Luis Lascari was recently brought in as the specialist locally for a new state-backed program called GROW (Grants For Relocation Outreach Work) with the focus of helping to facilitate the recruitment and relocation of working age adults specifically in the 24-45 year-old range. This is a demographic where Vermont falls behind compared with the rest of the United States. Lascari spoke with the Banner about perspective, approach and the importance of connection in helping foster this new program in the Bennington area.

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce will be the recipient of an $85,000 grant from the Transformational Tourism, Events, and Regional Marketing (T-TERM) Grant Program. This funding, provided through the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) and supported by federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, will be used to elevate tourism and marketing initiatives for The Shires of Southwestern Vermont in 2025.

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

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce and the Manchester Business Association (MBA) hosted their annual golf tournament, the B2B Golf Classic, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at The Golf Club at Equinox in Manchester, Vermont.

The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has announced that Matt Harrington, Executive Director of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber, has recently earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE®) designation. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry.

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.

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.

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.

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration and coordination with the Shires Young Professionals, is looking for an energetic, passionate and organized individual to lead our GROW program for relocation and retention!

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with presenting sponsor Berkshire Bank, will host the second annual Women In Leadership Luncheon at the Inn at Manchester Celebration Barn from noon to 2 p.m. on May 17.

Bennington County hugs the New York State line so closely that it has, in the past, sort of suffered an identity crisis: Is it part of Vermont or a suburb of Albany? Perhaps this is no longer a question. Post-COVID, Bennington appears to be flourishing. And flourishing with it is the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, in no small part because of its executive director, the extremely young and popular Matt Harrington.

Spring cleaning isn’t just for your windows and your garage. Let this time of year inspire you to tune up your business as well! Implement these ten tips, tactics, and tools to freshen up your online marketing and coast into year-round business success.

85% of businesses and organizations indicated they were either optimistic or very optimistic for their business in 2022 according to a recent Southwestern Vermont Chamber poll.

The Chamber’s annual membership meeting, promoted as the biggest night for businesses in the region, took place digitally on Thursday January 27, 2022 and featured a dazzling array of musical performances, wine sabering, annual awards, a digital sparkling wine toast, virtual door prizes every 15 minutes, budget approval and visionary speeches by both President of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director.