CEDRR June Mixer on June 9
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Friday, May 22, 2026
Read on for:
CEDRR and PACC Joint Meet & Greet on June 4 | CEDRR June Mixer on June 9 | Membership Spotlight | CEDRR Member Benefits | What's New in Rutland County | Economic Development News and Opportunities | Real Rutland Concierge Program | The Hub CoWorks | Rutland Young Professionals | Career Hub | Upcoming Events
PLEASE NOTE: Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region and The Hub CoWorks will be CLOSED Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day.
Joint Meet & Greet Hosted by CEDRR and PACC on June 4 at Fairways Restaurant in Poultney
Join the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) and the Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce for a collaborative Real Rutland Meet & Greet event at Fairways Restaurant at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on June 4 from 5-7 pm. You'll have the opportunity to network with fellow community members, eat delicious food, and enter to win door prizes. The 50/50 Raffle will benefit the Young at Heart Senior Center in Poultney.
CEDRR June Mixer at Pittsford Village Farm on June 9
Join Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) for our June Mixer at Pittsford Village Farm, located at 42 Elm Street in Pittsford, on Tuesday, June 9 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Pittsford Village Farm is a public space for the community with 150 acres of outdoor space. Their historic farmhouse is currently under renovation, being converted into a mixed-use community space.
We invite you to join us to learn more about their transformation, network with other community members, enjoy food from Kamuda's Country Market (who is also located right across the street), and more!
SAVE THE DATE: CEDRR Legislative Breakfast on June 15
Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) will host a Legislative Breakfast on Monday, June 15. More details will be coming soon - please visit our website for updates.
CEDRR Executive Director Sarah Furman, Vermont Governor Phil Scott, and Workforce in Motion President Russ Marsan at the first Workforce in Motion Summit & Equipment Rodeo
First Workforce in Motion Summit Was a Great Success!
The first Workforce in Motion Summit & Equipment Rodeo was held Thursday, May 21 at the Vermont State University Castleton Campus. This large-scale career exploration event, presented by Casella Waste Systems, brought around 80 businesses and 1,200 students together to explore career paths ranging from plumbing to nursing - and so many other fields in between. Vermont Governor Phil Scott and Commissioner of Economic Development Lyle Jepson delivered remarks to the attendees, along with representatives from sponsors Casella Waste Systems, Killington Resort, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Heritage Family Credit Union, and more. Scholarships were awarded to deserving students, and panel discussions shared insights on the the ins and outs of starting a business, as well as the upcoming Workforce in Motion Academy.
We are grateful to the many sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, staff and attendees who helped to make this event a huge success!
A student attendee explores soldering at the Workforce in Motion Summit and Equipment Rodeo.
CEDRR staff attended the Cinco de Mayo Dine & Discover Fiesta at Vista Senior Living in Mendon. Pictured from left to right are Matt Britt, CEDRR Communications & Marketing Manager; Shasta Mattino, CEDRR Finance & Compliance Manager; Chrispin White, CEDRR Member Services Manager; Daniel Mora, CEDRR Board Secretary and Resident Liaison at Vista Senior Living; Dominique Winter, CEDRR Office and Events Manager; and Sarah Furman, CEDRR Executive Director
Reinbow Riding Center: Improving Lives Through Equine Partnerships
Founded in 2008, Reinbow Riding Center (RRC) is a therapeutic horsemanship program that seeks to improve the well-being of individuals with unique physical, emotional and/or cognitive challenges through a customized therapeutic equine experience. The program is located in Rutland County and serves South Central Vermont. RRC is led by a dedicated all-volunteer Board of Directors, supported by professional program & development directors, and an experienced team of trained volunteers. RRC instructors are also PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International certified.
There are many benefits of these equine assisted services including enhancing physical & mental health, supporting positive family relationships, and providing opportunities to increase self-esteem and improve social & communication skills. Participants can range in age from 3 to senior citizens! RRC also partners directly with area schools, receives referrals from mental health agencies as well as other organizations, and takes a limited number of private clients. RRC’s goal is to provide these specialized therapeutic services to all those who might benefit, regardless of their ability to pay. RRC is a 501c3 non-profit who secured a 2026 “Platinum Seal of Transparency” from CANDID, an independent non-profit ranking organization, which is the highest level attainable.
