Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. announced on October 12 an exclusive agreement with Granco International, d.b.a. Green Mountain Company, Ltd. (GMC Ltd.) of Hong Kong to be the sole importer and distributor of Green Mountain Coffee throughout Hong Kong and Mainland China.Under the terms of the agreement, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters will supply coffee to GMC Ltd., which plans to open a minimum of five branded retail outlets in greater Shanghai in 2005 under the name Green Mountain Café. GMC Ltd. Is also authorized to distribute Green Mountain Coffee to institutional accounts and other existing coffee shops in Hong Kong and China.Chris Barbieri, Director of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Asia Trade Division, who has been living in China for the past year, facilitated the agreement. Chris said, Over the past year, Ive seen the growing demand for high quality brewed specialty coffee, including espresso-based beverages. Were delighted to be working with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, a company that is focused on roasting and distributing the worlds highest quality coffees worldwide.Claudia Lovell, International Sales Manager for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters said, We are very excited to introduce Green Mountain Coffee to consumers in Hong Kong and Mainland China. I applaud the Vermont Chambers efforts in promoting the State of Vermont in this important region of the world.Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. is a leader in the specialty coffee industry and offers over 100 coffee selections including estate, certified organic, Fair Trade, signature blends, and flavored coffees that it sells under the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Newmans Own Organics brands.
UVM student center to be named after late Dudley Davis
UVM student center to be named after late Dudley DavisThe University of Vermont’s new student center, scheduled for ground breaking next Spring, will be named after the late Dudley H Davis, thanks to a generous multi-million dollar gift from his family. Davis died November 29th, shortly after the dedication was announced.The $70 million Dudley H Davis Center, approved in September by the university’s Board of Trustees, is the largest and most ambitious building project in the university’s history and key to the success of the institution’s 10-year growth and pursuit of academic excellence strategy.The gift comes in the form of a major challenge to friends and corporations from Mr. Davis’ family. Once fully subscribed, this will provide the requisite $7 million to name the student center and the attached theater in honor of Dudley H. Davis. To date, $6 million has already been raised.Davis is a 1943 graduate of UVM and former president and chief executive officer of The Merchants Bank, a local institution founded in Burlington in 1849. Challenging projects like Wake Robin, the Sheraton Hotel, and others were achieved in large part by Davis unique ability to get things done.His vision provided start up funding for notable Vermont companies including IDX, Ben and Jerrys and others. He was a leader in the development of affordable housing throughout the state of Vermont and through his leadership at the Merchants Bank provided countless Vermonters the opportunity to own their own home or business.Davis is especially interested in young people. His work with the Merchants Bank scholarship fund assisted thousands of Vermont students with financial aid for many years. He is especially adept at helping young students and professionals realize their financial goals.Davis has spent all of his 83 years in Chittenden County with the exception of serving America in World War II in the Pacific and Japan. His involvement in the community and with the University has been life-long.He, his wife Phiddy (class of ’45) and three of their four children attended the University of Vermont.We are very grateful for the generosity and vision of Chuck and Marna Davis and the entire Davis family and friends of Dudley Davis, who together are making it possible to designate the University of Vermont’s new student union as the Dudley H. Davis Center, said President Daniel Mark Fogel. The Davis Center will transform the fabric of the campus community and will greatly enrich the intellectual and cultural life of the surrounding community. We are deeply moved that this facility, a keystone of the vision for UVM, will be named in honor of Dudley Davis, an alumnus in whom the university takes great pride for what he has done in his life and work to build community resources throughout Vermont and especially in the greater Burlington area.Designers knew the location of the new student center would be critical — envisioned as a figurative crossroads of campus, it had to be a literal one, as well. Their solution promises to dramatically improve two aesthetic negatives of the UVM campus — the culvert-like pedestrian tunnel under Main Street and the University’s lack of a ‘front door’ on Main, the main travel corridor into Burlington. The center will stretch along Main, roughly in the area between Morrill and Terrill halls. (Carrigan Hall will be deconstructed.) The pedestrian tunnel will be reworked and integrated into the project, a strong link between the residential and main campus that will draw thousands of students into the building on their daily travels.Pending permitting, the University will break ground on the project next Spring with a projected opening date of Fall 2007.
