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Hotspots

Commercial Lending for Local Businesses: Sarah Chadburn (Community National Bank) and Ellen Stanley (Passumpsic Bank) will offer a brief overview of accessing loans for commercial lending.

Newport Recreation Economy Collaborative: a presentation on Newport’s collective effort to build up the four-season outdoor recreation economy and what it offers local businesses

CANUSA Arts 360: Come hear local artists and performing artists from the “micro-region’s binational effort to build a vibrant arts scene for locals and visitors

Newport’s Downtown/Waterfront Master Plan: a presentation by Dave Laforce, chair of Newport Downtown Development’s “Economic Development Task Force” that is working with the City of Newport to create a long-term strategy for building up Newport’s Downtown

Newport on the Rise: An overview of Newport’s comprehensive community development strategies by NDD Director Rick Ufford-Chase

Zoning and Permit Requirements for Newport Businesses: A presentation by Frank Cheney (Director of Newport Zoning and Planning) and John Monette (Chair of Planning and Zoning Commission) on the bylaw revisions under way to make Newport hospitable to new and expanding businesses

How Can Co-Working Space Support my Business?: a presentation by Rick Woodward of The Work Commons on using co-working space to support remote workers who choose to live in Newport

Real Estate 101 for Leasing/Buying Commercial Lending Space: Megan Maclure (Farm and Forest Century 21) and Ryan Pronto (Jim Campbell Real Estate) will offer the basics on understanding commercial leases and an overview of potential opportunities in Newport

Access to Earned Media in a Small Town Environment: Tabitha Armstrong (Newport Daily Express) and Joseph Gresser (The Chronicle) will share the advantages of media coverage in the Northern NEK

Cross-Border Movement of Goods on the VT Border: Local Businessman Denis Chenette will describe the ins and outs of moving goods back and forth across the Quebec/Vermont border.

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Business Tours

Eden Specialty Ciders: Anchoring Newport’s Main Street, Eden’s Tasting bar and bottling operation is the sister to the Eden Orchard. The company was founded in 2007 by Eleanor and Albert Leger, and now operates in partnership with Shelburne Vineyard and IAPETUS. This tour is located within a two minute walk from The Work Commons.

Built By Newport: This high-end and highly automated furniture manufacturing facility located on West Main Street celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023. Second generation Owner/Operators Dave and Julie Laforce and their team of fifty employees have continued this important family-owned business and deepened their commitment to be a part of Newport’s revitalization. This tour is within a 3 minute drive or a 10 minute walk from the Work Commons.

Memphremagog Science and Education Center: Memphremagog Community Maritime, a local non-profit, is expanding its cruises to include a year-round facility that focuses on educating local kids from the Northern NEK’s schools as well as visitors to the area about the rich marine life of Lake Memphremagog. This tour will take place on a short cruise aboard the Northern Star, leaving from the Gateway Center at the City Marina – a 5-minute walk from The Work Commons. (Note: There is a fee of $25 for this Tour to cover the cost of boat operations to be paid at boat, and participants must register in advance.)

North Country Career Center: Newport’s State of the Art Tech School offers High School students high quality workforce training in thirteen different areas. Join Director Gwen Bailey-Rowe and her staff for a tour of the facility and learn about the training they offer to support Newport’s workforce development. This tour is located less than 10 minutes from The Work Commons by car. 

23 E Main St: Visit this “Live Work” training project, which is a joint effort between North Country Career Center and Newport Downtown Development. Students are responsible for rehabilitating a house on the edge of Newport’s downtown. Tour the house and meet with the students and teacher from the Building Trades Program to learn about Newport’s effort to develop a vibrant building trades workforce. Participants can walk to the site in fifteen minutes, or park at Passumpsic Bank located across the street (no parking available on site).

Downtown Newportl: Join the Director of Newport Downtown Development for a Main Street tour showing off available properties and sharing future development plans for Downtown.