Business
The Best Business Networking Opportunities in Central Vermont
My father, a 93-year-old, retired obstetrician and gynecologist, always tells me not to tear my rotator cuff patting myself on the back when I start to brag about something I have accomplished. At the risk of significant injury to myself, I want to take a moment to brag about something that the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce does and does very...
VOTE FOR VERMONT: Assisting Vermont’s 7,000 Farms
Meet Vermont’s newly appointed State Director of the Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) – Wendy Wilton! You might know her as Rutland City’s Treasurer and as a former candidate for State Treasurer. Wendy spent the last 10 years serving Rutland as the Treasurer, Tax Collector and Pension Administrator. She accomplished a great deal...
7 steps to improve cybersecurity
There was a time you could run a small business with a bank account, a telephone, an internet connection and some sort of physical base. These days, cybersecurity has been added to this list as a necessity nearly every small business owner needs to consider. This is especially true for small businesses such as law offices or accounting firms that d...
3 reasons to go cashless
The dollar, the euro, the pound, the yen… the currency people use around the world has many different names, but it all shares something in common. Paper forms of currency are out and digital payments are in. The security and convenience of card based electronic payments and digital payments are driving a global shift away from cash. As cons...
Vermont Public Radio Successfully Concludes $10M Capital Campaign
After three years and donations from more than 2,000 supporters, Vermont Public Radio surpassed the $10 million goal for its VPR Next Capital Campaign on June 29. The successful completion of the campaign positions VPR to embrace the opportunities of a dynamic and changing media landscape, while solidifying its strong foundation built on 40 years o...
Looking for a New Favorite Summer Treat? Try Leonardo’s Gelato!
Carlo dePrato grew up in the ice cream business and is the third — no, make that the fourth — generation of dePratos making gelato based on family recipes. Now, 50, Carlo can remember back to at least age 5 when he would help his father, Francesco, sell gelato at their store in Southern Germany where the dePratos had emigrated from Italy. “Our gela...
Spotlight on Business: Butterfly Bakery is Growing Up
After nearly 14 years in business and 9 in its current location, Butterfly Bakery of Vermont is getting some new digs. The fast-growing popularity of its new hot sauce and mustard lines have pushed the limits of its current space and necessitated an upgrade from 600 to a much more comfortable 3000 square feet. Hot sauce might seem like a surprising...
Barre Bicycle Shop Receives National Attention Ahead of One-Year Anniversary
By Aaron Retherford Vermont Bicycle Shop in Barre will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a weekend sale on April 1-2, complete with door prizes, sale prices on nearly everything in the store and mini cupcakes! Proprietor Darren Ohl said he’s looking forward to thanking everyone for their support over the past year. “We are humbled by the supp...
Central Vermont Chamber’s Thoughts on $15 Minimum Wage
By William D. Moore, President & CEO The legislature is in full swing and among the many issues that the Central Vermont Chamber is following are proposals to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour. In 2014, the business community agreed to a stepped increase in the minimum wage from $8.73 an hour, (nearly a dollar above the federal minimum...
Demers Power Equipment has Great Ending after 66-Year Run
By now everyone knows that the Barre landmark business — Demers Power Equipment at 81 South Main — has closed and its line of quality manufacturers and highly rated service was sold to Aubuchon Hardware and at least one other local small engine retailer. But not everyone knows that this was a business started over 66 years ago by Rheal J. Demers in...