Seventh Generation names PepsiCo/Quaker Oats veteran as CEO
Seventh Generation,Seventh Generation of Burlington, Vermont, the nation’s leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally safe household products, today announced the appointment of Chuck Maniscalco, former President and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo’s Quaker Tropicana Gatorade business, to the role of Chief Executive Officer.Maniscalco, who was also elected to the company’s board of directors, will be charged with oversight for the company’s day-to-day operations, strategic growth and expansion, supply chain and retail distribution expansion, and infrastructure evolution in the highly competitive and rapidly growing environmental product category. According to the market research firm Mintel International, the sector for green cleaning products grew 262 percent from 2003 to 2008 and is projected to grow 873 percent by 2013.Seventh Generation co-founder Jeffrey Hollender will become Executive Chairperson — as well as retain his title as “Chief Inspired Protagonist” — and devote his full time and effort to advocating for corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability.”Jeffrey is a true visionary, boldly introducing a new way of healthy and responsible living to consumers, and advocating for true corporate responsibility and sustainable business practices, not because these philosophies are popular, but because he believes they are the philosophies that will make the world a better place,” said Chuck Maniscalco. “I feel privileged to be entrusted with this higher standard brand which, with its mission and proven track record of success, is poised for tremendous growth. Best of all, I am deeply humbled, and at the same time thrilled to be a part of the Seventh Generation family and all for which it stands.”Highlighted Linkshttp://www.seventhgeneration.com(link is external)”I have successfully guided Seventh Generation from infancy through its adolescence, but now is the right time for me to step aside so the company can transition to the next level of growth in its journey,” said Jeffrey Hollender. “We were looking for a special leader — someone who maintains a rare combination of unparalleled business acumen with an innate philosophical grounding in line with our vision — and Chuck was the natural choice.”Maniscalco will be charged with driving growth of the Seventh Generation brand, while staying true to the company’s mission. Twenty years ago, the company launched as one of the country’s first self-declared socially responsible companies. Since then, it has grown to one of the premier environmentally friendly brands. Seventh Generation brand-name products include: non-chlorine bleach, 100% recycled paper towels, bathroom and facial tissues, and napkins; non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaning, dish and laundry products; plastic trash bags made from recycled plastic; chlorine-free baby diapers, training pants, and baby wipes; and chlorine-free feminine care products, including organic cotton tampons. The company dedicates 10 percent of profits to environmental, health and responsible business organizations working for positive change.Maniscalco is the former chief executive of the nearly $10 billion division of PepsiCo Inc. During his tenure he enhanced a world class marketing organization, fueling growth and profitability in an extremely competitive consumer products segment. Maniscalco started his career in market research in 1980 and moved up the ranks to become president of Quaker Snacks and subsequently president of the Quaker Oats Convenience Foods business. He served as President of Gatorade and Propel brands and delivered two-fold growth over four years while pioneering the enhanced water beverage category with the introduction of Propel, which became a $500 million brand in its first four years. Maniscalco assumed the title of President and CEO of Quaker Tropicana Gatorade where he built a worldwide reputation as a strategic brand manager. He is also the founder of Manifest Leadership, a consulting firm dedicated to authentic leadership development.Hollender will continue to serve as director and Executive Chairman of the company under a long-term contract and continues to hold a significant equity stake in Seventh Generation. Hollender recently developed a new TV show, “Big Green Lies,” and his newest book, “Good Company,” will be published in February 2010 by Josse-Bass. Currently, Hollender serves on the Board of Directors of Greenpeace USA; Healthy Child Healthy World (formerly Children’s Health Environmental Coalition); Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility; Verite, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating labor and human rights abuses; and Alloy Inc., a publicly traded company.ABOUT SEVENTH GENERATIONSeventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal care products for your living home. Their products are healthy and safe for the air, the surfaces, the fabrics, the pets, and the people within your home — and for the community and environment outside of it.For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company’s website visit www.seventhgeneration.com(link is external). To read more about Seventh Generation’s corporate responsibility, visit the Corporate Consciousness Report at: www.seventhgeneration.com/corporate-responsibility/2007(link is external).BURLINGTON, VT — (MARKET WIRE) — 06/01/2009 —
