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2022 Annual Report

A MESSAGE FROM CATHY

Accidental collisions, creating opportunities.

I often get asked to sum up our biggest accomplishments. You’ll see those accomplishments here and I love talking about them. What I think gets lost in that question though, is the everyday accomplishments that in sum, are also really important. They might not fit into an infographic or grab a headline, but often it’s those everyday things we do that add up to shaping what this region is going to be like moving forward, the accidental collisions that allow us to create opportunities, and what that means for the business community that keeps our state vital.

Because we not only focus on the big things that move our region forward but the small details that might get overlooked. So the next time you ask me about our biggest accomplishments, I’ll gladly talk about talent, growing our economy, and advocacy but I’ll also make a point to talk to you about the latest small thing we’re doing that just might end up being a big thing.

 

Seeking economic opportunity for all

2022: A year marked by an unprecedented level of federal funding, lofty policy goals and massive House and Senate retirements.

Our advocacy team navigated the sea of changes to keep you informed and represented when it mattered most. 

From our in-depth advocacy updates and think pieces on trending issues like housing, SALT Tax and the benefits cliff, our team provided consistent and thoughtful advocacy coverage. 

We strive to be your go-to resource for all things advocacy, especially when it comes to the 2022 Vermont elections. We drove voters to the polls (and mailboxes) leading into the primaries with our thorough election resource page. We educated–and continue to educate–voters about the candidates through resources like our candidate questionnaires as well as our virtual and in-person programming like the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Candidate Forum and the YP Congressional Forum

Our relentless advocacy team works to provide a strong and respected voice for business. In addition to influencing policy in Montpelier, we are also involved in shaping our community on a more local, regional level, most recently with Cathy Davis serving on the hiring committee for the City of Burlington Chief of Police and as part of the interview process for the new Airport Director. 

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bills tracked that affect our members and region

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bills altered based on our business sector insight and testimony

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advocacy updates published to keep our members, allied legislators, and other organizations informed

Celebrating Business ownership and entrepreneurship

We have a knack for nurturing both entrepreneurs and the businesses they create.

Now in its 10th year, LaunchVT celebrated the ingenuity of its latest accelerator cohort. All participating startups have gone to market, and since June’s Demo Night, LaunchVT 2022 alumni have closed over $5 million in funding from private investors. Not only do we recognize and celebrate the strength of their businesses but the people behind them: 57% were female founded and 14% were BIPOC founded. 

The acceleration didn’t stop at LaunchVT. Through our Business Exchange workshops, content creation and the return of in-person networking events like the Annual Dinner,  we provided businesses with the resources and connections to grow here in Vermont. Because we believe everyone should have the opportunity to make Vermont work.

+$ 0 M

in revenues from LaunchVT alumni in 2021

+$ 0 K

in cash and services invested in businesses in 2022

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people employed by 71 businesses accelerated since inception

Promoting a robust and diverse visitor economy

We love our corner of the world, and we want to share it.

As the world reopened, Hello Burlington was there to showcase all our region has to offer. Bringing in influencers and garnering the attention of major media outlets like Washington Post, Conde Nast, USA Today, and Forbes, we have put Burlington on the map–and have the metrics to show for it. The Hello Burlington site continues to captivate visitors, and with the launch of an even more robust site in 2023, our reach and engagement will only grow. We appreciate the continued support of our lodging partners to make these achievements a reality.

Conferences and events also made their big return, and our team was there to ensure that business was going to the many great partners we have in our region: 52 sales leads were sent to member properties with an estimated lead value of $4.4 million. And with the return of large events like the upcoming Taste of Vermont, we have the opportunity to get out there and showcase all our region has to offer. 

Last but not least, we greeted over 646,479 people at the Vermont Information Centers we operate in Williston, Georgia and Alburgh along with the City of Burlington’s Waterfront Information Booth. 

0 M

advertising impressions

+ 0 K

website visits

+$ 0 K

estimated value of meeting sales for member properties

Cultivating Community Leadership

We help people improve their skills, network and leadership capabilities.

Managing the ebb and flow of Covid cases, the 34th cohort of Leadership Champlain graduated with a mostly in-person programming experience.

They spent nine months becoming educated on the different challenges facing our community, and connecting to leaders like Lt. Governor Molly Gray, Commissioner of Health Mark Levine and Secretary of Education Dan French. 

The cohort completed service projects for Aunt Dot’s Place, CCTV, Champlain Valley Head Start, Governor’s Institute of Vermont, Let’s Grow Kids, Mercy Connections, Pathways Vermont, and Vermont Adult Learning; and they planted pollinator and bird habitats at the Intervale Center to celebrate their graduation.

And in an effort to continue our DEI commitment, we offered an honorarium to speakers and guests who might not have been able to otherwise engage with the program and have plans to provide more program scholarships to strengthen the diversity of the cohorts. 

We recognize that our community needs strong leaders more than ever. Our commitment to nurturing emerging leaders didn’t stop at the Leadership Champlain cohort. The Leadership Champlain Media Club created the space for individuals–both in and out of the program–to engage in enlightening conversations and examine themselves as leaders. Thanks to the Leadership Champlain Advisory Board and Alumni Committee for their part in making the year a success.

+ 0

volunteer hours served through the program in 2022, over 50,000 served since program’s inception

+$ 0 K

in-kind impact to our community through service project work in 2022, over $1.5M in-kind impact since program’s inception

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successful service projects launched for local nonprofit organizations, over 200 completed since program’s inception

Nurturing Emerging Talent

Because no industry has been unaffected by workforce challenges, TalentBTV has been here to help every step of the way.

With the resume drive, we are creating a talent conduit, connecting talent to prospective employers. Our member businesses can now access the resumes of job seekers to support their search for new talent. 

Between our relocation services and partnership with the Chittenden County chapter of the Vermont Welcome Wagon Project, we have been “rolling out the red carpet” for new Vermonters, providing them with the resources necessary to officially make Vermont home. 

As in-person events returned, Burlington Young Professionals was able to host its meet-ups, yet again providing our young professionals community the space to cultivate meaningful connections.  It’s through the power of connections that we work to serve as one small, tangible solution to Vermont’s ongoing workforce challenges. 

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young professionals gathered virtually and in-person for networking, education and professional development

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individuals interested in relocating or who have recently relocated to Burlington were connected to employers, housing and relocation resources 

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resumes uploaded to our resume drive

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