Welcome to the Spring 2017 SRDC Newsletter. We are being optimistic about it being spring.! Many of you have been rather busy during the past few months. We enjoy sharing your posts on social media. In this issue we have highlighted member businesses that are having milestone anniversaries during the 2017 year. Our own organization is one of them. SRDC will be 25 years old in April.
Economically Speaking Serving the communities of: Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish, Chester, Ludlow, Reading, Springfield, Weathersfield, Windsor and West Windsor
2017, A Busy Year So Far!
By Bob Flint
Executive Director
In my Director’s Report to the Board recently, I remarked that we are in the midst of as busy a time as I’ve seen in my 12 years here at SRDC.
As is the nature of the beast, I can’t yet share much of what we’ve been working on and it’s far from certain how much of it will come to pass. We are expecting to have some announcements in the coming weeks and have our fingers crossed on some other puzzle pieces that have yet to come together.
But what is encouraging is that, most importantly, our existing employers are generally doing well and, in some cases, having excellent years. There’s talk about growth and it’s a pleasure to think about how to help our businesses find the resources they need to remain viable and move forward.
Of course, this quickly goes into the challenges with finding a quality workforce, but we’re active on that front as well. SRDC is a co-sponsor of the upcoming River Valley Employment Fair on April 26th at Riverside Middle School. We also recently organized a meeting of area manufacturers to learn more about a free training opportunity available through CCV and we are working closely with Vermont Tech about another program that will launch this fall.
It is worth noting that people are starting to look at the region and consider whether there are investment opportunities. This is important and hopefully is a harbinger of more to come.
Elsewhere in this newsletter, you’ll read about some promotions with the staff here at SRDC. We are very lucky to have such a dedicated staff. Heather, Paul and Sandy are helping to increase our internal capacity and, between them and Robin Sweetapple and Bob LaPlante, our Property Manager, we are dealing with a lot and are gearing up for more.
Because, if the rest of the year continues like it has been, it’s going to be a busy time! As always, many thanks for the continued support and stay tuned to hear more about “Great Things Happening Here."
SRDC ANNOUNCE STAFF PROMOTIONS
Springfield Regional Development Corporation (SRDC) Executive Director Bob Flint announced that two long-time SRDC employees have been promoted to new positions. Heather Hartford now serves as SRDC’s Assistant Director and Paul Kowalski has been named the Senior Project Manager.
Heather is a native of Springfield and has been with SRDC since 2014. In her role as a Project Manager, she has overseen the construction of the new Blake Hill Preserves facility in Windsor, the recent renovations to the Robert S. Jones Industrial Center in Springfield and is coordinating the redevelopment of the former Bryant Grinder property.
Paul has been a Project Manager for SRDC since 2013. He administered the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief program that provided assistance to businesses that were impacted by Tropical Storm Irene. Currently, he is working with Windsor Improvement Corporation on a variety of projects in that community.
Bob indicated that these promotions illustrate the importance of Hartford and Kowalski to SRDC. “Heather and Paul are key members of the SRDC team. We are grateful for their talents and passion for the region”, he said.
East Central Vermont Economic Development District
Spring is coming! And that means the East Central Vermont Economic Development District will its annual Spring Workshop, coming up in May. Look for a "save the date" announcement coming soon.
SRDC has just completed an analysis of home sales in the ECVEDD region, by town, by year since 2005. This will be posted on the "dashboard" on ecvedd.org in the coming weeks. If you're interested in seeing this, in the meantime, please email bobf@springfielddevelopment.org
We are also working on projects touching on innovation and workforce development, along with our ECVEDD partners.
As always, please let us know if you have any questions about the ECVEDD! Please email Bob at bobf@springfielddevelopment.og or go to ecvedd.org
Written by Debra Boudrieau
SBDC Advisor
Here is the next one of The Top 10 (now 12) Things I Say to Businesses Weekly. The web is your virtual store front…think of it as a display window on Main Street.
Have a plan.
Revitalize.
Make sure it is working -- Google analytics.
Is the web always relevant? Yes. But the level of your web presence is determined by your service and your customers. Some businesses can have a Google Business page and that can be enough. Other businesses need a much more complex presence. First determine who your customers are. And what they need from your site. And what you want your site to do.
If it is your location and open hours and a few pictures a Google Business page can do all of that for you for free (Google how to set up a Google Business page). All businesses with a street address that you want customers to know (some small home based businesses do not want customers on their doorsteps) should have one.
If you need more of a presence then you need to do a full plan for what the site does, how it needs to do it (do you need a shopping cart?), and how much you can afford to spend. Some businesses can use the free platforms (WIX, Wordpress, etc.) and do a decent job themselves but it still needs a strong plan. Don’t let your sixth grader do your site even if they are more tech savvy than you. The website is your virtual store front and it needs to represent your story told well and concisely.
