Sisterhood of the Dreaded Elevator Pitch

VT Works for Women, Mercy Connections, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, and Center for Women & Enterprise are hosting Sisterhood of the Dreaded Elevator Pitch on Friday, May 17, 2024 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM online via Zoom. Learn how to craft an elevator pitch that centers your passion and your purpose. We welcome all people who identify as women regardless of assignment at birth, or gender-expansive folks who are comfortable in a woman-centered space.

Financial Futures Programs Workshop/Class Virtual

Career Empowerment Day 2024

Champlain College, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, HireAbility, Mercy Connections, Vermont Adult Learning, and VT Works for Women are hosting our first annual Career Empowerment Day on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Vermont Adult Learning (77 College St) in Burlington.

Financial Futures Programs In-person

Chittenden County Regional Housing Convening

Please join the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) and the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) for the next Chittenden County Regional Housing Convening on Thursday, April 18th at 5:30pm at Hula (50 Lakeside Ave., Burlington)!

Fair Housing Month Keynote: Rothstein Presentation & Discussion

Fair Housing Month kickoff! Join us for our KeyNote event with Richard & Leah Rothstein, authors of Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law. Presentation, discussion, and book signing, followed by a happy hour with free refreshments, cash bar, and music!

Housing Advocacy Programs In-person Workshop/Class

Business Plan Writing

If you are interested in starting a business and have questions on writing a business plan, this session is for you! Join us for a conversation with our business counselor John Gergely who will help guide you through the process. In this session, John will: Introduce what goes into creating a business plan; Review examples of different templates you might use; Answer your questions!

Financial Futures Programs Workshop/Class

Community Engagement for Municipal Decision Making

Emily Heymann, Senior Planner of Williston, will be sharing tools for effective community engagement in municipal decisions, and strategies for addressing citizen concerns. This workshop is open to everyone and will be recorded. Register in advance.

Housing Advocacy Programs Event

Housing Committee Drop In

Monthly drop-in conversations for Housing Committee members to share resources, successes, and challenges. This month's conversation will focus on WORKSHOPS & RESOURCES housing committees would like to see in the new year.

Housing Advocacy Programs Event

ChatGPT & AI: Level Up Your Marketing & Content Creation in 2024

I'm sure you've heard of AI and ChatGPT, but do you know how to use it to create website content, social media posts, and email blasts that are trained to sound just like your brand? Invest 90 minutes with industry expert Mike Lannen of Eternity Marketing to guide you through artificial intelligence and how it can help your business. This event is in-person at the DoubleTree in Burlington, Vermont, but may be joined via Zoom.

Financial Futures Programs In-person Virtual

Lunch with Lenders: Exploring Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity/Financial Futures Program, Vermont’s Small Business Administration, and The Vermont Professionals of Color Network invite you to Lunch with Lenders: Exploring Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses on Saturday, February 3rd from 10am – 1pm at the O’Brien Center in Winooski. This business-oriented celebration of Black History Month brings together community members and lenders (both traditional and non-traditional) for conversations on accessing Capital. Bring your questions and come ready to share your experience! Lunch will be provided.

Financial Futures Programs Event

Business Taxes Webinar

Come learn about the elements of taxes and how to report them as a business owner. Some of the topics to be covered: Organizational structure and effect on taxes Types of taxes Self-employment Tax Sales Tax Income Taxes (Federal and Vermont) Do I need an EIN? What’s a Schedule C? Do I need an Accountant? John is not a CPA and cannot offer specific tax advice, but he has over 35 years of business experience and will help you understand tax basics.

Financial Futures Programs Workshop/Class

VT Law School: Financial Risk Management Webinar

Are you a one-person show or a small business owner taking the plunge into entrepreneurship, or taking the next step to grow your business? In this webinar, we will break down the financial risks you might face and how to handle them. Professor Nicole Killoran from Vermont Law and Graduate School, along with a panel of students, will guide you through the essential knowledge you need when it comes to loans, business partnerships, liability risks, insurance, and handling debt. Please join us as we help you discover how to spot and get ready for potential financial pitfalls in your microbusiness, and gain insights into what happens when you take on debt and how debt collections work.

Sisterhood of the Dreaded Elevator Pitch

VT Works for Women, Mercy Connections, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, and Center for Women & Enterprise are hosting Sisterhood of the Dreaded Elevator Pitch on Friday, December 15, 2023 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM at the O’Brien Community Center in Winooski.