Vermont law firm a leader in recruiting women partners
With a recent report from Law360 indicating that women make up on average just 19 percent of partners in law firms, Dinse/Knapp/McAndrew continues to exceed the national average with 42% female partnership in the firm. When compared to the firms included in the Best 50 Law Firms for Women, Dinse has significantly better female participation and a higher percentage of women lawyers, associates, equity partners, management/executive committee members, compensation committee members, and partners than any of these firms.The Shriver Report confirms that women are the primary or equal breadwinners in two-thirds of American homes. Women also comprise 50% of the working population. While this balance sounds ideal, less than 20% of women are currently in leadership positions. The trend is particularly prevalent in the fields of law and medicine. However, the number of women attorneys at Dinse strays from the traditional with 12 of its 27 lawyers being women, including eight partners at the firm.Women at Dinse also head four of the practice groups with Karen McAndrew heading up Litigation; Molly Lebowitz, Real Estate; Leigh Cole, Immigration; and Amy McLaughlin, co-chair of the Employment division. Women also lead several committees at the firm such as the Management Committee, Recruitment Activities, and the Social Responsibility Committee.The skill of these women has not only been recognized within the firm. Since 2007, Chambers USA has recognized Karen McAndrew and Molly Lebowitz among the best business lawyers in America. These two women were also among the top 50 Women New England Super Lawyers in 2009 and others at the firm were included in The Best Lawyers of America 2010.It is no coincidence that Dinse is one of the largest and most successful firms in Vermont and Northern New York. The firm is dedicated to hiring the best, most qualified individuals regardless of gender. Learn more about Dinse/Knapp/McAndrew at Dinse.comSource: Marketwire and Shark Communications. 5.18.2010
Efficiency Vermont’s 13th Better Buildings by Design conference highlights new trends in energy-efficient building
On February 9-10, one thousand building design and construction professionals will gather in Burlington, VT, to learn about the latest technical innovations and energy-efficient practices at the region’s premier building conference ‘ Efficiency Vermont’s Better Buildings by Design 2011.This year’s conference will feature internationally recognized architect Bill Reed, a proponent and leading practitioner in the area of integrative and regenerative design. In his keynote address on February 9 at 8:30a.m., he will address the topic of ‘Integrative and Regenerative Design: Redefining the Practice of Sustainability.’Reed is a founding board member of the US Green Building Council and was a co-chair of the LEED Technical Committee. He represents the cutting edge of building design with work that centers on creating and managing an integrative, whole-systems design process. He has consulted on more than two hundred projects around the world, including the Brattleboro Food Coop, which he helped transform into a LEED Gold grocery store ‘ and much more. His work helped reduce the Coop’s energy consumption by 30 percent; the design was also developed to include access to the agriculture and soil extension service, a cannery, a credit union, and a daycare center.Reed’s holistic approach is significant to the growing number of designers, architects and builders in Vermont dedicated to energy efficiency and sustainability.Some of those Vermonters will be honored for their exceptional work in design and construction. Winners of Efficiency Vermont’s 2011 ‘Best of the Best’ Awards in energy-efficient design and construction will be recognized during the conference’s Opening Session, preceding Reed’s keynote address.Joining Reed at the conference will be a number of renowned speakers, who will introduce the latest innovations in energy efficiency. Workshops will be presented in four simultaneous tracks: Building Envelope, Mechanical Systems, Lighting, and Innovations & High