The School of Business Administration Dean’s Leadership Speaker Series is proud to welcome Co-Founder and Former CEO of Seventh Generation Jeffrey Hollender on Wednesday, Feb 15 at 11:45 am in the Livak Ballroom of the Davis Center.

Hollender is a leading authority on corporate responsibility, sustainability and social equity. He is the co-founder of Seventh Generation, a leading natural product brand known for authenticity, transparency and progressive practices. Seventh Generation was established in 1988 in Burlington, Vt. and remains an independent, privately held company distributing products to natural food stores, supermarkets, mass merchants and online retailers in both the US and Canada. 

Hollender is also the founder of Jeffrey Hollender Partners, a business strategy consulting firm. He considers himself a "born entrepreneur."

“I am delighted to welcome Jeffrey Hollender to speak at the Business School’s Dean’s Leadership Speaker Series,” said Dean Sanjay Sharma. “Jeffrey’s entrepreneurial background and focus on social entrepreneurship and corporate responsibility sets a great example for our students as we help them develop the knowledge required for success in today’s complex global economy.”

Hollender has published several books including 2010’s The Responsibility Revolution: How the Next Generation of Businesses Will Win. He is the board chair of the Greenpeace Fund US and co-founder and board chair of the American Sustainable Business Council. He also is a member of the Board of Health Care Without Harm and Verite, a leading workers’ rights organization. 

The Dean’s Leadership Speaker Series provides our students with an unparalleled view of the current trends facing business leaders today. Our mission is to equip students with the knowledge and resources to become responsible managers who are engaged and passionate about building better organizations and a better society.

by Ed Barna  Back in 1993, state legislators approved the “Mack Molding Bill,” which created incentives to help keep the company expanding in Vermont rather than crossing the line and accepting offers from New York State.

Eight years later, Mack still matters, especially to Bennington County, where it maintains a major plant in Arlington. As a contract manufacturer, the company does much more than manufacturing—design, engineering, prototyping and testing are among their services—a versatility that has helped establish them as a presence in the industrial, transportation, computer, business equipment, medical, consumer and energy/environmental markets.

The company’s history goes back to Donald S Kendall’s work as a chemist for the Thomas Edison Companies in New Jersey. Early in the 20th century, that group was trying to find a better phonograph recording material than wax, which gave Kendall a chance to experiment with thermoset resins. In 1920 he and Kenneth Macksey co-founded the Mack Molding Company, which began operations with three rebuilt injection presses.

They made bottle caps, then war materials in World War II, then took on automotive work when peacetime came. In 1960, the Kendall family bought out their partners and began diversifying into consumer products.

In 1974, Donald S Kendall, the founder’s grandson, took the helm. He’s still the CEO, and still advancing the company’s fortunes. (Legally, Mack Molding is a wholly owned subsidiary of the privately held Mack Group, under whose umbrella Mack Technologies and Mack Prototype also operate.)

With sales of $261 million in 2011 Mack was ranked as the 12th largest Vermont-based company in Vermont Business Magazine's Vermont 100 (January 2012 issue). In fact Mack is a "25er," having been in the Vermont 100 ever since its inception in 1987. SEE LIST.

Mack also has consistently been listed as one of the top 10 non-automotive injection molding companies in North America. Dun & Bradstreet have given then a 5A1 rating, their highest. Besides the original plant and headquarters in Arlington, Mack has set up plants in Cavendish and Pownal in Vermont, taking advantage of spaces in vacant pre-existing mills, bringing Vermont employment to about 500 jobs. Acquisitions brought them plants in Tatesville, North Carolina and Inman, South Carolina. Mack Technologies operates out of Westford, Massachusetts.

“During the last decade, Mack’s Northern Operations has pursued a new business model geared at expanding its position as a contract manufacturer, both for the medical market and for what we call BBC (big, bulky, complex) products,” said spokeswoman Julie Horst. “The underlying theme, of course, is to focus our energies on those markets and products that are less likely to pursue offshore manufacturing.”

“As a medical manufacturer, Mack’s focus has been on high quality, highly configured, relatively low-volume products that are difficult to manage offshore and that are supported by a robust northeastern US customer base,” Horst said. “Since 2000, we have grown medical manufacturing sales from one percent to 35 percent of total sales, and project growth to 40 percent of sales for FY’12.”

“The BBC business model has driven us toward products that are too large to be manufactured efficiently overseas from an array of logistical perspectives, and too complex for quality and engineering challenges to be confidently and expediently managed from offshore locations,” Horst said. “This market sector now also approaches 40 percent of total sales.”

Mack was the third manufacturer in Vermont to be certified by  the state as an Environmental Leader. “Mack not only helps other companies develop environmentally friendly products, but follows environmentally sustainable practices itself,” a company statement  said.

Ed Barna is a freelance writer from Middlebury.  

 The partnership between Fletcher Allen Health Care and the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (VFNHP) Local 5221 is featured in a Feb. 15 report being released by the Healthcare Transformation Project at Cornell University’s ILR School.

In addition to state health reform initiatives (Act 48), recent joint labor-management work at Fletcher Allen Health Care could provide a national model for labor-management partnerships, according to the report.

“The partnership, known as the Model Unit Process, is particularly timely as it advances the goals of both state and national health reform,” according to Peter Lazes, director of Cornell’s Healthcare Transformation Project.

“Vermont’s Act 48, which introduces a single-payer system to provide affordable care to all Vermonters, opens the door to similar partnerships. This study details how and why the VFNHP Local 5221 and Fletcher Allen partnership works.  It provides a roadmap for change,” Lazes said.

VFNHP Local 5221 and Fletcher Allen Health Care’s partnership documented in the report shows how labor and management are working together to improve patient care and control health care costs.

Since 2006, this partnership has focused on departmental quality improvement initiatives to restructure the way care is provided. Initial assessment of the impact of the labor-management partnership seems to indicate potential gains in:

·         Improved infection control, patient safety and clinical practices on inpatient units

o   Reduction of patient falls

·         Improved communication between units nurses and managers

·         Reduced nursing staff turnover and vacancies

o   Cost savings due to reduced need to hire traveling nurses

o   Improved staff retention

About Cornell ILR

The ILR School is advancing the world of work through teaching, research and outreach. ILR’s mission is to prepare leaders, inform national and international employment and labor policy, and improve working lives. The school offers undergraduate and graduate education as well as career-long learning for professionals.