Financial Futures Programs Community Event In-person

Password Management Webinar

In this class, you will get an overview of scams, learn tips for safety, be able to identify secure sites, and learn how to create unique and complex passwords. This class is in partnership with Technology4Tomorrow, and is the third in a series of four.

Tips and Strategies for a Safer Online Shopping Experience Webinar

In this class, you will learn simple and effective security measures that you can take to protect your personal and financial information so that you can enjoy online shopping with peace of mind. This class is in partnership with Technology4Tomorrow, and is the fourth in a series of four.

VT Law School: Contracts Webinar

What’s In a Good Contract, and Why Do They Go Wrong? How can businesses make contracts useful tools? Why do contracts go wrong, and what happens when they do? Vermont Law and Graduate School Professor Nicole Killoran and a panel of experts will explain in this webinar contract basics, when and why to put things in writing, setting customer expectations, and how contracts can protect your business. They will also explain the other side of contracts—what mistakes lead to lawsuits, what happens when someone breaks a contract, and how to navigate disputes.

Avoiding Scams and Financial Fraud

Learn how to spot and avoid scams and financial fraud so you may protect yourself and your family. Knowledge is power! It is important to safeguard your personal and financial information to minimize the risk of financial exploitation and identity theft. If you are educated about the latest frauds and scams, you will be well prepared with tools to recognize potential red flags.

Financial Futures Programs Workshop/Class

Small Business Development

This class is in-person at the South Burlington Public Library (180 Market St, South Burlington, VT 05403) Join CVOEO's Micro Business Development Program for an evening of conversation on what goes into starting a business. Our Business Coach will help you identify the characteristics of successful small business owners, assess your own experience with small businesses, and examine your own personal strengths and resources. If starting a business has been on your mind, this is the session for you!

VT Law School: Employment Webinar

Taking the leap to hire your first employee as a business owner is both thrilling and daunting. Navigating the complexities of employment laws—from onboarding to handling taxes and addressing unemployment claims—can be a challenge. Join Vermont Law and Graduate School's Professor Nicole Killoran, alongside VLGS’ Entrepreneurial Legal Lab students, in this informative webinar. Together, they'll explain these legal hurdles, supporting you as you plan the expansion of your business with confidence and clarity.

North by Northeast

We are excited to announce that registration is open for North by Northeast: Navigating Your Small Business taking place on September 30, 2023 at Vermont State University’s Randolph Center. As co-hosts, we have joined together with our Community Navigator Pilot Program’s (CNPP) partners to support the growth of small businesses in Vermont, and to ensure that every small business owner knows about and has access to the services and support available to help you succeed. Whether you are a small business owner, a solo-preneur, someone thinking about starting a business, a resource provider, or a community partner, we hope you will join us!

VT Law School: Understanding Commercial Leases Webinar

Commercial leases can be confusing to navigate and hard to write, and yet it is important for both a commercial landlord and a tenant to have one in order to have a productive working relationship. In this webinar, Vermont Law and Graduate School Professor Nicole Killoran, and a panel of students, will break down some common parts of commercial leases, look at how different language in a lease might play out in a landlord-tenant relationship, and explore how to effectively negotiate a commercial lease.

VT Law School: Demystifying Intellectual Property

Have you ever wondered how to protect your creative work, or your brand? Have you come up with a cool invention, but don’t know how to go about protecting it from others’ using your idea? Protecting your intellectual property, and knowing when to ask for permission to use someone else’s, are important legal tools for small businesses. In this webinar, Vermont Law and Graduate School Professor Oliver Goodenough, and a panel of students, will demystify intellectual property, and explain how to use these tools to protect your small business assets.

Setting Money Goals

This class is in-person at the South Burlington Public Library (180 Market St, South Burlington, VT 05403) The Setting Money Goals workshop helps you start solving specific financial challenges and reaching your goals. Each person’s needs are unique and often complex. This class covers key topics and the tools to set money goals and address your financial situation.

Protecting Yourself From Scams Webinar

In this class, you will get an overview of scams as well as examples, tips for safety, learn how to identify secure sites, and how to create unique and complex passwords. This class is in partnership with Technology4Tomorrow, and is the first in a series of four.

Fundamentals of Internet Privacy Webinar

In this class, you will learn about connections, controls, social media, web search, consent, access, and concerns. This class is in partnership with Technology4Tomorrow, and is the second in a series of four.

