Research at the University of Vermont received a substantial boost in the current federal budget, with $3.4 million for eight projects that include magnetic resonance imaging and advanced computing. The appropriations, signed into law for fiscal 2010 by President Obama, were announced by the office of Sen. Patrick Leahy, D.-Vt., who shepherded these earmarks through the congressional funding process.

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Dozens of people, including students from the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center, a work crew from the Vermont Department of Corrections and state legislators, gathered at the Vermont Agency of Transportation's Bennington garage on Monday to help prepare cords of wood for distribution through the Wood Warms program.

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A $4.8 million economic stimulus grant awarded Wednesday to the Central Vermont Community Action Council will train about 2,400 Vermonters under a green jobs program backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. The Vermont grant -- one of 25 announced by the U.S. Department of Labor -- was among the largest awarded under the $100 million Energy Training Partnership program.

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The Bennington Banner reports that this fall, a new, free program will be offered in Bennington and other parts of the state "to anyone unemployed or underemployed and looking to further their career skills." Sponsored by the Community College of Vermont and the Vermont Department of Labor, those who complete the program will receieve a "Career Readiness Certificate." Indeed, the program presents "an opportunity [for individuals] to measure and improve their job skills" and will be made up of six modules: "applied mathematics; reading for information; locating information; teamwork and interpersonal skills; work ethic, learning and life skills; and basic computer skills."

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Vermont Public Radio reports that "as more people lose their jobs in Vermont, the fund that pays for unemployment benefits is getting stretched thin." According to recent predictions by Vermont's state economist, "Vermont's unemployment rate will rise to almost 8 percent by mid-2010," and "that means more people will collect unemployment benefits." Currently, the Vermont fund "is paying out about $35 million more a year than it takes in. If the fund runs out of money, states can borrow from the federal government." Chris Barbieri of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce said he "will be following the issue in the Legislature." Barbieri condcluded, "It's going to be a juggling act to be sure that we are paying benefits that are needed to be paid to the unemployed and at the same we're keeping in mind the burdens currently on the employer community, which include also the minimum wage increase which occurred yesterday."

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Vermont Public Radio reports that a new training program will be launched later this month at the Community College of Vermont (CCV). The Career Readiness Program will be offerred at CCV's Burlington campus and will train prospective employees in a range of skills "from math to computers to basics like getting to work on time." Upon completion of the course, students will receive a certificate. The certificate is significant because it singals that "the state government and the Community College of Vermont [believe] that [the] prospective employee is proficient in [the] range of skills" described above. Notably, "there will be 450 people in the first class. Students will be tested at the start of classes so CCV knows where they need the most help." Students will also be tested at the end of the course. "The state says those scores will be compared against a national database that details the skills needed in 13,000 different occupations. Employers will be able to use the scores and the database to help match the best workers to available jobs."

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Vermont Public Radio reports that "about 1,000 Vermont workers will be able to improve their jobs skills through training being paid for with a $400,000 grant." According to Governor Jim Douglas, "The training will help members of Vermont's work force find high-skill, high-wage jobs and help their employers be more competitive in the global marketplace." The training will be provided by the nonprofit Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center on the campus of Vermont Technical College in Randolph. "Last year the program provided training to almost 5,000 workers from more than 80 Vermont firms."

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WCAX News reports that a report by the U.S. census bureau has found that " the birth rate in New Hampshire and Vermont was 42 births per 1,000 women," lower than the national average of 55 births per 1,000 women. The findings suggest that both states have the lowest fertility rate in the nation. "Vermont officials worry the low birth rate could threaten to shrink the state's work force. The median age of Vermont's work force is just over 42-years-old, the highest in the nation."

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Vermont Public Radio reports that thanks to a $5 million gift from philanthropist Lois McClure, the "the University of Vermont has created a new Center on Aging that will use research and education to help people stay healthy as they grow older." Notably, "Vermont has the second oldest population in the country, and "in 20 years, the number of Vermonters 65 and older will double," meaning "there will be fewer [people] in the work force." In addition, "the number of older people with disabilities will grow 45 percent in ten years." McClure explained, "There are a lot of things we haven't figured out about supporting an older population. How will people remain financially secure into their 70s, 80s and 90s? What accommodations will people need to keep working as they get older? And how do we stay healthy?"

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The Burlington Free Press reports that "the Community College of Vermont celebrated the commencement of its largest-ever graduating class, awarding two-year degrees to 458 students from across the state." Of these 458 students, "96 percent are in-state students; many are the first in their family to earn a college degree, and most have roots to the communities in which they live," meaning they are likely to stay in Vermont after graduation. Notably, "enrollment at CCV has jumped 40 percent in the last five years, and is up 14 percent over last year." CCV also "strives to keep its tuition the lowest in the state — $4,420 for tuition and fees in the 2007-2008 academic year, compared to $12,044 (excluding room and board) for in-state students at the University of Vermont."

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The Bennington Banner reports that a new paper written by policy analyst Heather Brome and issued by the New England Public Policy Center suggests that New England's "brain drain," or the exodus of young residents to other states, may have been exaggerated.  According to Brome, although there are fewer people between the ages of 25 and 39 in New England today, the number of young professionals did not decrease in the region from 1990 to 2005.  Notably, Brome was hesitant to apply her findings directly to Vermont because she has not examined the state-by-state data in depth. In response to the findings, Representative Joseph Krawczyk, R-Bennington, stated that Vermont may not be experiencing the same general trend as the rest of New England and should continue to work to bring young people to the state.

Last year, the Next Generation Commission was convened by the Vermont General Assembly to examine different ways to encourage young people to stay in Vermont. The group examined several solutions including an increase in funding and scholarships to help people attending Vermont colleges.

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The New Hampshire Business Review reports that an analysis of 2004-2006 census data by the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire found that Vermont's 25-34 year-old population grew by 2.7 percent -- the twentieth fastest growth rate for this age group in the nation.  The overall United States experienced a 2.1 percent growth of this same age group.  Notably, Vermont ranks in the bottom 10 states for total population in the 25-34 cohort.

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According to the Brattleboro Reformer, Governor James Douglas has announced the launch of a new website that will attempt to attract young Vermonters in neighboring states to return to Vermont.  The website will list job openings, apartments and homes for rent, and social and outdoor activities.
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The Times Argus reports that RutBusters is a grass-roots group that works to involve Vermonters ages twenty to thirty in their community by hosting community forums and events. RutBusters hopes that a vibrant social and economic environment will encourage working-aged residents to stay in state.
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According to the New York Times, since 1990, the total number of twenty to thirty-four year-olds living in Vermont has decreased by nineteen percent. This decrease in the working-aged population will create huge problems for businesses, especially as older Vermonters retire.
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