Performance. Just a few of the topics include:High Performance or Hype Performance? In this session, Marc Rosenbaum, PE, of South Mountain Company, will examine the models and performance of five recently completed projects: Deep energy retrofits of an elementary school wing and a masonry carriage house converted to offices; a new 11,000 square-foot dormitory with faculty apartments; eight new, affordable single-family homes designed to be zero net energy possible; and a zero net energy retrofit single family home. All but the last are buildings conditioned by mini-split heat pumps.LEDs: Wading Through the Hype to Get Great Results. Learn how to tell low-quality LEDs from ones that are ready for architectural applications now. In this presentation, Naomi Miller, FIES, FIALD, LC, of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will arm you with tools and metrics and a process to follow to help reduce the risks of using this new technologyENERGY STAR® Homes 3.0: Designing and Building to Meet 2011 Changes. Efficiency Vermont will work with Vermont builders to roll out new ENERGY STAR standards. Efficiency Vermont’s Li Ling Young will discuss where the residential market is headed and outline the new requirements for ENERGY STAR Homes 3.0 and how to achieve the standard in Vermont.Insulation Materials: From Fiberglass to Foam, Lamb’s Wool to Blue Jeans. Past Better Buildings by Design keynote speaker Fernando Pagés Ruiz will present the facts on today’s range of insulation systems and materials, their features, uses, pros, and cons. Pagés Ruiz will cover the traditional to the unconventional, and help you distinguish between legitimate approaches and marketing gimmicks.Downsizing Mechanical Systems after Retrofits. When successful building envelope retrofits substantially improve the thermal performance of a home, the existing HVAC equipment may become oversized to meet new, smaller heating/cooling needs. In this session, Skip Hayden of Integrated Energy Systems and CanmetENERGY will help participants find out when this situation creates a liability, when equipment downsizing, altering, or replacement is appropriate, and whether or not a shell retrofit can result in changes dramatic enough to warrant rethinking the space-conditioning systems.Approximately 1,000 building and construction professionals from throughout the Northeast are expected to attend the conference, a comprehensive, interactive learning experience about building durability, efficiency, and value. The exhibit hall trade show will feature more than 50 exhibitors displaying the latest residential and commercial building products and services.For more information, please visit www.efficiencyvermont.com/conference(link is external). Efficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to help all Vermonters reduce energy costs, strengthen the economy, and protect Vermont’s environment. Efficiency Vermont is currently operated by Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), an independent organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service Board. VEIC is a Vermont-based nonprofit organization founded in 1986. For more information, contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit www.efficiencyvermont.com(link is external).###February 2011 ‘ Burlington, VT ‘ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++EFFICIENCY VERMONT HONORS THE ‘BEST OF THE BEST’ IN ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGStatewide Winners Highlight Vermont’s Dedication to Energy-Smart Design and ConstructionFebruary 2011 ‘ Burlington, VT ‘ Across Vermont, architects, builders and contractors are working to create more energy-efficient businesses and homes. Efficiency Vermont is proud to recognize a select number of those projects with its annual ‘Best of the Best’ Awards.Award recipients will be recognized at Efficiency Vermont’s Better Buildings by Design 2011 conference, taking place on February 9 and 10, at the Sheraton in Burlington. The conference focuses on energy-efficient building design, construction, and renovation, and is attended by more than 1,000 professionals.The work of Vermont builders and contractors was considered in three areas of energy efficiency: commercial new construction and major renovation, residential new construction and residential renovation.Commercial Building Design & Construction:Projects for The Haven Adult Shelter (Hartford, VT), State of Vermont Forensics Lab Building (Waterbury, VT) and The Hermitage (West Dover, VT) took top honors. Projects for the Washington Central Supervisory Union (Montpelier, VT) and East Montpelier Emergency Services (East Montpelier, VT) received merit awards. The Haven Adult Shelter is projected to have annual energy savings of $9,850. Work included installation of an energy-efficient lighting