Our 2026 season will feature three 7-week sessions (Spring, Summer, Fall) from May to October. To keep in touch, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Our participants are “Touched by Horses & Transformed by Hope”! To learn how to apply for our program or support us as a volunteer, donor or sponsor, please go to www.reinbowridingcenter.org
CEDRR Would Like to Thank the Following Businesses for Renewing Their Membership:
Staples Discounts for CEDRR Members
As a proud supporter of local small businesses, Staples® offers CEDRR members access to special partner discounts every time they shop. The Rutland Staples location offers 20% off in-store Print & Marketing Services, including documents and presentations, signs, banners, and posters, marketing materials and more. Staples also offers a 10% discount on in-store purchase of regularly priced items, including markers, envelopes, furniture and desk accessories, coffee, snacks and more. To start saving, visit the Rutland Staples location and show your CEDRR Perk Card!
Liberate Yourself from the Time and Hassle of Receipts with Terrapin Software
Every time you buy fuel, parts, software, or lunch with a client, you create proof someone will want to see. Maybe the IRS. Maybe your accountant. Maybe you, six months later, trying to remember if that $43 charge was a client meeting or personal expense. Terrapin Software securely finds, matches and files receipts from your connected sources - ready for expense claims and tax filings.
CEDRR members can save 20% on an annual or monthly subscription.
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Attendees gather on May 18 for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of Cornerstone Caregiving's Rutland location. Pictured from left to right are Chrispin White, CEDRR Member Services Manager; Rutland City Mayor Tom Donahue; Alyssa Sabotka, Operating Director of Cornerstone Caregiving’s Rutland location; Meghan Johnson, Assistant Operating Director of Cornerstone Caregiving in Rutland; State Representative Mary Howard; State Representative Christopher Howland; and Sarah Furman, CEDRR Executive Director.
Cornerstone Caregiving celebrated the grand opening of their new Rutland location at 734 U.S. Route 4, with a ribbon cutting on Monday, May 18.
Cornerstone Caregiving’s mission is simple: to help individuals age safely, comfortably, and with dignity in the place they call home. Their dedicated caregivers provide a wide range of non-medical services, including personal care, companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, and specialized dementia care. Whether someone needs just a few hours of support each week or around-the-clock in-home care, they are committed to enhancing quality of life while promoting independence.
CEDRR is happy to help welcome Cornerstone Caregiving to the Rutland Region!
Party City at Staples celebrated with a ribbon cutting on June 14. Pictured from left to right are Dominique Winter, CEDRR Events Manager; Brandon Levesque, Assistant Store Manager of Staples in Rutland; Renee Axelson, General Manager of Staples in Rutland; and Chrispin White, CEDRR Member Services Manager.
Party City at Staples is now in Rutland! It is a one-stop shop for personal and business celebrations - from balloons and party décor from your favorite characters, to printing custom invites, banners, signs, and more!
CEDRR is glad to support this new beginning and the expanded ways that Staples can serve our community.
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust’s Chairman of the Board and Senior Executive Team Recognize 11 Employees for Showcasing Extraordinary Leadership
Eleven Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees were recognized for their extraordinary leadership at the Bank’s annual Chairman’s Dinner and Celebration, held May 8 in Bar Harbor, Maine. The Chairman’s and Emerging Leaders Awards honor employees who have played key roles in helping the Bank achieve its strategic goals and deliver positive outcomes.
The Chairman’s Award, presented by Board Chair Matthew L. Caras, is the event’s highest honor. The winners are selected in recognition of their consistent display of the Bank’s brand behaviors, strategic thinking, perseverance, and ability to motivate. The recipients of the 2026 Chairman’s Award are:
- Joe Delano, Senior Vice President Commercial Real Estate/Hospitality Team Leader. He joined the Bank in 2018.
- Jack Frost, Vice President Director of Community Giving. He joined the Bank in 2017.
- Chuck Hall, Senior Vice President Controller. He joined the Bank in 2024.
- Tony Shaw, Senior Vice President Chief Credit Officer. He joined the Bank in 2022.
“Our continued success at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust relies on the hard work and dedication of people at every level of the organization, and the Chairman’s Award is for those whose efforts and leadership create a standard of excellence that propels us forward,” said Curtis C. Simard, President and CEO of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “This year’s Chairman’s Award winners — Joe, Jack, Chuck, and Tony — reflect the best of our Bank’s culture. I’m proud and grateful to work alongside them.”
