The Vermont Chamber of Commerce hosted the White House Business Council at BioTek in Winooski on Wednesday afternoon. Vermont business leaders had the opportunity to connect with Administration officials and share their ideas for how the Obama Administration can continue to grow the economy and put Americans back to work

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) today announced plans to transport and lift into place the center arch span of the new Lake Champlain Bridge this Friday, August 26, weather permitting.  The public will be able to watch the transport and lift, but some marine and vehicle traffic restrictions will be in place. There will also be a webcam showing the event (see link below).

The legislature hired contractors, Lawrence O Picus and Associates, to evaluate Vermont’s education finance system per Act 45 of 2011. Two public hearings are scheduled on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, to seek public input as part of the Picus and Associates’ evaluation of Vermont’s education finance system.

Having completed its beta testing, and with the Phase I project nearly complete, ECFiber began connecting its first customers today. Eight customers have been beta-testing the system for the past two weeks, getting sustained 5Mbps symmetrical service.  The Barnard General Store, one of the beta sites, has been offering the experience to customers via WI-FI, and has been finding folks on their doorstep at all hours, trying out the system.

Dale Tatro, President of Tatro Brothers Concrete in Hyde Park, Vermont, is retiring from the construction business and has retained the Thomas Hirchak Company to sell all of his rolling stock, equipment and tools.  The auction will be held at their 878 Route 15, Hyde Park location on Tuesday, September 27th at 10 am.  Auction will be available for online Real Time Bidding through www.proxibid.com/ThomasHirchak. 

Landlords, tenants and municipalities now have a place to find Vermont’s law on the legal health and safety requirements of rental housing: www.rentalcodes.org. The website features checklists of the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, including links to relevant codes and contacts. The website was developed by the Attorney General’s Office working in conjunction with the Vermont Housing Finance Agency and other state agencies and stakeholders as a part of a safe rental housing study committee.

Vermont residents now have access to a free prescription assistance program. The statewide program, called Vermont Rx Card, is scheduled to officially commence today. Vermont Rx Card is being launched to help the uninsured and underinsured residents of Vermont gain access to significant savings on prescription medications at local pharmacies.  

US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced Tuesday that Vermont has secured more than $9.2 million in federal grants from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help with prevention and preparedness.  

Dealer.com (www.dealer.com), the global leader in automotive internet marketing solutions, was today recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest growing companies for the fifth year in a row. With a three-year sales growth of 390 percent, Dealer.com placed No. 800 on the fourth annual Inc 5000 list, and also ranked No. 57 in the Business Products and Services category in the United States. 

Gifford Medical Center’s sixth annual Last Mile Ride held on Saturday, Aug. 20, attracted a record 219 motorcyclists, 23 cyclists and raised $48,000 for end-of-life care. The charity motorcycle ride was the Randolph hospital’s sixth annual. Since it’s start in 2006, rider numbers and money raised have climbed significantly. That first year just 74 riders turned out and $7,000 was raised.