ILR studies many areas that shape the working world and contribute to an organization’s success in a global economy. These include human resource management; labor-management relations; labor economics; organizational behavior; international and comparative labor; labor relations, labor law and history; conflict resolution; management development; diversity management; employment and disability; and social statistics.

ILR was founded in 1945 as the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations. As the world of work evolves, the school’s focus broadens to keep pace with that change. Today, the school is becoming better known simply as ILR.

Conrell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations. 2.6.2012

 A St. Johnsbury Academy organization for Career and Tehnical Education (CTE) students has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation that will be used to build a new garage for the Lyndon Outing Club’s grooming and safety equipment.

 
“Local families and their children will be the primary beneficiaries of the project,” the club’s grant application said. “If the (Outing Club) is able to keep its equipment secure, it will be able to continue to provide affordable outdoor recreation opportunities for the families of our area.”
 
The application also noted, “Most of the families who utilize the (Outing Club) are families who cannot afford to bring their children to expensive ski resorts.”
 
“With the help of the Academy’s SkillsUSA® students and this grant, the Lyndon Outing Club board will be able to realize a decade-long dream of building a secure facility to house their most important equipment, allowing them to focus further fund raising efforts on much needed improvements to the lodge,” the application continued.
 
Academy students, meanwhile, “will benefit by learning new skills, providing leadership for their peers by taking on a visible community project, and learning transferable skills while engaging in this large-scale philanthropic effort,” the document added.
 
The approximately 40-member Academy Skills Club expects to begin working at the ski facility and recreation area, located at the intersection of Hill Street and Lily Pond Road in Lyndonville, by late April or early May and finish in early September, Electricity instructor Michael Bugbee, one of the club’s faculty advisors, said.
 
Academy CTE class offerings represented include Residential Wiring, Construction Trades, Drafting, Transportation & Logistics,  Human Services, and Culinary Arts.
 
Club members were also actively involved in the grant application process and are currently in the “project planning process,” which includes regular contact with the Outing Club’s board of directors, Bugbee added.
 
Operating through the international Lowe’s home improvement center chain, the Lowe’s foundation contributed more than $30 million in 2010 to community improvement projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico, according to a foundation spokesperson.
 
The Academy’s grant is part of the foundation’s efforts to support the nationwide nonprofit SkillsUSA® organization’s programs, which teach high school and college Career and Technical Education (CTE) students employability skills such as communication, problem solving and leadership in conjunction with their trade, technical and service occupation skills.
 
One of only 12 Foundation SkillsUSA® grants awarded nationwide, “The grant to the Academy represents Lowe’s commitment to career and technical education,” Foundation chairman Marshall Croom said. “By supporting schools like the Academy, we believe we are contributing to a cause that’s important to our customers and employees by helping provide improved learning environments and build stronger communities.”
 
The Academy was also awarded a Lowes’s Foundation community improvement grant in 2008, which CTE students used to help renovate the non-profit Northeast Kingdom Youth Services organization’s St. Johnsbury headquarters.
 
“Just like the Outing Club project, the Youth Services job was student-driven and proof of the Academy’s commitment to stewardship ,” Bugbee stressed. “We really do try to ‘go beyond’ to help the community at-large in any way we can.”
 
Additional information about the foundation’s community support efforts is available by visiting its Website, www.Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.
 
Information about Academy CTE programs and course offerings is available through the school’s Website, www.stjohnsburyacademy.org. 
 
St. Johnsbury Academy. 2.3.2012

Vermont State Auditor Tom Salmon, CPA, CFE, today released the results of an audit that looked at how the state ensures that it does not pay Medicaid funds to providers that owe state taxes. 

The Medicaid program is the largest human services program in Vermont. In fiscal year 2011, about $1.27 billion was spent on Vermont’s Medicaid program with about $412 million coming from state funds. 

The Department of Taxes reported that in October 2011, about $130 million in taxes owed to them was more than 60 days overdue. Our audit addressed the question of whether any of these back taxes might be owed by Medicaid providers who would have the potential to receive state funds while owing the state money. 

The audit found 68 Medicaid providers that owed a total of about $360,000 in state taxes was delinquent more than 60 days. These were a mix of provider types, including physicians, durable medical equipment suppliers, and pharmacies. 

While taxes owed by regular suppliers of state government can be recovered by deduction from the state’s payments to them, the legislation that created this process excludes Medicaid payments. 

For most suppliers of state government, the state will deduct taxes owed from payments it makes to them. The Department of Taxes reported that between FY 2008 and FY 2011 more than $3.2 million of tax debt has been offset in this process, including about $900,000 in FY 2011 alone. The Department of Taxes has determined that the statute permits this process only for suppliers of goods and services to the state government – not for providers of services to Medicaid beneficiaries even though the providers are paid by the state. 

The audit report recommended that the Legislature amend the statute (32 VSA §3113(d)) to allow Medicaid payments to be offset. The Department of Taxes in its response to our draft report encouraged the Legislature to consider giving the department this additional tool to collect delinquent taxes. 

Salmon said that state government has implemented legislation to ensure that it does not normally allow delinquent taxpayers to profit by doing business with the state until their taxes have been paid. An important part of this legislation does not apply to Medicaid program providers. 

“As a result of this, the state is missing out on an opportunity to collect more of the tax dollars it is owed,” Salmon said. “We believe the Legislature should remove the loophole that allows Medicaid providers to do business with the state while owing back taxes, and treat them just like anyone else who does business with the state.” 

This is the second of two reports recently issued by the State Auditor’s Office on Medicaid Providers. 

The report, entitled Medicaid Providers: State Has Foregone an Opportunity to Recover Delinquent Taxes from Providers, can be found HERE or on the auditor’s web site www.auditor.vermont.gov, along with the first report, Medicaid: Many Provider Enrollment and Claims Controls in Place, but Gaps Exist. 

Joe Perrotto, President and CEO of Country Home Products (CHP), today announced the spin-off of its Sunward solar hot water division. The new company -- Sunward Systems, LLC -- will continue to offer residential solar hot water systems and be headquartered in Vergennes.

“Development of a solar hot water product line has been a great experience for CHP,” said Perrotto. “Sunward sales grew by over 50% last year and it has become Vermont’s most popular brand of solar hot water system. But that growth was not in the sales channels we anticipated, and the more Sunward grows the more it will conflict with our core brand -- DR Power Equipment.”

