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Brandon
Chamber
March
2014
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The Waterline Project will be starting soon!!
The long awaited waterline construction, replacing the damaged line from Irene,is starting very soon. The Chamber held a meeting with the parties involved on Wednesday, March 19th. There was a good turnout of local businesses and residents and many ideas and concerns were shared. The Chamber wants to make this as painless as possible and use it as a model for dealing with issues during the larger Segment 6 construction approaching in the next few years. We've been assured of good communication throughout the Waterline project and with all our help and participation we can make this as smooth as possible. Click on this link to view the notes from the meeting on the 19th.
We want to gather as much contact information as possible from all of you who will be affected by the possible water shut offs and construction issues. We are therefore collecting email addresses and cell phone numbers to facilitate the quick dispersal of notices and emergency issues arising during the project. We'll send text blasts, emails and newsletters to keep everyone as up to the minute as possible. Thanks for your cooperation.
--Business name
--Contact name
--Cell phone number(s)
--email address
Some aspects of the project are starting soon and they will be working at the river the first or second week of April. So PLEASE send your information as soon as possible, we'll all be better served with as few surprises as possible.
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PLANNING COMMISSION SCHEDULING TWO PUBLIC INPUT FORUMS ON SIGNAGE ISSUES
The planning commission wants input from you regarding the last issues surrounding the signage ordinance. They've worked hard and sought out and listened to many of our concerns. Please try to make their meeting for public input on:
March 31st, 7:00pm at the Town Hall Basement Meeting Room
or
April 7th, 7:00pm at the Town Hall Basement Meeting Room
:come talk over the issues and share your ideas.
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Upcoming training sponsored by the VT Small Business Development Center:
Starting Your Own Small Business
Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Location: Rutland Economic Development Corp., 112 Quality Lane, Rutland VT 05701
Time: 9:00a.m to 1:00p.m
The three hour session will help future business owners determine the next steps toward starting and financing a new venture. The workshop offers an overview of business planning, including where to find market information, how to tackle projections and writing a business plan.
The workshop is designed for people who are thinking about going into business and want accurate information about the procedures and government regulations involved to start a business in Vermont.
The $99.00 registration fee includes a business planning workbook and access to five online workshops to help the prospective business owner get started.
Registration can be done online at www.vtsbdc.org.
For more information, contact VtSBDC in Rutland at 802-773-9147.
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Welcome New Members!!
Miller Hill Farm
Carl Phelps & Nan Jenks-Jay
millerhillfarmvt.com/
Thanks for your support
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BIZ BIZ BIZ
Don't forget to get your 2014 BIZ Cards!!
Stop at the flower shop or contact the chamber.
info@brandon.org
247-6401
BIZ BIZ BIZ
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Chamber advertising in the Middlebury College Magazine!! Spring issue comes out April 30th.
Thanks to all those businesses advertising in our first foray into this media option. Thanks to Doug Sawyer at the Lilac Inn for his help and huge thanks to Courtney Satz from Woods Market Gardens for an effort above and beyond the call of duty! We literally couldn't have done it without her expertise and quick work!
Let the Chamber know if people mention seeing the ad throughout the summer.
Click on our link below to check it out.
Middlebury Magazine Full Page Ad
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GREEN EARTH ENERGY PARTNERS WITH SUNEDISON
TO PROVIDE NEW WAYS TO FINANCE SOLAR
Green Earth Energy of Brandon, the solar subsidiary of The McKernon Group, has teamed up with SunEdison, a solar photovoltaic panel manufacturer, to help Vermonters take advantage of solar energy installations. The partnership will allow participants a one-stop solution to finance, purchase and install solar electric systems at their home.
SunEdison has introduced their Combo Loan Program, making buying a residential solar system available to more people. The initial portion is a zero interest loan with no payments for one year. This will allow the customer to receive all of their tax credits and rebates before having to pay off any of the loan. The second portion of the loan is 12 years at 2.99%. This is unsecured with a fixed rate for the life of the loan.
There are no out of pocket costs to purchase this solar system. The savings on the electric bill will typically cover the monthly payment on the 12-year loan. Additionally this will also eliminate rate increases from the electric company insuring stability in electric costs for the next 25 years. Therefore the homeowner will be investing in their own solar power generating system that should increase the value of their home for resale purposes.
