This is the FY2014 Annual Report for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.

1. Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Year in Review
2014

2. The Vermont Chamber helps businesses
• Connect
• Learn and
• Grow
Through programs focused on
• Networking
• Advocacy
• Marketing and
• Education

3. Connect.
[kuh-nekt]
to join, link, or fasten together; unite or bind.

4. Innovative, Cutting-Edge Technology
ThisIsVT Mobile App
• Connecting members to tourists and locals to increase
business
• The official travel app for the state

5. Innovative, Cutting-Edge Technology
Three new websites for signature events and programs

6. Innovative, Cutting-Edge Technology
B2B Matchmaking
• Prescheduled meetings for exhibitors to meet with other
exhibitors to network and develop relationships

7. Events & Social Media
Connected over 3,000 businesses at signature events
for networking opportunities

8. Events & Social Media
Facebook & Twitter
• Average 19 new followers each week

9. Tourism & Marketing
Connecting tourists with Vermont businesses
• Over 400 thousand guidebooks and brochures are distributed
each year
• Guidebooks are available online

10. Learn.
[lurn]
to acquire knowledge of or skill in by study,
instruction, or experience.

11. Health Care Education
Transitioned to Vermont Health Connect
• Transitioned 17,000 Vermont workers and 4,000 small
employer groups out of the VACE association and into direct
coverage with an insurance carrier or onto the Vermont
Health Connect website

12. Health Care Education
Educated businesses about coverage
• Educated employers statewide about coverage options and
impending changes to healthcare system

13. Food Safety
Official state partner for the National Restaurant Association
• Held 8 ServSafe food safety certification classes

14. Emerging Trends
Webinars on new trends

15. Issues & Advocacy
Increasing member engagement
• Weekly update emails
• Host events for members to meet legislators

16. Issues & Advocacy
Key wins
• Balanced budget without increasing broad-based taxes
• $4.5 million dedicated to economic growth incentives
• Improved prime ag mitigation formula in designated centers
• Passage of economic development bill to increase availability of
workforce development resources for small businesses

17. Seminars, Lunches & More
Lean-In for Leadership Lunch
• 140 business people gathered for the Lean In for Leadership
roundtable lunch, focusing on women, work and the will to
lead

18. Seminars, Lunches & More
Educational Seminars
• Hosted at EXPO and Manufactured in Vermont

19. Grow.
[groh]
to increase in size or substance.

20. Chamber Alliance
Pilot program with Manchester & the Mountains Regional
Chamber of Commerce

21. Vermont Tourism Network
Growing Vermont’s tourism sector with group tours

22. Manufacturing
Aerospace corridor
• Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AeroMontreal to
build aerospace corridor and link Vermont’s aerospace cluster with
a $12 billion Quebec aerospace cluster

23. Manufacturing
Manufactured in Vermont Trade Show
• Included over 70 hours of quality business meeting time with
exhibitor matchmaking to help grow connections,
relationships and business

24. Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Year in Review
2014