The Emerging Leader Award is presented to high-performing employees who demonstrate strong leadership skills and significant potential for growth in the organization. The recipients of the 2026 Emerging Leader Award are:
- Diane Anderson, Vice President Commercial Loan Assistant Group Manager. She joined the Bank in 2011.
- Kerensa Chambers-Ficorilli, Vice President Information Reporting Manager. She joined the Bank in 2020.
- Jay Fish, Vice President Regional Market Manager for Vermont and the Upper Valley of New Hampshire. She joined the Bank in 2022.
- Emily Gerrard, Vice President Senior Accountant. She joined the Bank in 2011.
- Shane Klardie, Vice President Branch Relationship Manager. He joined the Bank in 2019.
- Dora Maxwell, Vice President Human Resources Business Partner. She joined the Bank in 2022.
- Mike Woodbury, Vice President Treasury Services Officer. He joined the Bank in 2020.
“The seven recipients of this year’s Emerging Leader Award are people who deliver impactful work each day for our customers and our colleagues,” said Simard. “Their contributions make our Bank an exciting place to work, and help us be a positive force in our communities.”
Beacon Bank Invests Nearly $600,000 in Local Nonprofits
Beacon Bank and the bank’s foundation invested nearly $600,000 in its communities through charitable giving and sponsorships to over 130 nonprofit organizations in Vermont, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts from January to March.
“When we invest locally, we see the impact firsthand,” said James J. Morris IV, president of the bank’s Berkshire & Capital region. “Our charitable giving supports the organizations that are making a meaningful difference right here in the communities where our clients and colleagues live.”
Examples of nonprofits that received funding in the first quarter include:
- Dismas of Vermont
- Habitat for Humanity International Inc.
- Interfaith Council of the Manchester Area Inc.
- Vermont Green Up Inc.
Beacon Bank invests in the success and vibrancy of its local communities by supporting programs and organizations that focus on one of three areas: neighborhood revitalization and preservation, education and critical services.
Learn more by visiting the Community Support page on Beacon Bank's website.
Beacon Bank has five branches in Vermont. They are located in Manchester (2), Rutland, Arlington and Ludlow.
If you have news that you would like CEDRR to share in a future newsletter, please email a press release to Matt Britt, Communications & Marketing Manager at matt@rutlandeconomy.com.
Bowse Health Trust Announces Dates for 2026 Grant Applications - Request for Letters of Intent
If you are a non-profit organization and considering the expansion or development of a program or project that will address the health and wellbeing of Rutland County residents, please consider applying for a Bowse Health Trust Grant.
The Bowse Health Trust (BHT) will kick-off its 2026 grant cycle with Letters of Intent (LOI) due on June 15, 2026. The required documents and all information about how to submit a Letter of Intent can be found on the Rutland Regional Medical Center website.
The BHT is interested in funding the expansion or enhancement of existing projects or new programs that focus on providing residents in Rutland County an opportunity to live a healthier life. Specifically, projects that address health equity within the priority needs identified in the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA).
Priority areas in the CHNA include access to care, community safety, and community connectivity. Funded projects/programs will be highly collaborative and have plans for financial sustainability after the three years of funding are complete. To read more about the health priority areas you can find the CHNA here.
The BHT has been supporting local non-profit organizations serving Rutland County residents for more than 29 years. The process begins with submitting a 2-page LOI form that will provide a brief overview of proposed programming. Based on the LOI information submitted, the BHT Committee will invite agencies to submit a full proposal. Full proposals require more detailed information about the proposed work. Successful projects will receive funding to begin work in January 2027.
Bowse Health Trust also offers five planning grants to applying agencies. The form to apply for the $1,500.00 planning grant is part of the LOI form. These funds are meant to help any agencies, invited to submit a full proposal, write the application due in September. More information can be found on the website.
Letters of Intent are due June 15, 2026 and agencies invited to write full proposals will submit them by September 15, 2026. Grant awards are announced by December 15, 2026, and grant funds will start on January 1, 2027. All grant guidelines, application information, and the Community Health Needs Assessment are available on the Rutland Regional Medical Center website at www.rrmc.org/about/bowse-trust/.
For more information email the Bowse Health Trust at mailto:healthtrust@rrmc.org.
Help Shape Vermont’s 802 Homes Catalog
Your feedback is welcomed on Vermont’s draft 802 Homes designs! As part of the Homes for All initiative, the State of Vermont is developing a catalog of ready-to-build home designs that aim to make housing easier, faster, and more affordable to build across the state. The designs range from small single-family homes to duplexes and four-unit homes inspired by Vermont neighborhoods and communities.
