Manufacturing
Precision and excellence.Manufacturing is a crucial part of Vermont’s economy.
It offers stable jobs, innovation, and quality craftsmanship across the state.
Vermont has a long history as a precision manufacturing hub, reaching all the way back to the Industrial Revolution. As manufacturers followed the rivers upstream in search of water power, the machine tool industry flourished in towns like Springfield, once known as ‘Precision Valley.’ The tradition continues today as Vermont manufacturers use the most modern techniques and equipment to produce high-value-added items in the precision machining, plastics, composites, semiconductor, and medical device segments, to name just a few.
Vermont is also growing a new generation of manufacturers, from hubs for nationwide companies such as GE Aerospace and GlobalFoundries, to burgeoning homegrown companies like Chroma Technologies, Agilent, and Vermont Precision Tools.
Traditional manufacturers are also reinventing themselves. Darn Tough Vermont, for example, has invested millions in a state of the art mill in Northfield,
Vermont to produce its legendary “Darn Tough” socks that are sold worldwide and by EMS, REI, and other top outdoor gear retailers.
Manufacturing plays a major role in Vermont’s economy, making up the majority of the state’s exports and driving significant economic activity. The impact goes beyond production—every dollar generated in manufacturing supports additional growth across other industries, making it one of Vermont’s most influential sectors.
Vermont is the regional leader for job concentration in the semi-conductor and complex electronics industry sub-sector. Advanced manufacturing is an important part of the employment landscape, with 25% of the manufacturing workforce in half of all Vermont counties employed in advanced sectors. Workforce training is a priority, from high-quality statewide technical centers to Vermont Technical College’s advanced manufacturing lab.
Interested in the manufacturing industry but don’t know where to start?
Vermont Businesses Are Hiring:
Further Reading
A Manufacturing Story by Pathways of Vermont
Pathways of Vermont is a documentary series of short career stories that examine the prevalent stereotype that a four-year college degree is the...
Vermont Business Leader Grows Firm While Closing the Gender Gap in Manufacturing
National award recipient Julie Martin, owner of 89 North, inspires the next generation of women This year, Vermont Business Magazine’s Annual Book...
Sustainability Takes Off in Vermont
Vermont has long had a strong reputation for its focus on sustainability, and both Vermont businesses and Vermonters are dedicated stewards of the...
Representative Manufacturing Organizations in Vermont
Here’s a sample of just a few businesses throughout the state:
We Want You to Succeed in Vermont.