And once you have it up don’t think people will start pouring in the “door”. You need to get them there with a strong marketing and social media campaign. Your website is just one aspect of your marketing. Make a plan and work it. And revitalize the website often. A website that hasn’t been updated in weeks or months or years is a big red flag to your customers that your business is not vibrant.
Also if you sell any product on the web be sure that your largest competitor is Amazon. Don’t ignore them or put your head in the sand and pretend they aren’t there.
Once the site is established make sure you track the Google analytics so you can constantly assess what is working and what might not be working so well. Change the site according to that very important feedback.
Debra Boudrieau
Call Us Today at (802) 728-1432 Or Email Us at vmec@vmec.org
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802-885-3061
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SRDC Staff
Bob Flint,
Executive Director
Paul Kowalski,
Senior Project Manager
Heather Hartford,
Assistant Director
Sandy Clifford,
Office Manager
Cynthia Porter,
Finance Manager
SRDC Board of Directors
Doug Gurney
Patti Putnam
Mark Tanny
Bob Kendall
Jason Thom
John Tansey
Dale Williamson
Barb LeMire
Sam Coleman
Ex-Officio Board Members
Tom Kennedy
Caitlin Christiana
Kristi Morris
Main Supporters
Town of Springfield
Town of Chester
Town of Windsor
Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
Members Acrylic Design
ADS
All Seasons Constr.
Bibens Home Center
Black River Produce
Drew's Organics
Efficiency Vermont
Graham & Graham, PC CPA
Gravity Renewables
Green Mountain Power
Gurney Bros. Constr.
HB Energy Solutions
IVEK
JELD - WEN
Kelley Sales & Service
Lawrence & Lober Electric Services
Lamb & McNaughton, PC
Lawrence & Wheeler
Lovejoy Tool
Mascoma Savings Bank
Merchants Bank
NewsBank
Okemo Mountain Resort
Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce
One Credit Union
Peoples United Bank
Image - Tek Mfg.
Precision Valley Communications
Prudent Living
River Valley Credit Union
Springfield Automart
Springfield Hospital
Springfield Printing
Springfield Realty
Town of Cavendish
Vermont Packing House
Vermont Timber Works
Von Bargen's Jewelry
VTel
WIC
Winstanley Enterprises, LLC
Wright Construction
LOVEJOY Tool Company, Inc. is pleased to be celebrating 100 years in the cutting tool industry. Fred Lovejoy, a Master Mechanic at Jones & Lamson had an idea for securing a replaceable tool bit in a lathe tool. With encouragement and guidance from the company's President, James Hartness, Mr. Lovejoy incorporated LOVEJOY Tool Company in a Jones & Lamson building in 1917. With several building improvements and additions we remain in the same building where it all started. We are pleased to say that Lovejoy Tool was a founding member of Springfield Regional Development Corp. Congratulations on this momentous occassion!!
Sixty years ago (60) Don Gurney and his brother Sam began Gurney Brothers Construction. Today Don's three sons Doug, Dan and Brad carry on their father's work ethics and community involvement. Don was also the most instrumental person in creating our organization. We congratulate Gurney Bros. for serving their community and surrounding areas and wish them another successful 60 years!
Jeff Graham of Graham & Graham PC, CPA is proud to be celebrating 35 years of business. With offices in Vermont and New Hampshire, Jeff has passed his wealth of knowledge and expertise in the accounting field on to others. Congratulations Jeff! Here's to many more successful years!
The above picture is of a Cidery built in Upstate New York last fall. SRDC member Vermont Timber Works were responsible for this beautiful structure. With 30 years of being in business, this type of craftsmanship is a regular occurence. Congratulations and may you have many more years ahead.
SRDC has been serving Springfield and the surrounding communities for 25 years.
We are proud of what has been accomplished and our gratitude goes to the vision of the founding members.
Jeff Taft, Chairman of the One Credit Union Board of Directors, has announced the appointment of Brett Smith as their new President and CEO. Brett will assume responsibilities on February 27, succeeding Jerry Cross, who retired following 32 years of service.
Brett has been part of One Credit Union for 3 years, serving as the Chief Financial Officer. In addition to managing the finances of the Credit Union, Brett also oversaw the Compliance and Property Management areas of the Credit Union. “Brett did a terrific job aligning us internally, and financially, in the wake of the merger,” says Jeff Taft. “He is a natural choice to continue our evolution as One Credit Union.”
Brett agrees that OCU is evolving. “One CU has been through some tremendous changes since merging three separate credit unions into One in 2010. However, we are no longer in that constant state of “change.” We are now evolving, enhancing, and building on our strengths and member satisfaction to take One Credit Union to the next level.”
Brett has over 19 years of experience in retail financial services, having worked at Ledyard National Bank and Lake Sunapee Savings Bank prior to joining One CU. Brett also has accepted an invitation to serve on the Board of Directors at the Vermont Make a Wish Foundation. Brett has studied at Andover College (ME), Franklin Pierce College (NH) and New England College of Business (MA). Brett resides in Post Mills, VT with his wife Kati.
Sixty years ago 