Sunward Systems LLC will be located in lower level of 75 Meigs Road in Vergennes.

“In most cases existing customers won’t notice the transition,” said Perrotto. “This is a win-win. CHP and Sunward Systems will focus on what they each know best, and customers will reap the benefits.”

The new company will be lead by Tom Hughes (CEO) and Doug Merrill (COO). Hughes, has been in sales and marketing roles at CHP for four years, and has lead the Sunward division for the last year. Prior to CHP he managed various campaign and political activities for Vice President Al Gore and Governor Howard Dean. He directed the political action committee Democracy for America from 2005-2007 and is a graduate of the University of Vermont.

Merrill, an MBA and engineer with degrees from Cornell University, has been a consultant to CHP on product and supply chain issues since 2008. Prior to CHP, Merrill spent fourteen years with General Electric and three years in leadership roles at Husky Injection Molding. He teaches Manufacturing Processes and Manufacturing Systems as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Vermont.

“Sunward has made going solar easy and affordable,” said Hughes “We look forward to growing the Sunward brand and product line in Vermont and across the Northeast in the years ahead.”

The Sunward Systems website (www.GoSunward.com) and telephone numbers remain the same. Warranties on existing products will continue to be serviced by Country Home Products. 

Vergennes, Vt., February 7, 2012 -- Sunward

Statewide assessment results for Fall 2011 were released by the Vermont Department of Education today at a press conference held in Montpelier. The results are from the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) exams, given to Vermont public school students in grades three through eight and grade 11. Students are tested in Reading and Mathematics. Writing is assessed at grades 5, 8, and 11. Science is given in grades 4, 8 and 11 each spring. 

The following table illustrates the percent of Vermont students proficient in the content area by grade span: 

“What is most striking about these results is the significant drop in Math achievement once our students reach high school,” said Commissioner Armando Vilaseca. “In over 90 percent of our high schools, fewer than half the students scored proficient in Math and Science. We are currently surveying high schools to find out what Math courses students are taking and when in their high school career they are taking them, to ensure learning is aligned with expectations for graduation. I plan to do the same for Science in the near future. Are students taking the coursework that is being assessed? Are students adequately prepared? These are some of the questions we are hoping to answer.” 

Vermont's Grade Level Expectations in Mathematics have been in place since 2004. However, seven years later, the results suggest that many districts are not requiring all students to take the coursework in Algebra I and Geometry necessary to meet the standards by the time they take the 11th grade NECAP.  

Commissioner Vilaseca stated:  "We are gathering more information about what Math courses all students are required to take, and will carefully consider whether it is time for Vermont to increase our graduation requirements in mathematics.” 

“We really have two major concerns,” Assessment Director Michael Hock said in a statement. “Now and going forward to the Common Core State Standards, what do we require for graduation, and what is the recommended course sequence with specified grade levels? This is particularly important for students aspiring to careers in Math and Science. All students should take Algebra and Geometry, and for most they need them early so they are ready for advanced Math classes, as well as Math required for the sciences. This also means we really need to help guidance counselors, as well as teachers, use assessment results effectively.” 

The 2010 adoption of the Common Core State Standards sets a higher bar of career and college readiness standards for all students. Starting in 2014, Vermont students, along with students from a majority of other states in the country, will be taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) exams, based on the Common Core State Standards. 2013 will be the last year the NECAP exam will be given. 

The NECAP exams are given in collaboration with Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. These exams are designed to specifically assess how well Vermont students have learned the skills and content contained in Vermont’s Grade Expectations. This is the seventh year of results on the NECAP exams for grades three through eight and the fifth year for grade 11. As required under the No Child Left Behind Act, a Science assessment is given each May in grades four, eight and 11. 

For the complete packet of state results, including the Power Point from today’s press conference, visit http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/dept/press_releases.html. 

For school-by-school results, visit: http://www.education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_assessment/data.html#necap. 

Green Mountain Power and Central Vermont Public Service have launched a new website, www.gmpcvpsmerger.com, packed with information on the pending merger of the companies.

The joint GMP-CVPS site contains important information for customers, including the package of merger benefits, as well as a calendar highlighting the rigorous state and federal regulatory approval process now under way.

The site includes status updates on all the required approvals necessary for the sale of CVPS to GMP parent, Gaz Metro Limited Partnership, and the merger of the two Vermont utilities. So far, five of the 10 necessary approvals have been received or waived, including approvals from CVPS shareholders, the U.S. Department of Justice, and other states in the region.

The site also includes information on the key benefits for customers, the Rutland area and investors; the strategic fit between the two companies' long and proud Vermont history and their similar cultures; and a newsroom with releases containing details of the sale and review process.

"We plan to continue our proud tradition of delivering reliable, clean and affordable power for Vermonters," GMP President and CEO Mary Powell said, noting the merger will generate $144 million in guaranteed savings for customers over the first 10 years -- and more savings beyond that. "Together we will chart a future that builds a stronger Vermont with a commitment to the families and businesses of our state."

The site contains a link to the GMP-CVPS petition seeking the Vermont Public Service Board's (PSB) approval, which lays out the case for the merger, and a link to the PSB's webpage related to the Board's review.

The site is designed to be simple yet informative. It will be updated regularly to provide customers, media and others interested in the merger with a quick snapshot of the approval process as it evolves. 

COLCHESTER, VT--(Marketwire - February 07, 2012) -  

The Clark Group, a national environmental consulting and government affairs firm, with offices in Montpelier, VT and Washington, DC, announced today that it has been awarded a $34 million blanket purchase agreement to provide the EPA with technical, analytical and outreach assistance to the national ENERGY STAR® program in the Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial (CI&I) sectors. 

The Clark Group's partners on this contract are two Vermont-based, non-profit organizations with unparalleled experience in energy efficiency program design, analytics, and implementation: the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) located in Burlington, VT, and the Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE), located at the Vermont Law School in South Royalton, VT. VEIC is widely known for its management of Efficiency Vermont, the nation's first energy efficiency utility. 

"This team brings together unparalleled energy efficiency and national environmental expertise," said Lisa Mahoney, a Partner in The Clark Group's Vermont office. "We are pleased to be supporting the ENERGY STAR program and look forward to the good work we'll be producing in partnership with VEIC and IEE." 

