GROW Program directly relocates 5 new young professionals and 3 new families to the region over summer

The GROW Program in Southwestern Vermont will see a large uptick in relocation leads starting in January 2025 as the state launches a nationwide advertising campaign through its media platform ThinkVT. The program will also launch its own advertising campaigns through their own regional media platforms LiveVT and RelocateToVermont.com.

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Garlic Town, USA Festival Continues Sustainability Efforts with 80% of Waste Diverted or Recycled from 2024 Event

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce is proud to report that their latest Garlic Town USA Festival, which was held on Saturday August 31, was successful in diverting over 80% of the total waste produced during the event through various composting, recycling, and reduced waste efforts made during the 2024 year.

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SW Vermont Chamber Hosts Second Annual Heart of The Shires Luncheon with Keynote Speaker Matt Dunne of the Center on Rural Innovation

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its second annual "Heart of The Shires Luncheon," a celebration of nonprofits, community leaders, and social sector organizations. This year’s event will be held at Hildene’s newly constructed Lincoln Hall, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and will feature Matt Dunne, founder and executive director of the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), as the keynote speaker

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Project Against Violent Encounters (PAVE) To Co-Sponsor Women In Leadership Luncheon; Machnick Builders to Sponsor Book Signing

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Berkshire Bank, is proud to announce the co-sponsorship of the third annual Women In Leadership Luncheon by Project Against Violent Encounters (PAVE). Scheduled to take place at the historic Carriage Barn of Park McCullough in North Bennington, Vermont, on Wednesday, May 15th, from 12pm to 3pm, this event aims to celebrate and empower women leaders while raising awareness about domestic and sexual violence in Bennington County.

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Former Editor for Cosmopolitan Magazine and Best Selling Author Kate White to Keynote the Chamber’s 2024 Women In Leadership Luncheon

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Berkshire Bank, announced on International Women’s Day 2024 the highly anticipated third annual Women In Leadership Luncheon featuring former Editor-In-Chief of Cosmopolitan and NY Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today best selling author, Kate White as the keynote.

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Insights from the SWVT Chamber 2024 Mid-Session Legislative Breakfast

The recent Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Southwestern Vermont Chamber provided a comprehensive look into the pressing issues facing Vermont's communities. From housing to education, taxation to transportation, the event was a platform for legislators to share updates and engage with concerns raised by attendees. Here are the key takeaways from the event.

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Southwestern Vermont Chamber and Shires Young Professionals Awarded Prestigious GROW Grants for Relocation & Retention Work

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration and coordination with the Shires Young Professionals, announces its selection as one of the esteemed grantees of the Grants for Relocation Outreach Work (GROW) program by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM).

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A Decade of Warm Welcomes And Unforgettable Travels: Celebrating 10 Years of the Bennington State Welcome Center

The Senator James M. Jeffords Welcome Center, also known as the Bennington State Welcome Center, will be celebrating 10-years of service on Wednesday, October 11 2023. Since its opening in 2013, the Welcome Center, located on Highway 279, has served as a beacon of hospitality and information for travelers and residents alike.

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Unscathed by Floods, The Shires of Southwestern Vermont Offer a Resilient, Enchanting Escape This Fall

In July of 2023, catastrophic flash floods affected several areas throughout Vermont leaving many communities in crisis. As regions recover and rebuild from what impact the weather had on their lives, it’s up to Vermont’s safe havens largely unaffected by the floods to provide visitors with the charming, magical experiences the scenic state is known for. The uniquely enchanting Southwestern Vermont region is conveniently located just a few short hours from many of the major Northeastern cities, so getting on your way doesn’t translate into a full day of road tripping and creates a pathway into a world of Vermont magic just waiting to be explored.

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Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce survey shows confidence in region

embers of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce are confident that the region is a good place to do business, and report financial conditions as good or better than the year before the COVID pandemic, according to the results of a member survey conducted by the Chamber last month. According to the survey results, 94 percent of respondents said Southern Vermont is a good place to have a business or organization.

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Why should I become a member of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber?

Joining the Southwestern Vermont Chamber has never been easier! As the #1 business and nonprofit organization in Southwestern Vermont, the Chamber promotes, leads and advocates a unified effort, on behalf of its members, to maintain and improve a healthy business climate and rewarding quality of life for the entire Shires of Southwestern Vermont region. Here are the top 9 reasons to join the Southwestern Vermont Chamber.

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'Pay it forward': Luncheon honors Bennington County women leaders

Women can do it all. We might feel like imposters much of time, winging our decisions. We sometimes get overwhelmed trying to balance work and home. But we have mentors who have helped us overcome the challenges, and nobody works harder than we do. That was the message Wednesday from some of Southern Vermont’s women leaders, speaking to about 130 mostly women from throughout the county at the Inn at Manchester’s Celebration Barn.

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Lucky number 13 for Homebrew Festival as weather holds off in Bennington

Although the day started with a steady rain, by the time the gates opened for the thirteenth Homebrew Festival produced by the Southwestern Vermont Chamber and Hopridge Farms, the weather had turned and the rain had stopped. Cloudy with a high of 50 degrees, the loyal crowd enjoyed a large variety of amateur brew at the festival in downtown Bennington, Vermont this past Saturday.  The festival topped out at over 500 attendees, brewers, vendors, sponsors and volunteers.

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