At the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, we’re forming our 2023 policy agenda by meeting with members, connecting our Board and Industry Councils, learning from our peers, and connecting with legislators. As we continue our preparation, we welcome your input. Please take this three-question survey and tell us your story.

Since 2013, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce has convened manufacturing industry leaders from across North America at the annual Manufacturing Summit. This year, over 200 participants came together for two days dedicated to “Supply Chains and Workforce through Content, Collaboration, and Contacts.”

Chamber President Betsy Bishop and Kevin Chu, Executive Director for our partner, the Vermont Futures Project, co-presented at the SHRM Vermont State Conference to discuss population and demographic data, implications for workforce and Vermont’s economic future.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce hosted The Wellspring Forum to capitalize on the historic election cycle and further our commitment to growing the business community and the Vermont economy. U.S. House Candidate Becca Balint and State Treasurer Candidate Mike Pieciak spoke on several economic issues of top concerns for the business community.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is seeking interns for this upcoming legislative session. To apply, candidates must email a resume and cover letter to Megan Sullivan by October 21, 2022.

High school juniors who are at least sixteen years old are eligible to be U.S. Senate pages and can learn more about the program including how to apply, here.

VEDA is accepting applications for the Short-Term Forgivable Loan Program, which provides assistance to businesses that continue to experience current and on-going economic harm due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Priority is being given to applicants from the hardest hit sectors including travel and tourism, food service, lodging, childcare, and agriculture, as well as applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) owned businesses in all industry sectors.

Vermont has received an additional $249,000 in State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) funding from the SBA. Eligible Vermont businesses may apply for STEP funds to offset costs associated with entering or expanding into international markets, including trade shows, foreign trade missions, export training and compliance, and developing company websites and advertising campaigns. Vermont has received an award in each of the ten consecutive rounds of funding, totaling more than $2.5 million.

The Vermont Arts Council is now accepting applications for its Creative Futures Grant Program to help the creative sector recover from economic losses due to the pandemic. Creative sector businesses include culture and heritage, design, film and media, literary arts and publishing, performing arts, specialty foods, and visual arts and crafts. Grants of up to $200,000 will be available to creative sector non-profits and for-profit entities.

Amy Spear, VP of Tourism at the Chamber, will be a panelist at The Future of Tourism in Vermont event on October 14. Panelists will discuss the changes the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the state and share their predictions about the future of this important Vermont industry.

Chris Carrigan, Vice President of Business Development, discussed the success of the recent Vermont delegation trip to Aéro Montréal's 2022 Aerospace Innovation Forum, as well as the Vermont Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit, in a recent in-depth interview with former Governor Jim Douglas on WDEV.

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