Central Vermont Biz Bits

Business and community leaders are currently receiving the new edition of the Chamber’s signature publication, the Community Profile. It is the centerpiece of a mailing that includes information on the organization and a collection of Chamber-published brochures that are available to the public. Copies of these publications and more are available at the Chamber office, Berlin. Providing information on the region - whether economic and demographic or things to see and do - is a core function of the Chamber. Our thanks to the advertisers who finance these materials.

Dozens of young Vermonters have made the ultimate sacrifice in the global war on terror, and Barre firms are in the forefront of a project by the Vermont Fallen Families to erect a memorial in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Randolph. Memorial Day groundbreaking and Veterans Day dedication are slated. Information on this project is available at:

http://VermontFallenHeroesGWOTmemorial.org

David Zahn of Signal Advertising, Montpelier, described the surging shift in communications created by Facebook, Twitter and similar social networking sites. Such sites have dramatically accelerated the transition toward disbursed information sources initiated by the internet itself. Single-source content production being sent to a mass audience is being challenged by multi-source content circulated amongst audience members themselves. The emerging paradigm has changed how some businesses market themselves. Zahn spoke at the Central Vermont Chamber’s annual meeting this morning.

Berlin’s decision to continue its contract with Barre Town is a positive move that benefits the region as a whole. While change can bring improvement, it’s hard to picture how frequent shuffling of service areas can make ambulance service better. In fact, a single service covering many towns would be best equipped to maintain high-quality backup when units are called to service. Regionalization efforts continue, and Berlin’s action provides welcome stability for the time being.

Tim Beavin (Beavin & Son’s, Montpelier) is pursuing temporary mini-displays for area businesses in the Berlin Mall in the former Walden Books storefront. Most spaces are six-foot table displays  with wall backdrops. Other spaces, larger and smaller, available. Beavin can be contacted at 522-6283 for more information.

Board members of Central Vermont’s Regional Partners - CVEDC, CVRPC and the Chamber - met Thursday with area legislators. Executive directors “Sam” Matthews, Susan Sinclair and George Malek spoke briefly about organizational initiatives and legislative concerns. Legislators and board members introduced themselves and talked informally for about an hour. Sincerest thanks to participating legislators.

Presentation explaining Vermont’s deficits in General Fund, teacher and state employee retirement funds, and the Unemployment Insurance Trust drew 50 area businesses and residents to the Chamber conference rooms Wednesday afternoon. The budget shortfall is huge and the legislative session will be extremely difficult. Video of the first 30 minutes of the meeting posted at:

www.ustream.tv/cvchamber

The Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce conference rooms will be filled to overflowing late this afternoon when four finance experts dissect the size and scope of the state’s looming budget deficits. Vermont’s general fund, unemployment insurance trust, and state employees retirement funds are all on the brink of oceans of red ink. What are the options and proposals to narrow the numbers’ gap? What do businesses and residents feel and fear? Past Chamber President Bill Cody moderates. Union Institute & University is sponsoring the forum. Reservations required.

New Community Profiles have arrived at the Chamber office. Featuring local and regional demographics, the current edition focuses on the continuing trend of falling school enrollment and increasing per student costs. Every Central Vermont town now pays more to educate its students than the tuition required to send them to state colleges. Per student costs have risen about 50 percent since 2001.