It’s hard to believe Fall is approaching and school is starting for families in our district. September also brings a number of events of interest in our district:
- Information session on forming a southern Vermont Communications Union District on September 11th from 6-7:30 at Memorial Hall in Wilmington. The info session will include Clay Purvis from the Vermont Department of Public Service and has been organized by the Windham County Legislative Delegation.
- The 11th Annual 1LT Mark Dooley Race of Remembrance on September 14th at 1 School Street in Wilmington. Registration and check-in: 7:30am-8:45am, ceremony at 9:00am, Kids Fun, followed by 5K walk/run.
- 10th Annual Vermont Wine and Harvest Festival at Mount Snow in Dover on September 22-23rd
- Vermont civics event explaining reapportionment – the process by which our voting districts boundaries are established – with Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos and Tom Little on Wednesday September 25th at the Dover Town Hall beginning at 6:00 pm. Look for more information next week, but this event will be both town committees and student friendly.
Vermont’s Unemployment Rate Holds Steady, career training available
The Vermont Department of Labor released data on the Vermont economy for the time period covering July 2019. According to household data, the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for July was 2.1 percent. This reflects no change from the revised June rate. As of last month’s data (June 2019), the unemployment rates for Vermont and the Burlington-South Burlington NECTA were the lowest in the country relative to other states and metropolitan areas, respectively.
“Though our unemployment rate continues to be low, there are a number of Vermont workers looking for more hours or higher paying jobs. To get that next job, some of these individuals may need to acquire a new skill or become licensed in a specialized field. There are wonderful providers across the state partnering with the Department to offer Registered Apprenticeships and short courses at convenient times which tie directly to employer needs in Vermont. Visit any one of the Department’s Career Resource Centers spread across the state to learn which program or training may be best for you… and bring a friend,”
Vermont Labor Commissioner Lindsay Kurrle
Interested in forming a potential Southern Vermont Communications Union District?
Join us for a meeting on September 11th from 6-7 pm at Memorial Hall in Wilmington with the Department of Public Service for interested communities and residents.
Vermont’s Broadband Innovation Grant program has been announced to help communities conduct feasibility studies and create business plans related to the deployment of broadband in rural, unserved and underserved areas of Vermont. The program will award up to $60,000 per grant. Eligible grantees must deliver a feasibility study that proposes new broadband systems with minimum speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload in unserved or underserved areas.
The Windham Regional Commission has agreed to act as a contact recipient for interested parties. If you would like to be notified of follow up information please send an email with your contact information to: SeVTBroadband@gmail.com
Regulators Say Health Care Reform In Jeopardy Without Increase In State Medicaid Funding
Green Mountain Care Board Chairman Kevin Mullin
Don’t forget the bug spray this Fall
Data Dive: Vermont Has the Nation’s Highest Lyme Disease Rate. Where Does Your County Rank?
Communities on alert for EEE
Federal Impacts
State of Vermont Opts Out of Title X Family Planning Funds, uses state funds reserved to ensure services continue
BURLINGTON, VT – Following new limits on how federal Title X funding can be used, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD notified the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that it will stop using those funds provided to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England for family planning services in Vermont. Instead, the Vermont Department of Health will use State funds that have been reserved to ensure these services can continue.
The new limits on the 50 year old Title X program make it illegal to refer women for legal healthcare services.
Partisanship fuels federal deficit
It takes cooperation between Republicans, Democrats and independents to make budgets that raise enough taxes and manage spending enough to best protect and invest in America and Americans today and in the future. The larger the federal debt grows, the more federal dollars are required to pay interest – that can reduce federal payments to state programs and increases the need to cut state programs or increase state taxes.
The one thing that is easily to agree on at the federal level: spending.
Please contact me with questions or if you need assistance navigating government services at (802) 384-0233 or lsibilia@leg.state.vt.us. You can also sign up to receive my e-newsletters on my blogsite at www.laurasibiliavt.com
Kind regards,
Rep. Laura Sibilia
Dover, Readsboro, Searsburg, Somerset, Stamford, Wardsboro, Whitingham
Vermont State Representative Laura Sibilia 