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New for You from Nourish Your Purpose!
Help Your Body Transition to Spring Feeling Balanced & Vital
with...
The Aroma Touch Technique
...a therapeutic application of essential oils, designed to help:
alleviate the physical effects of stress
strengthen your immune system in this world of toxic insult
minimize inflammation throughout your body
balance your body's flight or fight nervous system response
It is from this point of balance that your body's systems have the greatest potential for deep healing.
During this gentle & restorative treatment a sequence of 8 wonderfully aromatic Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils & blends are applied to meridians and visceral contact points on your back and feet as you relax, breathe and allow the scents to envelope you.
The Aroma Touch Techniqueis available at a special introductory rate of $50.00/session or $130.00/3 sessions* until March 31, with 3 easy ways to schedule:
* Call: 802.247.5300
Nourish Your Purpose with AnnMarie Roth, NTS, LMT, CHA
39 Center Street | Brandon
* Contact me on or before 3/31/14 to schedule your 1st appointment to receive the introductory rate.
Regular rate $65.00
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Food Service and Retail professionals
Purchasing, receiving, storing, preparing, cooking, serving or selling food or meals in a Restaurant, Hospital or other Health Care Facilities, Universities or College, Inns, Bed and Breakfast or Hotels, Nursing Home or Senior Living Complexes, Senior Centers, Caterers, Deli or Convenient Store, Fast food Outlets, Retail and Grocery Establishments, Entrepreneur Farmers, Farm to Table Operations, Grab and Go facilities, Seasonal Vendors etc.? I think you get the picture.
The Following Food Safety, Food Defense and Food Security Courses are tailored for you and your teams.
- ServSafe® Certification
- HACCP Certification
- Re-Certification
- Food Handler Certificates
- Re-Testing
Should an individual Professional, Chef, Owner, Director, Manager or team positions require certification call Training to Excel or browse www.trainingtoexcel.com
Perhaps call 802.247.0098 or email info@trainingtoexcel.com
Super stress free and fun filled flexible scheduled sessions for participants available
Private and open group sessions easily and conveniently arranged and tailored to accommodate client's associate varied shifts
Excellent lodging at Rosebelle's Inn available for participant's www.rosebelles.com
Fine Dining menu available at Café Provence www.cafeprovencevt.com
Next Brandon ServSafe® Sessions April 15, May 6, June 10, July 8, August 5
or sooner at your preferred location
Looking forward to assisting with ServSafe® and HACCP Certification
Norm Milot, Certified ServSafe® and HACCP Instructor and Registered Proctor
Thanks, keep on file for potential future use
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Vermont.com
www.Vermont.com is a privately-owned web portal, providing information about Vermont. In an effort to include information about everything in the State of Vermont, we are trying to spread the word to make sure Vermont businesses are aware of the marketing tools we have to offer - some are FREE!
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FREE MEMBERSHIPS:
All businesses in the State of Vermont are invited to enter their information in our online searchable database for free. We create a business page for them, for example: http://www.vermont.com/businesses/free-membership/
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PAID ADVERTISING:
Of course, upgrading the Free Membership to become a Paid Advertiser is available. Upgrading the account includes links to your website and more, for example: http://www.vermont.com/businesses/see-your-business-here.
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For information about paid advertising options, please contact Sandra at: 802-362-2000 x102.
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FREE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
In addition, anyone can enter an Event into our Calendar database, any time! Just click on the big red "Suggest an Event" button on our main Calendar Page http://www.vermont.com/calendar_index.cfm and fill-out the online form.
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SPACE FOR RENT
The Granary at 29 Union Street, Brandon
Downstairs corner studio - south facing with lots of natural light. Carpet. All utilities included, except AC. $375/month
The 19th Century building that has been restored and remodeled to accommodate those devoted to the arts and to small business. Fully renovated, with new electrical and heating systems, insulation and new windows. Current studios are occupied by small publisher, lawyer, milliner, artists, photographer, jeweler, graphic designer, and artist guild.