Vermonters are invited to review the draft concepts and share feedback through a short statewide survey. Your input will help refine the designs before they move into final construction documents and statewide release this December.
Please feel free to share this survey with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and anyone interested in Vermont’s housing future.
Learn More about 802 Homes and the Homes for All Initiative. →
SBA Federal Disaster Loan Applications Due May 26
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced a May 26 deadline for small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Vermont to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by a drought beginning Sept. 16, 2025.
The disaster declaration covers the Vermont counties of Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor, as well as the New Hampshire counties of Grafton and Sullivan.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs - including faith-based organizations - with financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills which could not be paid due to the disaster.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for PNPs, with terms of up to a maximum of 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is May 26. However, after the deadline has passed, there is a 60-day grace period in which SBA will accept applications.
Real Rutland Seeking Concierge Volunteers Ages 20-30
Real Rutland is looking for Concierge Volunteers in the 20–30-year-old age group!
Here is a bit of background for those who may be curious:
Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) launched Real Rutland in 2016 after identifying the need to increase our workforce and overall population in Rutland County to support the necessary business growth.
The Real Rutland program along with our complimentary Concierge Program, has the privilege of being able to showcase Rutland County with images and messaging that accurately represents our beautiful slice of Vermont.
Our Concierge Program is made up of over 40 active volunteers who work first-hand with individuals and families who are considering a move to Rutland County to provide a real time perspective on life here. Volunteers are matched with one or two newcomers per year, and are available to answer questions, provide recommendations and be that first connection that incoming residents have in their new home.
If you are interested, please reach out to Caitlin Gates, Real Rutland's Concierge Coordinator, by email at caitlin@rutlandeconomy.com.
Vermont Federal Credit Union Home Buying Seminar
Wed. June 17, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Looking to purchase a home, but aren't sure where to start? Attend Vermont Federal Credit Union's free home buying seminars and start your home search today!
Ready to unlock the secrets of home buying? Join us at The Hub CoWorks Rutland for a complimentary Home Buying Seminar with top real estate experts in your community!
Whether you're a first-time buyer or looking to upgrade, this event is designed to answer all your burning questions and equip you with insider tips to navigate the home buying process with confidence. Think of it as your personal roadmap to making informed decisions in the Vermont real estate market!
- Eager to dive in now? Streamline the Process -Ultimate Home Buying Guide
- First-Time Homebuyer? Check out the VHFA Grant Program to see if you qualify for $15,000 toward a down payment or closing costs!
Bonus: Attend the event and be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!
Please Note: Registration starts at 5:15 pm and the presentations will begin at 5:30 pm with food and drinks provided by Vermont Federal Credit Union
This event is presented by an independent organization and does not necessarily represent the views, opinions, or endorsements of The Hub CoWorks. We provide our space as a venue and are not responsible for the content of programing. Please direct any questions about specific events to the hosting organization.
Join RYP's Board of Directors
There's still time to join the next Board of Rutland Young Professionals!
Are you interested in becoming more involved with RYP? Do you have ideas for our organization? Are you looking for a way to connect with our community and give back?
We'd love to have you join our board of directors!
Applications are due by June 4th. Head to RYP's website for more information or to apply!
2026 RYP Annual Meeting on June 25
Mark your calendars! Rutland Young Professionals' Annual Meeting is coming up!
Join us Thursday June 25th at 5:30pm for our annual meeting at Heritage Family Credit Union's Roy Hance Operations Center.
This year, we will be announcing our Young Professional of the Year and Business of the Year at our Annual Meeting!
Official business will be followed up with networking, mingling, and refreshments. See you there!
2026 Young Professional of the Year Nominations
Do you know an emerging leader who demonstrates leadership qualities in both their personal and professional lives, volunteers within Rutland County, and is an active member in our community? Nominate them for the annual Rutland Young Professionals Young Professional of the Year Award!
*Nominee must work and/or live in Rutland County, be under the age of 45, and be a member of Rutland Young Professionals.
Nominations will be open through Thursday, June 4, 2026.
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.
Electrical Design Engineer
HD Medical is seeking a Electrical Design Engineer to join their team.
Patient Care Coordinator
Cornerstone Dentistry is seeking a Patient Care Coordinator to join their team.
Employment Team Lead
Community Care Network is seeking an Employment Team Lead to join their team.
View Rutland County career opportunities & post your position →
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