Upcoming CEDRR events, CEDRR receives award, and revolving loan fund
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Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Read on for:
CEDRR Receives Grant | CEDRR Mixer and Real Rutland Meet and Greet | CEDRR Legislative Breakfast | CEDRR Revolving Loan Fund |
Membership Spotlight | What's New in Rutland County | Career Hub | Upcoming Events
CEDRR Receives $2,500 Smart Growth Award
The Vermont Natural Resources Council has announced the latest grant recipients for the Small Grants for Smart Growth program. Grantee selections are made by VNRC and a grant selection committee on a rolling basis. The Committee chose the Bridport Housing Task Force, the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region, and the South Burlington Energy Committee to be awarded a combined $6,750 in the most recent round of funding.
The Small Grants for Smart Growth grant initiative was developed by VNRC in 2018 in partnership with Beth Humstone, co-founder of the Vermont Forum on Sprawl and former chair of the VNRC Board of Directors, and her son, Chris Gignoux, to support community-based programs seeking seed capital to provide capacity for affecting change on a local level.
For the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region, the $2,500 will be used to bring together a working group of stakeholders, designers and community members to develop an alternative vision for the space vacated by the downtown Walmart that is closing its doors.
FREE Fitness Class at CEDRR's June Mixer and Real Rutland Meet and Greet
On Tuesday, June 10, The Gymnasium in Downtown Rutland will host the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region's June Mixer AND Real Rutland Meet & Greet from 5-7 p.m. We have decided to combine the two events to bring even more people together!
Mixers are a great opportunity to meet other professionals in Rutland County.
Meet & Greets are hosted via our Real Rutland Concierge Program as a way to introduce some of our newest community members to others who currently live, work, and play in Rutland County. We invite everyone who has relocated here within the past two years via our program, and the businesses and towns that sponsor the program.
Attend this event to learn about the advantages of being a member of The Gymnasium and take part in a FREE class!
4:30 pm Fiercely Chill Yoga
5:30 pm EPIC Strength
6:45 pm KNOCKOUT Boxing
Join The Gymnasium the evening of the event and draw a discount of 20%, 25%, or 30% off your new Membership!
Two 1-Month Memberships will be given away to two lucky attendees!
Wellness Café will cater the event! Enjoy fun, food, fitness, and networking!
CEDRR's End of Session Wrap-Up Legislative Breakfast
Join the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region and our Rutland County legislators as we host a Legislative Session Wrap Up Breakfast sponsored by Omya, Inc. The event will be held at Southside Steakhouse on Monday, June 23 at 7:30 a.m.
Cost is $25 per person and includes fresh baked muffins, assorted pastries and bagels, cream cheese, and fruit salad, plus juice, coffee and tea.
The Legislative Series is made possible by the generous support of Omya. There are a limited number of seats, please register to secure your admission.
PLEASE NOTE: Once you've registered, a confirmation email will be sent and it may end up in your Spam folder.
Apply for CEDRR's Revolving Loan Fund
CEDRR Revolving Loan - Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region provides fixed-rate loans between $5,000-$250,000 through its Revolving Loan Fund. These loans are generally amortized over 10 years with fixed rates based on the current WSJ Prime loanrate at the time an application is submitted. CEDRR members receive a 1% discount on their interest rate. This Loan Fund is typically used as “gap financing” to help finance portions of a project for which a business cannot finance using traditional lenders such as a bank or credit union.
Contact Lyle Jepson at 802-773-2748 or lyle@rutlandeconomy.com for more information.
CEDRR would like to thank the following businesses for renewing their membership:
Perk Card Program
Our extremely popular membership Perk Card is one of the most widely-used and highly-valued benefits of being a member of Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region. All member businesses receive one free Perk card for every member of their organization.
Want to offer a deal to thousands of Perk Cardholders? Please contact Chrispin White at Chrispin@rutlandeconomy.com or (802)770-7066. Deals can be added anytime throughout the year.