The ENERGY STAR program seeks to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses throughout the United States. In 2010 alone, ENERGY STAR programs reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 33 million vehicles and saved Americans nearly $18 billion in utility payments. 

"This contract is great for the global environment and also good news for the economy," said Michael Dworkin, Director of the IEE and a member of the Board of Directors for VEIC. "Projects that improve energy efficiency will save money and help put people back to work." 

Christine Donovan, a Managing Consultant at VEIC, further noted that, "one of the great benefits of this project is that it combines energy solutions with profitability - it's been proven time and again that capitalizing on energy efficiency is good for a company's environmental performance as well as its bottom line." 

The contract provides that EPA may acquire up to $34 million in services from The Clark Group, VEIC and IEE over a 5-year period. The total ceiling of $34 million represents the cap that the EPA can spend in retaining services from the TCG, VEIC and IEE Team, and actual fees will depend upon the specific tasks ordered by the EPA. The Clark Group LLC advises governments, businesses and others on environmental improvements and proactive solutions to energy and environmental challenges. 

The Clark Group (TCG) is a woman-owned, small business with headquarters in Washington D.C. and offices in Montpelier, VT, Petersburg, VA and Sheridan, WY. The Clark Group is nationally recognized for helping governments and businesses improve their environmental performance. Staff of The Clark Group include senior-level policy, communications and science professionals who have worked at the highest levels of government, including the White House and Capitol Hill. For more information: http://www.clarkgroupllc.com/. 

The Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) is a mission-driven nonprofit organization, founded in 1986, dedicated to reducing the economic, social, and environmental costs of energy consumption through cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. VEIC has consulted in 25 states, 6 Canadian Provinces and 7 countries outside North America to design programs that reduce energy use through energy efficiency and renewable energy. In addition, VEIC operates Efficiency Vermont - the nation's first statewide energy efficiency utility - as well as other implementation services across the country. For more information: www.veic.org. 

The Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) is nonprofit educational research institute based at the Vermont Law School and led by Michael Dworkin, former Chair of the Vermont Public Service Board. IEE's work builds off its significant depth of knowledge on contemporary energy law and policy. The Institute distributes scholarly, technical and practical publications; provides forums and conferences for professional education and issue development on energy matters; and serves as a center for both professional and graduate research on energy issues with a particular emphasis on energy efficiency and demand-side management. For more information:  www.vermontlaw.edu/energy 

Clark Group. 2.7.2012 

Ledyard Financial Group, Inc. (ticker symbol LFGP), the holding company for Ledyard National Bank, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2011. Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, was $690,277, or $0.67 per share compared to $601,853 or $0.59 per share for the same period in 2010, an increase of $88,424 or 14.69%. Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, was $2,609,013, or $2.53 per share compared to $2,528,888, or $2.47 per share for the same period in 2010, an increase of $80,124 or 3.17%. The Company continues to be impacted by a slowdown in lending activity due to general economic conditions. In addition, the fourth quarter results in 2011 were impacted by an addition to the allowance for loan losses (“Allowance”), increased expenses associated with non-performing loans, and the charge off noted below relating to a single loan taken this quarter.

Our total revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, was $4,811,880, compared to $5,045,549 for the same period in 2010, for a decrease of $233,669 or 4.63%. Total revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, was $20,156,405 compared to $19,925,194, an increase of $231,211 or 1.16%. Net interest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, was $2,802,369, compared to $3,012,430 for the same period in 2010, for a decrease of $210,061 or 6.97%. Net interest income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, was $11,442,454 compared to $12,066,371 for the same period in 2010, for a decrease of $623,917 or 5.17%. The primary factors contributing to the decrease in net interest income have been the slowdown in loan demand and the low level of interest rates.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2011, $100,000 was added to the Allowance compared to $0 for the same period in 2010. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, $675,000 was added to the Allowance compared to $450,000 for the same period in 2010. Net charge-offs for the twelve months ending December 31, 2011 were $1,274,524, compared to $166,426 for the comparable period in 2010. The total Allowance was $5.7 million at December 31, 2011, compared to $6.3 million for the same period in 2010. Total non-performing assets were $5 million at December 31, 2011, compared to $4.8 million for the same period in 2010. During 2011, $1.2 million from an individual loan was charged-off and is included in the net charge-off totals for 2011.

Ledyard Financial Advisors, a division of Ledyard National Bank, reported revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, of $1,643,526, compared to $1,551,762 for the same period in 2010, an increase of $91,764 or 5.91%. Revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 was $6,777,881, compared to $6,051,900 for the same period in 2010, for an increase of $725,981 or 12%. Assets under management and custody at Ledyard Financial Advisors totaled $895 million as of quarter end, an increase of $11 million over the prior year.

Non-interest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, was $3,957,613, compared to $4,184,096 for the same period in 2010, for a decrease of $226,483 or 5.41%. Non-interest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, was $16,127,202 compared to $16,009,056 for the same period in 2010, for an increase of $118,145 or 0.74%. .

At December 31, 2011, the Company’s shareholders’ equity stood at $37 million, compared to $33.5 million for the same period in 2010. All of the Company’s capital ratios are well in excess of the amount required by the Federal Reserve for a bank holding company to be considered “well capitalized.” At December 31, 2011, the Company’s book value per share stood at $35.86 compared to $32.71 for the same period in 2010.

Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2011, were $210.8 million, compared to $203.3 for the same period last year, for an increase of $7.5 million or 3.69%. Total deposits at December 31, 2011 were $312.6 million, an increase of $4.6 million from the same period last year. Total assets of the Company were $389.8 million at December 31, 2011, a decrease of $1.9 million over the prior year. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank decreased by $7 million from $26.9 million at December 31, 2010 to $19.9 million at December 31, 2011.

Due to its strong financial position, the Company has been able to maintain or increase its quarterly dividend since first declaring a dividend in 1995. Most recently, a quarterly cash dividend of $.31 per share was declared on January 27, 2012 to shareholders of record as February 10, 2012, payable March 2, 2012. Stock activity information can be found in the “Investor Relations” section of our website, which includes a wealth of other information that Ledyard shareholders and prospective shareholders may find of interest.

Ledyard Financial Group, Inc., headquartered in Hanover, New Hampshire, is the holding company for Ledyard National Bank. Ledyard National Bank, founded in 1991, is a full service community bank offering a broad range of banking, investment, tax and wealth management services in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region. Ledyard National Bank has eight offices with locations in Hanover, Lebanon, Lyme, New London, and West Lebanon, New Hampshire and in Norwich, Vermont.

