 1904. One
hundred years later, we remain a significant part because of our employees
and our interest in the communities and the customers we serve" says
Kathleen Schirling, Director of Marketing with Chittenden Bank.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN REGIONAL CHAMBER ANNOUNCES 21 NEW MEMBERS
BURLINGTON - The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce is pleased to
announce the following new members for the month of October:
Analytical Services, Inc.; BD Insulation, Inc.; Boston Berkeley Group;
Central Service Towing; Epik One; Executive Rentals VT.com; FE Hart Fence
Company, Inc.; Frances Marion Watson; Jay Peak Area Association; Key
Designs, LLC; LaCarreta Mexican Restaurant; Mason Associates; Mortgage
Master Inc. Vermont; Quizine; Red Bull North America, Inc.; Red Concrete;
S.P. Larson, Inc.; Supercuts of Vermont dba White Mountain Group, LLC;
Vermont Apartment Owners Associations, LLC; Vermont Council for Quality;
Waterfront Catering Group
The benefits of a Chamber membership speak for themselves, from health
insurance to networking opportunities. For more information on joining

Modest Job Market Anticipated for Burlington
December 14, 2004 Burlington area employers expect to hire at a moderate pace during the first quarter of 2005, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

From January to March, 20% of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 17% expect to reduce their payrolls, according to Manpower spokesperson Susan Cram. Another 46% expect to maintain their current staff levels and 17% are not certain of their hiring plans.

In the Burlington area, employers expect less hiring activity than in the fourth quarter when 27% of the companies interviewed intended to increase headcount, and 13% planned to decrease it," said Cram. "Employers are more optimistic about hiring than they were a year ago when 13% of companies surveyed thought employment increases were likely and 17% intended to cut back."

Is Your Business A Century Old? If Yes, Then The Secretary of State Is
Looking For You!
Program Honors Vermont's Centennial Businesses
Montpelier. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz has put out a call for
nominations for the 2005 Vermont Centennial Business Awards program. The
Vermont Centennial Business Awards honors businesses that have operated in
Vermont for at least 100 years. This is a joint project of the Office of
the Secretary of State, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and the Vermont
Business Magazine.
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz said, "Any business that has been in
operation in Vermont for 100 years or more can participate in this new
awards program by filling out a registration form and providing
verification of its business start date." Vermont's centennial businesses
will be presented with a plaque at an awards ceremony and their names will