Renting in Vermont: Know Your Rights & Sustaining the Rent

This session will take place in-person at the Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury (?75 Main St, Middlebury, VT 05753) Join CVOEO’s Vermont Tenants and Financial Futures programs for a workshop on renters rights and responsibilities and strategies to financially prepare for renting and help meet housing and basic needs. This session includes an overview of topics such as leases, security deposits, repairs, health code violations, terminations, evictions, fair housing and disability law, and how to determine affordability, track spending, build a budget, and find resources to help meet housing and basic needs. There will be plenty of time for questions and resources to bring home.

Financials 101

This class is in-person at the South Burlington Public Library (180 Market St, South Burlington, VT 05403) Financials 101 covers the personal finance basics of budgeting and the responsible use of credit. Explore how to set up a budget that can bring your personal money management goals into focus. You will learn how to use credit responsibly to improve your overall financial situation, and important factors to keep in mind when seeking a loan from a bank or credit union.

Insurance Basics for your Small Business

Join us for a presentation by Travis Spencer of Kinney Insurance Agency. Travis will share his knowledge and take your questions on what coverage a small business should have, how to go about shopping for the coverages you need, and how much you should expect to pay. Topics will include: General Liability Insurance, Workers Compensation Insurance, Property Casualty Insurance, and more!

Sustaining the Rent

Sustaining the Rent focuses on strategies to financially prepare for renting, including determining what "affordable" rent would be and comparing costs of apartments, and understanding how credit affects the ability to pay rent, as well as developing the knowledge and skills needed to track spending, building a budget, and finding resources to help meet housing and basic needs.

GreenSavingSmart Podcast Club

CVOEO’s GreenSavingSmart program is excited to announce the start of our new Podcast Club! Join us on the third Wednesday of each month to discuss environmental and financial topics of the day and to connect with like-minded peers! Please listen to Session One's 30-minute episode prior to attending and RSVP. Session One: How We Survive: Electrify Everything Date and Time: June 21st, Noon – 1pm Location: Head Start Conference Room at 255 S. Champlain Street, Burlington, VT Bring your own lunch!

Organizing Your Digital Files (Spanish)

In this class you will learn about the following topics: file management, the Cloud, calendars (outlook and Google), and best practices. An interpreter will be present to assist. This class is scheduled to take 2 hours (6-8pm), and is brought to you in partnership between Financial Futures and Technology4Tomorrow.

Organizing Your Digital Files (English)

In this class you will learn about the following topics: file management, the Cloud, calendars (outlook and Google), and best practices. This class is scheduled to take 1 hour (6-7pm), and is brought to you in partnership between Financial Futures and Technology4Tomorrow.

Staying Safe Online (Spanish)

In this class you will learn about the following topics: Overview and examples of scams, tips for safety, secure sites, creating unique and complex passwords, and tips and tricks. An interpreter will be present to assist. This class is scheduled to take 2 hours (6-8pm), and is brought to you in partnership between Financial Futures and Technology4Tomorrow.

Staying Safe Online (English)

In this class you will learn about the following topics: Overview and examples of scams, tips for safety, secure sites, creating unique and complex passwords, and tips and tricks. This class is scheduled to take 1 hour (6-7pm), and is brought to you in partnership between Financial Futures and Technology4Tomorrow.

Accessing Capital Panel

Meet our panelists from the Vermont Community Loan Fund, Community Capital of Vermont, and the City of Burlington’s Business and Workforce Development (BWD) department to learn how they can support your business. Whether you are in the planning stage or are already running your business, our panelists are ready to answer your questions. We will discuss the programs and benefits offered by each organization (including BWD's new Burlington Revolving Loan Fund), the application process and requirements, continued support for your business through growth and unexpected challenges, and much more!

Learn how the VT Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program Supports Small Businesses

Join Emily McDonnell, Small Business Advocate, to learn about the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP). Participants will come away with important information on CAP’s free letter mediation service, scams impacting businesses, new regulations for contractors, and answers to common business questions. This class is appropriate for new and existing businesses.

Are You Ready for Small Business Ownership?

Join CVOEO's Micro Business Development Program for an evening of conversation on what goes into starting a business. Our Business Coach will help you identify the characteristics of successful small business owners, assess your own experience with small businesses, and examine your own personal strengths and resources. If starting a business has been on your mind, this is the session for you! This class workshop is a partnership between the SBA, CVOEO, and HUD.