Ledyard Financial Group, Inc. shares can be bought and sold through the NASD sanctioned “OTC Markets” under the trading symbol LFGP. Shares may be traded through an individual’s broker. For more information, please refer to the “Investor Relations” section of the bank’s website at www.ledyardbank.com or contact the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Gregory D. Steverson.

Ledyard Financial Group, Inc. 2.7.2012 HANOVER, N.H.

NCO Financial Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of NCO Group, Inc, a provider of business process outsourcing services, announced that it has signed Assurance of Voluntary Compliance agreements (collectively, the "AVC") with the following States: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan,Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin (collectively, the "Multi-State Group").  

Under the terms of the AVC, without admitting any wrongdoing, NCO has agreed to pay $575,000 to the Multi-State Group. The payment will be used by the States as reimbursement for their attorney's fees, investigative costs and various consumer protection purposes. NCO has also agreed to take certain steps, including additional training and the continued monitoring of its agents, in order to improve overall compliance. NCO will also establish a consumer restitution fund of $50,000 for each State in the group. This fund will be used to reimburse consumers who can show that they have wrongly paid NCO.

Commenting on these recent developments, Ronald Rittenmeyer, NCO's Chief Executive Officer, stated: "NCO is proud of its record on consumer compliance. We are pleased to resolve the Multi-State Group's concerns, as well as upgrade our compliance processes, all which will permit us to improve our consumer interaction. As the largest provider of accounts receivable collection services in the world, we will continue to set the highest standards of compliance for the industry."

About NCO Group, Inc. 

NCO Group, Inc. is a leading global provider of business process outsourcing services, primarily focused on accounts receivable management and customer relationship management. NCO provides services through over 100 offices throughout North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. 

SOURCE NCO Group, Inc.  HORSHAM, Pa., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 

Six New England communities will benefit from EPA technical assistance through the “Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities” program.  The communities, Simsbury, Conn., Fall River, Holyoke, Northampton and Roxbury, Mass., and Burlington, Vt. were among 56 communities in 26 states that will receive technical assistance under this program.

Each community will receive the assistance from EPA-funded private-sector experts.  The technical experts will work with the communities on actions they can take to improve the economy, the environment, and quality of life.  Some examples may include improving pedestrian access and safety, incorporating green infrastructure, or conducting an economic and fiscal health assessment.

“EPA is very pleased to be part of a coordinated effort to help these six New England communities develop practical and sustainable approaches that can lead to quality of life improvements for citizens, and which can help bolster our economy,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office.

Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities is a project of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities among EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The interagency collaboration coordinates federal investments in infrastructure, facilities, and services to get better results for communities and use taxpayer money more efficiently.  The partnership is helping communities across the country create more housing choices, make transportation more efficient and reliable, reinforce existing investments, and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods that attract businesses.

In 2010 when this program was launched, EPA selected the Rhode Island-based KeepSpace program as one of eight recipients nationwide to receive targeted technical assistance on growth and development issues.

More information:  

- Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm

- Partnership for Sustainable Communities:  http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov  

(Boston, Mass. – Feb. 7, 2012) – 

Gossens Bachman Architects in conjunction with Housing Vermont and the Rockingham Community Area Land Trust were recently recognized by the John M. Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing for the transformation of the historical NAMCO Block in Windsor, Vermont.    

The John M Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing was established in 2004. The intent of the John Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing is to recognize and encourage excellence in the planning,  design, construction and maintenance of socially responsible urban housing by honoring an organization, a group, or an individual who has been a major force behind one or more built housing developments characterized by excellence in planning, design and construction. 

The jury received submissions from across the country and said this about its selection process "In the end, we honored six projects, judging each to be an outstanding example of socially responsible housing. In every instance, the work was excellently handled from plan to completion. We recognized work that represents a mix of scales and is the result of fine contemporary thinking that elevates design beyond a basic reaction to a site’s past problems. These projects are evidence that affordable housing can be done well and can represent the urban form while bringing lovely, well-lit spaces to people who need it most."   

The NAMCO Block involved the rehabilitation of an 85,000 sq ft multi-family housing project on the National Register of Historic Places in downtown Windsor, VT.  Public perception plummeted over time and with poor building management and increased crime, the building became nearly uninhabitable to its residence and surrounding community.  In 2005, town officials compiled comprehensive records on the apartment complex; the Block’s level of violent and drug-related crime was double, and in some cases triple, those of the rest of the town. The 72 apartments, which held 10% of Windsor’s population, accounted for 36% of the town’s police calls for domestic violence, 35% of calls for drug activity, 32% of noise disturbances, 23% of child welfare calls, and 20% of reported assaults. 

In 2007 new owners wanted to renovate and revitalize the NAMCO Block and adjacent neighborhood. They envisioned a safe, healthy, mixed income “community within a community”.  The renovations included larger, completely reconfigured apartments that reduced the overall building density, additional community space, creation of two small pocket parks, the addition of a children's play area, secure entrances, complete restoration of the rich exterior details and a new elevator and walkway system that makes all spaces accessible. This was all accomplished with the highest level of energy conservation and efficiency.  Last year the oil consumption went from 58,000 gallons to 19,000 gallons. 

The jury comments about the project.  "The entire neighborhood is revitalized by the renovation of this four-story brick apartment block, originally comprising nine identical buildings that contained 72 apartments. De-densification was thoughtful here, incorporating a plan that reduced the number of units to 58 and provided each with a south-facing kitchen to maximize light. The rental structure was changed from low income to mixed income and represents a small town’s theological choice to fix up a very large historical site and make it appealing to a wide range and percentage of its population.  The space feels very accessible, not just mechanically, but socially, incorporating very sensitive distribution of light and views. It’s rare to find a full block of buildings without some pronounced misstep, but this work is calm and handsome. The client, who could have done so much less, should be applauded." 

Photos Credit: Gary Hall Photography

Gossens Bachman Architects  2.7.2012 

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org Entergy Corp filed a motion with the US District Court on Friday to recover $4.6 million in legal fees for its lawsuit against the state.

The Louisiana company prevailed in federal court on January 20 when Judge J. Garvan Murtha struck down two state laws that required Entergy to seek approval from the Legislature to continue operating Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant past its 40-year anniversary and to store high level nuclear waste at the plant site.

