Vermont Chamber, NBT Bank to host free economic insights webinar
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce and NBT Bank will host a free Economic Insights online seminar on Thursday, November 12, featuring Kenneth J. Entenmann, CFA®, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economist at NBT Wealth Management.
At a time when businesses are navigating interest rates, inflation, tariffs, labor market shifts, consumer spending, and market volatility, Entenmann will help translate the latest economic signals into practical insight for Vermont employers and business leaders. At the same time, rapid advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping investment markets, productivity, and long-term economic expectations, creating new opportunities alongside new uncertainty.
For Vermont employers, these national economic forces have immediate consequences. They influence financing costs, consumer spending, hiring decisions, capital investments, and business planning. Businesses and organizations that understand the signals driving today’s economy will be better positioned to adapt and make informed decisions in an increasingly unpredictable environment. During the webinar, Entenmann will provide clear, data-informed perspectives on the economic conditions’ businesses are facing now and what they should be watching into the new year.
“In a rapidly changing economy, timely insight is essential to making smart business decisions,” said Amy Spear, President of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. “This conversation will cut through the noise and give Vermont employers the economic perspective they need to navigate uncertainty, plan with confidence, and position their businesses for growth.”
Entenmann brings more than 33 years of investment experience and oversees more than $6 billion in assets under management and administration across Trust, Custody, Retirement, Institutional, and Individual accounts. Prior to joining NBT Bank, he served as Director of Investment Management at Alliance Bank. He holds a bachelor’s degree in applied economics and business management from Cornell University, an MBA from the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Rochester, and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation.
The Economic Insights webinar series, powered by NBT Bank, connects Vermont businesses with timely economic analysis and practical guidance to support sound planning and decision-making in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Registration is free and open to all.
Partnership fuels Southern Vermont business growth
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) welcomed representatives from the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) to BDCC’s Cotton Mill offices on September 25th for a VEDA Board of Directors meeting.
The day provided an opportunity to celebrate decades of partnership between these two organizations – VEDA as the statewide economic development finance lender, working alongside BDCC as the local partner serving southeastern Vermont. In the 1980s, VEDA first helped to finance BDCC investment in the Cotton Mill. The results of that partnership are visible throughout the campus today, which now houses more than 35 tenant businesses across 300,000 square feet, supporting more than 220 jobs. VEDA Board members toured the Cotton Mill facility to see firsthand how VEDA investment has directly impacted local entrepreneurs and employers, and the regional economy.
“When opportunities emerge quickly in our region, whether a business is looking to expand, relocate, or pursue a project that requires creative financing, VEDA’s partnership and nimble approach have enabled BDCC to respond quickly and help turn those opportunities into economic growth. Their flexibility and commitment have allowed us to support businesses across Southern Vermont in ways that simply would not have been possible otherwise. Our region is stronger because of this partnership,” says BDCC Executive Director Adam Grinold.
VEDA financing has helped BDCC to acquire, retrofit and expand its Cotton Mill and Business Park over the years, serving one tenant at a time. BDCC and VEDA have also partnered to create funding solutions for local businesses and non-profits, like Sidehill Farm, Swiss Precision, WheelPad and NECCA.
The visit included a stop at Swiss Precision, founded in 1990 by Willy Buhlmann and a BDCC tenant in the Cotton Mill for more than three decades. The company manufactures precision-machined components for medical, aerospace, optical, and geotechnical customers. Upon Buhlmann’s retirement, ownership transferred to Geokon; Swiss Precision’s largest customer and an employee-owned (ESOP) company. Today, Swiss Precision continues to grow in the Cotton Mill under employee ownership, providing another example of how BDCC’s business parks help keep strong companies and quality manufacturing jobs in Southern Vermont.
“Working with BDCC is always a pleasure,” says VEDA CEO Joan Goldstein. “Adam and his talented team move quickly to act on opportunities in the region, and it shows. VEDA’s mission is to support economic development throughout Vermont and BDCC is an excellent partner in that endeavor.”
As both organizations look to the future, they affirm a shared commitment to supporting local businesses, expanding economic opportunity, and investing in the long-term vitality of the region. Both organizations look forward to continuing to invest alongside one another in the companies and communities that call Southern Vermont home.
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