Vermont Business Magazine News

Rutland--The Vermont Specialty Food Association welcomes the following businesses as members of the organization:

Montpelier--There were 1,306 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance for the week ending January 24th, a decrease of 338 from the week before. Altogether 15,905 new and continuing claims were filed, 505 less than a week ago and 5,551 more than a year earlier. In addition, the Department processed 1,808 claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008, a decrease of 234 from last week.

Burlington--Due to popular interest in the Fall Professional Certificate in Leadership & Management program, The Vermont Business Center has added a Spring Professional Certificate program starting March 13th. The Vermont Business Center's Leadership and Management Professional Certificate Program is designed to provide participants with a management "toolkit," including key concepts, vocabulary and analytical tools essential for effective management and strategic decision making.

Burlington--Champlain College’s innovative international initiatives have earned the college a prestigious award from the Institute of International Education (IIE). The college will receive the 2009 IIE Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education on March 19 at a ceremony at the United Nations in New York. The awards, now in their eighth year, were established to promote and honor outstanding initiatives in international higher education among the members of IIE’s association of more than 1,000 institutions.

Montpelier – Statewide assessment results for Fall 2008 were released by the Vermont Department of Education today. The results are from the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) exams, given to Vermont public school students in grades three through eight and 11. Students were tested in reading and mathematics in all seven grades, and in writing at grades five, eight and 11 only. The following table illustrates the percent of Vermont students proficient in the content area by grade span:

While the exact number of lay offs at IBM’s Essex plant was not known at press time, the total number was expected to be under 500. If it were more than 499, IBM would have been required by federal law to notify state officials before the action, which it did not. According to Vermont Department of Labor Commissioner Pat Moulton Powden, she was not informed ahead of time of the layoffs. She confirmed that IBM had laid off less then 500 of its roughly 5,200 employees Tuesday, January 27.

Montpelier -- The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2008 was 6.4 percent, up seven-tenths of a point from the revised November rate and up 2.5 points from a year ago. “The nation’s job market deteriorated sharply in the fourth quarter and especially in December,” said Patricia Moulton Powden, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor. “New estimation procedures indicate that Vermont’s job market followed those national trends.”

In 1982, a group of concerned community members and organizations came together to address the needs and concerns of Burlington’s homeless population. On December 24, 1982, the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) opened its doors for the first time providing overnight shelter to people without homes during that winter season. In 1983, the organization incorporated as a non-profit and began a year round operation. COTS has become a valuable resource in Chittenden County for individuals in need of shelter, a place to sleep, healthcare, job training and counseling services.

Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) approved $2.2 million in business development financing, leveraging another $2.8 million in private financing for projects throughout the state. "VEDA is pleased to offer financing assistance that will help a Colchester business expand, and bring new jobs to St. Albans through establishment of a new manufacturing plant there," said Jo Bradley, VEDA's Chief Executive Officer. Approved for VEDA financing assistance are:

Montpelier, VT. - The administration of Governor Jim Douglas has called the first meeting of a group of officials from state government, business, and non-government organizations that will provide a rapid response to Vermont companies facing difficulties. The Economic Response Team, a collaborative effort of the state's economic development partners proposed by the Governor as part of his Inaugural Address, will meet Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at the Pavilion Building in Montpelier from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Rep. Peter Welch hailed President Obama's decision Monday to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider a waiver requested by California, Vermont and 12 other states that would allow them to set strict, new vehicle emissions standards.

Managing Director William P. Stritzler of Smugglers' Notch Resort in Jeffersonville has been elected chair of the Vermont Business Roundtable, and five Vermont CEOs are newly-elected to three year terms on the board of directors. The new directors and officers assumed their roles during the Roundtable's annual membership meeting on Jan. 14. Stritzler takes over the position from Timothy R. Volk, president of Kelliher Samets Volk, a Burlington-based marketing firm.

Heritage Flight, which has been in business since 1984, has just been granted IS-BAO (International Standard of Business Aviation Organization) certification. They are also AR/GUS platinum rated and Wyvern recommended. This remarkable accomplishment has been achieved by only 4 charter operators in the nation. This recognizes Heritage Flight's continued commitment and emphasis on safety.

A new booklet, "How Burlington Became an Award Winning City: An Historical Summary of Burlington's Economic Development Efforts with a Vision for the Future 1983-2008 " is a chronicle of major economic development efforts in the City, highlighting a handful of particular programs and projects as well as some of the many awards that have been received. Included are sections containing Five-Year Goals, Priorities and Lessons Learned over 25 years.