The state has 30 days to appeal the decision.

Entergy says it is entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees because it also prevailed on its claim under the Commerce Clause.

Chanel Lagarde, spokesman for Entergy, said in a written statement that “the law allows for the prevailing party to seek recovery of attorney’s fees.”

“We believe this is the appropriate next step for our company in this case where we were compelled to challenge several Vermont state laws that we believed were unconstitutional and were in fact found to be unconstitutional,” Lagarde said.

Download the motion Entergy Attorney Claims 2-3-12.

Vermont AG William Sorrell, right, said his office lacked the evidence needed to bring criminal charges against Vermont Yankee Officials. At left is Asst. Attorney Gen. John Treadwell. VTD/Josh Larkin

Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell said he expected Entergy to request attorneys’ fees.

“I was certain it would be all of seven figures, I just didn’t know how far into seven figures it would be,” Sorrell said. “It’s a little higher than I thought.”

Sorrell said “they threw a lot of legal horsepower at us, they went into the record extensively and they charged New York City rates.”

Entergy hired Kathleen Sullivan, the dean of Stanford Law School, to litigate the case. Sullivan was on the short list of candidates for Obama’s recent Supreme Court appointment, and she has been described as “one of the most trusted advocates before the United States Supreme Court.” Sullivan unearthed a detailed record in which she said lawmakers made references to safety as justification for a decision to deny Entergy a permit to continue operating the 40-year-old nuclear plant for an additional 20 years. States can’t regulate the safety of a plant under federal law; safety is the purview of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The state can challenge the amount of the fee, Sorrell said. “This is a long way from over,” he said.

Sorrell said his office can question whether the lawyers’ hourly rates and the amount of time they spent on the case was reasonable. Entergy can’t claim relief for any legal work related to the questions about the reliability of the nuclear plant, he said.

It’s not unusual for litigants to go through a mediation process and retain experts to review attorneys’ fees, according to Sorrell.

“It’s not that they get to say this is what you give us,” Sorrell said. “There’s a lot of lawyering to be done on a request of this magnitude.”

Sorrell pointed to the prescription datamining case as an example of how the state has negotiated with other litigants. The state lost the case against IMS, a drug datamining company last summer in proceedings before the U.S. Supreme Court. The attorney general said he couldn’t reveal how much IMS is requesting for attorneys’ fees, but he said the state is negotiating with the company to reach a settlement. The state has already settled with one of the litigants in the case, Pharma, an advocacy group affiliated with IMS for about $1.75 million.

Will Entergy’s $4.6 million request affect Sorrell’s decision to appeal? “Not really,” he said.

“Some have speculated that we would be intimidated by the amount not to go further with an appeal,” Sorrell said. “Others have said it reinforces the reasonableness of an appeal because if the decision is overturned we don’t pay a dime. We’ll look at the appeal on its own merits.”

Cheryl Hanna, a professor at Vermont Law School and an expert on constitutional law and the U.S. Supreme Court, said the judge ruled that the state of Vermont violated Entergy’s constitutional rights and that entitles Entergy to legal fees.

“As a general rule, we allow that,” Hanna said. “We want to give incentives to enforce constitutional rights even when there is no money involved.”

Vermont doesn’t have to pay damages, she said, but “we allow for requests for attorneys’ fees so that lawyers will take these (constitutional rights) cases.” Hanna said fees are requested for a wide range of cases whether the litigants are inmates or multi-million dollar corporations.

Hanna says it will be up to court to decide how much to award.

“Unless the state prevails on all counts, we will probably end up paying for Entergy’s lawyers,” she said. “We don’t get a discount rate because we’re in Vermont. The court will force us to pay New York rates.”

Last year, the Shumlin administration pushed for a “billback” provision that requires Entergy to pay the state’s legal fees. Sorrell advised the Legislature to move ahead with the change in statute, which would make Entergy Corp. liable for the state’s legal expenses, including responses to public records requests and the preparation of litigation in the case.

Whether the court would honor this provision, in light of the judge’s dismissal of the state’s authority in matters of pre-emption, is an open question.

vtdigger.org February 4, 2012

RELATED:

Judge rules Vermont cannot close Vermont Yankee | Vermont ...
 
Jan 20, 2012 ... If Vermont Yankee were not allowed to do so, it would have to shut down because the spent-fuel pool is filled and there is no other site outside ...
www.vermontbiz.com/.../judge-rules-vermont-cannot-close-vermont-yankee

Approximately $25 million in State of Vermont Citizen Bonds will be offered for sale on March 5. This offering is part of a larger bond sale that was scheduled for last October, but postponed shortly after Tropical Storm Irene caused widespread destruction in the state. The opportunity to purchase the general obligation bonds will be made available first to Vermont residents and businesses. Previous Vermont Citizen Bond offerings have sold out in a matter of hours. 

“After Irene, it made sense to postpone the bond sale so that the State could more thoroughly assess the impacts and costs related to the storm damage,” said State Treasurer Beth Pearce. “Since then, the municipal bond interest rates have fallen and we expect to lock in some of the lowest borrowing costs in Vermont’s history.”           

Bonds may be purchased in $1,000 increments and must be bought through a registered broker/dealer. The bonds’ maturities will range from one to 10 years. The State Treasurer’s Office does not sell the bonds directly and does not endorse any particular broker/dealer. Any bonds remaining after Vermonters have had the opportunity to invest will then be made available to retail and institutional investors from outside of the state.           

“Based on the strong response to bond offerings in prior years, I would urge anyone interested in purchasing these bonds to contact a registered broker/dealer right away,” said State Treasurer Beth Pearce. “Interest earnings from the bonds are exempt from State and federal taxes. As a new bond issue, these bonds are sold without commission or trading mark-up.”               

The money raised by Vermont’s bond sales finances school construction, major maintenance and construction at UVM and the Vermont State Colleges, pollution control, safe drinking water, public safety, affordable housing, maintenance of State buildings, and a wide range of other projects. Vermont bonds are rated as triple-A by Moody’s Investor Service and Fitch Ratings, the highest rating available to government issuers. Vermont bonds also are rated AA+ by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, the second-highest rating. The higher the bond rating, the more creditworthy the rating agency evaluates a bond issuer to be.           

In addition to the Vermont Citizen Bonds, on March 5 the State Treasurer’s Office also plans to make available up to $60 million in negotiated general obligation refunding bonds. The amount of refunding bonds, if any, will depend upon the level of interest rates at the time of the sale. Lower interest rates will mean that more bonds can be refinanced for savings.           

“The process of issuing refunding bonds is similar in concept to a homeowner refinancing a home to take advantage of lower interest rates,” explained Pearce. “Fortunately for Vermont’s taxpayers, we are entering the market at a time when interest rates are the lowest they have been in more than 60 years. As such, we hope to save a considerable amount of taxpayer money by reducing our future debt payments.”               

The week of February 27, the  Preliminary Official Statement for this offering will be available on the State Treasurer’s web site at www.buybonds.vermont.gov. The offering is named: State of Vermont General Obligation Bonds, 2012 Series A (Vermont Citizen Bonds) and General Obligation Refunding Bonds, 2012 Series D.      

Investors interested in the Vermont Citizen’s Bonds should contact their registered broker/dealer. Citi will serve as senior managing underwriter, BofA Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo will be co-managers, and 10 additional firms – Barclays, Edward Jones, Fidelity, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Keegan, MR Beal, Raymond James, RBC Capital, Rockfleet and TD Bank – will participate in the selling group. 

Under no circumstances should this announcement of bond issuance be considered an offer to sell or a solicitation to offer to buy, nor shall there be any sales of the bonds in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sales would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The bonds will be offered for sale by means of an Official Statement.

Vermont State Treasurer 2.7.2012  

US Senator Patrick Leahy (D) and the US Army Corps of Engineers Tuesday announced plans to move forward with $1.65 million in storm water management projects in South Burlington. The Corps and the City of South Burlington have signed an agreement to develop the projects, which are authorized under a Leahy program enacted in 2000 to forge and help finance local-federal partnerships to ease local drainage problems and help achieve compliance with Vermont water quality rules, by reducing polluted runoff from developed areas reaching Lake Champlain and its tributaries.

Non-point source storm water runoff is among the largest sources of phosphorous and other pollutants entering Lake Champlain, and Bartlett Brook in South Burlington has been identified as falling short of Vermont water quality standards because of storm runoff.

This agreement will include drainage improvement work in the Stonehenge neighborhood of South Burlington and the construction of a storm water treatment pond in nearby Szymanski Park.  As part of the work, plantings will be used to help slow down runoff and improve water quality through filtration.  Another initiative will boost the capacity of the drainage system in the Laurel Hill South neighborhood, which is hit by localized flooding during big storms.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will manage the design and construction of the projects and will provide more than $1 million of the total $1.65 million cost, under the Lake Champlain Environmental Assistance Program, a law written by Leahy that was enacted in 2000.  Under the program the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, coordinating with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, provides assistance with planning, designing and construction of projects that contribute to protection and enhancement of the water quality, water supply, ecosystem and other water related issues within the watershed.  More than a dozen other projects across the basin are completed or at various stages of planning or construction under the Leahy program.

“I’m happy to move forward on this partnership with the City of South Burlington to improve the lives of Vermonters while also protecting the water quality of the Lake Champlain Basin,” said New York District Commander Col. John R. Boulé. “This project takes advantage of a great opportunity to leverage available federal funding to make stormwater management enhancements for South Burlington.”

Leahy said, "This is another notable milestone for Lake Champlain.  These projects will remedy local runoff problems while advancing our goals for a cleaner lake.  The contribution of more than a million dollars from the Army Corps of Engineers means local homeowners and the City of South Burlington will not need to shoulder the full cost of these improvements."  

South Burlington, as the project’s local sponsor, will be managing its design features, and after external and Army Corps reviews, the Corps will manage project construction, which is expected to be completed next year, in the spring of 2013. 

Leahy's office (TUESDAY, Feb. 7, 2012) -- 

On Wednesday, February 8th, Vermont AFL-CIO, Teamsters, and Building Trades will recognize former Governor Howard Dean with the first annual John Murphy Labor Award. The event will be held in the Montpelier Room at the Capital Plaza Hotel from 5:00-8:00 pm.  Governor Peter Shumlin will speak at the event. 

Howard Dean has a long record of supporting Vermont’s organized labor community.  From standing with the nurses at Fletcher Allen, who organized their union almost a decade ago, to remaining a strong and ceaseless advocate for the early educators building Vermont Early Educators United-AFT today, Dean has consistently demonstrated leadership in standing up for working people in Vermont.  

Wednesday will also be a time to celebrate the Teamsters recent decision to affiliate with the Vermont AFL-CIO.  "We know that we're strongest when we stand together,” Ron Rabideau, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 597 said. “With Ben Johnson at the head of the AFL-CIO here in Vermont we are more confident than ever that this is a new day for labor in Vermont.  We are proud to stand together with our brothers and sisters in the AFL-CIO."  The teamsters represent over 900 households in Vermont.

"When I ran for president of the AFL-CIO my platform was simple: bring the benefits of union membership to more Vermonters,” Ben Johnson, Vermont AFL-CIO president said.  “We know that historically unions are the ticket into the middle class for working people.  That message resonated with the Teamsters, and I'm proud to stand with them to build a strong labor movement in Vermont."

Wednesday night Vermont's organized labor community will come together to thank Howard Dean for his steadfast support and to stand united in calling upon Vermont's leaders to support workers rights.

Montpelier. 2.7.2012

by Colin Ellis Governor Peter Shumlin addressed the issues of school funding and quality of education at a recent chamber legislation meeting. He urged voters around the state to level fund school budgets to try to keep property taxes down. He also wants school choice at the high school level.

“If you don’t want your property taxes to go up at a time when our student count continues to drop and our costs continue to rise, there’s only one way to solve that problem. We all need to go out together and defeat school budgets that aren’t sensible,” he said.

Speaking at the annual Vermont Chamber of Commerce meeting February 1 at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier, Shumlin said that in a property challenged state like Vermont, the only way to keep taxes down is to keep spending down. He asked resident to go out locally to school board meetings and on Town Hall Meeting Day and vote to level fund the school budgets.

Shumlin then discussed the quality of schools. He said that by giving Vermont students better educations, there will be more qualified workers for the jobs available.

“Our most important obligation is educating our kids.”

