This issue of Chamber Chatter is gladly sponsored by:

For only $200 a year, see your business featured here four times a month in this weekly newsletter sent to over 1800 subscribers by emailing info@centralvt.com. Use your company logo, or an image of a product or promotional offering, along with a live link to your website!

If you would like to purchase a 50/50 raffle ticket to benefit Rock City, without registering for the mixer, you can do so by clicking here. Drawing will take place during the Chestnut Place Holiday Mixer. Attendance is not required in order to win.

Rock City is Barre's one and only rock and soul chorus group that performs twice a year to benefit local causes. They have donated thousand of dollars over the years to local non-profit organizations, and they will be performing at the Holiday Mixer!

Save The Date!

Wednesday, January 18th- Chamber Annual Meeting. Barre Opera House. Live entertainment. 5-7pm.

More details and registration to follow

Member 2 Member Discounts

Utilize your fellow Chamber members to give and receive discounts for products or services to your business.

Deals will be accessible to Chamber members on the regional website.

Login to centralvt.com to check out the deals being offered exclusively to Chamber members by Staples- centralvt.com/stapleschamberdiscounts (10% off in store purchases, 30% off print and marketing purchases!), CIT, and the Country Club of Barre.

Send us your offerings to be included!

This issue of Chamber Chatter is gladly sponsored by:

For only $200 a year, see your business featured here four times a month in this weekly newsletter sent to over 1600 subscribers by emailing info@centralvt.com. Use your company logo, or an image of a product or promotional offering, along with a live link to your website!

ANNOUNCING VACEPlus RATES FOR 2023

As Vermont businesses struggle to recruit and retain talent in a competitive labor market, the VACEPlus Insurance program can help small businesses offer quality employee benefits while also enjoying the administrative flexibility and simplicity that comes from working with a local partner.

We are pleased to announce the 2023 VACE insurance plans and rates and which includes the addition of a new vision insurance plan! The VACE VSP plan will continue to be offered next year, with a modest rate increase, but we've also added a DeltaVision plan on the EyeMed network. By offering two vision plans with distinct provider networks, our goal is to provide a solution to VSPs recent network changes that have impacted some of our members. Adding DeltaVision also provides those members in less populated areas with the ability to shop vision plans and networks based on what's available to them locally. 

 

Please see our Vision Plan Comparison file for more details on this exciting new benefit! More details on the benefits of both vision plans as well as the dental plan are also attached, and can be found on our website at www.vaceinsurance.com.

 

We are also happy to announce there will be no change to the 2023 dental plans or rates. 

 

Please see below for the approved 2023 VACEPlus insurance program rates along with the associated monthly marketing shares. For the third year in a row, the Chamber Benefits, Inc. Board of Directors has approved a doubling of all marketing shares for the Calendar Year 2023. We acknowledge that times are still difficult and memberships are still in recovery mode. We hope this extra amount will help lessen the financial strain from the pandemic on all of us.

2023 Open Enrollment

 

As in previous years, we will automatically renew VACE dental and VSP accounts and keep members in their current plan selection unless we hear otherwise. All group-level joinder forms and employee enrollment and change forms can be found on our website. www.vaceinsurance.com.

Important note about administration: Northeast Delta Dental (NEDD) will manage the enrollment, eligibility and invoicing for chamber members who elect DeltaVision. There is no change for VACE Dental and VSP; VACE will continue to manage enrollment, eligibility and invoicing for those plans. Please see the matrix below for more detail. This information will also be communicated to agents and employer groups.

 

VACE will accept open enrollment changes until December 15^th, 2022. Please communicate all policy additions, terminations, and coverage changes to VACE using the appropriate forms available on our website, www.vaceinsurance.com. Most open enrollment changes will be reflected on the February invoice.

 

New business for January 2023 will be accepted by VACE and NEDD (for the DeltaVision product only) until January 6, 2023.

 

The VACE office will be closed from December 26^th through January 2^nd. Any paperwork or communications received during that time will be addressed on or after January 3, 2023.

 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. Thank you for your continued support of the VACEPlus Insurance program!

MEMBER NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Vermont Chamber Wants to Hear from You!

Inform Our 2023 Policy Agenda

The countdown to the 2023 legislative session has begun, and the Vermont Chamber's advocacy team is preparing by meeting with policy leaders, partner organizations, and businesses. As we work to formulate our 2023 policy agenda, we welcome your input. Please take a moment to review this three-question survey and tell us your story.

Take the Survey

Apply for Business Relief

VEDA Short-Term Forgivable Loan Program: This program is open and will provide financial assistance to businesses that continue to experience current and ongoing harm due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While businesses in the travel and tourism, restaurants, lodging, childcare, and agriculture sectors and BIPOC-owned businesses were prioritized, the application is open to all business sectors as of November 1.

 

 

COVID Paid Leave Grant Program: The application window opening for this program has been delayed. The delayed opening date will not change the total amount of time that the application window will be open. Employers must demonstrate the dates each employee was out due to COVID, the total and hourly sick leave wages paid to each employee out due to COVID, and provide documentation to support that the leave was due to eligible COVID-related reasons.

 

ATTENTION:

Montpelier Businesses & Restaurants!!!

The City of Montpelier, in collaboration with the Central VT Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce the return of the annual Welcome Back Legislators Reception following a two year hiatus due to Covid!

