Central Vermont Biz Bits

The Central Vermont Job Developers Coalition thanked area employers who have gone “above and beyond” in working with their agencies to employ individuals with disabilities. Presenters, including Chamber volunteer D.J. Masi of VocReb, awarded plaques - provided by Jet Service Envelope - to 16 area firms in the Vermont State House. The Coalition said stimulus dollars may provide extended trial employment periods at no cost to employers. Masi can be reached at 476-1610.

New England Culinary Institute’s decision to consolidate its current operations and expand curriculum to “college” status represents an exciting opportunity for NECI and for Montpelier. The move brings more students to Montpelier. It opens new avenues for the new college, including possible cooperative ventures with Vermont College of Fine Arts and Union Institute & University. If Montpelier can nurture these colleges, and they can bolster each other, the region’s higher education sector could grow stronger than ever.

“Shovel-ready” apparently means “permits in hand.” The $6 million federal allocation for E.F. Knapp Airport reconstruction requires permits - and soon. It will be interesting to how quickly the state can obtain permits for Knapp and its stimulus projects. Typically, a corporation or entrepreneur’s money is at risk, and the permit process seems endless. With stimulus money at risk, will the process move any faster?

Al Noyes died Sunday, and with his passing, the Chamber lost its first president, a life member, and a very good friend. The loss, however, extends far beyond, our own organization. Al Noyes was a critical force in the economic development efforts of the Barre Area Development Corporation and in the formation and success of the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation. He was tireless in his quest for good jobs for area residents. Yet, he was equally passionate about aviation, the military, radio, and the community. A true leader has left us behind, far better off for the time he shared with us.

CIGNA Healthcare is sponsoring the 2009 Chamber Challenge golf tournament at Barre Country Club May 8. More than 150 Chamber members are insured through the group health insurance plan, and CIGNA representatives are looking forward to meeting (and beating) local teams. Teams can register online at cvregion.net/golf. The 16th annual Chamber Challenge will again be the first tournament of the year at the Barre Country Club. Bragging rights for the entire season will be on the line. Register today.

For just the second time in a quarter century, the finalists in the Chamber’s annual raffle drawing agreed to split the top two prizes. Sen. Bill Doyle and a Roy Scott-Harry Monti partnership split the combined $4,500 in top prizes Wednesday evening. Doyle and Scott were present to negotiate the deal. (In the drawing that followed, Doyle earned the grand prize.) The 27th annual raffle, sponsored by FairPoint Communications, will help underwrite community marketing programs. Chamber Life Member Marion Milne again topped the raffle sales team, selling 27 of the 150 tickets in the drawing. Milne launched the first raffle in 1983 and has actively participated every year.

There is hope. Government leaders from four towns met in one room April 9. They discussed regionalizing public safety services, especially ambulance, passionately but politely. They agreed the focus needed to be on response times and service levels. This week Berlin rejected ambulance bids and renewed it’s current contract for a year. Congratulations to all on important first steps. The door to improved services - and ultimately to cost containment - is open. Area residents and businesses should urge leaders to set lesser issues aside and keep themselves fixed on a sustainable structure of service delivery.

Organizers of Central Vermont community events and/or workshops can enter those events free of charge at www.central-vt.com/events - in a list viewed more than 1,000 times a month. The levels and origin of traffic indicate local residents as well as potential visitors use the listings regularly. Organizers are urged to enter their events as soon as dates are known and to update them later as details are finalized.

The master plan permit application proposes fewer than 150 housing units sighted on just 20 acres of the 100-acre Sabin’s Pasture tract. Having so little housing on this huge parcel with access to public sewer and proximity to downtown services and employment is disappointing not only to the Chamber and housing groups, but to the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission and many “smart growth” advocates as well. The property is an ideal site for residential development. Would it not be a wonderful change of pace for the District 5 Commission to permanently preserve the site’s future development potential?

Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce director Steve Gilman of Builder Specialties was confirmed Vice President of Leadership, the organization’s communications and member relations arm. He succeeds Bonny Downing who stepped down due to schedule conflicts. Chamber President Bob Lord said hearing from members is critical in this time of economic uncertainty, and its is great to have Steve redoublng the committee’s communication effort.