In order to provide better education, Shumlin proposed four legislative reforms. The first was early child education, getting children into school earlier. The second was public high school choice. Vermont currently has a limited school choice system, meaning that choice is limited between districts. By not limiting students to just their local schools, Shumlin claims that more educational opportunities would be provided based on each student’s academic needs. Third, every Vermont junior and senior should be allowed to attend any college course of their choosing to gain experience and credit. In the final legislative suggestion, Shumlin proposed giving $4 million to UVM and $4 million to all other state schools. The goal would be to help improve relationship between business and college students by creating internships and new campuses to foster business growth.

Education reform is only the first of a three step strategy Shumlin proposed to keep Vermont economically competitive with the rest of the states.. The next step of Shumlin’s strategy is getting Vermont completely connected with high speed internet by 2013.

“That’s going to make a huge difference to job growth. We can’t compete if we’re not connected,” Shumlin said.

By having high speed and reliable connections over the entire state, more jobs will become available all over Vermont.

“If we can be the education state and we have connectivity, we win,” Shumlin said.

The final part of Shumlin’s strategy is healthcare. His goal is to create the first cost containment system in America that works. Shumlin said that rates are going up every year faster than income is created. Vermonter’s spend $5 billion collectively. By 2015 at current rates of growth, resident will be spending another $1.2 billion. Each living Vermonter will be spending $2,500 on healthcare. By creating the system Vermont will be competitive with other states that have lower healthcare costs and healthier residents.

“If Vermont can get this right, we grow the jobs, we grow the economic opportunities,” Shumlin said.

He later announced the inclusion of a “bronze plan” in the health plan, a proposal which would allow small businesses with more than 50 employees to remain outside the Exchange until 2016. The Exchange was established last year and provides residents the means to compare information on available private health insurance before purchasing. The Exchange is also being used as a platform for Vermont to have the first single-payer healthcare plan in America.

“We want the Exchange to offer the same flexibility while we continue to design a single payer system that brings our skyrocketing health care costs under control. Our goal is to build an Exchange that offers consumers maximum flexibility as allowed under federal law,” Shumlin said in a press release.

Vermont’s unemployment rate has fallen to 5.1 percent, down from the 7.3 percent it was at the peak of the recession in April 2009. The government is working together with unemployed workers give counseling, support and encouragement to go find a job, as well as offering an unemployment help fund. Shumlin said the state has a number of marketing techniques to strengthen the tourism base, and is taking a “rifle approach” to job creating; meaning the state targets specific companies to come to Vermont, instead of the “shotgun approach” of simply putting the word out and hopping those companies will come on their own.

Shumlin took a series of questions from the audience after delivering his plan.

When asked about using the space at an IBM building that the state government purchased, Shumlin said the costs of doing this would exceed the benefits. Renovating the inside, paying for electricity and finding adequate lighting (the building does not have any source of natural light) makes the building unsuitable for office workers, Shumlin said. Shumlin added that the purchase of the building by the previous administration was a mistake.

Shumlin was asked whether he would support a bill that would increase tourism funding.
“We should insure that in a sector that does so much for job growth in Vermont there should be a permanent and stable funding source for it,” Shumlin said.

He said that it is unlikely there would be a budget increase, but he wants to make sure there is no reduction, and create a dedicated funding source for the future.

“We’re making great progress in Vermont,” Shumlin said of the industry.

Shumlin praised the public and private sector for working together in post-Irene Vermont to continue a strong tourism industry, but that this partnership should be expanded to all Vermont industries.

Colin Ellis is a freelance writer from Colchester.
 

A celebration of entrepreneurship in Vermont featuring the announcement of the winners of the annual high school poster contest and a Governor’s Proclamation will be held Thursday, February 9th at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier from 10:30 am to 1 pm. 

The event is part of the national Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education’s (http://www.nationaleweek.org ) week-long activities.  Beginning at 10:00 a.m., in the Governor’s Ballroom of the Capital Plaza there will be a 30-minute workshop on starting your own business, followed by entrepreneur presentations, and an opportunity to network with entrepreneurial students, entrepreneurs and technical assistance providers.    

Following this will be the Governor’s Proclamation of Vermont Entrepreneurship Week and announcement of the winners of the statewide high school poster contest and lunch.  Students submitted digital or hand-drawn posters to highlight how and why developing entrepreneurship skills will help them now and into the future.   

Students enrolled in Career and Technical education programs including DECA, Future Business Leaders of America, Future Farmers of America, and Skills USA will inform legislators and the public about their programs in the statehouse cafeteria from 8 – 9am.  The Vermont celebration is sponsored by Johnson State College, the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, Vermont Small Business Development Center, Champlain College BYOBiz, Vermont REAL Enterprises, the Vermont Auditor of Accounts, Lamoille Economic Development Corporation, Merritt & Merritt & Moulton, the Vermont Commission on Women and the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development. 

For more information, or to register for the event, visit www.vermontentrepreneur.org. 

Registration for the 28th annual Vermont Chamber Business and Industry EXPO is underway and booths are filling up fast! Any business or non-profit wanting to gain exposure and make connections can register for a booth by going to www.vtexpo.com. 

The exposition will be held on May 23 & 24, 2012, at the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center in Burlington, Vermont.  EXPO is the region’s largest business-to-business trade show, hosting nearly 200 exhibitors, as well as a wide array of special events and seminars.  The 3,000 business leaders who attend EXPO are provided with valuable educational and networking opportunities. 

EXPO features a two-floor trade show that is designed to afford optimal visibility to all exhibitors. The costs of the booth include a pipe and drape booth with an 8’ high back, 3’ high side rails and a 6’ skirted table. Among many other amenities provided to exhibitors, free admission to both the trade show and exhibitor breakfast for all exhibition staff is provided.  Exhibiting businesses are provided with a pre-show listing and business description in Vermont Business Magazine and also on the EXPO website.  

Visit our website at www.vtexpo.com  for additional information and for booth registration. Booths are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis and fill quickly! 

Increasing exposure to the Vermont business community is more important than ever these days. Use EXPO as your marketing tool for 2012! Consider being a sponsor of EXPO, step in front of thousands of business leaders and decision makers showing your support of Vermont’s business community.  

Contact Juanita Galloway at the Vermont Chamber (jgalloway@vtchamber.com  or (802) 223-3443 to learn more about sponsorship opportunities or with any questions. 

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the largest statewide, private, not-for-profit business organization represents nearly every sector of the state’s corporate/hospitality community. Our mission is to create an economic climate conducive to business growth and the preservation of the Vermont quality of life.