VBSR Celebrates National Small Business Week in Vermont

VBSR Member Businesses Support their Communities, our Environment, and our Economy

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility kicked-off National Small Business Week this morning with a tour of Gordon’s Window Décor’s manufacturing facility and showroom in Williston along with representatives from the Small Business Administration, Attorney General T.J. Donovan, and Congressman Peter Welch. Gordon’s Window Décor, a VBSR member, was founded in Vermont in 1985, one of their first orders was repairing blinds for another VBSR member the University of Vermont. Today, Gordon’s products are made to last “These shades don’t ever end up in landfills” says Kelly Conklin, President, holding a blind sent in for repair which was originally manufactured by the company in 1998.

“We are so proud of the work that our members do in their industries, communities, and workplaces supporting a triple-bottom-line business ethic in the state” said Local First Vermont Program Manager Melissa Kosmaczewski, “Local businesses like these are vital to our state economy.” According to the company founder Gordon Clements over 15,000 energy efficient blinds were installed at Cornell University alone.

The team at Gordon’s has been innovating new sustainable product lines, such as solar powered mechanized blinds and shades – which they recently installed at a school in Berlin, VT. “Think about the lifetime impact of these energy efficient products that are made to last and are being manufactured and sold on an institutional scale” said VBSR Communications Manager Samantha Sheehan.

Each year since 1963, there has been a celebration of National Small Business Week. This year National Small Business Week will be recognized April 29 – May 5 with events across the country. Sascha Mayer and Christine Dodson of VBSR member business Mamava are the 2018 Vermont Small Business Person of the Year and is competing for the national prize during a ceremony in Washington, D.C, today – April 30th.

VBSR will continue to promote small businesses this week, as they do year-round through the Local First Vermont Program and the Buy Local Resource Book and Mobile App.

 

VBSR is a statewide, non-profit business association with a mission to advance a business ethic that values people and planet as much as profit. Through economic development, education, public influence, and networking, VBSR strives to help 750+ members set a high standard for protecting the natural, human, and economic environments of the state’s residents, while remaining profitable. Learn more or join the cause at www.vbsr.org.