Vermont Business Magazine

Governor criticizes EPA’s decision to reconsider $100 million Lake Champlain cleanup plan

Tue Mar 9 2010

Governor Jim Douglas today strongly criticized the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to reconsider its approval of the Lake Champlain clean up plan – known as the Lake Champlain Total Maximum daily Load (TMDL). In papers filed in federal court yesterday, the EPA stated its intent to reconsider the approval given by EPA Region I in 2002.

Island Pond votes to close state airport in favor of new jobs

Tue Mar 9 2010

Island Pond residents voted on Town Meeting Day to sell the John Boylan state airport in order to allow the opening of a log yard and wood-pellet manufacturing plant. The nonbinding vote passed 326-74.

Robert Cioffi elected chair of the University of Vermont Board of Trustees

Tue Mar 9 2010

Robert F. Cioffi, a native Vermonter from St. Albans, has been elected chair of the University of Vermont Board of Trustees.Cioffi is currently a venture partner at Alerion Partners, a private equity fund located in Rowayton, Connecticut. He lives in New Canaan, CT with his wife Meghan (UVM Class of 1991) and their three children.

$1.7 million for state of the art simulation program at Fletcher Allen Health Care

Tue Mar 9 2010

On Monday Senator Leahy met with leadership of Fletcher Allen Health Care, the University of Vermont and the Vermont National Guard to view a demonstration of new equipment at the hospital’s Simulator Training Program. At the event Leahy announced more than $1.7 million in funding he has secured in the federal budget for the project, which provides training to hospital nurses and doctors, university medical students and guard personnel on state of the art simulation equipment. The equipment offers realistic training experiences for medical conditions that range from birth to g

32 highway improvement stimulus projects under way or completed in Vermont

Tue Mar 9 2010

There are currently 32 American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-financed highway construction projects underway or completed in Vermont involving $85 million in funds, according to data released today by the Washington, D.C.-based American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The projects underway or completed have supported or are supporting 2,366 jobs in Vermont that would otherwise not exist, says ARTBA Vice President of Economics & Research Dr. Bill Buechner.

Legislators propose ban on hospital advertising

Tue Mar 9 2010

House Health Care Committee Chairman Steve Maier, D-Middlebury, has proposed legislation to prevent hospitals from putting money towards advertising. While supporters say the move would help cut the rising cost of health care, some opponents of the proposal are questioning whether such a ban would go against the constitutional right to freedom of speech.

$36.4 million in business financing approved by VEDA

Tue Mar 9 2010

The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has approved $36.4 million in economic development financing assistance for a variety of large and small business projects. The financing support will leverage additional private investment, generating a total of $104.6 million in economic activity throughout Vermont. “VEDA is pleased to offer loan and other financing support to a number of commercial, renewable energy, small business, educational and agricultural initiatives,” said Jo Bradley, VEDA’s Chief Executive Officer.

Moody's downgrades Burlington's credit rating

Tue Mar 9 2010

Moody’s Investors Services has announced that it has downgraded the City of Burlington’s general obligation credit rating two notches from Aa3 to A2, and placed the City on negative credit watch, an indication that Moody’s will again review the City’s credit within the next 90 days. A report and analysis relative to the downgrade will be issued by Moody’s today. However, the understanding of City officials is that the downgrade resulted from uncertainty around Burlington Telecom’s outstanding $16.9 million debit to the City’s pooled cash account. The abili

Governor Douglas to receive the Ordre national du Quebec

Tue Mar 9 2010

Governor Jim Douglas will be awarded the Ordre national du Québec (the National Order of Quebec) during a ceremony at the National Assembly of Québec on Thursday, March 11. The Ordre national du Québec is the highest honor awarded by the government of Québec. Instituted in 1984, it consists of three grades – Grand Officer, Officer and Knight – and is presented to Quebecers for outstanding achievements and actions that support Québec, its language and culture. The Premier of Québec may recommend an eminent individual who is not a Qu

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Foundation commits nearly $1 million to Fair Trade Towns

Tue Mar 9 2010

TransFair USA, the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States, today announces that it has received a $50,000 grant from Green Mountain Coffee, and a three-year commitment of $925,000 from the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Foundation.

Sovernet announces network infrastructure and equipment upgrades

Mon Mar 8 2010

Sovernet Communications, a leading provider of telecommunication services in Northern New England, announced several network infrastructure and equipment upgrades designed to better serve their customers. The changes will enhance both reliability and operational efficiencies, as well as bring new next-generation services to additional markets.

This Month's Issue

The Rock Art Brewery in Morrisville is a modest operation by brewing standards. The company, what is known in the business as a craft brewery, does about 3,500 barrels (125,000 gallons) of beer annually. There are nine employees and a plant of 10,000 square feet. Owner Matt Nadeau has been brewing his ales and lagers for a dozen years. Last September, the company was forced into battle with giant beverage company Hansen Natural of California, valued at over a billion dollars in sales. The brouhaha was over the name of one of Rock Art’s products: The Vermonster.
It was June of 2008 and Kelli Corbeil had it all going on. The bubbly, buoyant honey-blonde with the open manner and easy laugh had a successful career in banking, two young children and a loving husband who was living his dream in local radio.

By July of 2008, it was all crashing down.
Jim Rousseau is the business manager and co-founder with Bob DeSorbo of Nowirz, (www.nowirz.com), a wireless networking, service and consulting company with offices in Waitsfield. Rousseau graduated from Champlain College in 1994. He worked for Engelberth Construction in Colchester for seven years, then Shawmut Design and Construction in Boston, followed by a few years in California before retuning to Vermont to start Nowirz in 2003. He is married and has four children ranging in age from 5 to 13.
The most stunning news to come out of Lamoille County this winter has to do with AIG selling the Stowe Mountain Resort, but that is hardly the only news for this part of Vermont, known for recreation and innovative manufacturers. Having said that, any time it snows in Lamoille County a cheer goes up from business.

This county relies on a snowy winter to attract tourists to its ski areas in Stowe and Smugglers’ Notch. The Vermont Ski Areas Association hailed the Martin Luther King weekend as a great success, as January saw record snowfall in some parts of Vermont.

Biz Brief Podcast

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Vermont personal income tax receipts drag down state revenues; Sovernet announces network infrastructure and equipment upgrades; Former Middlebury company workers to get federal Trade Adjustment assistance; City Market, Onion River Co-op is now powered by the sun

Governor Douglas's 2010 State of the State Address

In VBM’s Profiles in Business, you will read the stories of several Vermont companies and organizations that over the years have thrived and grown. We want to share with our readers their exciting success stories. Vermont is a great place to live, work and play and the companies featured here lead the way. The quality of life in Vermont is a main reason these companies locate and thrive here, and they continue to thrive even through difficult times.