Burlington Standard

University Of Vermont And State Agricultural College issued the following announcement.

Located on the edge of the Green Mountain National Forest in the southwest corner of Vermont, Bennington County borders New York State to the west and Massachusetts to the south, placing it about an hour’s drive away from Albany.

The city of Bennington boasts a rich cultural heritage. Locals and visitors can’t miss the iconic Bennington Monument—the obelisk commemorates a Revolutionary War battle that contributed to the British army’s eventual defeat at Saratoga in 1777.

Bennington was also an economic powerhouse in the industrial age—fortunes were made in iron, textiles and manufacturing. Following World War II, much of the local manufacturing base disappeared. The most recent blow was the 2019 closing of the Energizer battery plant which moved operations out of state and left about 100 workers unemployed.

Like many Vermont communities, the city is leveraging its considerable cultural assets, beautiful historic downtown district and entrepreneurial spirit to revitalize the local economy.

“UVM has a critical role to play here,” said UVM’s Director of Engagement Chris Koliba. “Our university has an extraordinary set of resources and leadership that’s committed to making Vermont an even more attractive place to grow a business.”

Last month Koliba and Senior Business Outreach Professional Wayne Maceyka visited the city and several surrounding Bennington County towns March 23-24 to connect with local businesspeople and economic development professionals. Jonathan Cooper, community and economic development specialist from the Bennington County Regional Commission, played an indispensable role in helping to organize the visit. Cooper introduced the UVM team to business owners, accompanying them on visits to The Vermont Country Store, Vishay Precision and The Orvis Rod Shop.

The Vermont Country Store, opened by Vrest and Ellen Orton in Weston, Vermont in 1946. Still owned by the Orton family, the store’s retail and mail order catalogue business has evolved into a powerhouse e-commerce enterprise. The OoE team met with CEO Jim Hall and Emily Treske, director of administration and business development.

“Everywhere we go in the state, we find businesses with deep Vermont roots that have grown with the times, using the internet and sophisticated marketing technology to build international markets,” Maceyka said.

On the morning of March 24, Koliba and Maceyka met with regional economic development officials in the UVM Bennington Extension Office. The gathering was organized and hosted by Chris Callahan, UVM extension associate professor of agricultural engineering. Attendees included Brian Murphy of Bennington College, Nancy Shuttlesworth, areas advisor for the Vermont Small Business Development Center; Melany Latourneau, career resource specialist at the Vermont Department of Labor; and Jeannie Jenkins, Bennington selectboard chair.

As the VtSBDC Business Advisor to Bennington and Rutland counties, Shuttleworth provides professional support for new and established businesses in the region. She cites Bennington’s many assets for aspiring businesspeople including two top-notch colleges which serve as magnets for talent (Bennington College is located in North Bennington and Williams College is just across the border in Williamstown, Mass.). The local Community College of Vermont campus offers education programs that provide needed certifications for local employers.

“Bennington has a really attractive downtown location, with new businesses like Farm Road Brewery establishing themselves,” she said. “At the same time it has proximity to a major international airport (Albany) and it’s just a three-and-a-half hour drive to New York City and three hours to Boston,” she said.

She believes a particular strength in Bennington is the many business organizations and committed civic-minded people eager to provide new and existing businesses with resources and professional assistance.

Hi-Tech to Fishing Rods

The OoE team also visited a pair of high-tech businesses in Bennington. Kamen Comprehensive Composite Structures provides commercial aerospace and medical imaging industries with composite manufacturing capabilities, design engineering and repairs. Vishay Intertechnology makes semiconductors for a variety of industries including automotives, avionics, computers and consumer products like LCD screens, sensors for “smart homes” technology and unmanned drones.

The team discussed potential internships for UVM students and workplace training programs.

“Vermont has a strong but sometimes overlooked tech sector,” explained Maceyka. “We see it everywhere we travel. These companies are always looking for entry-level talent they can train and retain. Many potential hires could be UVM STEM graduates.”

Vermont is also rich with popular name brand products marketed to niche audiences worldwide. One of them is Orvis, which builds fly rods in its Manchester plant using state-of-the-art graphite technology. Proudly selling American-made products with a local workforce, Orvis also offers guided tours of its facility offering visitors a look behind how the rods are manufactured.

“Our trip to Bennington Country illuminated some of the same assets and challenges we see in other parts of the state,” said Koliba. “Many of the people we meet are looking to the data services and professional expertise we can provide as the state’s flagship university. Many are seeking labor in a tight jobs market. UVM can help them with both.”

Original source can be found here.