The newly-merged Rutland Economic Development Corporation and Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce have a new name and a renewed focus on serving its membership and the communities within the greater Rutland Region.
The organizations will begin operating under the name Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region. This name change reflects the unification of the two organizations following a unanimous vote by their board of directors on July 30 to pursue the merger, which was finalized on Sept. 1.
Last month, Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region surveyed its more than 380 members to determine what initiatives and activities the organization should pursue to best support businesses and nonprofits across Rutland County over the next 12 months.
Survey highlights include:
- 56 percent of survey respondents identified regional marketing efforts focused on increasing population and workforce as a top priority for the next 12 months.
- 19 percent of survey respondents reported marketing area businesses as their most important priority for the next 12 months.
- Eight percent of survey respondents identified providing loans and financing opportunities as a top priority for the next 12 months.
- Seven percent of survey respondents reported providing technical assistance and educational opportunities for business development and growth as their most important priority for the next 12 months.
- Three percent of survey respondents identified legislative advocacy as their most important priority for the next 12 months.
“Businesses across the State of Vermont are facing unprecedented challenges in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic,” said Lyle Jepson, executive director of Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region. “It is important that we connect with our members and the Rutland County business community to learn more about what services, tools, and resources we can provide going forward to help them see this through – and to come out stronger than before.”
Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region will be presenting these results to its various committees to help develop a strategic work plan for the upcoming year.