package, triple-glazed vinyl windows, high-performance thermal envelope as well as a water conservation package. The Haven Adult Shelter has applied to the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED certification.The Hermitage project included installation of high-efficiency air conditioning, LED lighting, timers and motion sensors on lights as well as highly-efficient spray foam insulation.The State of Vermont Forensic Laboratory predicts a 50 percent reduction in annual HVAC costs and a 32 percent reduction in total building energy usage due to energy efficiency work.Vermont ENERGY STAR® Homes’Residential New Construction:Reiss Building & Renovation, Black River Design Architects, Wayne Construction LLC, and New England Colonial took top honors for homes in Brandon, Westford, Jeffersonville, and South Hero, VT, respectively.Each home’s thoughtful design includes air sealing details, high-efficiency insulation as well as energy-efficient lighting and appliances. In particular:The Brandon home features photovoltaic solar energy and a geothermal heat pump. The house is net-metered and has a staggered double-wall enclosure insulated with cellulose, specialty triple-pane windows, solar water heating, drain water waste heat reclamation, and heat recovery ventilation.The Westford home has 10 solar panels that will produce approximately 6,000 kWh annually ‘ over half of the expected household usage.The Jeffersonville home demonstrates a commitment to indoor air quality and moisture management. Airtight construction with advanced ventilation control provides fresh air and humidity control for building durability.The South Hero home’s two flat-plate solar collectors cover most of the home’s water-heating needs; an indirect-fired storage tank is the backup for 96 percent efficient propane boiler.Homes Performance with ENERGY STAR’Residential Energy Efficiency Retrofit:Building Performance Services LLC won the grand prize for work completed for more than $15,000 for a project on a balloon-framed house, originally built as a horse barn in the mid-1800s. The owners upgraded their home so that they now have estimated annual fuel savings of $3,456, and they are enjoying a 22 percent return on their investment in the work.EnergySmart of Vermont won the grand prize for a project completed for between $5,000 and $15,000 for work on a home where the roofline needed to be treated with a combination of spray foam and dense-packed cellulose insulation. Various weather-stripping and air-sealing measures were also completed. The floors are now warm enough to walk on comfortably in the winter and there are no more freezing pipes. The homeowner shared that ‘the difference has been significant ‘ not only in terms of heat retention but also in terms of fuel savings.’Caleb Contracting LLC won the grand prize for a project completed for under $5,000 for its work on an 1800s post-and-beam farmhouse owned by a retired builder. After the improvements, the attic no longer serves as a large source of heat loss, and the threat of wood rot and mold growth in the attic has been eliminated. Estimated annual fuel savings is $641.Notably, the grand prize winner in each Home Performance with ENERGY STAR category achieved at least a 60 percent reduction in air infiltration.Renovations by Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors in Enosburg Falls, Waterbury and Pawlet were also honored.The complete list of award winners in all categories is as follows:Best of the Best in Commercial Building Design & Construction Award WinnersRecognizing innovative and integrated design approaches for energy efficiency in Vermont’s commercial, institutional, industrial, and multifamily buildings.NEW CONSTRUCTION, SMALL BUILDINGS (Honor AwardProject: The Haven Adult Shelter, Hartford, VTFirm: UK Architects, PC, Hanover, NHMerit AwardProject: Washington Central Supervisory Union, Montpelier, VTFirm: Black River Design Architects, Montpelier, VTMerit AwardProject: East Montpelier Emergency Services Building, East Montpelier, VTFirm: Scott + Partners Architects, Essex Junction, VTNEW CONSTRUCTION, LARGE BUILDINGS (>=20,000 sq. ft.)Honor AwardProject: State of Vermont Forensics Lab Building, Waterbury, VTFirm: Scott + Partners Architects, Essex Junction, VT; in association with HDR/CUH2A, Princeton, NJ MAJOR RENOVATION (GUT REHAB)Honor AwardProject: The Hermitage, West Dover, VTFirm: The Hermitage, West Dover, VTBest of the Best in Vermont ENERGY STAR® Homes Award WinnersHonoring exceptional achievement in new homes receiving ENERGY STAR qualification.SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOMES Winning HomeBuilder: Chuck Reiss, Reiss Building & RenovationHome Location: Brandon, VTSINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOMES 2,000 to 3,000 sq. ft.Winning