BDCC/SeVEDS 2023 Annual Meeting Celebrates Community Leaders
BDCC & SeVEDS Annual Meeting Celebrates Community Leaders
Local employers receive 2023 honors; Stratton Foundation, Metcalfe, and Steckler celebrated for community contributions
BRATTLEBORO, VT – The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) and Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) hosted their joint annual meeting at the BDCC Business Park in Brattleboro on October 5. The event celebrated accomplishments of the past year and the many partnerships that make economic development possible in our region. Highlights from the past year can be found in BDCC’s annual report which has just been released online at https://brattleborodevelopment.com/bdcc-seveds-annual-reports/.
Following remarks by BDCC President Craig Miskovich and Executive Director Adam Grinold, the evening’s planned program was paused for an announcement by Chris Saunders, federal co-chair of the Northern Border Regional Commission. Saunders lauded BDCC’s workforce development efforts in southeastern Vermont, and announced a $1M multi-year grant to support BDCC’s Workforce Center of Excellence (WFCOE). With this funding, BDCC will expand access to good jobs in Southern Vermont, building equity by empowering the people who power the economy, increasing economic mobility among underserved people, and connecting employers with the talent they need.
As the program continued, Grinold introduced the BDCC staff, who provided highlights of their work over the past year. The evening’s keynote speaker, Vermont’s State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, then spoke on the theme of “Housing as Economic Development.” Pieciak highlighted the constraint that Vermont’s lack of housing places on employers’ ability to operate – and expand – across the state. He praised recent legislation that, coupled with increased funding, he hopes will unlock increased opportunities for private development, and urged all attendees to join the quest for more solutions in the upcoming legislative session.
Several awards were presented for outstanding contributions to Southern Vermont.
SeVEDS Chairwoman Wendy Harrison was joined by John Doty, longtime principal and educator, to present three area employers – M&T Bank, GS Precision, and C&S Wholesalers – with the 2023 SeVEDS Leadership Award for excellence in economic development. All have made a three year pledge to fund BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways program which helps Vermont students successfully prepare for and access employment opportunities.
The Stratton Foundation was presented with a Southern Vermont Recovery Champion Award by Laura Sibilia, BDCC’s Director of Regional Economic Development Strategies (and VT Representative). Sibilia praised the Foundation for their work providing immediate and substantial support for businesses and people, both after Tropical Storm Irene and this year’s flooding events.
Ed Metcalfe, founder of the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum and owner of Vermont Distillers, was presented with the BDCC Founders Award by BDCC Board chair Craig Miskovich. In addition to his multiple entrepreneurial pursuits, Metcalfe is a longtime advocate of environmental education and has given decades of service to area planning commissions and school boards.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Phil Steckler, Principal and Director of Country Business, Inc. Aside from his decades of professional work helping manage ownership transitions of privately held businesses, Phil was recognized for his extensive community service and leadership. Since 1992, Phil has also been a member of the BDCC Executive Board, although his affiliation actually began in 1985 as a member of the corporation. Steckler served as president of BDCC from 1999 to 2001.