Office space also available in the Visual Learning building
Contact Stephanie Zak Jerome at 247-3214 or sjerome@visuallearningco.com for information.
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Front Porch Forum Now Active in Brandon
Brandon's Front Porch Forum is now active with over 100 people signed on as local members. Neighbor s have already posted about a missing dog on Florence Road, a grill for sale on Sunset Drive, and town recreation department news. This modern-day cross between community bulletin boards and virtual town greens is making it easy for neighbors to connect. It's free. It's local. And it's friendly.
Visit FrontPorchForum.com to join in.
Because the service is moderated and real names accompany postings, the discussions remain civil, engaging, and relevant. In times of need, such as during and following natural disasters, a Front Porch Forum becomes even more powerful.
More than 60,000 households across Vermont already use their neighborhood FPFs to find roofers, give away strollers, rally volunteers for pie suppers, trade equipment, and describe wildlife sightings. Common topics also include school budgets, town office candidates, local events or starting a food shelf.
FPF and the Vermont Council on Rural Development's Vermont Digital Economy Project are teaming up to bring this service to all Vermonters for free. Vermont's Congressional delegation played a crucial role in getting this project funded and off the ground in our state.
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INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO SIGN UP FOR GMP TEXT ALERTS
· Easy to register
· Report outages and get updates about your outage right from your cell phone
Good afternoon!
Thanks to more than 100 GMP employees who have already registered for our new GMP Text Alerts during the past two weeks, we've been able to identify and fix some glitches.
Now we'd like to expand the pool of testers. If you haven't already registered, we encourage you to do so. Your involvement will be key to helping us better prepare before the next big storm hits. We'd also like you to invite your family and friends to register for Text Alerts.
To let your family and friends in the GMP service territory know about this opportunity, please forward this email:
In January 2014, Green Mountain Power will be launching a new service that will allow customers to report outages and get updates about their outages on their cell phones.
Before we announce the service statewide, we're inviting employees, their families and friends to test drive the system. It will be a great service for you and your family, and you can help us find and fix any bugs before thousands of our customers sign up.
If you are a GMP customer there are two ways you can sign up for alerts. First, grab your bill, which has your account number and the associated phone number, and then do one of the following:
· Use your cell phone to text the word REG to 46788 (GMPVT) and follow the prompts. You do not need a smart phone to sign up for text alerts. All you need is a cell phone with the ability to send and receive text messages. Note that standard text and messaging rates will apply.
· If you already have an online account with GMP, you can log in and click "Manage notification preferences"
Once you're using the service, we'd like to hear about your experience. This will help us fix any problems, and add information to our FAQs. Please contact a GMP call center representative at 1-888-835-4672 with your questions, suggestions and comments.
Thanks!
Dorothy Schnure
Corporate Spokesperson
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NEXT CHAMBER MEETING
April 2014
The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will meet on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 6:30 pm in the Cliver Room at the Stephen A Douglas Birthplace. Chamber membership and the general public are invited to attend. |
CHAMBER MEMBERS:
ARE YOU USING YOUR BIZ CARD YET? THERE ARE GREAT DISCOUNTS OUT THERE scroll down to the bottom of this email and check them out! NEW OPPORTUNITIES BEING ADDED ALL THE TIME
NEED A BIZ CARD? FOR YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES.
STOP IN THE FLOWER SHOP AND PICK SOME UP OR
CONTACT THE CHAMBER AND TELL US HOW MANY YOU NEED!
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BRANDON BIZ CARD CORNER
BIZ CARD LISTINGS - WE KEEP ADDING
The list is growing as is the number of cards in members' (including employees) hands. Here's the list to date.
It is super easy to add your offering to the list. Just give a call (802-247-6401) or send an email (info@brandon.org).
Not a Chamber member but want to get in on the Biz Card action? We have many Individual Members -- what a great way to support a local non-profit and get your Biz Card! Just click here for an application ($50 annual membership)
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Do you enjoy receiving the e-newsletters from the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce? Its easy to sign up your co-workers, friends, and family members who are not currently receiving it.
Just click here
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Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 267, Brandon, VT 05733
802-247-6401 ~ info@brandon.org ~ www.brandon.org
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