HomeBuilder: Jay Ancel, Bill Rienecke, and Andrew McCullough, Black River Design ArchitectsHome Location: South Hero, VTSINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOMES >3,000 sq. ft.Winning HomeBuilder: Stephen Goodrich, Wayne Construction LLCHome Location: Westford, VTSINGLE FAMILY ATTACHED HOMESWinning ProjectBuilder: Tom Wyckoff and Albert Chu, New England ColonialProject Location: Jeffersonville, VTBest of the Best in Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Award WinnersRecognizing excellence in energy efficiency renovations in Vermont homes.RETROFIT UNDER $5,000Grand PrizeContractor: James Bradley, Caleb Contracting LLCHome Location: Milton, VTHonorable MentionContractor: William Morrissey, Weatherization WorksHome Location: Pawlet, VTRETROFIT FROM $5,000 to $15,000Grand PrizeContractor: EnergySmart of VermontHome Location: Wolcott, VTHonorable MentionContractor: John Ashton, Ashton ThermalHome Location: Enosburg Falls, VTRETROFIT OVER $15,000Grand PrizeContractor: Brad Cook, Building Performance Services LLCHome Location: Moretown, VTHonorable MentionContractor: Brad Cook, Building Performance Services LLCHome Location: Waterbury, VTEfficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to help all Vermonters reduce energy costs, strengthen the economy, and protect Vermont’s environment. Efficiency Vermont is currently operated by Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), an independent organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service Board. VEIC is a Vermont-based nonprofit organization founded in 1986. For more information, contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit www.efficiencyvermont.com(link is external).###
Shumlin deflects questions about vacation to Dominica
by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org on March 10, 2011 What do Dominica and a Middlesex highway garage have in common? Not much, unless you happen to be tracking the whereabouts of Governor Peter Shumlin. In fact, there was a protest in Montpelier on Wednesday ‘ that Shumlin wasn’t present for. Hundreds of Vermonters with a variety of developmental disabilities and mental health needs were bused in to a rally at the Statehouse to protest the governor’s recommended budget cuts. Shumlin’s presser, held eight miles away in Middlesex, started on the heels of the protest. It’s the second time in the last few weeks that the governor has sidestepped protests regarding highly-charged public policy issues. (A few weeks ago, opponents of the Kingdom Community Wind project came to Montpelier to exercise their right to assemble ‘ Shumlin left Montpelier to visit with the pro-KCW contingent in Lowell while the activists were away.)In comments about the rally, Shumlin renewed his commitment to keeping a lid on new taxes; he insisted the cuts to human services had to be made. Anne Galloway is editor of vtdigger.org on March 10, 2011 Dominica (a remote island in the Caribbean) was the site of Gov. Peter Shumlin’s exotic vacation destination; Middlesex is the location of the Agency of Transportation district garage where he held a press conference in which he praised the men and women who kept the roads clear during Monday’s epic snowstorm.Shumlin, who was on vacation during the state’s biggest blizzard in four years, told the press he monitored the situation closely via cell phone from the West Indies.The governor spent the first third of his weekly press conference detailing the heroic efforts of state employees who worked tirelessly through a long day and into the night to make sure the state’s highways were passable on Tuesday morning.The governor spent the rest of the presser defending his five-day jaunt to Dominica. Reporters learned that the governor instructed his staff not to disclose his plans; that his security detail was left behind in Vermont; and that he drove himself to the airport (’I still remember how to drive’). Two people knew where he was going, Alex MacLean, his secretary of civil and military affairs, and Bill Lofy, his chief of staff.Over the weekend, the press corps played a game of ‘Where’s Waldo?’ with the governor’s staff. First, his press secretary and the secretary of the Agency of Administration didn’t know where he was. Then they told the press that they knew where he was but they wanted to keep the location a secret in order to protect Shumlin’s privacy.Today, the governor cited another reason for keeping his jaunt to Dominica under wraps: He was worried about security.Shumlin was unfazed (and unrepentant) when confronted by reporters who questioned the wisdom of his traveling without the officers. ‘On this particular trip I believe I made the right judgment,’ he said. ‘The people of Dominica had no idea who I was, and there’s no better security than that.’He traveled, however, without his security detail.Had the media in Vermont broadcast information about his vacation plans, Shumlin said news organizations in Dominica could have picked up the news, and that would have exposed him to a security risk.He said ‘other governors’ take private vacations without telling the public where they’re headed. In Vermont, however, secret gubernatorial travels without security officers isn’t exactly standard operating procedure. Both his predecessors, Dean and Douglas, were accompanied by officers, sources say, and they let staff know where they were traveling.