The Regional Development Corporations of Vermont have been chosen by the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) to participate in the new Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP). CNPP will deliver technical assistance service contracts to aid Vermont business recovery. This program was launched as part of a national initiative introduced by President Biden and Vice President Harris whereby the VtSBDC was chosen as one of fifty-one (51) grantees nationwide to be part of the Small Business Administration’s CNPP.

Efficiency Vermont is pleased to present three one-hour lunchtime webinars to highlight critical energy efficiency technologies for businesses.

The session topics will include Lighting, Variable Frequency Drives and HVAC Controls and will be presented weekly beginning on Tuesday, October 19th.

Click on any or all of the three webinars below to pre-register today!
______________________________________________________

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021 (12PM - 1PM)
Lighting: Improving performance through lighting retrofit projects
Join Adam Tower & Jill O'Connor of Efficiency Vermont to review some recent best-in-class lighting projects and to discover how a lighting project can benefit your business.
______________________________________________________

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021 (12PM - 1PM)
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs): Lower your operating costs with VFDs
Join Chuck Clerici from Efficiency Vermont to learn where VFD applications make sense, how they can significantly reduce energy consumption and about attractive VFD rebates from Efficiency Vermont.
______________________________________________________

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 (12PM - 1PM)
HVAC Controls: How you can reduce HVAC operating costs
Join Alex Rowe from Efficiency Vermont and Nick Rock of Control Technologies, Inc. to explore the ways your controls contractor and Efficiency Vermont can help you reduce HVAC operating costs across your business facilities.

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) is now accepting applications for more than $10,580,000 for the Capital Investment Grant Program. This new program, proposed by the Scott Administration and passed by the Legislature through Act 74, is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support capital investment projects that will assist Vermont’s economic recovery effort.

The funding is intended for transformational projects that create opportunity to retain existing businesses, attract more businesses, create jobs and strengthen communities by encouraging capital investments and economic growth.

“The federal aid we have received over the last year presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform our state and create greater prosperity for Vermonters,” said Governor Phil Scott. “This capital investment program is yet another step toward that goal, as we work to keep – and expand – good jobs and more economic opportunity in every region of the state.”

The application process will have two stages, due to the complexity of the program guidelines and the need to ensure ARPA Federal guidance is followed.

Stage I: Any for-profit or non-profit business is eligible to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). During this time, potential applicants will have the opportunity to get feedback, additional review and input from the Capital Investment Team.
Stage II: The formal application will be made available upon completion of the first stage with a deadline to submit it by December 27, 2021.

Registration is open for Vermont’s 24th Annual Women’s Economic Opportunity Conference which is scheduled for Oct. 23. This year’s virtual conference will run from 9 to 11 a.m.
Each year this highly anticipated event brings together hundreds of Vermont women for presentations on how to navigate workplaces, grow businesses and succeed in a modern economy.

Xusana Davis, the State of Vermont’s first Executive Director of Racial Equity, will deliver the keynote address.
In addition to Davis' compelling keynote message, the morning event will feature a panel discussion, Evolving in a World of Change: Best Practices for a Business Refocus. This session will be led by three Vermont women who will share personal stories of how they adapted their businesses, or even changed direction, to meet the challenges of the pandemic.

The panelists include Abby Lechthaler of The Downtown Grocery in Ludlow; Akshata Nayak, founder of Little Patakha and owner of Alternative Roots Wellness; and Julia Birnn Fields, president of Birnn Chocolates of Vermont.
To register, click here.

The Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) has announced the launch of the Tourism and Economic Recovery Marketing Grant Program. The Tourism and Economic Recovery Marketing Grants are funded through a $600,000 appropriation by the Vermont Legislature to provide grants to organizations in support of efforts and activities related to regional tourism marketing to aid recovery from COVID-19.

The grants are for local, regional, or statewide organizations to implement campaigns and initiatives that increase visitation, support local businesses, and advance community recovery efforts in the tourism sector. VDTM will award grants equitably to reach a broad audience, including underrepresented communities and new and diverse communities of visitors.

“We heard from community leaders around the state that the regional marketing grants awarded last year were very helpful in getting Vermonters and visitors back to downtowns and village centers,” said VDTM Commissioner Heather Pelham. “We hope this program will continue to support ongoing economic recovery efforts in our local communities and attract new visitors to the state. The creativity and ingenuity of our local partners is always inspiring and we know great new marketing ideas and strategies will be developed as a result of this program."

Eligible applicants include downtown organizations, chambers of commerce, regional development corporations, municipal economic development/community development departments and committees, local community/economic development organizations, statewide business organizations, or other similar groups.

Eligible uses of grant monies include:
Grant funding may be used in the development of materials designed to support tourism-related projects through advertising, promotion, publicity, new or expanded seasonal/annual events such as regional festivals or a themed event series, online resources, or collateral specifically designed to provide regional information to visitors.

The application window is now open and the deadline to apply is November 3, 2021.