by Kelsey Price | Mar 19, 2019 | Creative Economy, Manufacturing, News, VTP, Workforce Training
The Vermont Department of Economic Development has approved a workforce training grant of $40,055 for Buttura & Gherardi Granite Artisans to reboot and update granite apprenticeship trainings.
Buttura & Gherardi Granite Artisans will rewrite the old apprenticeship programs to make them more accessible to new-comers looking for careers in the industry. Significant training is required for artisans and programs can range from six months to two years.
“Vermont’s granite industry is regarded as one of the best in the world and historically the state had robust apprenticeship programs,” said Joan Goldstein, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Economic Development, which oversees the Vermont Training Program. “Bringing these programs back will allow our granite industry to continue to lead, while also growing our skilled workforce.”
The grant will allow Buttura & Gherardi to implement three apprentice positions, provide training to new sales personnel, and to update training programs and procedures. Developed apprenticeship programs will then be expanded and shared with other granite manufacturers under the guidance of the Barre Granite Association. These training monies and the resulting apprenticeships will help to address a unique pain point for this trade industry.
“This is an exciting time for Barre’s granite industry. There is tremendous opportunity for lifelong careers in many different positions, and these apprenticeship programs will help attract workers to an industry that typically has a difficult barrier to entry. As the fourth generation working in my own family’s business, I am happy to be part of a project that will help to further define the granite industry in Barre,” said Paige Gherardi Lamthi, Vice President, Buttura & Gherardi Granite Artisans.
by Kelsey Price | Mar 18, 2019 | News, Software & Technology, VTP, Workforce Training
Vermont Systems, an employee-owned recreation management software company headquartered in Essex Junction, has received a workforce development grant of $150,353 through Department of Economic Development’s Vermont Training Program (VTP).
The grant will be used to help train over 100 employees on their enterprise suite of software products. Vermont Systems’ parks and recreation software solutions are installed around the world for the U.S. military and across the country for municipalities and universities.
“The support from the State of Vermont, including grants from the VTP, allows our employees to enhance their skills by participating in a variety of challenging technical and customer service-oriented training programs,” said Barry Pius, Chief Operating Officer of Vermont Systems, Inc. “The grant provided by the State of Vermont will support VSI’s ongoing commitment to provide industry-leading products and services. It is those products and services that allow our customers to be recognized as heroes in their communities at home and abroad.”
“Vermont Systems is a strong regional employer that is growing while offering competitive wages and benefits to new employees.” said Joan Goldstein, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Economic Development. “They are a great example of the types of jobs and companies we are trying to attract to the Green Mountains.”
The company is also expanding their current Essex Junction space to add additional employees and to streamline their departments and processes.
by Kelsey Price | Mar 15, 2019 | Diversity, News
We’ve reported many times before that Vermont is a state where women can get ahead, ranking high on numerous measures ranging from healthcare to parenting to representation in government. Recently Bloomberg’s gender parity ranking placed Vermont in the #1 spot.
Over 80% of Vermont women are in the workforce, according to the 2017 US Census, and Vermont has been ranked amount the top five places for women entrepreneurs. Vermont’s paid sick leave policy is cited in the Bloomberg ranking as a particularly female-friendly policy—and Vermont is one of only ten states that offer such a policy. In 2018, Vermont enacted a law banning employers from requesting salary history on job applications, a practice that can prevent women from achieving higher salary levels as they change jobs. WalletHub has consistently ranked Vermont among the top states most friendly to working moms, citing metrics like childcare and work-life balance. Currently the legislature is exploring a paid family leave policy.
by Kelsey Price | Mar 14, 2019 | Communities, Incentives/Financing/Programs, News, Outdoor Recreation, Tourism & Hospitality
Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) today announced that the Town of Randolph and the City of Newport are the first two recipients of the VOREC Community grants to help grow their local economies by promoting outdoor recreation.
The program, which was proposed by the Governor based on VOREC recommendations and passed by the Legislature in 2018, awards grants of $10,000 to $100,000 to help Vermont communities fully leverage their local outdoor recreation assets to become “outdoor recreation friendly.”
“This program helps make major recreation projects attainable for communities with support from a diverse group of local experts,” said Governor Phil Scott. “Congratulations to Randolph, Newport and all the communities who applied for recognizing the value of outdoor recreation to the economy, public health and the environment, making Vermont such a special place to live, work and play.”
Randolph will receive $65,000 for marketing and events, trail design and construction projects and trailhead amenities, in partnership with the Rochester-Randolph Area Sports Trail Alliance (RASTA), as part of the Randolph Outdoor Recreation Development Project. Newport will receive $35,000 for a critical trail connection project between Prouty Beach and Bluffside Farm as part of the city’s Waterfront Recreation Trail and Lake Access project. The winning communities will serve as prototypes for other recreation-oriented cities and towns seeking to expand their economies.
“These communities are close to the finish line with exciting and meaningful recreation projects, and this grant gives them the extra boost they need,” said VOREC Chair and Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Michael Snyder. “And what’s truly special about this program is that it supports the outdoor recreation economy while maintaining environmental stewardship as a core value of any project.”
The grant selection committee included members of the VOREC steering committee and stakeholders from the business, environmental, planning and community development backgrounds, as well as staff from the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Winners were chosen based on their existing assets and capacity, environmental stewardship, community support, regional connectivity, economic and community need and business networks.
“In rural communities around Vermont, attracting visitors to outdoor recreation destinations is vital to the local economy of the region,” said VOREC Vice-chair and Commissioner of Tourism and Marketing Wendy Knight. “These grants support Vermonters who are finding new ways to spur economic growth in their towns.”
For more information about VOREC and the VOREC Community Grant Program, visit fpr.vermont.gov/vorec.
by Kelsey Price | Mar 14, 2019 | Construction, News, VTP, Workforce Training
PC Construction, an employee-owned company headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, has been awarded $88,511 in Department of Economic Development, Vermont Training Program grant monies. Funding will be used to supplement PC Construction’s overall training initiatives, which target technical, business, management and leadership skills for the company’s employee-owners. Specific areas of training include construction contracting, financial management, and leadership competency development.
“We are incredibly thankful for the State of Vermont’s commitment to companies like PC Construction that develop over 150 skilled Vermont workers annually and impact $300 million of the state’s annual economic activity,” said Jay Fayette, PC Construction President & COO. “We love it when our employee-owners take advantage of the opportunity to sharpen their skills and commit even more to the Vermont marketplace. This support from the Vermont Training Program will encourage more Vermonters than ever to focus on their career growth.”
PC Construction is also at the center of the Vermont Talent Pipeline Management (VTPM) construction collaborative. This employer-led model aligns workforce needs with skills being offered at local and national construction education organizations. The initiative supports expanded learning and internships; strengthening the talent pipeline for the industry. The National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) credentials in Core Construction and Construction Management will inform these work-based learning opportunities.
“PC Construction is ensuring their workforce is trained for the future of this important industry to Vermont’s economy,” said Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein. “Their ownership model lends itself to employees investing in themselves to keep critical construction jobs filled with qualified workers.”