‘I would never go without security if I was traveling on state business,’ Shumlin said.Was the brouhaha worth it? Would he plan secret travels in future? ‘I won’t speculate about what might happen in the future,’ Shumlin said.‘I think this is wonderful this is the debate we’re having in Vermont,’ Shumlin said. ‘In other states, they’ve got protests in the streets, they’re shutting down hardworking state employees who plow roads, taking away the right to bargain collectively, they’re slashing budgets. It’s wonderful that Vermont is in such good shape that this is such an exciting topic today.’
Blasting will cause brief road closures on Route 2 for ‘Checkered House Bridge’ construction
The Vermont Agency of Transportation has issued a traffic alert to motorists that construction work at the ‘Checkered House Bridge’ on Route 2 over the Winooski River in the Town of Richmond will require temporary road closings, including Interstate 89, for brief periods over the next several weeks beginning Tuesday, April 5. The blasting is related to preparation for construction of the temporary detour that will be installed so that traffic can be maintained while the bridge is widened. Starting on April 5, two blasts a day ‘ one at 11 a.m. and one at 3 p.m. ‘ are planned every weekday for up to four weeks. During the blast, no traffic will be allowed into the blast zone. Flaggers will stop traffic from entering the zone. The State Police will manage a rolling roadblock on the highway. It is anticipated that traffic stoppages will last a maximum of 10 minutes during this period. The following roads will be affected: · Johnnie Brook Road· Kenyon Road· U.S. Route 2· Route 117 (in the vicinity of Route 2)· Interstate 89 between Exit 11 (Richmond) and Exit 12 (Williston)Throughout the project there will be timely communication with the public about conditions that may affect travel. In addition, VTrans will use www.511vt.com(link is external) to post traffic alerts. A project website, www.checkeredhousebridge.com(link is external), has been developed to provide information on the project.
SBA offers financial assistance following Vermont disaster declaration
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Karen G Mills issued the following statement after the announcement of the Presidential disaster declaration for several counties in Vermont that were affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred on May 26-27.”The US. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the people of Vermont with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and businesses with federal disaster loans. Getting businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”The disaster declaration covers the Vermont counties of Caledonia and Washington, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private non-profit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orange, and Orleans in Vermont; and Grafton County in New Hampshire.Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.Businesses and private non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. The SBA may increase a loan up to 20 percent of the total amount of disaster damage to real estate and/or leasehold improvements, as verified by SBA, to make improvements that lessen the risk of property damage by future disasters of the same kind.For small businesses, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.Interest rates are as low as 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 for people with speech or hearing disabilities. Additional details on the locations of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov(link sends e-mail).Those affected by this disaster may fill out a loan application online by visiting SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/(link is external) .The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is September 06, 2011.The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 09, 2012.For more information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Program, visit our website at www.sba.gov(link is external) .SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration WASHINGTON, Jul 11, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) —