On Saturday, September 4th Bennington, Vermont will transform into “Garlic Town, USA” once again in celebration of all things garlic and agriculture!

Bennington has long been an innovation and entrepreneurial community. Whether it’s the small Mason jar — often called a lightning jar — created by Henry Putnam or world-renowned pottery, once featured in the White House, from Bennington Potters, Bennington has often punched above its weight in famous innovation, design and production for generations.

On March 11, 2021 President Biden signed the largest piece of economic legislation in the history of the U.S. Senate. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has within it over $1.9 trillion in economic relief. We’ll quickly breakdown what the bill does for Vermonters, the State of Vermont, and Vermont businesses.

Betsy Bishop and Charles Martin of the Vermont Chamber joined the Southwestern Vermont Chamber for a Fall 2020 Legislative Update via Zoom on Tuesday, October 28, 2020. Members, which include small businesses, organizations and stakeholders, heard about current COVID efforts, relief funds and what a 2021 Vermont Legislative Session would bring.

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce and partnering organizations were awarded five different COVID-relief marketing grants by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) recently.

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce hosted their inaugural golf tournament, the B2B Golf Classic, on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at the Mount Anthony Country Club in Bennington, Vermont. What started off as a rainy, cool morning turned to a perfect sunny fall day as over 40 golfers hit the greens for a shotgun start at 12:30pm.

On Saturday, September 5th Bennington, Vermont will become “Garlic Town, USA” for one day in celebration of garlic, agriculture and community. The actual event takes place from 10am-5pm throughout Bennington’s downtown district.

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce distributed its annual State of the Commerce survey to many of its members recently. The purpose of the State of the Commerce Survey is to hear from regional businesses and nonprofits about how they are doing in the current economy, what their current attitudes are in relation to economic vitality, and what new small business trends they see emerging.

It is with heavy hearts that the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce informs the greater Bennington community that the 25th Annual Garlic and Herb Festival traditionally held on Labor Day Weekend will be postponed until Labor Day Weekend of 2021.

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber Board of Directors last Thursday (May 21, 2020) voted unanimously to accept a new logo and design for the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce in a year-long branding process.

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Hopridge Farms will present the fourth annual Southern Vermont Winter Homebrew Festival on Saturday, March 7th in downtown Bennington, Vermont at the former Brush Building.

In Southwestern Vermont, also known as The Shires of Vermont, residents are never too far without a health clinic of some sort, or knowing someone who is employed by the largest growing industry. Without a 24/7 rescue squad, full-service hospital, and numerous specialty clinics, residents of Bennington County wouldn’t have the quality of health that they do. It’s not just the rolling Green Mountains and maple syrup that keep everyone healthy, it’s on-the-ground and in the community prevention work.

As we gather this holiday season in The Shires of Vermont, we want to provide additional information for those that are inclined to take part in Christmas services throughout the region.

It’s that time of year again to fall in love with Vermont! We love fall and we love when other people can see our humble and majestic state in its best season! Book your trip, take out your new iPhone and capture the great shots around The Shires of Vermont in Southwestern Vermont. Not too far from New York, Massachusetts or New Hampshire, this is a great long weekend destination to make your friends and family drool over your Instagram feed!

Home of the famed Revolutionary War heroes, the Green Mountain Boys, it doesn’t take long to see that there is an explorer’s heart in most citizens of The Shires. Looking for a little adventure yourself, want to get your explorer on?  Check out some of these top spots for the explorer-at-heart!

We thought it would be good provide a list of top 2019 festivals and events this summer in the Shires of Vermont. Here is the 2019 line up for festivals and events in The Shires of Vermont

Downtown Bennington, Vermont is transformed this weekend into a bustling street festival as it hosts the 34th annual Mayfest. The event, which takes place this Saturday (May 25th, 2019), is put on every year by the Better Bennington Corporation, in partnership with over 100 local artists and craftspeople, local nonprofits, downtown businesses, and street food vendors.

Matt Harrington, the executive director of the Bennington Regional Chamber of Commerce serving The Shires of Vermont, has been appointed by the Vermont Association for Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACCE) to join their executive board.

Imagine one place where you could learn about the newest holistic healing practices and places locally to receive them. Wouldn’t that be great? Well, the community of Bennington, Vermont does just that! One weekend focused on the newest and coolest practices and practitioners of holistic health in one location!

Bennington Holistic Healing Practitioners (BHHP) has announced that their 2nd Annual Wellness Fair will be taking place on Saturday, April 27th from 11am-4pm at the Mount Anthony Country Club at 180 Country Club Drive.

Perhaps you’ve heard of it?  The “Fifth” season in Vermont?  This “informal” term describes the period in late winter/early spring when dirt paths such as roads and hiking trails become muddy from melting snow and rain. It’s usually between March and Memorial Day in May that we see mud season. It can be fun though!  It’s a time when Vermont starts to thaw out, the sap begins to run, and buds begin to spring.