Vermont Business Magazine News

At a press conference today, Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss announced that the City will be conducting a “Complete Streets” demonstration project as part of the repaving of Colchester Avenue. Mayor Kiss was joined by City Councilor Sharon Bushor of Ward 1, staff from the Department of Public Works, and Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur of AARP-VT, as well as representatives of several other organizations involved in the project.

For the week of August 28, 2010, there were 616 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance, a decrease of 53 from the week before. Altogether 8,743 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 117 from a week ago and 1,724 more than a year earlier. The Department also processed 2,778 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 40 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 1,418 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is a increase of 3 from the week before.

Republican gubernatorial candidate and current Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie released his economic development proposal on Monday. As with the Democratic candidates for governor, vermontbiz.com is running a detailed version of each. The Democratic economic plans can be found HERE. Brian Dubie's plan is below.

State highway conditions are the best they’ve been in 19 years, according to Reason Foundation’s 19th Annual Highway Report. Unfortunately, the recession is partly responsible for the improvement in road conditions: people are driving less, which has helped slow pavement deterioration and reduced traffic congestion and fatalities. 

USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager announced yesterday that two Vermont towns were among 61 organizations in 46 states, the Western Pacific region and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico that will benefit from funding made available under the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program (RBEG).

For three weeks this month, VPR reporter Steve Zind will report from Afghanistan, where he’ll be embedded with 1,500 members of the Vermont National Guard.

Governor Jim Douglas announced today that a new cheese manufacturing company will be locating in Swanton, creating up to 55 jobs over the next several years.  Swan Valley Cheese will occupy the former Via Cheese facility in the Swanton Town Industrial Park. Via Cheese stopped production and laid of its workers in May.

Is your nonprofit a century old?  If yes, then the Secretary of State is looking for you!  Secretary Deb Markowitz is seeking applicants for the 2010 Vermont Centennial Nonprofit Awards program.  This program honors nonprofits that have operated in Vermont for at least 100 years. Any nonprofit that has been in operation in Vermont for 100 years or more can participate in this awards program by filling out an application form.  Secretary Markowitz said, “The Vermont Centennial Nonprofit Award acknowledges Vermont's oldest nonprofits for enriching our heritage.

Construction is well under way at the new Tupelo Music Hall in White River Junction, and all systems are go for the grand opening performance on Friday, October 1. Scott Hayward, the owner of the venue, has also booked an ambitious and eclectic schedule of almost forty shows, already stretching into May of 2011.

The Vermont Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) has received a 2010 Consortium Development Competition Award of $185,000 from the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) to fund a research project entitled, “The Vermont Frozen Landscape Monitoring Project".

Governor Jim Douglas announced today that Chief Technology Officer Tom Evslin will retire from state government on September 15. Evslin, 67, was recruited from retirement by Governor Douglas in March of 2009 to be Chief Recovery Officer to oversee Vermont’s use of stimulus funds and applications for competitive stimulus grants. When the temporary Office of Economic Stimulus and Recovery finished its job, Evslin was named Chief Technology Officer for the State and has been the Administration’s lead on Challenges for Change.

While the recount of the primary vote gets under way, Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie said he is eager to debate the eventual Democratic nominee, challenging his opponent to a series of debates throughout the state. “Whether my opponent ends up being Peter Shumlin or Doug Racine, our plans to address the economic challenges that face Vermont could not be more different,” Dubie said. “I look forward to letting Vermonters decide who they think best represents the interests of Vermont families, workers and job creators.”

The Secretary of State's office has posted the official results for the primary conducted August 24, 2010, for all the statewide races. Further below are results for all Vermont primary races.   OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CANVASSING COMMITTEE UNITED STATES AND VERMONT STATEWIDE OFFICES   Primary Election, August 24, 2010  

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has chosen the winners of the five highly anticipated 2010 Vermont Hospitality Awards. These awards honor individuals in the hospitality industry who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the industry and who exemplify standards of professionalism. The awards will be given at the Vermont Chamber Hospitality Gala on September 21 at Sugarbush Resort in Warren.