Timely Topics

4 minute read This is the second installment of a three part series focused on college-age entrepreneurs throughout Vermont. Click here to read Part 1.  Faculty, students, and advisors agree that the best preparation for the business world is hands on experience which can often take the form of an internship. According to VtSBDC area advisor for Addison […]

4 minute read This is the first installment of a three part series focused on college-age entrepreneurs throughout Vermont.  Most of us envision college students poring over laptops and textbooks, or attending class – in person or remotely. But throughout Vermont, there are hundreds of students who are looking beyond the campus, forging a path and building something […]

4 minute read It’s no secret that the future of business is digital. While we are all craving a return to ‘normalcy’ and look forward to visiting our favorite stores in person, online shopping will continue to grow. As business advisors, it’s imperative that we stay educated on the ever-evolving digital landscape so we can best support you, […]

5 minute read In 2020 the pandemic, and other world events, impacted businesses with unprecedented challenges, hitting the hospitality industry with particular force. But instead of retreating, VtSBDC advisor and hospitality expert, Steve Densham, says now is the time to move forward and take action by planning, getting financials in order, creating poignant messaging, and ensuring sustainability of […]

3 minute read Entrepreneurship education plays a key role in empowering the next generation of business leaders. The Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) has worked to develop business skills in students through a variety of educational programs and initiatives over the past twelve years. During these events, students participate in hands-on activities that foster creativity and problem-solving. […]

3 minute read In the last seven months, I’ve attended over 230 Zoom meetings with local partners, board members, and national stakeholders, and facilitated an additional 80 meetings with the entire VtSBDC team. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:30AM, we all refilled our coffee mugs and gathered to discuss how much had happened in just the last […]

2 minute read “My friends call me ‘the chameleon,’” said Marina McCoy, Vermont’s 2020 Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Since the beginning of the year, her company, Waste Free Earth, has responded to significant changes in client needs due to COVID-19. Where before, McCoy’s services focused on big event waste elimination, now they focus on remote flat-rate, team-based […]

2 minute read COVID-19 has forced a conversation about what type of work is “essential” and how to value it respectively. Often excluded from the discussion are local artisans and food producers who remain underutilized in local economic systems. Farmers markets, which have had to adapt to new social distancing and selling regulations, have been gaining traction as […]