News

Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) has been fully accredited under the national Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). EMAP is a review process for state and local emergency management programs to ensure they are in compliance with national standards. Vermont joins 21 other states and four jurisdictions with accredited programs.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enhancements to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs have led to a major rebound in Vermont of SBA-backed loans for small businesses and greater access to much-needed capital. SBA lending in Vermont dramatically increased in the second quarter of the 2010 fiscal year, Jan. 1, 2010 through March 31, 2010.

Governor Jim Douglas has announced $208,723 in Historic Preservation Barn Grants that will be awarded to 25 farms (see list below) to help make repairs needed to keep the barns in use. In a ceremony at the Dodge Farm in Berlin, which received $10,000 to repair its barn roof, the governor noted that the program promoted two of Vermont s most important industries, agriculture and tourism.

AM Best Co has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to B+ (Good) from B++ (Good) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “bbb-” from “bbb” for First Beacon Insurance Company (First Beacon) (Burlington, VT), a captive insurer of Alcatel-Lucent. The outlook for both ratings remains negative.

Many people do not yet fully understand how the recently approved health insurance reform legislation will affect their health insurance coverage, access to services, or options available to them or their families.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that the State of Vermont is being awarded a $250,000 grant to produce new affordable, energy efficient, green housing.

Logging and milling has begun on the post and beam frame of the future Putney General Store. In an empty lot off of Route 5 in Putney, volunteer mill operator Mark Bowen is busy sawing large oak and pine logs donated by Putney land-owners that will become the frame of the new store to be built by the Putney Historical Society.

WCAX-TV News has won a series of Edward R. Murrow Awards sponsored by the Radio Television Digital News Association or RTDNA. The station received four Murrow awards, including overall excellence for its 6 pm news broadcast.

Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center has received a grant of $23,700 from the State of Vermont in support of its efforts to pursue a new transformational project to define, implement and evaluate an innovative model of resident care.

(Vermont Business Magazine) At a news conference today at Highgate Elementary School, US Senator Bernie Sanders announced energy efficiency grants and after-school program funding for Highgate Center.

(Vermont Biz) In the twelve months before July 1, 2009, 85 pharmaceutical manufacturers paid $2,599,589 to Vermont doctors, hospitals, universities and others for the purpose of marketing their drugs. This was a drop from nearly $3 million the previous fiscal year. “This amount includes over $800,000 in gifts of food, which are now outlawed in Vermont,” said Attorney General William H.

(Vermont Biz April 6, 2010) The number of Green Mountain Power customers using small-scale renewable energy sources to generate their own electricity has more than doubled since 2008, with the largest growth coming from customers who generate electricity with solar. Currently, close to 300 GMP customers have applied for and received state permission for net metering.