Current News

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded two grants in Vermont totaling $449,987 to Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Vermont Legal Aid, Inc to assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.
Nationally, HUD awarded $28 million. The grants announced today are funded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and will be used to investigate allegations of housing discrimination, and work to promote equal housing opportunities. (See below for breakdown of VT funding)
‘The Obama Administration is committed to ending housing discrimination, and these grants enable local fair housing and community organizations all over the nation to help HUD enforce the Fair Housing Act, and make people more aware of their fair housing rights,’ stated HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) has opened the 4-mile stretch of Route 100 that runs from Readsboro to Heartwellville. This segment of Route 100, which connects Route 100 to Route 8, received heavy damage from Tropical Storm Irene, and has been closed since the storm struck on August 28.
Reopening this portion of Route 100 marks a significant milestone for the Rutland Incident Command Center, which was established following Tropical Storm Irene, as it is the command center’s final section of roadway that remained closed. Although several roads within the Rutland command center’s sphere of operation remain under construction, all of its roads are now open to pubic travel.
Immediately following Irene, VTrans divided the state into three incident command areas: southwest, southeast and north. The Rutland Incident Command Center covers 52 towns in Vermont’s southwest region.

State Auditor Tom Salmon, CPA, and the New England Municipal Resource Center (NEMRC) have joined together to provide informational seminars for municipal officials regarding the accounting procedures required by FEMA and how to prepare for a FEMA audit. Also participating are Larry Arnold, FEMA’s DHS OIG manager, and CPA Fred Duplessis of Sullivan Powers Co. in Montpelier.
According to NEMRC President Ernie Saunders these training sessions will help indentify best practices, proper documentation and procurement, and optimal reimbursements.
‘These seminars are designed to help define the expectations and pitfalls that may occur during the coming months and how we can plan and work together to make the best of a bad situation,’ Saunders said.

The Ben & Jerry’s Board of Directors issued the following statement Thursday in support of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement:
"We, the Ben & Jerry's Board of Directors, compelled by our personal convictions and our Company’s mission and values, wish to express our deepest admiration to all of you who have initiated the non-violent Occupy Wall Street Movement and to those around the country who have joined in solidarity. The issues raised are of fundamental importance to all of us. These include:

Vermont is open and the beauty of its fall foliage is more spectacular than ever thanks to the unprecedented recovery achieved in just five weeks, according to the Vermont Country Store.’Vermonters have worked tirelessly to get our great state open again after the damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene,’ said Bill Shouldice, president and CEO of The Vermont Country Store. ‘With the all-important Fall Foliage season upon us, we are incredibly proud of the efforts of so many that helped re-build our roads, so folks could enjoy the experience of our brilliant colors, and our genuine hospitality. We have long held that the strength of Vermont is in its people, and that has never been more evident.
"The Vermont Country Store is just one of thousands of businesses with the ‘OPEN’ sign out, ready to welcome millions during October,’ former Vermont Commerce Secretary Shouldice said.

Vermont Business Magazine announced today the winners of its Rising Stars recognition award. The list is comprised of winners under the age of 40. Award recipients were selected by a panel of judges for their commitment to business growth, professional excellence and involvement in their communities.
‘We are thrilled by the response to this initiative to recognize these up-and-coming leaders,’ said VBM Publisher John Boutin. ‘We received many outstanding nominations and the judges had a difficult time getting it down to only 40. The latest census report shows that Vermont is the second oldest state in the US, but these young professionals show that Vermont is not losing its young talent. For these young professionals it’s not just about business. It’s about them making a difference in their communities.’

The Vermont Superior Court, Washington Unit, issued a decision on Tuesday in favor of the State in its campaign finance law enforcement action brought against the Republican Governors Association (’RGA’). The Court found that the RGA ran two political advertisements from August to October 2010, one promoting candidate Brian Dubie and the other attacking candidate Peter Shumlin, but did not register with the Secretary of State’s Office or file required disclosure reports. The Court also found that the RGA accepted contributions in excess of $2,000, in violation of Vermont’s limit on contributions to political committees. The RGA advertisements were in addition to others that it broadcast in the name of its Vermont PAC, Green Mountain Prosperity PAC (’GMP’). The RGA’s total spending on the Vermont gubernatorial race in 2010, both directly and through GMP, was over $900,000.

Highlighted by an extended period of sunshine forecast through the Columbus Weekend, comfortable temperatures and brightening foliage are anticipated as Vermont’s color progression moves southward and into the lower elevations.
The first widespread frost of the season on Thursday morning is expected to accelerate the color change into the mountain valleys where a predominant green has lingered longer than usual this year.
‘All the gap roads are near peak or at least at mid-stage. Beautiful! The views of the Green Mountains from these roads are world class in any season, but especially incredible with the hardwoods pastels contrasted against the softwoods rugged green,’ says Addison County Forester Chris Olson.

The Vermont-manufactured AllSun Tracker has been selected as a top green product for 2012.
The award announcement was made today at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Toronto, Canada.
The tenth annual BuildingGreen Top-10 product award recognizes the most innovative and exciting green building products of the year. Manufactured by the Williston, Vt.-based AllEarth Renewables, the AllSun Tracker was the only solar PV product to receive an award.
The AllSun Tracker is a pole-mounted solar energy system that uses GPS and wireless technology to follow the sun throughout the day allowing it to produce up to 45 percent more energy than typical fixed systems.

This list of contractors and sub-contractors is intended for people and businesses looking for a contractor, subcontractor or supplier as the state re-builds following the damage done by Tropical Storm Irene. As a reminder, the deadline for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance is now November 15, 2011. To register for Individual Assistance disaster assistance, call 800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with a speech disability or hearing loss who use a TTY can call 800-462-7585 directly, or 800-621-3362, if using 711 or Video Relay Service. Registration can also be done online anytime at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or through web-enabled mobile phone devices or smartphones at m.fema.gov.
Any contractor wishing to be added to the list or needing their listing updated may call Theresa at Vermont Business Magazine at 802/863-8038. There is no charge.

Vermont continues to show resiliency in the home price market, as prices were down over the last year four-tenths of one percent (see table below). When distressed sales were taken out of the equation, the average home value in Vermont actually increased 2.5 percent. CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), a leading provider of information, analytics and business services, today released its August Home Price Index (HPI) which shows that home prices in the US decreased 0.4 percent on a month-over-month basis, the first monthly decline in four months. According to the CoreLogic HPI, national home prices, including distressed sales, also declined on a year-over-year basis by 4.4 percent in August 2011 compared to August 2010. This follows a decline of 4.8 percent* in July 2011 compared to July 2010. Excluding distressed sales, year-over-year prices declined by 0.7 percent in August 2011 compared to August 2010 and by 1.7* percent inJuly 2011 compared to July 2010.

Representative Alison Clarkson, chair of the Legislative Council Committee, today announced the hiring of Luke Martland as the next Director and Chief Counsel of the Vermont Legislative Council. Martland has a decade of experience in New York state government, including leadership roles within the offices of the Attorney General and the Governor.
‘We are thrilled to have Luke join Legislative Council,’ said Rep. Clarkson. ‘He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will be invaluable to legislators and his colleagues. We look forward to working with Luke in his new role.’
As the head of the Vermont Legislative Council, Martland will oversee 52 full-time and session-only non-partisan legal, editorial, IT, and support staff. The position also requires Martland to make drafting assignments, provide legal advice to members, coordinate with other legislative offices, and act as the office’s spokesperson.