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Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Read on for:
CEDRR Kicks Off Next Phase of Real Rutland |
CEDRR Celebrates National Intern Day| CEDRR Member Benefit
VOREC Community Grants |The Mentor Connector |
USS VERMONT Seeks Vermont-themed Stickers |
Made at the MINT | Membership Spotlight | Career Hub |
Upcoming Events
A collection of Real Rutland concierge volunteers accompanied by funders and CEDRR staff gathered at Southside Steakhouse on Thursday, July 22nd to celebrate the launch of 'phase 4' for the Regional Marketing Initiative.
Rutland County’s Regional Marketing Initiative – known as Real Rutland – has announced its launch of the latest phase in its campaign to attract new residents to the Rutland Region. Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) continues to focus efforts on increasing the population and workforce in the Rutland region by delivering qualified candidates from outside the region to fill job openings and relocate to Rutland County. The campaign, which is fueled primarily by a lead-gen digital marketing program, pushes three agendas as follows 1) by promoting job openings and bringing talent to the area; 2) by promoting Rutland County as a great place to live – touting the outdoor lifestyle, affordable real estate, good schools, and community; and 3) enticing the quality of life and opportunities that exist. In addition, regional incentives will also be offered to thirty qualifying new families who become residents in the allotted timeframe. Eligibility and requirements will be available for viewing shortly.
Since the program launched in 2018, over 30 families have moved into the area via the Marketing Initiative and Real Rutland Concierge program.
With an excess of several hundred job openings in the region as of July 2021, and after hearing from employers throughout the Rutland Region, the latest phase of the campaign aligned its target audience to intentionally bring in an increase of new residents to join the workforce.
“We have heard firsthand from our employers throughout the region that they need people to fill the long list of employment opportunities they have available,” says Lyle Jepson, executive director of CEDRR. “It is vital for the success of our region to ensure our business community has the workforce they need to continue to grow and thrive. That is exactly what we are promoting through our Regional Marketing Initiative.”
Join us on Tuesday, August, 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Proctor Gas located on 2 Market Street in Proctor, Vermont for the August CEDRR Mixer. The Mixer will be co-hosted by Franklin's Restaurant. Come hungry and see Proctor Gas’ products in action as they prepare a cookout for you. There will be door prizes including two round trip tickets from Rutland to Boston sponsored by Cape Air.
This year on National Intern Day, Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) reflects back on current and former interns while encouraging other regional employers to consider hosting interns to advance their everyday work.
Historically, CEDRR hosted one intern per semester. However, this past spring CEDRR expanded their internship opportunities by adding an additional opening for a student from Castleton University to help specifically with the Regional Marketing Initiative – Real Rutland – by traveling throughout Rutland County to develop new photography and videography assets. Maxwell Ingison, a senior at Castleton University exceeded all expectations as the first Regional Marketing Intern by developing new photography and a full 14-minute video to highlight the region for prospective residents with a goal to highlight what a great place Rutland County is to live, work, and play.
After the success of having a Regional Marketing Intern, CEDRR was thrilled to welcome Luke McGee for the summer to continue the work in generating new content for the Regional Marketing Initiative. Entering his junior year at Castleton University this fall, Luke is bringing new energy and passion into the work of CEDRR while growing the list of assets available for the campaign exponentially. Luke is currently working to capture a wide variety of cultural assets in our region such as Pizza in the Meadow at Naga Bakehouse and the upcoming Parade of Heroes + Community Celebration on August 28.
There are many benefits to being a member of the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR). We are proud to say many of our members take advantage of the dental and vision packages available through our partner, VACEplus insurance.
VACEplus provides voluntary benefit options for active businesses of any size who are a member in good standing of a Chamber of Commerce that is a member of VACCE.
The Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) Community Grant Program helps Vermont communities leverage their local outdoor recreation assets for greater economic vitality and many other co-benefits. Grants help Vermont communities grow their local economies by funding a variety of outdoor recreation-related activities that support the five pillars of VOREC:
- Grow outdoor recreation-related businesses.
- Increase participation in outdoor recreation activities among all demographics.
- Strengthen the quality and extent of outdoor recreation resources.
- Increase stewardship of outdoor recreation resources and environmental quality.
- Promote and enjoy the health and wellness benefits of outdoor recreation.
This year, there is $5,100,000 in one-time state general funds available in grants for non-profit organizations and municipalities. Staff aim to fund up to 25 projects that span a variety of “buckets” including equity, multi-community efforts, and smaller local efforts. Grant minimums will be set at $50,000, with no maximum, to encourage regional scale thinking. There is no match requirement for these grants, but leveraged funds are encouraged.
Previous VOREC grants have funded programs that benefit Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy through activities like developing wayfinding and signage to educate locals and visitors and connect them with businesses, increasing trail connections, and creating marketing materials that encourage people to explore expanded recreational opportunities. Applicants can find more information about the grant program and the 2021 application process on the grant website.
The Mentor Connector is dedicated to connecting the Rutland Region’s youth with a sense of purpose, passion, and belonging.
“Our goal is to change the narrative of youth here in Rutland County,” Chris Hultquist, Executive Director, said. “Too often teenagers who hang out in a group downtown are seen as “bad”. The reality is they belong here. We all belong here and each and every one of us has a gift to offer this community.” Therefore, this summer, The Mentor Connector is working alongside other organizations, community leaders, parents, and youth through the Rutland Youth Coalition to distribute 10,000 activity boxes referred to as Out of the Box-es. This year’s theme, “You belong here”.
