BACK THE FRAP gains State House momentum, JEDI Training Series, and more...
Vermont Businesses Voice
Powerful Call for Flood Recovery
Melissa Whittaker of Positive Pie in the Cedar Creek Room at the State House in Montpelier, Friday, February 23, urging flegislators to BACK THE FRAP.
Leadership from VBSR, Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA), Montpelier Alive, and more gathered in the Cedar Creek Room at the State House in Montpelier, Friday, February 23, urging legislators to BACK THE FRAP by supporting the Flood Recovery Assistance Program (FRAP) provisions in the Flood Omnibus Bill that is being proposed in the wake of the catastrophic flooding of 2023.
Leaders unveiled a letter signed by over 200 Vermont businesses, from downtown sole-proprietorships to the state's largest employers, asking elected officials to continue to invest dollars into flood recovery to ensure a climate-resilient economy and prosperous Vermont communities in the years ahead.
Represented in the letter are ski resorts, colleges, car dealerships, retail shops, restaurants, breweries, non-profits, construction companies, consulting firms, farms, wellness practitioners, tattoo artists, and more – all unified in asking for Vermont's lawmakers to take specific actions.
Senator Alison Clarkson (District Windsor) in the Cedar Creek Room at the State House in Montpelier, Friday, February 23, urging fellow legislators to BACK THE FRAP by supporting the Flood Recovery Assistance Program (FRAP) provisions in the Flood Omnibus Bill that is being proposed in the wake of the catastrophic flooding of 2023.
The Ask:
Prioritize passing the Flood Recovery Assistance Program (FRAP) in the flood omnibus bill.
Integrate structural changes to support our communities better.
Help businesses innovate and invest to withstand future impacts better.
Haven't signed on to the letter yet? The BACK THE FRAP letter for legislators is still open for business signatories – click the button below!
VBSR Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
(JEDI) Training Series – Spring 2024
Join VBSR, Tabitha Moore from Intentional Evolution Consulting, and Rachel Siegel from Toward Liberation, LLC, for a four-part training series addressing some of the core competencies of Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI).
Participants will deepen their understanding of Unconscious Bias, Microaggressions, Class & Classism, and Power Dynamics, building awareness, knowledge, and skills supporting change at both the individual and collective level; from personal evolution to organizational transformation.
Individual trainings are $45 for VBSR members and $65 for nonmembers. VBSR Members who register for all four trainings receive a discounted rate of $150 (savings of 20%/$30 per person).
Sessions will be held virtually in March and April 2024:
Interested in sponsoring this programming? Contact Jeremy Gerber at jeremyg@vbsr.org.
Questions? Please reach out to VBSR Education & Events Manager, Molly Rand, mollyr@vbsr.org.
Impact Circles are Back for 2024!
VBSR Impact Circles are back for 2024! Connect, learn, gain inspiration, and add your voice to the conversation during these monthly peer-to-peer networking and discussion groups.
Groups will meet virtually each month with alternating discussion topics decided by the group members.
Specifically, this group focuses on topics most relevant to professionals that work in Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (JEDI) and People & Culture, including human resource leaders interested in the creation and evolution of people-centered workplaces and strong workplace culture.
UVM SI-MBA students tour the manufacturing floor at Darn Tough Vermont. (Photo courtesy of UVM)
UVM SI-MBA and Darn Tough Vermont: Students from the Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) program at the Gold Member University of Vermont Grossman School of Business recently stepped outside the classroom to learn about sustainable business practices at Gold Member Darn Tough Vermont. During their field trip, students met with employees, including SI-MBA alums, at the Waterbury, Vermont location. They discussed their manufacturing business, materials used, and their industry leading Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee. Learn more here.
The Woods Lodge: For the past three years, Jonathan and Lisa Burr, owners of VBSR member The Woods Lodge, have been developing and perfecting systems, processes and recipes designed to meet the needs of those being served by the Vermont Everyone- and Emergency-Eats programs. This first-hand look at the impact of prepared meals on the community revealed a need for a reliable and sustainable resource to continue the work. To do this, they established a new non-profit, called Feed Every Need – which has already begun providing nutritious, prepared meals, for distribution to those facing food insecurity throughout greater-Central Vermont. Learn more here.
VTDigger: Town Meeting Day is a week away and VBSR member VTDigger has published an overview on the wide range of questions – from the hyper-local to the global – that towns will be addressing. From road crew bonuses to international ceasefires, from tax hikes to capital projects, Town Meeting Day 2024 has it all. Learn more here.
Mamava: Since the PUMP Act passed in late 2022, Champion Member Mamava – who places their lactation pods both in workplaces and public spaces – has rolled out more than 1,100 new units as employers scramble to put in places to breastfeed. Mamava lactation pods have long been scattered across public spaces, allowing mothers to breastfeed in privacy. Now, they're finding recent growth across all kinds of workplaces, too, from public schools to manufacturing facilities. Learn more here.
Ben & Jerry's: Champion Member Ben & Jerry’s employed humor to address the very serious recent challenges to reproductive liberty in the state of Alabama. After joking about their expertise in the realm of “frozen stuff” the company made clear their stance that people anywhere – Vermont, Alabama or elsewhere – “should not have to live in fear of criminalization on their reproductive journeys.” Learn more here.
Union Mutual and Hickok & Boardman: Union Mutual recently announced that, together with Hickok & Boardman, they have raised over $185,000 for Special Olympics Vermont, exceeding their fundraising goal of $150,000. The fundraising efforts are part of the Company’s participation in the 2024 Penguin Plunge, which took place February 10th. As part of the event, employees of the Company, as well as agency partners and friends, jumped into the frigid waters of Lake Champlain. Learn more here.
Nominations Open for 2024 Vermont Top Workplaces
For the first time, the Burlington Free Press will honor quality workplace culture in the region. Any organization with 35 or more employees in Vermont is eligible to earn Top Workplaces recognition.
The nomination deadline is March 1 (this Friday!). Anyone can nominate any organization, whether it is public, private, nonprofit, a school, or even a government agency.
To nominate an employer or for more information on the awards, go here or call 802-264-5205.
Vermont Department of Health: The 2024 Worksite Wellness Awards
The 2024 Worksite Wellness Awards application is now open. These awards recognize efforts by Vermont employers to promote employee wellness.
All worksites are encouraged to apply, even if you are just starting with your wellness initiatives. Applications are due on May 31st, 2024.
VBSR continues to put voice and capacity into investing in values-driven legislation, understanding that investments in our people and planet are essential and come with long-term cost savings.
Here's a recap of recent activities...
VBSR Testifies in Favor of Equitable Practice for Job Postings:
House Committee on General and Housing members are considering a bill requiring Vermont-based employers to publish wages when advertising for vacant positions.
VBSR's Public Policy Committee supports the bill, and our Public Policy Manager, Kristin Warner, spoke in favor of the legislation before the Committee.
Transparency about a salary or wage range in job postings is an essential practice for equity as it provides marginalized people more leverage to apply for positions that meet their needs and negotiate for salaries that employers can pay.
Restaurant Members Advocate for Restaurant Meal Programs:
Our members and organization partners, Hunger Free Vermont and the Vermont Food Bank, are collaborating to pass S.215, an act relating to 3SquaresVT.
The legislation includes creating the Restaurant Meals program, where 3SquaresVT recipients may access meals through participating restaurants using their benefits.
Two of our VBSR members recently provided expert testimony in support of the program. Micheal Cyr from Skinny Pancake George Schenk of American Flatbread.
Expanding Vermont's Medicare Savings Program:
The Vermont Legislature has the opportunity to address income inequality this legislative session by expanding Vermont's Medicare Savings Program (MSP).
This past week, proponents of the expansion testified before the House Committee on Healthcare. Testifying in support of Section 9 of H.721, was the Committee's former chair and is now a healthcare advocate through Vermont Legal Aid Mike Fischer.
Senate Committee on Natural Resources Advances S.213:
After weeks of testimony and discussion, the Committee voted S.213 out on a vote of 5-0. The bill aims to provide essential measures to mitigate future flood damages by requiring a state-issued permit for new constructions along river corridors and requires Vermont to manage a net gain of wetland acreage to enhance mitigation efforts.
In addition, S.213 dials in on dam safety by increasing oversight and establishing funding for maintenance and removal. The two Senate money committees will take up the bill before the full Senate votes.
Baby Bonds Proposal is Government Working at its Best:
Our Public Manager, Kristin Warner, penned an OpEd to support H.769, which would invest $3,200 for every Vermont child born on Medicaid. Individuals could claim their baby bond between ages 18 and 30, with the initial investment projected to grow to $11,500 by age 18 and $24,500 by age 30.
The funds must be used for wealth-building assets like buying a home in Vermont, pursuing higher education or job training, saving for retirement, and/or starting or investing in a business in Vermont. The bill is currently being taken up in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.
You can review the whole piece here in VTBiz. It also appeared in the Caledonian Record, Brattleboro Reformer, and the Bennington Banner.
Join the Child Care Campaign for Town Meeting Week:
Town Meeting Day is just around the corner (Tuesday, March 5), and we are calling for all hands on deck for Child Care in Vermont. Here are some of the most impactful ways that you, your friends, and your colleagues can participate and support the next phase of Let's Grow Kids' crucial work:
Sign up to represent the Child Care Campaign at your Town Meeting
Attend legislator events for Town Meeting Week and share gratitude for Act 76
Meet local Child Care Campaign supporters for coffee and conversation
Tell your story: Let's Grow Kids is collecting stories about what Act 76 means for Vermonters. Please share this link with friends, family, and neighbors impacted by Act 76. These stories help policymakers understand the impact of their work and help us to ensure effective implementation.
Are you a member with values-led news to share?
Has your organization accomplished something recently that is part of creating a just, thriving, and transformative economy that works for all people and the planet?
If so, we want to hear about it! Members are encouraged to post valued-led news at https://vbsr.org/post-news or share it directly with VBSR Communications Manager, Talley Summerlin, at talleys@vbsr.org.
