The CEOs of the two foreign companies that promise to bring more than 600 new jobs to Newport visited the future site of their operations Thursday in the lakefront building formerly occupied by Bogner ski wear.

The  Korean company planning to build a bio-tech facility in Newport is now likely to create 450 permanent and 50 seasonal jobs, double the number proposed in September.

Vermont's Northeast Kingdom is expected to receive $500 million and 10,000 jobs through a program that allows people from outside the United States to obtain U.S. residency in exchange for investments.

Vermont's Northeast Kingdom has the highest unemployment rates in the state. Much of the reason has to do with the loss of manufacturing jobs over the years.

Ownership of a pair of ski areas in the Northeast Kingdom has been consolidated. The owners of Jay Peak Resort have bought Burke Mountain Resort.

Several Vermont businesses say they've been able to expand and add jobs by relying on capital from foreign investors. But they say ready access to that money could dry up unless Congress reauthorizes a special immigration program that encourages such investment.