Current News

The Vermont Money Smart Child initiative was announced today’as school, State government, business and non-profit officials underscored the need for parents to actively teach their kids about money.

Through a three-way partnership between the Vermont Jump$tart Coalition, State Treasurer’s Office, and People’s United Bank, the groundwork has been laid to reach more than 11,000 families with resources parents can use to instruct their children in personal finance. Fifty-seven elementary, middle school and high schools located throughout the state have requested copies of the booklet, ‘How to Raise a Money Smart Child’A Parent’s Guide.’ The schools will distribute the guides to parents this fall.

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin today requested a Public Assistance Declaration for Grand Isle County, with damage estimates finalized on Wednesday exceeding the requirement to meet the federal threshold for assistance. If approved, every county in Vermont will have qualified for federal financial help repairing roads, bridges and other public infrastructure damaged in Tropical Storm Irene.
‘Our state and federal assessment for Grand Isle County found extensive damage to the infrastructure, well above the FEMA requirements for receiving the federal match,’ said Gov. Shumlin. ‘We hope to receive approval of this declaration quickly to prevent delays in repairing damage in Grand Isle.’

Governor's office. 9.15.2011

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin joined Comcast officials today for the launch of Internet Essentials, an ambitious and comprehensive broadband adoption program. The Internet Essentials program addresses three of the primary barriers to broadband adoption that research has identified ‘ 1) a lack of understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful; 2) the cost of a home computer, and 3) the cost of the Internet service. Available to low-income families across Vermont with children who are eligible to receive a free lunch under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the goal of Internet Essentials is to help close the digital divide and ensure more Americans benefit from all the Internet has to offer.

On September 16, MyWebGrocer will host Vermont’s first ever 24-hour hackathon in the Champlain Mill in Winooski. The nonstop computer programming and code-writing marathon will give students and professionals throughout New England the chance to show MyWebGrocer and their peers what they’re made of, with a chance to win $10,000 in cash prizes.

Here are the event details:
What: Vermont’s first ever Hackathon
Who: Hosted by MyWebGrocer
Where: The Champlain Mill
20 Winooski Falls Way
Winooski, Vermont
When: Friday, September 16, 2011 ‘ Saturday, September 17, 2011
This event is not open to the public.
Friday
à 6 p.m. ‘ Participants check in
à 6:30 p.m. ‘ Opening remarks
à 7 p.m. ‘ Hacking kick-off
Saturday

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin's schedule for Thursday, September 15, 2011.
9:00 ‘Feed the Hungry Donation with UFCW,’ VT Foodbank - Smithfield donation; 33 Parker Road, Wilson Industrial Park, Barre
10:30 Vermont State Dental Society; Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, Burlington
11:45 Bike Path Opening, South Burlington Recreation & Parks Dept.; Tilley Drive & Community Drive
12:20 Comcast Internet Essentials; The O’Brien Center in Winooski, 32 Mallets Way Ave.
1:30 Press Conference on Jobs; On the Rise Bakery, 39 Esplanade, Richmond
3:00 Tour Waterbury Downtown damaged by Tropical Storm Irene, starting at Fire Station on Main Street
5:50 5 x 5 x 5. Vermont Business Awards; Doubletree, South Burlington

6:30 Governor's Lakeside Gathering, Community Sailing Center; 234 Penny Lane, Burlington

With so much activity taking place around overhead and underground electrical equipment in the wake of Hurricane Irene, Central Vermont Public Service is warning workers to be careful to avoid situations involving contact with these types of devices.
In some areas, utilities may have lost the ground-to-cable clearances they had prior to the flood. Vermont utilities urge all contractors and state and federal agencies to use caution along power lines, and encourage them to report any ‘defects’ to the utility systems, such as low-hanging lines, they may notice in the field.
Central Vermont Public Service offers the following tips to help contractors stay safe during the recovery:

Vermont Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding released the August 2011 General Fund (GF) Revenue results today. Led by an increase in personal income tax receipts, the most important component, General Fund revenues totaled $90.06 million for August 2011, and were +$10.89 million or +13.75 percent above the $79.17 million consensus revenue forecast for the month, more than covering the prior month’s shortfall. Year to date, General Fund revenues were $176.33 million, and +$6.00 million or +3.52 percent above the two month target of $170.33 million. August is the second month of fiscal year (FY) 2012.

by Senator Bill Doyle. Last week, I had the opportunity to have a conference call with Secretary of Administration, Jeb Spaulding, Commissioner of Buildings and Grounds, Mike Obuchowski, Waterbury Representatives Rebecca Ellis and Tom Stevens, and Sen. Anthony Pollina. The Waterbury complex may not be repaired for many months, and the question is where would the state employees work or temporarily be relocated.
Spaulding said it would cost the state $20 million just to stabilize the present situation. On an optimistic note Spaulding said the federal/state match might be as high at 90 percent federal and 10 percent state. He made it clear that both the legislative and executive branches would be included in the short and long-term planning.

Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that the state has requested an Individual Disaster Declaration for three additional counties in Vermont: Franklin, Lamoille and Orleans. If approved, residents and business owners in those counties will be eligible to apply for federal assistance for everything from repair work to temporary rent payments resulting from damage created by Tropical Storm Irene.
‘Our recent assessment of these counties found that damage to homes and businesses meets the threshold for federal assistance,’ Gov. Shumlin said. ‘We hope FEMA will move quickly to approve this declaration request so we can begin getting help to home and business owners in these counties.’

Vermont Public Radio raised more than $628,000 to benefit the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund during a special one-day fundraiser on Tuesday, September 13. Over 4,600 listeners donated to help affected communities rebuild and recover from the impact of Tropical Storm Irene and the subsequent flooding.
"We are simply amazed and very touched at the tremendous generosity of our listeners," said VPR President Robin Turnau. ‘We know that our listeners are community-minded, but this outpouring of support went beyond anything we imagined.’
More than 150 volunteers helped answer phones during the 16-hour effort, which rang steadily throughout the day. Donations also flowed in through VPR’s website as listeners and fans spread the word through social media.

Northeastern Vermont Area Health Education Center in St Johnsbury, Vermont, has received $708,930, as the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) today announced $9.7 million in awards to 14 new grantees to increase diversity in the health professions workforce through the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP). The funds will help develop an educational pipeline to enhance the academic performance of economically and educationally disadvantaged students, and prepare them for careers in the health professions.
"These awards will play a key role in addressing health care disparities and increasing the diversity of the health professions," said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. "They will give students from disadvantaged backgrounds the support they need to enter the health professions, and help ensure the make-up of the health workforce better reflects our diverse population."

The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company in Vermont has received national coverage recently, both of its devastating flood damage from Tropical Storm Irene, and of the inspiring community efforts to help with the clean up. Now a group of actors, musicians, designers, and stage managers are showing their love for Weston by holding a star-studded New York benefit on Monday, September 26, 2011.