In This Issue

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Resource Roundup
Over 40 Members Among 2020 Best of Business Recipients
Vermont Chamber in Action
Vermont Futures Project Recovery Dashboard
Member Tuttle Printing Making Face Masks
Chamber Readies Manufacturers for Reopening
Leading Businesses From Relief to Recovery
Vermont Businesses Helping Our Communities
Vermont Manufacturers Making Medical Gear
Welcoming Three New Hires
Workforce & Talent Summit Postponed
Member Spotlight 
#VermontStrong 
In Other News

May 2020
Resource Roundup

The Vermont Chamber staff is here for you during these challenging times. We have spent hundreds of hours on COVID-19 Zoom calls, conference calls, and webinars learning so that we can answer your questions and help you with expert advice. Collectively, we have had thousands of individual communications with members and non-members during the crisis.

Want to understand new UI rules? Tax deadlines? Online reservation guidance? PPP eligibility? Contact us for information and we will get the answer for you. Since we are working from home, email works best. Remember, we are in this together. Please access our COVID-19 Resources for Businesses  page for new workplace guidance and restrictions as they are issued by Vermont and federal authorities. Our page also hosts available educational and financial support for businesses.

Every Friday, the Chamber also sends a legislative newsletter, State to Main, which includes content from our members and other Vermont organizations to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, collected in our Resource Roundup . Our latest roundup has information about VOSHA and Health Department-provided return to work training and a Small Business Administration page with COVID-19 relief funding for businesses . If you have content to include, please send your links to news@vtchamber.com .
Over 40 Members Among 2020 Best of Business Recipients

Vermont Business Magazine has announced the 2020 Best of Business in Vermont Awards winners . This awards program celebrates the best Vermont companies in more than 100 business-to-business categories.

Congratulations to the over 40 Vermont Chamber members featured: Stoweflake Resort & Conference Center, Hotel Vermont, Hampton Inn - White River, NorthCountry Federal Credit Union, Northfield Savings Bank - Central Vermont/Northeast Region, Mascoma Bank - Windham/Windsor Counties, Capitol Plaza Hotel, The Essex Resort and Spa, Middlebury Inn, Mountain Top Inn and Resort, Woodstock Inn, Basin Harbor, Lake Morey Resort, Green Mountain National, Sarducci’s, Leunig’s Bistro, 14th Star Brewing Company, Sugarsnap, Eternity, Milne Travel, Smugglers' Notch Resort, Trapp Family Lodge, ReArch Company, SD Ireland, C2- Competitive Computing, Consolidated Communications, Comcast, SymQuest, Paw Print & Mail, TD Bank, Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLP, PayData Workforce Solutions, Pomerleau Real Estate, Casella Waste Services, University of Vermont, The Richards Group, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, University of Vermont Medical Center, Cabot Creamery, Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, and Primmer Piper Eggelston & Cramer PC.
Vermont Chamber in Action

Work in Vermont is steadily underway as business community leaders begin planning for economic recovery. Vermont Chamber Vice President of Business Development Chris Carrigan joined a sub-taskforce for Vermont’s manufacturing sector, supporting Governor Phil Scott’s Restart Vermont Guidance Advisory Council. Vermont Chamber Vice President of Tourism Amy Spear is supporting restaurant and lodging leaders planning economic recovery. Vermont Chamber President Betsy Bishop published a recent op-ed detailing the path forward for Vermont businesses, from relief to recovery. Several Vermont Chamber members are also directing recovery efforts as part of Gov. Scott’s  Economic Mitigation and Recovery Task Force action teams .

Additionally, the Vermont Chamber launched the Solutions Hub to collect ideas that can help businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic and during financial recovery. These ideas will be shared with the Economic Mitigation and Recovery Task Force and other state leaders.

We have also secured several legislative successes on behalf of businesses, including tax relief for restaurants, obtaining Congressman Welch’s commitment to take business community concerns back to Congress with him, and encouraging Governor Phil Scott to allow Vermont lodging businesses to re-engage their online reservation systems. Please reach out to us with questions.
Vermont Futures Project Recovery Dashboard

Our partners at Vermont Futures Project have unveiled a COVID-19 Economic Recovery Dashboard . The Vermont Futures Project is looking ahead with the understanding that economic recovery will be determined by many factors in the months ahead. They commend the Administration's current efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, knowing that the primary focus is on saving lives.

As Vermont works to reopen parts of our economy, several key data points will be closely watched over the next year or more. The following data at their economic recovery dashboard will present an important overview of Vermont’s economic activity and early signs of recovery:

  • Unemployment Insurance Claims
  • Consumer Confidence
  • Sales Tax Revenues
  • Rooms and Meals Tax Revenues
  • Consumer Spending Data (coming soon)
Member Tuttle Printing Making Face Masks

Businesses and organizations interested in purchasing masks as they rest art operations can contact Vermont Chamber member Tuttle Printing. The minimum is one dozen to place an order of masks, and they are $25 per dozen, shipped from Rutland. 

