By Christine McGowan, Forest Program Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund April 13, 2018 While an aging industry struggles with succession, Colleen Goodridge cultivates the next generation through education, relationships. Every industry needs a matriarch, and Vermont’s forest products industry has Colleen Goodridge. Goodridge Lumber, owned and operated by Colleen...
By: Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director Maple: Vermont’s Agricultural Enterprise in the Forest Butternut Mountain Farm in Morrisville, Vermont epitomizes both the quaint history and bright future for Vermont’s maple industry. The third generation sugaring operation, now run by siblings Emma and Ira Marvin, stands poised...
Owner, Dustin Glasscoe Named 2017 Vermont Woodworker of the Year Dustin Glasscoe, owner of Vermont Farm Table, is quick to point to his team of woodworkers in Bristol when asked about being named 2018’s Vermont Woodworker of the Year. “I’m a business owner,” he clarifies, “not...
Most Vermonters would agree we live here among the Green Mountains so we can enjoy a quality of life as individuals, families, and businesses that affords us a decent standard of living, our independence, and the use of our natural resources now, and for generations...
Eight climate change innovation entrepreneurs participate in business accelerator to help solve distributed energy challenges with the electric grid while honing business models for success in the marketplace Burlington, Vt. – Eight entrepreneurial start-up companies will convene next week at Burlington Electric Department’s Spark Space for...
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund's economic development approach packaged in a suite of client services, directed by Geoff Robertson The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, a nonprofit organization focused on sustainable economic development, announces the expansion of its suite of services for clients from private sector businesses in...
Vermont prides itself as the Green Mountain State, with nearly 80-percent of its land mass covered in forest. Healthy and productive forests are inherent to Vermont’s culture and heritage. Yet, the industry responsible for bringing us countless valuable forest products: high quality furniture, specialty wood...
2017 Farm to Plate Annual Report shows successful implementation of Vermont’s food system plan has created need for more farm and food workers to meet food business expansion goals due to increased consumer demand Representatives of the Vermont Farm to Plate Network and staff at the...
Vermont’s struggle to grow its workforce weakens our economy, inhibits the ability for Vermont businesses to expand their operations, and threatens the ability for Vermonters and future generations to grow and thrive here in the Green Mountains. An aging workforce, stagnant wages in jobs without...
Over 270 members of the Vermont Farm to Plate Network convened October 26-27, 2017 at the 7th annual Farm to Plate Network Gathering in Killington to address workforce development and business succession challenges in Vermont’s farm and food economy. Comprised of food producers, farmers, food...
When you ask people their definition of the Vermont food economy, they’ll often talk about farms, farmers’ markets or CSAs. What’s often missing from the conversation are the supply chain of local businesses such as distributors, food processors and manufacturers, and seed, feed, and equipment...
As national environmental protections are deregulated and challenges presented by extreme weather events become more widely recognized, Vermont positions itself as the state where extreme weather readiness and resource renewal can spark business growth and economic development. A national climate economy innovation summit held in early...
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