HANOVER, NH Ledyard Financial Group (Ticker Symbol: LFGP) announced today a regular quarterly dividend of $0.31 per common share. The dividend is payable March 2, 2009 to shareholders of record as of February 2, 2009.

The US Census Bureau has opened a census office in Vermont to carry out early 2010 operations and is looking for qualified applicants to fill more than 800 jobs across the state. The local census office is located near Burlington. Positions include address listers, office clerks, recruiting assistants, crew leaders and field operations supervisors. The census employees will help develop an address list in spring 2009. The address list will be used to deliver census questionnaires in 2010. The jobs are temporary; some are full time and others part time.

South Burlington, VT, January 19, 2009--The Magic Hat Brewing Company & Performing Arts Center has announced sales results for the 2008 calendar year, and the numbers show that the brewer holding strong continues to perform well despite a shaky American economy and the rising prices in production costs.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Jan. 20, 2009) - Trader Corporation (Trader), the vertical media business of Yellow Pages Income Fund (TSX:YLO.UN), announced today it has entered into a strategic agreement with Burlington, Vermont-based Dealer.com (www.Dealer.com) that will deliver a suite of marketing technology solutions to Canada's new and used vehicle industry.

Miss Vermont 2008, Ashley Wheeler, received the best talent score for her a capella rendition of "God Bless America" in the final night of the Miss America preliminary competition on Thursday, January 22, 2009. WHERE: Planet Hollywood- Las Vegas, Nevada

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT-Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBVT), the parent company of Merchants Bank, announced today that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of 28 cents per share, payable February 19, 2009, to shareholders of record as of February 5, 2009. Merchants plans to release earnings on or about January 28, 2009.

Thursday, January 22, 2009. Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, legislators, guests, my fellow Vermonters: "The legitimate object of Government," Abraham Lincoln once wrote, is "to do for the people what needs to be done, but which they can not, by individual effort, do at all, or do so well, for themselves."

RUTLAND, VT--(Marketwire - January 22, 2009) - Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE: CV) has lowered its earnings estimate for 2008 from a range of $1.50 to $1.60 per share to a range of $1.28 to $1.38 per share. The revised range reflects the unanticipated, record-breaking service restoration efforts related to the ice storm that hit the New England region in mid December.

Morrisville, VT January 21, 2009 - Union Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ - UNB) today announced net Income for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $1.34 million or $.30 per share compared to $1.51 million or $.34 per share for 2007.  Net income for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $5.11 million or $1.14 per share compared to $5.66 million or $1.25 per share for the same period in 2007. Results for 2008 reflect a year to year decrease in net interest income of $501 thousand or 2.8%.

January 22, 2009. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz announced today that the number of new businesses registered with the Secretary of State's Corporations Division during the year 2008 have decreased considerably.  As of January 1, 2009, there were registered in Vermont 15,495 Vermont corporations, 8,704 foreign corporations (out-of-state companies doing business in Vermont), 38,290 trade names (sole proprietorships), and 17,345 limited liability companies.

National Life Insurance Company, a member of National Life Group, recently launched Investor Select, a new variable universal life product. With more riders and new funds, this VUL product offers more flexibility and individual policy customization to meet a wide variety of personal and business insurance needs.

Westminster, VT - In a partnership between two Vermont companies that know a thing or two about electricity, Green Mountain Power (GMP) and groSolar have teamed up to construct one of the state's largest solar power systems.

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) is assisting the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc. (VAST) with the proposed conversion of a 93-mile former rail corridor to a multi-use trail called the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT).

The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) announced that Connie Lanphear, RN achieved Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE®) status by successfully completing the Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators.  Connie is a member of the Outpatient Health Education Department at Central Vermont Medical Center and a resident of Williamstown.  Registered Dieticians Illene Siegel and Sylvia Gaboriault complete the team of certified diabetes educators at CVMC.

The Magic Hat Brewing Company & Performing Arts Center has announced sales results for the 2008 calendar year, and the numbers show that the brewer continues to perform well despite a shaky American economy and the rising prices in production costs.

Vermont Organic Fiber Company (VTOF), the nation's leading manufacturer of fabrics, blankets, and hand knitting yarn made with certified organic wool, has hired veteran outdoor industry entrepreneur Edward ("Ed") Kiniry as CEO December 1, 2008. Kiniry will be responsible for driving the growth of the company's popular O-Wool® brand of products made with wool grown and certified to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's organic standard. Formerly, he was president of Winterquest, LLC, the parent company of Tubbs and Atlas snowshoes, selling the company to K2 Inc. in 2003.