The reception is on Thursday, January 26th, 2023.

This is an opportunity for Montpelier businesses to meet and greet the incoming legislators, and for Montpelier restaurants to showcase the amazing food options available in the Capitol City where many legislators will spend much of this legislative session.

If you have a business or restaurant in Montpelier and are interested in participating, please contact Tonya@centralvt.com or call 802-229-5711 today to be sure you are included!

Hurry in for these great November deals at your local Montpelier Agway Farm & Garden!

This issue of Chamber Chatter is gladly sponsored by:

For only $200 a year, see your business featured here four times a month in this weekly newsletter sent to over 1600 subscribers by emailing info@centralvt.com. Use your company logo, or an image of a product or promotional offering, along with a live link to your website!

Lost Nation Theater Presents

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story

Performed by Willem Lange

7pm Friday, December 16, 2022

Famed & beloved Yankee storyteller Willem Lange is back- Live and On Stage(and livestreamed) at Lost Nation Theater performing his reading of "A Christmas Carol: a ghost story" by Charles Dickens. Lange uses the cutting of the novel Dickens himself used when performing the tale.

Emmy-winner Lange's tradition of reading Dickens' Christmas Carol began in 1975. He's always performs to benefit “The Haven” in the Upper Valley. In addition to Lange donating his fee to The Haven, LNT will donate a percentage of its proceeds to Just Basics' Food Pantry and Good Samaritan Shelter.

For more information and to get your tickets visit lostnationtheater.org

Also Presented by Lost Nation Theater

Stories for the Season

A Special Holiday Inspired, one-night only event

7pm Wednesday, December 21st

Free! Donations Welcome!

Join favorite LNT artists and fans for cozy dramatic readings of stories and songs from around the world that celebrate the return of the light from a host of traditions. Performers include The Shidaa Project, Shanda Williams, Michel Kabay, Maggie York, Bryan Blanchette, Taryn Noelle and Ben Matchstick.

Stories are suitable for all ages and fun for the whole family.

This issue of Chamber Chatter is gladly sponsored by:

For only $200 a year, see your business featured here four times a month in this weekly newsletter sent to over 1600 subscribers by emailing info@centralvt.com. Use your company logo, or an image of a product or promotional offering, along with a live link to your website!

January 30, 2023 - 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

The Vermont Economic Conference is back in person for 2023 and will provide an essential economic foundation for the year ahead. The robust agenda features star speakers and seminars dedicated to providing an in-depth look at national, global, and state perspectives on the economy as well as the latest economic indicators for business growth.

 

The event will also feature a presentation of the 2022 Outstanding Business of the Year Award to recipient Hickok & Boardman Insurance Group.

VEDA is now accepting applications from businesses in priority sectors. On October 15, 2022, the program is scheduled to open to all sectors. Please visit the VEDA website to review the FLP Instructions and the FLP Calculator Tool (download) and determine your Eligibility and an Estimated Tentative Loan Amount.

The VEDA Short Term Forgivable Loan Program will provide financial assistance to businesses that continue to experience current and on-going economic harm due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

PRIORITY SECTORS: In accordance with guidelines developed by the State, VEDA will initially accept applications from the following industry sectors and business owners:

·    Travel & Tourism

·    Restaurants and Eating Establishments

·    Lodging

·    Childcare

·    Agriculture

·    BIPOC owned businesses in all industry sectors

This issue of Chamber Chatter is gladly sponsored by:

For only $200 a year, see your business featured here four times a month in this weekly newsletter sent to over 1600 subscribers by emailing info@centralvt.com. Use your company logo, or an image of a product or promotional offering, along with a live link to your website!

Beaulieu Place Conference Rooms

Open for Meetings & Events

The conference rooms at the Central VT Chamber offices, also known as Beaulieu Place, are available for meetings and events again!

Two conference rooms separated by a fold away wall can host meetings and events from just a few people to over 40. Centrally located in a prime space just off exit 7 from I-89, with free parking, coffee/tea, LCD projector, speakerphone and more, what more could you ask for in a conference room space?!

For more information on these meeting rooms and rates, click here.

We are leaving it up to the discretion of users to monitor attendance and social distancing while meeting at Beaulieu Place.

Don't hesitate as dates are filling up quickly and reserved on a first come, first served basis.

Reserve your next meeting or event by calling 229-5711 or email tonya@centralvt.com. We look forward to hosting you in our great space!

Help Us Work For You!

Are you looking for more ways to promote your products, services, sales and deals? Let your Chamber membership work for you!

Send the Chamber images and information on your goods and services so we can share on our social media campaign and among our networks.

Send to Tonya@centralvt.com so we can help you make the most of your Chamber membership!

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Be sure to Like, Follow and Share our facebook page facebook.com/centralvermontchamber

Get Your News Out There!

 

If you have an upcoming event, product promotion, or congratulations you would like to share, please send your press releases to The Chamber at info@centralvt.com so we can update others on news and happenings with your business.

Show Your Chamber Pride!

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When you advertise your business in the local media, be sure to include that you are a proud member of the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce!

This issue of Chamber Chatter is gladly sponsored by:

For only $200 a year, see your business featured here four times a month in this weekly newsletter sent to over 1600 subscribers by emailing info@centralvt.com. Use your company logo, or an image of a product or promotional offering, along with a live link to your website!

Thank you,

Central Vermont Chamber

802-229-5711