Vermont Environmental News
VRWA Annual Trade Show & Conference May 1-2, 2013
Posted on April 25th, 2013
VEC will be exhibiting at the Vermont Rural Water Association's Annual Conference and Trade Show on May 2, 2013 at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vermont. Come see us at our booth!
Learn more about the VRWA by visiting www.vtruralwater.org.
New VEC Member Accuworx Grand Opening
Posted on April 23rd, 2013
Discover Accuworx USA
On Wednesday May 1, 2013
11am-4pm
Come for an hour, or stay all day!
21 Metro Way-Unit 2, Barre, VT 05641
11:30-12:00
Join Governor Peter Shumlin, Mayor Thom Lauzon, and other elected officials for a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
* Hors d'Oeuvres
* Virtual Golf Simulator
* Music
* Equipment Demonstrations
Please RSVP to jsimone@accuworx.com
For more information call 802 522-1306 ext 3
Directions available here: http://www.accuworx.com/
2013 Conference Presentations Posted
Posted on April 10th, 2013
The powerpoint presentations that were given recently at the 2nd Annual Water Quality Conference: Stormwater are available on the Past Presentations page accessible at the VEC Expo tab above. Thank you to our fantastic speakers and generous sponsors!
VECs 2nd Annual Water Quality Conference
Posted on February 20th, 2013
March 14, 2013
Main Street Landing
60 Lake Street
Burlington, VT
8am-3:30pm
This year's conference which will focus on changes in stormwater management affecting Vermont's cities & towns.Stormwater runoff is Vermont's most common cause of water pollution. Rainwater and snowmelt run off streets, lawns, farms, and construction and industrial sites where it picks up fertilizers, dirt, pesticides, oil and grease, and many other pollutants on the way to our streams, rivers, and lakes.
Learn how to attend, sponsor, or exhibit at the conference at http://vecgreen.com/vec-expo-trade-show/.
VEC's 2nd Annual Water Quality Conference March 14, 2013
Posted on January 16th, 2013
The Vermont Environmental Consortium is holding their 2nd Annual Water Quality Conference on March 14, 2013 at the Main Street Landing in Burlington, Vermont from 8am to 3pm. This year's conference will be focused on changes in stormwater management affecting Vermont's cities and towns. Save the date and look out for more information.
VEC's Annual Legislative Breakfast Feburary 5, 2013
Posted on January 10th, 2013
VEC is holding its Annual Legislative Breakfast to help kick off the conversation about green jobs and the environmental business sector during the legislative session. The event will be held in the State House Cafeteria, Tuesday February 5, 2013 from 7:45AM to 9:30AM. The event is free to those who attend.
VEC 2012 EXPO on Brownfields Successes at 100 River St. in Springfield (the former Fellows Gearshaper factory)
Posted on October 17th, 2012
October VEC Newsletter
Posted on August 17th, 2012
August VEC Newsletter
Posted on August 17th, 2012
VEC Annual Meeting/Brownfields Conference, Save the Date for the 2nd Annual Water Quality Conference and more!
June VEC Newsletter
Posted on July 18th, 2012
Changes Coming to VEC, Upcoming VEC Conferences, Spotlight on VEC Membership, and More!!!
April VEC Newsletter
Posted on April 12th, 2012
A message from Chuck Ross, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, and Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, David Mears, VEC Expo Water Quality Conference Presentations, VEC Expo Feature Articles, and VEC Members in the News!
2012 VEC Expo: Charting a Path to Successful Farms and Clean Water in Vermont
Posted on January 8th, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
McCardell Bicentennial Hall (Off of Route 125)
Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
In partnership with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Vermont Environmental Consortium (VEC) will hold a conference to consider what the public policy tools - including incentives, technical and financial assistance, and regulation - that have and will yield results addressing agricultural water pollution in Lake Champlain.
VEC Fall 2011 Federal Contracting Event with US GSA, VT PTAC & EPA
Posted on November 11th, 2011
On Friday, October 21st, VEC, the U.S. General Services Administration, the VT Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted an event at Norwich University to discuss business opportunities for VEC members and Vermont's Environmental Sector.
Presentations:
EPA_Federal_Contracting_Michael_Kenyon
GSA_Government_Contracting_Jerry_Smith
GSA_Small_Business_Federal_Contracting_Jerry_Smith
Download VEC Membership Application and Join VEC Today!
VEC Fall 2011 Federal Contracting Event with US GSA, VT PTAC & EPA, Oct 21, 2011 posted on
Posted on September 9th, 2011
On Friday, October 21st, VEC, the U.S. General Services Administration, the VT Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host an event at Norwich University to discuss business opportunities for VEC members and Vermont's Environmental Sector. Senator Leahy's office, the Vermont Agency of Commerce, and the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center all support this event and effort to help Vermont businesses better understand the federal contracting process and provide feedback from Vermont businesses to GSA.
Become a Sponsor and Download Sponsorship Form
To learn more, contact Chris Carrigan, info@vecgreen.com.
Download VEC Membership Application and Join VEC Today!
VEC, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), VT PTAC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Present Federal Contracting for a Sustainable Future
Friday, October 21st, 2011
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Milano Ballroom, Crawford Hall
Norwich University
158 Harmon Drive
Northfield, VT 05663
Agenda:
8:30 a.m. Sign in, coffee and refreshments and networking with exhibitors and attendees
9:00 - 9:30 a.m. Welcoming Remarks by Dr. Richard W. Schneider, President, Norwich University and Jill Michaels, President, Vermont Environmental Consortium
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. Panel Discussion with Curt Spalding, New England Regional Administrator, EPA, and Robert Zarnetske,Regional Administrator,
GSA Federal Priorities for supporting green industries (Executive Orders, legislation and other federal energy requirements)
GSA Greening the Supply Chain Partnership
EPA Sustainability Initiatives
10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Break and networking with exhibitors and attendees
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Businesses Going Green
GSA Renewable Energy Initiatives (overview and lessons learned)
Transportation Initiatives
Federal Buildings New and Retrofitted
Alternative Energy Sources and Delivery Systems
11:00 - 12 Noon Doing Business with the Federal Government
How to get on the GSA Schedule
How to market your Schedule contract to federal agencies, including: specific regional projects to date; information for companies with contracts to begin the process or to go to market; and marketing information on how to identify and qualify opportunities for companies applying for a Schedule contract.
12 Noon - 1:00 p.m. Lunch and networking
1:00 p.m.Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center (VT PTAC) Where Business and Government Opportunities Connect. Robin Miller, Director of the VT PTAC will explain how the VT PTAC can assist your business with government contracting.
1:30 p.m. Annual VEC Member Meeting
Results Are In! VEC Defines Environmental Business Sector Workforce Training Needs and Opportunities with Green Survey
Posted on December 10th, 2010
The Vermont Environmental Consortium (VEC) has conducted an important survey of Vermont's Environmental Sector and the results are in. The project was funded by grants from the Vermont Community Foundation and the Redducs Foundation. The purpose of the survey was to establish current conditions with respect to environmental business education and training needs and the opportunities and resources available in Vermont. The survey also addressed sustainability practices of businesses and educational institutions and the value to members and potential members of the Vermont Environmental Consortium. Responses were received from 250 firms and 100 educational and training institutions. Key Findings
EMPLOYEES AND REVENUE: Nearly 19,500 people are directly employed by responding firms in Vermont's environmental sector. While the majority of firms have fewer than four employees, 13% of firms reported more than 100 employees. Forty percent of firms earn less than $250,000 in annual revenue while 12% report annual revenue of $2 million or more.
GROWING VT'S ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR: One of the ways in which Vermont's environmental sector can grow is by increasing the value of goods and services exported by Vermont firms to other states and countries. Sixty percent of firms provide goods or services outside of Vermont, and close to 20% of firms provide goods or services outside of the United States. Over half the responding firms expect to grow their environmental business over the next five years with only 5% expecting to shrink.
ACCESS TO GREEN WORKFORCE: Vermont firms rely on a mix of specialized and non-specialized workers. Although more than half of firms report that lack of access to specialized employees limits their growth, growing the sector will require a tiered labor force with high, middle and entry level skills. Currently, nearly one out of every five firms report difficulty filling project manager positions and one out of six can't find qualified field technicians. A quarter of all firms find their growth stymied by lack of access to support services. One-third of all Vermont environmental firms contract for support services with out-of-state companies, leaking dollars from Vermont.
GREEN TRAINING: Over one-third of firms indicated there was training that would be useful to them that they have not been able to find in Vermont, identifying 68 different types of trainings. Fewer than a quarter of Vermont education and training respondents reported collaborating with Vermont environmental sector businesses to develop training courses or programs. Technical High Schools were the most likely type of institution to have collaborated. In general, Vermont education and training institutions report that more education and training options of relevance to firms in the environmental sector are directed toward young people (college age and below) than toward professionals. There are forty education/training topics required by firms for which there are no continuing education options available. In addition, there are several certifications needed by Vermont firms that are not being offered by responding institutions.
SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES: The majority of firms reported that green and sustainable practices are very important to them and more than 80% of firms reported adopting recycling and energy efficiency practices. One quarter of firms are certified by a third party certifying organization. Examples of certifications include: BPI Building Performance Institute, Forest Stewardship Council and organic certifications.
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