Thursday, October 1, 2020

Read on for:
Castleton University Partnership | Join us for our Annual Meeting | ReVTA Program | Vermont Economic Recovery Grant Guidance | Explore Rutland County | Career Hub | Events & Workshops

Castleton, Chamber & Economic Development Announce Community Engagement Partnership

Castleton University and Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region are proud to announce a new partnership with an eye toward enhancing internship and career opportunities and an increased focus on community engagement. 

Kimberley Rupe, Business Development and Community Engagement Manager of Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region, will work alongside Castleton’s Pathway to Graduation team to engage Castleton students in a diverse range of opportunities, including job experiences, internships, and workplace readiness skill programming. Rupe will also be tasked with providing support in developing and delivering community engagement activities that enhance the economic and social interactions between Castleton and its surrounding communities.  

Learn more about this exciting new partnership → 

Join Us For Our Most Exciting Annual Meeting Yet! 

Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m. The event will be held drive-in style at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland and the Jack McKernon Drive-In at Estabrook Park in Brandon. The event, which will feature a pre-recorded video produced by Amanda Wheeler of Eightzero2 Productions, will be a celebration of the recent merger of Rutland Economic Development Corporation and Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce. The annual meeting will also celebrate Rutland County’s 27 towns and cities and the extraordinary people who work tirelessly to make our region the most collaborative, innovative, and friendly place in Vermont to live, work, play, and grow a business. The cost to attend is $25 per car, and each car will receive $25 in “Food Truck Bucks” to be used at the food truck park that evening. Space is limited; Pre-registration is required.

At our annual meeting, we'll be recognizing our 2020 annual award recipients:

Business Leader of the Year: Matt Levandowski, President & CEO – Heritage Family Credit Union

Community Leader of the Year: Nancy Greenwood, Sales Associate – Watson Realty & Associates PLC. 

Innovator of the Year: VT Terps

Thank you to our Signature Sponsors: Cape Air, Heritage Family Credit Union, GE-Aviation, and Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region. 

Thank you to our Supporting Sponsors: VELCO, Foley Services, Casella Waste Systems, People's United Bank, Omya, Watson Realty & Associates, Carpenter & Costin, Killington Resort, The Bank of Bennington, AM Peisch, and Rutland Regional Medical Center. 

Purchase your annual meeting tickets today! → 

Restart Vermont Technical Assistance Program

The Restart Vermont Technical Assistance Program (ReVTA) will provide technical assistance to hundreds of Vermont businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. The state’s regional development corporations (RDCs) have been tasked with deploying $1.17 million in technical assistance funding which was provided through the federal CARES Act. 

The program will leverage a regional and statewide network of technical assistance (TA) providers. TA includes, but is not limited to, assistance for business operations, financial management, digital and marketing strategies, architecture and design, reconfiguring products or processes, updating safety measures, technology and software consulting, and legal or professional services. 

Each RDC will deploy a Recovery Navigator to work one-on-one with local businesses and determine what form of technical assistance is needed. The Navigator, client business, and TA provider will develop a scope of work appropriate to solving the client’s issues. The cost of the work will be covered by ReVTA. The program is expected to assist more than 250 businesses with awards averaging $3,000. All funds need to be spent by December 4, 2020. 

A website has been created for businesses to register to provide assistance as well as those interested in receiving assistance. More details, eligibility requirements, and registration forms are available at vermonteconomicdevelopment.com. 

Contact Rutland Region Recovery Navigator Tyler Richardson with questions. 

Register as a vendor or to receive technical assistance → 

Vermont Emergency Economic Recovery Grant Clarifying Guidance 

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) previously stated that all businesses receiving a Vermont Coronavirus Emergency Economic Recovery Grant must expend the funds by December 30, 2020. ACCD recently announced that businesses do not need to have spent the grant money by December 30. If businesses need and are able to, they can retain the grant funding for expenses that occur in 2021 and beyond. Businesses that qualified for an economic recovery grant were required to demonstrate business loss in 2020 due to COVID-19, and there is no additional requirement to spend the grant funding by December 30, 2020. 

This clarifying guidance only applies to the Vermont Coronavirus Emergency Economic Recovery Grants issued by the Vermont Department of Taxes or the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Businesses may have received other federal or state funding with different requirements and should consult guidance for those specific programs to learn more about their requirements.

Explore Rutland County: Danby & Mount Tabor

The southern-most towns of Rutland County are the quintessential Vermont playground – home to mountain peaks perfect for hiking and rolling hills draped in the bright yellows, greens, and reds of fall foliage this time of year.

Explore Danby and Mount Tabor and plan your day trip today! → 

Rutland Economic Development Corporation's Career Hub features full-time jobs across Rutland County that provide a salary higher than the Vermont living wage.