Helping businesses and nonprofits in small VT towns use online tools to spur economic development and improve disaster resilience.
By Mary McClements, Coordinator of Academic Services-Career Training Programs at CCV Blake dropped out of school when he was sixteen and, for several years, tried to make a living on minimum wage which he just wasn’t able to do. He tried to start his own business, but with no real skills, he wasn’t able to…
Vermont’s strength is a direct result of the strength of the community organizations that step up in time of need, or provide ongoing assistance to members of the community in need. While these organizations are often small and cover only a few towns, it is still beneficial for them to have a web presence that…
Offering highly accessible digital workforce education is a key part of the Vermont Digital Economy Project. Project partner Microsoft is delivering the cutting-edge Microsoft IT Academy Program ® (ITA) to provide free online digital workforce education through selected Vermont institutions and libraries. After careful consideration, the project team has selected the Community College of Vermont’s…
All of this rain has reminded me how important it is that our Vermont Digital Economy Project will bring Front Porch Forum to every town in Vermont that wants one. This free community-building service allows neighbors to connect with one another in a moderated setting in which members are clearly identified as they share postings. These forums help…
This article is written by Patrick Ripley, Director of e-Commerce for VtSBDC Social media has become as much a part of daily life for Vermont small business owners and nonprofit organizations as a symbol of storefront signage, careful accounting practices, quality products and services, hospitality and good ole fashioned Green Mountain charm. More and more…
Is your organization in need of a social media makeover? Nonprofit Advisor and Social Media “Surgeon” Rob Fish discussed social media strategy with “patient” Jahnine Spaulding, Outreach Coordinator of Vermont Operation: Military Kids (VT OMK) at a recent Social Media Surgery in Burlington. A resilient organization has mastered a full range of communication tools. As…
As part of the Vermont Digital Economy grant, every town in Vermont now has access to a Front Porch Forum. Front Porch Forum (FPF) provides a simple way for neighborhood connections to begin. This service creates an online place for neighbors to communicate in conversations that spill over into the sidewalks, general stores, and actual front…
The municipal website collaboration and creation project was run by the Snelling Center for Government. The mission of the Snelling Center is to foster responsible and ethical civic leadership, encourage public service by private citizens, and promote informed citizen participation in shaping public policy in Vermont. The Snelling Center provided assistance to towns on best practices,…
The Internet Interns program began as part of e-Vermont, and continued through the Digital Economy Project. In this program the Vermont State Colleges connected public libraries in towns across Vermont with Internet Interns. These student interns worked for 4-8 hours a week, providing one-on-one assistance to patrons to answer their Internet questions as well as collaborating…
Working with the Vermont Small Business Development Center we helped small businesses become more digitally active through workshops and one on one advising. Looking to improve your business' use of Digital Tools? Read Our Guide on "Business Tools" Here. Types of Workshops We Offered: Cloud Computing An interactive training session that introduced participants to various cloud…