Branding Webinar

Branding is the first step of creating the marketing for any business, and within your branding efforts, you need to know and understand your brand’s story. In this two-part webinar series, Jodi Lawaich, Chief Marketing Officer of Rural Solutions dives into the four key aspects of your brand story so that you find and understand the brand story of your business.

Lunch with Lenders: Exploring Funding Opportunities for Small Business

In celebration of Black History Month, we invite small business owners and those in the start-up phase to come together for a conversation on accessing capital for your business. Network with traditional and non-traditional lenders from Community Capital of Vermont, Opportunities Credit Union, and the Vermont Community Loan Fund. Learn what opportunities are available in Vermont, share challenges you have experienced, and ask questions! Interpreters will be present to assist if English is not your first language. This event is co-hosted by CVOEO, the SBA, and vt-SBDC. Lunch will be provided.

Customer Service (for small food businesses)

This third class is on how to start and run a successful Micro Food Business. This class discusses key customer service qualities. This class discusses the importance of customer service qualities and how they relate to sales, revenues, and customer loyalty.

Marketing and Advertising for Small Food Businesses

This second class is on how to start and run a successful Food Micro Business. In this class, you will learn the nuts and bolts of how to market and advertise your Micro Food Business. Key point covered in this class includes the 7 Ps Marketing Mix which includes; Product, promotion, price, place, people, process, and physical evidence in your business

Introduction to Running a Small Food Business

This first class will teach the participants the basics of how to start a food business, learn what skills are a must, and the resources and tools to help you become successful in this industry. This introductory class is for those interested in starting a small food business.

How to Build an Informal Sales Force by Maximizing Networking Groups

Gillian Franks, small business owner, will introduce you to the concept of an informal salesforce and discuss how to empower and practically motivate other small business owners in your networking groups to promote your business. Gillian will share how over 2 years she doubled her business through membership in networking groups. She will share strategies she thought were helpful and some that were not. Gillian will help you: Identify groups that can support your business Understand the effort, costs and pitfalls of having an informal salesforce Develop methods to overcome shy and overpowering personality traits so you can maximize this opportunity This is a workshop that will work best if you are willing to be interactive, present your issues and listen to others as well as give ideas. By the end of this workshop you will: Have a better understanding of the realities of building an informal salesforce Be able to determine if you want to move forward and use this marketing tactic Know which network groups to focus on building your network marketing around

On-Demand: Spend SMART 2.0

This fully online, self-paced version of Spend SMART will help you understand your cash flow, set goals for managing your money, paying your bills, and will provide you with the tools you need to start taking action.

Representation Matters

Ever wondered what it’s like to start your own business? What resources might be available to help? What are the fundamentals to business plans? Come hear from a stellar cast of business owners as they share their journeys, challenges, opportunities, and best advice.

On-Demand: Keys to Credit

This fully online, self-paced version of Keys to Credit provides a comprehensive overview of credit: What is credit? Which accounts are credit accounts? And why does credit matter?

Financial Futures Programs Virtual

How to Create a Website in the Google Suite (for Business Owners)

Did you know that Google is more than just a search engine and email provider? Join us to learn about the Google Suite and how to create a website in Google Sites. Attendees will learn what tools are available, how to access them, how to get started, and how to create a free website. This class is intended for small business owners. Bring your questions and come ready to learn! Brought to you by CVOEO and CNPP.

Heat Pump Webinar

Have you heard about heat pumps? Are you curious to learn more about how they work and why they are a cost effective and environmentally-friendly choice for heating and cooling your space? Join us for an informational webinar on heat pumps. Then, connect with Financial Energy Coach Jen Myers to learn how you can get started making the switch! Together, we can do our part to keep Vermont green!

Are You Ready for Small Business Ownership?

Join CVOEO’s Micro Business Development Program for a morning of conversation on what goes into starting a business. Our business counselor will help you identify the characteristics of successful small business owners, assess your own experience with small businesses, and examine your own personal strengths and resources. If starting a business has been on your mind, this is the session for you!

Introduction to Excel

Micro Business Coach Pacifique Nsengiyumva leads an interactive workshop on the basics of Excel. Learn how to format a cell, basic functions (SUM, COUNT, DATE, TIME, SEARCH), and how to sort data. Intended for TRUE beginners! Sponsored by the Community Navigator Pilot Program in partnership with vt-SBDC and CVOEO.