Established in 2004, the Mentor Connector has supported over 1,000 youth, helping them feel as though they belong. Hultquist explained the Mentor Connector utilizes a holistic approach to youth work, pairing youth with community resources, safe adults, and outlets to develop skills and realize their passions. “Youth are innovative. They want to form connections and relationships. They want to change and evolve. It is our goal to help guide them to the right people, and the right activities,” Hultquist said.
USS VERMONT Seeks Vermont-Themed Stickers
Vermonters are encouraged to bring a Vermont-themed sticker of their choosing to be displayed on the USS VERMONT submarine. Please do not bring those that have any political, negative, religious, or controversial content. Show your pride in our great state and the USS VERMONT. These will serve to further the connections between our namesake Crew and Vermonters as they are used by the Crew of the USS Vermont (SSN 792) to cover some plan bulkheads (or walls) within the ship.
Stickers and decals should be mailed to:
USS VERMONT (SSN 792) Commissioning Committee
c/o C. William Mattoon
215 Woodbury Road
Springfield, VT 05156-8838
MINTacular at The MINT: Rutland’s makerspace is better than a manufacturing night or an open house because it’s both of those things with cake! We had a lot of fun in 2019 and can’t wait to see how much fun we’ll have with more than 5,000 more feet of room for activities.
MINTACULAR Is Almost Here!
The MINT - Rutland’s Makerspace is welcoming everyone in the Rutland region to come celebrate five years connecting makers with the coolest tools in the community. On Saturday, August 7th from 1 to 4 pm, every shop in The MINT’s 14,000 square foot facility will be buzzing, shaking, humming, and flashing with activity for MINTacular. Our shop leads will be on hand to answer questions and help visitors try their hands at woodworking, letterpress, jewelry-making, and more. The event is free and open to the public and will feature activities for younger makers in The Boiler, The MINT’s kids, and family maker space. You can learn more about The MINT at rutlandmint.org or stop by from 1 to 4 pm on August 7th at 112 Quality Lane in Rutland and see for yourself!
NeighborWorks of Western Vermont is a community development nonprofit located in West Rutland and serving Addison, Rutland, and Bennington Counties (and beyond for many of our services). We support individuals, neighborhoods, and communities through five lines of business and through community building and engagement efforts. The mission of NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (NWWVT) is to strengthen the development of a regional economy by promoting safe, efficient, and stable housing, and community projects through education, technical assistance, and financial services. NWWVT helps individuals develop self-reliance through education, counseling, technical, and financial services.
TechQuest is a technology consulting and support company originally founded in Glens Falls NY & expanded into central Vermont. Owner Jody Grafals has worked to help businesses tackle technology projects his entire career. Jody’s experience expands from Manhattan data centers to small-town medical offices. Jody has led the TechQuest team in its main goal to assist in the deployment and management of complex systems for more than 20 Years.
- Servers, Sites & Systems. Design, Install & Maintenance.
- Web & App Development
- Employee Systems Management
- Network Engineering and Installation
- SEO Mastering
SymQuest Ribbon Cutting
Pictured: Tyler Richardson, CEDRR Operations Director, Ken Godzik, Area VP of Document Solutions, Sen. Brian Collamore, Diane Knipes, Document Solutions Sales Executive ,
Justin Sheehy, Document Solutions Sales Executive, Rep. Larry Cupoli, Mayor David Allire, Meg Fleming, President, Kevin Davis, VP of Service & Support, Rep. Mary Howard,
Brad McElveen, Director of Operations, Claudine Beaupre, Director of Finance & Administration, Carrie Flanagan-Sullivan, Network Sales Executive
The ribbon is cut at the grand opening of SymQuest’s new location 271 North Main St. in Rutland. Symquest is a regionally owned technology company that designs, installs and supports business technologies for organizations of all sizes across New England and Northern New York.
CEDRR would like to thank the following businesses for renewing their membership:
Alderman's Automotive Group | Carris Reels | Catamount Radio |
Dr. Richard DelBianco, Optometrist |Enman*Kesselring Consulting Engineers, PC | Foley Services | Formula
Ford Lincoln Mercury |Housing Trust of Rutland County | IBF Solutions | JP Carrara & Sons, Inc. | Key Honda | Little Harry's |
Little Lambs Early Learning Center | McCormack, Guyette & Associates, P.C. |
O'Brien Shortle Reynolds & Sabotka, PC | Robert C. Williams Associates, P.C. |
Rutland Jewish Center | Rutland Veterinary Clinic & Surgical Ctr. |
Ryan Smith & Carbine, Ltd. | The Graphic Edge | The Vermont Country Store |
Town of Rutland | Triller Print Source & Services | Trust Company of Vermont |
VELCO | VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region | Wehse & Kinney Insurance, Inc. | Yeager Family Partners
The Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region's Career Hub features full-time jobs across Rutland County that provide a salary higher than the Vermont living wage.
Special Educator
Sheldon Academy-Vermont Achievement Center is seeking a Special Educator to become a member of their team.
Reliability Engineer
Omya is seeking a Reliability Engineer to become a member of their team.
Buyer Associate
Wolseley Industrial Group is seeking a Buyer Associate to join their community.
View Rutland County career opportunities & post your position →
August 5, 2021| 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Join VT PTAC for an overview of the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) certification program in Vermont.
August 7, 2021| 1 - 4 p.m.
Stop by the MINT- Rutland's Makerspace for an open hour, a tour of the new expansion, and the creative stations on exhibit.
August 10, 2021 | 5 - 7 p.m.
Join CEDRR at the August Mixer hosted by Proctor Gas & Franklin's Restaurant at 2 Market Street, Proctor.
August 11, 2021 |11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center (VT PTAC) is a government-funded program assisting Vermont businesses to pursue and perform government contracts with the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, state and local governments and with government prime contractors.