If you are interested in purchasing masks to comply with state guidance and regulations, please contact Beverly Gittelson by email or by phone at (802) 233-4487.
Chamber Readies Manufacturers for Reopening 

As restrictions are further lifted and  phased reopening efforts continue , Vermont’s $3 billion manufacturing, fulfillment, and distribution sector will require explicit guidance on health and safety requirements mandated by the State to resume operations.

The Vermont Chamber, along with the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center and industry partners, has been appointed to a sub-taskforce supporting Governor Scott’s Restart Vermont Guidance Advisory Council. The sub-taskforce is charged with developing phased reopening policies related to manufacturing. The sub-taskforce is also actively involved in long-term economic recovery planning. To learn more or to provide input, please contact  Chris Carrigan .
Leading Businesses From Relief to Recovery

Vermont Chamber President Betsy Bishop published an op-ed in April on the path forward for Vermont businesses as we move from relief to recovery. With Governor Scott outlining a phased restart of Vermont’s economy and plans to reopen the state a quarter turn at a time, the Vermont Chamber is turning our attention to positive economic activity in four stages: relief, restart, recovery, and reimagining.

We are urging state leaders to consider several initial policy recommendations, and we encourage you to share our op-ed in support of these suggestions.
Additionally, we encourage you to participate in our Solutions Hub by adding your ideas and encouraging your contacts to add theirs.
Vermont Businesses Helping Our Communities

Despite the significant hardship that thousands of businesses around our state and their employees are facing due to COVID-19, Vermont businesses continue to show compassion, innovation, and care for their communities. The Vermont Chamber has been adding content every week to our page, How Vermont Businesses Are Helping Our Communities .

Recent additions to the blog include Vermont Chamber member Awesome Graphics in Rutland printing and giving away signs with safety etiquette reminders and gratitude for essential workers and health care workers, member Darn Tough donating 5,000 pairs of socks to the UVM Health Network, member Dunkin' sending care packages to Central Vermont Medical Center, Grace Cottage Family Health and Hospital, and Gifford Medical Center health care workers, member Vermont Arts Council partnering with Vermont Humanities to offer arts and humanities organizations in Vermont emergency relief funding, and many more.
Vermont Manufacturers Making Medical Gear

Vermont Chamber Vice President of Business Development Chris Carrigan published an op-ed on the manufacturing community’s important role during COVID-19. Vermont, along with the rest of the world, is dealing with an unprecedented public health emergency. The toll on our communities and businesses has been significant.

As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts supply chains and reveals shortages of emergency health care supplies needed by hospitals, Vermont’s manufacturing community is stepping up. To support the fight against COVID-19, the Vermont Chamber, partnering with state and federal government agencies, is engaging manufacturers to quickly locate urgently needed medical supplies and to identify manufacturers who can retrofit and adapt their operations to manufacture essential personal protective equipment (PPE), medical devices, and life-saving medicines.
Welcoming Three New Hires

We were pleased to recently announce Erica Canada as the Vermont Chamber's new Director of Membership Engagement and Development, Maggie Wilson as our new Director of Communications, and Emily Rivers as our new Tourism Communications and Program Manager. They will work closely with President Betsy Bishop.

"We have hired these communications and engagement professionals to help our members grow their businesses and the Vermont economy,” said Bishop. “They’ll be a vital part of bringing in new audiences and strengthening connections with our existing members and partners across the region."
Workforce & Talent Summit Postponed

Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Governor Phil Scott’s recommendations on gatherings, the Vermont Chamber has postponed the Workforce & Talent Summit. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you to our next event.

Please reach out to our Director of Events Ariel Bertenshaw if you have questions.
Member Spotlight

This month’s Vermont Chamber Member Spotlight is The Woodstocker B&B – a destination for all seasons and located at the foot of Mount Tom in Woodstock. Guests have access to shops, restaurants, hiking, skiing, and much more.

Their Honeymoons & Celebrations, Brewery & Distillery Tours, and Outdoor experiences enhance your stay. These are all designed for guests to enjoy Woodstock and the area to the fullest without any of the preparation hassle. Your hosts Isabelle and Karim look forward to welcoming you.

For the duration of the pandemic, The Woodstocker B&B is offering breakfast to go on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with curbside pick-up. Days and hours subject to change; please check back often. A great way to practice social distancing while getting a taste of The Woodstocker !
#VermontStrong




T his section is currently featuring news about Vermont Chamber members helping communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Email  news@vtchamber.com  with your good news
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