Vermont Air National Guard chosen as first Guard unit in nation to get F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

Thu Jul 29 2010
Senator Patrick Leahy and the Vermont Congressional Delegation – Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) -- announced Thursday that the Secretary of the Air Force has selected the Vermont National Guard to be the first Air Guard unit to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.  The Air Force announced that Burlington is one of two preferred choices for F-35 operations, along with Hill Air Force Base in northern Utah, and that Luke Air Force Base in Arizona is the top pick for training.  Final basing decisions will be made later in the ongoing selectio

Vermont attorney general wants front-of-label nutritional facts

Thu Jul 29 2010
Vermont Attorney General William H Sorrell and the attorneys general of 11 other states today urged the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to adopt a uniform nutritional label for the front of food packages, to ensure that consumers have access to easily understandable and fully transparent information on how healthy the products actually are. “Consumers should have clear information to make healthy food choices,” said Attorney General Sorrell.

Vermont firm part of Subaru X Games rally car

Thu Jul 29 2010
Subaru Rally Team USA unveiled its new 2011 Impreza WRX STI rally cars to journalists in dramatic fashion at the Pala Raceway in Pala, California. The team, including Vermont SportsCar of Colchester, Vermont, provided full speed ride-alongs to journalists during practice for the ESPN Summer X Games 16.  Travis Pastrana, Dave Mirra and new teammate, European Rallycross Champion Sverre Isachsen, demonstrated that they were ready for the SuperRally X Game competitions, being held at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Saturday, July 31st.   

Green Mountain Coffee reports 64 percent sales growth in Q3

Wed Jul 28 2010
Attributing a 64 percent net sales growth by the success of the Keurig Single-Cup Brewing System, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc of Waterbury has reported strong sales and earnings growth. Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 increased to $311.5 million as compared to $190.5 million reported in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. According to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 totaled $18.6 million, or $0.13 per fully diluted share; non-GAAP EPS of $0.19.

Farmers’ market report reveals continuing economic contribution

Wed Jul 28 2010
A new report released this month by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) reveals that Vermont’s farmers’ markets continue to thrive, providing substantial support to the state’s vibrant agricultural economy. There are currently more than 80 farmers’ markets in Vermont, 30 of which accept EBT (food assistance benefits) and debit cards. This report comes just in time for the 10th annual National Farmers’ Market Week, July 31 through August 7, 2010.

Hannaford Vermont promoting scratch cards

Wed Jul 28 2010
  Delhaize America has announced a new promotion where its customers have the chance to win up to $250,000 by shopping Delhaize America stores, including Hannaford supermarkets in Vermont.

Weekly unemployment claims edge up

Wed Jul 28 2010
For the week of July 24, 2010, there were 703 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance, an increase of 73 from the week before. Altogether 9,579 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 310 from a week ago and 3,497 fewer than a year earlier. The Department also processed 2,329 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 207 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 1,056 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is a decrease of 182 from the week before.

St Johnsbury Academy announces $15 million 'Embrace the Dream' campaign

Wed Jul 28 2010
Led by a $5 million challenge gift, from an anonymous boarding student parent, St. Johnsbury Academy has announced the largest campaign in the school’s history. Academy Headmaster Tom Lovett and Board of Trustees President and Campaign Chair Lee Hackett ’57 officially announced the Embrace the Dream campaign during the school’s annual alumni banquet on June 5. During the quiet phase of the campaign, leadership gifts from trustees, faculty, alumni, parents, friends, and foundations have raised more than $12 million in cash and pledges toward the $15 million goal.

KeyCorp reports second quarter 2010 profit

Wed Jul 28 2010
KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) today announced second quarter net income from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders of $56 million, or $.06 per common share. These results compare to a net loss from continuing operations attributable to Key common shareholders of $394 million, or $.68 per common share, for the second quarter of 2009, which was negatively impacted by an $823 million loan loss provision.

$1.3 billion economic recovery in Vermont brings 7,000 Jobs

Wed Jul 28 2010
The economic stimulus program that Congress passed last year to help pull the economy out of the deepest recession since the 1930s so far has provided tax relief for almost all Vermonters and created or saved some 7,000 jobs in the state, according to a report compiled for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

This Month's Issue

  • peter_van_oot_0710.jpg

    Peter D Van Oot is an attorney with the northern New England law firm of Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC specializing in land use, environmental and corporate law, primarily from the firm’s Lebanon office.

  • chittenden_county_0710.jpg

    Chittenden County's economic prospects are far from untroubled, but as the recession grinds on in many places around the country, the Burlington area's problems appear mild by comparison.

    “Chittenden County continues to lead New England in lowest unemployment rates, foreclosures, and the depreciation rate of homes,” Ernest Pomerleau, CEO of Pomerleau Real Estate, pointed out. “Our commercial vacancy rates, although higher than normal, are well below the region's averages,” he added.

  • software_developers_0710.jpg

    While the recession continues to hit hard at the national and state economies, there is a bright spot in Vermont’s job outlook. The state's information technology companies, those producing software, are doing well. Medical technologies along with mobile computing and cell phone growth are pushing software development and expanding the opportunities in this industry. As a result relatively high paying positions are available. The major problem locally is finding enough workers.

  • potter_0710.jpg

    The Potter family of Waitsfield has built a creative arts economy all by itself.

    "It's about taking the simple threads of art and trying to work them into the public world," said Sparky Potter, 62, patriarch and founder of the innovative Wood & Wood Sign Systems – Ben & Jerry's Homemade three-dimensional signs are among his creations.

    Peggy Potter, his wife, is just winding down a 20-year career making and selling the high-end painted wood bowls that have won her national recognition.

  • nurse_magnus_0710.jpg

    The historic national health care reform legislation involves numerous components. One component, also required by the IRS in Schedule H, Form 990, is for increased oversight of tax-exempt hospitals. (Note: There are no for-profit hospitals in Vermont.)

  • computer_manufacturing_0710.jpg

    Vermont’s computer and related electrical machinery manufacturing sector, dominated as it is by IBM in Essex Junction, is rebounding from the recession and sees some positive signs for the near future. The notable loss is the closing of Suss MicroTec, a stalwart of the state's high-tech seen. Upwards of 100 jobs will be lost at the Waterbury manufacturer.

    IBM itself hired more than 200 workers for its manufacturing plant last year and is in the process of filling an additional 100 jobs since April.

  • grand_isle_0710.jpg

    Grand Isle County's small economy rests, somewhat precariously, on three legs: tourism, agriculture and residential real estate. The first is faring well, the second is characterized by both high ambitions and an embarrassing scandal, and the third is moribund, at least for now. Conditions in the Champlain Islands in mid-2010 are thus inspiring a mixture of optimism and despondency.

  • starting_over_0710.jpg

    In my last column, I showed how I use technology to facilitate work when I'm overseas. This one’s about what happened when I returned. It wasn’t pretty.

    I came home to discover that my former employer had turned off my landline phone, my cell phone, Internet connection, even my cable TV. And he'd done it so effectively that I couldn't just pay ‘n play with any of ‘em.

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