Green Transportation Panel

Are you interested in learning ways to reduce your carbon footprint? Rethinking your transportation is a great place to start! Join us for a morning of conversation with representatives from Green Mountain Transit, Mileage Smart, Car Share VT, Drive Electric VT, and Old Spokes Home. Our panelists will highlight their programs and explain the ways that biking, car sharing, public transportation, and hybrid/electric vehicles can help you reduce your environmental impact. Together, we can do our part to keep Vermont green! (Co-hosted by CVOEOs Financial Futures Program and Green Saving Smart).

6 stacks of coins with assets represented on the top of each stack: graduation cap, shopping cart, house, plane, piggy bank, wedding rings.

Spend SMART (2 Session Class)

Build skills to track spending. Learn how to develop a budget that works for you, and develop SMART savings goals.

Creating a Financial Future (2 session class)

Creating a Financial Future (2 sessions): Learn about investing for long term goals. Short term v. long term savings, planning ahead for emergencies, vacations, and retirement.

Facebook Marketing for Beginners: Thursday, May 19th, 10am - 11am, Free Zoom Webinar

Social Media Marketing (Facebook)

This course is designed to teach you how to use Facebook Marketing for your business. This is a true beginner's guide to Facebook Marketing for Entrepreneurs and small business owners. Please create a Facebook profile before attending this event.

Screen shot of Corrine Yonce interview and quote

Finding Housing On Demand

This fully online, self-paced version of Finding Housing will help you to understand “affordable housing”, approach a housing search, establish a tenant-landlord relationship, work through barriers, navigate fair housing rights, develop application materials, organize a housing search, and negotiate a lease. *Click on the "Finding Housing On Demand" text above to begin the workshop.*

Housing Advocacy Programs Workshop/Class

Small Business Lending Panel

This is a panel event, co-hosted by the SBA, designed for anyone with questions on the business loan process. Whether you are in the planning stage or you are already running your own business, our panelists are ready to answer your questions.

Business Law Basics

The Micro Business Development Program at CVOEO welcomes Jeff Wick, Attorney at Law from Wick and Maddocks, who will discuss what you need to know when it comes to business law as a small business owner. He will review the difference between sole proprietorships and LLCs, provide tips on separating your self from your business, and identify what should be considered when reviewing a lease or developing a contract. There will be plenty of time for your questions as well! This session will be led by Jeff Wick, Attorney at Law, Wick and Maddocks.

Hand holding paper with fi-fi symbol in outdoor space

Wi-Fi Marketing for Food Trucks & Other Outdoor Spaces

Wi-Fi marketing for business owners who operate in outdoor spaces such as food trucks, outdoor markets, campgrounds, state parks, and other open spaces.

What is Wi-Fi Marketing & Why is it Important?

Learn the basics about Wi-Fi marketing and how to make it work for your business!

Hands typing on computer keyboard with social media icons rising from the keyboard

The Nuts and Bolts of Social Media (for your business)

Learn how to use organic social media for your business.

Keys to Credit

Understand how credit effects your day to day life, learn how to build and repair credit, and examine your own credit score with a financial class (through coaching sessions).

Sustaining the Rent On Demand

Sustaining the Rent focuses on strategies to financially prepare for renting, including determining what "affordable" rent would be and comparing costs of apartments, and understanding how credit affects the ability to pay rent, as well as developing the knowledge and skills needed to track spending, build a budget, and find resources to help meet housing and basic needs. *Click on the "Sustaining the Rent On Demand" text above to begin the workshop.*

Housing Advocacy Programs Workshop/Class

Cartoon image of people in various rental transactions

Tenant Skills

Tenant Skills includes the fundamentals of tenant rights & responsibilities, leases, security deposits, repairs, health code violations, terminations, evictions, fair housing and disability law.

Housing Advocacy Programs Workshop/Class Virtual

Screen shot of class welcome video with instructor Karin Ames

Tenant Skills On Demand

This fully online, self-paced version of Tenant Skills includes the fundamentals of tenant rights & responsibilities, leases, security deposits, repairs, health code violations, terminations, evictions, fair housing and disability law. *Click on the "Tenant Skills On Demand" text above to begin the workshop.*

Housing Advocacy Programs Workshop/Class

Finding Housing

Finding Housing focuses on strategies for overcoming barriers to finding housing (such as a past eviction, no landlord references or a criminal record), understanding the landlord's perspective and how to build a positive tenant-landlord relationship, and skills for conducting an organized housing search, including where to look.

Housing Advocacy Programs Workshop/Class Virtual

Calendar