Developers and partners break ground on Maplewood Commons 30-unit affordable housing project on Weds. May 21. Photo by Greta Solsaa/VTDigger
30 New Affordable Housing Units Underway in Rutland City as Federal Funding Causes Uncertainty
Two affordable housing developers broke ground Wednesday on 30 permanently affordable housing units on a long-vacant industrial site near the downtown of Rutland City.
The three-story, energy-efficient housing project known as Maplewood Commons includes six units designated for people with housing challenges and three accessible units. Residents will have access to green spaces, an outdoor play space, a patio and a community room.
Rutland City Mayor Mike Doenges said the 30 units, built by Cornerstone Housing Partners and Evernorth, are part of 220 permitted housing units now in the works toward his goal of 1,000 new units in the city by 2028.
Mary Cohen, executive director of the recently merged Cornerstone Housing Partners, said at the groundbreaking that the project might seem like a “drop in the bucket” but is an important step forward in addressing the city’s housing needs.
Poultney to Host Next Inclusive Spaces Audit Workshop
The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) is thrilled to host its next Inclusive Spaces Audit Workshop in Poultney, Vermont, this August.
This hands-on, interactive workshop is designed to help outdoor recreation providers assess and enhance inclusivity in parks, trails, and other public lands. Participants will gain a structured approach to expanding access, engaging underrepresented communities, and fostering a stronger sense of belonging in the outdoors.
Whether you’re new to this work or looking to deepen your impact, we invite you to join us in Vermont for this transformative experience.
Schedule:
- August 18 | Train-the-Trainer: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- August 19 | Audit Workshop: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- August 20 | Train-the-Trainer: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Poultney High School - Library: 154 East Main Street, Poultney, VT
RRMC Nurses Honored with DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses
Recently, Rutland Regional Medical Center’s Education and Clinical Excellence Team and Nursing Shared Governance honored four extraordinary nurses with the DAISY Award.
The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation was started in Glen Allen, California by family members of J. Patrick Barnes, who died from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. As a way of thanking the nurses who cared for Barnes, his family established the DAISY award program to recognize nurses who demonstrate exceptional care and support.
The DAISY Individual Award Honorees are selected and recognized for the extraordinary and compassionate care that they provide to patients in their practice environment. RRMC recognized two nurses with the DAISY Individual Award.
Grace Russell, BSN, RN, Emergency Department (ED), nominated by a peer for going above and beyond to help a patient.
Kathleen Edgerton, BSN, RN, Endoscopy, nominated by a patient.
The DAISY Team Award honors the collaboration by two or more people, led by a nurse, who identify and meet go above and beyond to meet a patient or family need.
Wendy Mullett, ASN, RN and Marcia Baker-McNally, BSN, RN, nominated by a patient’s family.
Three RRMC Nurses Awarded the Carol P. Welsh, Nursing Education Scholarship
Rutland Regional Medical Center's Nursing Excellence Team recently presented the Carol P. Welsh, RN, Nursing Education Scholarship to Andrea Borchlewicz, MSN, RNC-MNN, CLC, RNCOP; Benjamin Mahoney, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, CARN-AP; and Elizabeth Oshinaike, BSN, RN. Each recipient was presented with their respective award during a surprise visit and presentation by Kelly Watson, Chief Nursing Officer, and Carole “Gert” Mayes, Manager of Nursing Excellence for Rutland Regional, along with other hospital leaders.
Carol Welsh was employed by Rutland Regional for 34-years and held numerous positions at the hospital before becoming a long-standing Director of Surgical Services. She passed away on December 30, 2011. Carol was a mentor to many nurses during her long career at Rutland Regional and many still remember her kindness and generosity. The Carol P. Welsh, RN, Nursing Education Scholarship was established in Carol's memory in 2012 by her husband Bruce and their family.
USDA Announces $26.5 Million in Grant Funding to Support Local Food Systems
The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service just opened three major grant programs designed to rebuild local food systems, expand supply chains, and strengthen market access for producers, food hubs, and community partners.
Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) - Apply by June 27th
- $11 million available | $50,000–$500,000 awards
- Supports direct-to-consumer sales (farmers markets, CSAs, agritourism, online platforms)
- Use of funds: technology upgrades, food safety certifications, marketing, on-farm food waste reduction, value-added production
Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) - Apply by June 27th
- $11 million available | $25,000–$500,000 awards
- Focuses on intermediaries (aggregators, distributors, processors) in local/regional food chains
- Use of funds: feasibility studies, infrastructure, cold storage, transportation, business development, labor and training
Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) - Apply by June 27th
- $4.5 million available | $100,000–$1 million awards
- Funds regional coalitions working to coordinate food systems and align cross-sector efforts
- Use of funds: partnership building, systems planning, shared measurement, outreach, infrastructure coordination
Questions specifically about each of these grant programs should be directed to the program contact listed on the program webpage.
If your business is based in a Vermont community of 5,000 people or fewer, you may be eligible for grant writing assistance through the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) program.
To inquire about this assistance, please complete the REDI inquiry form→
Map of Vermont Roadside Historic Markers across Rutland County.
Three New Historic Site Markers in Rutland County
Vermont’s newest historic roadside markers highlight 15 significant moments in state history — including the time Ralph Ellison spent in Fayston while writing his acclaimed novel and the story of one of America’s earliest documented same-sex couples, who lived together in Weybridge.
The 15 new markers have all either been delivered or installed throughout the state to expand the historic roadside marker program, which began in 1947 and has produced 335 placards to date, according to a press release from Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
Each of the new markers offers a snapshot of local or statewide history, honoring a variety of figures and places such as Revolutionary War hero Col. Seth Warner in Bennington and The Vermont Country Store in Weston, which was founded in 1945.
Rutland County's newest historic roadside markers:
- Long Trail Lodge in Killington, the 1923 lodge through which the Long Trail once traveled
- Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, New England’s fastest dirt track
- Village of Pittsford Mills and covered bridge builder Nichols M. Powers, Pittsford
Join Our Board of Directors
It's not too late to join our next Board of Directors! Are you interested in becoming more involved in RYP? Applications are due by June 3rd. Click HERE for more information or to apply!
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.
Restaurant Store Manager
Donuts of Rutland is seeking a Restaurant Store Manager to join their team.
Manager of Intensive Supports
Community Care Network is seeking a Manager of Intensive Supports to join their team.
Delivery Department Coordinator
Allen Pools & Spas is seeking a Delivery Department Coordinator to join their team.
Learn more about this position →
View Rutland County career opportunities & post your position →
Women in Business Mixer
June 3 | 5:30-7:30 PM | Prouty's Parlor in Downtown Rutland
An evening of conversation and connection with women in Rutland's business community. During this two hour mixer you'll have the option to participate in a guided work/life balance discussion led by Abbey Harlow of Harlow Nonprofit Consulting.
This event is FREE for businesses, organizations, and non-profits located in the Downtown District of Rutland. For Businesses located outside the Downtown District, there will be a small fee of $10.
Please register ahead of the event so we may plan for food and drink quantities.
3 Easy Ways to Cultivate Deep & Meaningful Friendships for Life and Business with Celeste Hartwell
June 4 | 8:30-10 AM | Online
Great friendships fuel personal happiness and professional success. Whether at home, work, or in business, authentic connections transform your interactions.
In this talk, you'll learn:
- The key to authentic, lasting relationships (Hint: It starts with you!).
- A simple, comfortable method to quickly build trust with healthy boundaries.
- How to approach every interaction openly, welcoming surprising opportunities.
Leave equipped to confidently create genuine, meaningful connections in every area of your life.
OSHA 10-Hour Safety Training for General Industry
June 25 and 26 | 8:30 AM-2:30 PM | VTSU Williston Campus | $325 per person
This 10-hour session is intended to provide general awareness education on recognizing and preventing hazards in a general industry setting. Participants will be introduced to OSHA policies, procedures, and standards as well as general industry safety and health principles and work practices covered in 29CFR 1910-OSHA Standards for General Industry. It is also beneficial for employees in need of refresher training.
Both days of the training must be attended. Katie Frederick, CSP, CHST, OHST and President and CEO of Applied Solutions Consulting, will instruct this safety training.
