Southern Vermont Workforce Center of Excellence

The So.VT Workforce Center of Excellence is a hub-and-spoke model of relationships and resources, with the BDCC serving as a major convening entity between the Private, Public, and Social sectors. As the BDCC continues to be recognized throughout the State and Northeast for its Workforce Development initiatives, this innovative rural workforce model positions us to support all workforce efforts in Windham County with our staff and resources.

The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation has designed and is implementing a number of Workforce Development programs to increase the size and quality of the workforce throughout the Windham Region, a key components of Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies.

As an organization, our focus is on jobs and employment pathways that are high-wage, high-demand, high-need, and high-opportunity. We know that people need opportunity and employers need people.

To understand these opportunities, BDCC and SeVEDS launched a new Hiring Needs Assessment initiative in 2019 to identify promising occupational sectors and gather real-time data about related skills, career pathways, and opportunities in the coming 1-5 years. Visit our publications page to view these reports.

Workforce Center of Excellence Brochure 

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Explore the links below to learn more about the resources and programs supported by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation.

Pipelines & Pathways: Career Awareness Programming throughout Windham Regional High Schools

BDCC Recruitment Tips

Vermont Talent Pipeline Management: Demand-Driven Employer Solutions

Southern Vermont Young Professionals Group: Retaining & Attracting the next Workforce

Welcoming Workplaces – New Americans 

Meet the Staff: 

Alex Beck, Workforce and Education Program Manager

Christy Betit, High School Pipelines & Pathways Coordinator

Jack Spanierman, Workforce Education Specialist

Amir Samar, Project Manager

Aashna Kinkhabwala, Project Specialist

Awards:

The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation Workforce Center of Excellence project has won many awards. Some of the most notable are:

In 2021, BDCC’s high school readiness program, Pipelines and Pathways, won a Gold Rank in the Talent Development and Retention category from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

Northeast Economic Development Association (NEDA) Award

The NEDA Board of Directors and 2016 Annual Conference Awards Committee recognized the Windham Region Workforce Center of Excellence as our 2016 Program of the Year for communities smaller than 50,000 in population. NEDA defines the Program of the Year as a multi-phased, multi-disciplined and multi-year series of activities and projects that successfully achieve a goal established in your local community’s economic development strategic plan.

To learn more about the awards this program has won, see the Awards & Recognition page 

About Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC):

The Workforce Center of Excellence (WFCoE) is a workforce and career training and education initiative of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation that helps people take the next step in their career pathway. It supports youth and adults, with a special focus on New Americans and women, providing one-to-one assistance, supportive services and career readiness training. The WFCoE leverages BDCC’s relationships with employers and workforce development partners, supporting both sides of the labor exchange to connect people with opportunity, and employers with the talent they need. The WFCoE is funded in part by a Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant from the Northern Borders Regional Commission and US Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA).