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April 23, 2010
Back in 1977, two young guys, Mark Curran and Steve Birge, met on the ski slopes in Vermont. Before long, they hatched an idea: create a market that provided fresh, quality produce in Ludlow, Vermont. They pooled $600  between them and traveled back and forth to Boston, loading up their old VW bus with fresh vegetables from the wholesale markets in the city. They also stopped at various Vermont farms along the way.
That was the beginning of Black River Market. Soon, they had the idea of going beyond a market and approached restaurants to sell their farm fresh foods. Salad bars were becoming all the rage, so their timing couldn’t have been better!
Since those humble beginnings, Mark and Steve have grown their business (and renamed it Black River Produce) and harvested a steady crop of success. In their first year in business, Mark says they posted about $70,000 in revenue. Now, they do about $200,000 “on a good day”, he says, or $40 million a year.
SRDC stepped in when Black River Produce outgrew its space in 2005. We facilitated their acquisition of a former dairy production facility where the company could spread out from its cramped 12,000 square feet of space into 63,000. It just made sense to renovate an existing structure rather than start from the ground up.
Mark says he could have easily moved over the border to New Hampshire when the company needed to expand, but his roots are here. Black River Produce was born and grew up in these parts. Their products are feeding Vermont residents (and beyond), restaurant diners, schoolchildren, college students, hospital patients and staff, and many, many more. The company reflects the flavor of Southern Windsor County and Vermont and we are so glad to have made it possible for them to make a healthy contribution to our economy and our lives.
When you drive through Chester, with its quintessential small town Vermont appearance, you see lots of beautiful homes, churches, and shops. But tucked in this quiet town in Southern Windsor County is a business that relies on the region’s telecommunications infrastructure to survive. NewsBank is a global provider of news and information. The company maintains vast volumes of Web-based research products that feed the needs of the government and military libraries, colleges and universities, schools, libraries, and researchers.
NewsBank’s connection can never be down. It is a 24/7 company with tremendous bandwidth and over 320 servers. The company has a large fiber hookup between its Chester location and AT&T in Watertown, MA—all provided and maintained by the local telecommunications provider, VTel.
NewsBank’s Chief Operating Officer Mike Walker, who has been with the company for 24 years, says he has never experienced any snags when it comes to the local technology infrastructure. And if anyone or any business can attest to the advanced networks here in this part of the Green Mountains, it’s NewsBank.
I know that there are many reasons to live in our corner of Vermont, particularly the quality of life, with a slower pace and less stress. But luckily, you don’t have to sacrifice the convenience of your technological needs in order to live better!
March 25, 2010
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas announced that $110,000 will be granted to the Precision Valley Development Corporation (PVDC) to continue its clean-up activities at the former Fellows Gear Shaper property in Springfield.
“This proposal will help continue with the re-development of a critical downtown property,†said Gov. Douglas. “This will not only help the town’s economy, but will turn a blighted property into clean, safe commercial space, including space for the Springfield Hospital health center.â€
These funds are being made available to PVDC from the State’s Brownfield Fund, which will be leveraged with another $80,000 from the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission’s (SWCRPC) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) supplemental funding through the Environmental Protection Agency.
Redevelopment of the site, located in Springfield’s downtown, will result in the reuse of a historic building and provide new office and commercial space. The State of Vermont and SWCRPC are working very closely with the developers of the property, 100 River Street LLC, and the Springfield Regional Development Corporation.
The Environmental Protection Agency has capitalized both the State’s and SWCRPC’s funds through its competitive Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program.
To date, the State has been awarded over $1.5 million for clean-up of brownfield sites; and SWCRPC has been awarded close to $3 million in RLF and assessment funding.
Last year, the state awarded $750,000 to the town for use in installing new safety systems, such as sprinklers and emergency lighting at the Fellows building, located at 100 River Street. In 2008, the State authorized $344,731 worth of tax credits to help refurbish the historic building.
Click here for additional information about the Governor’s Vermont Brownfields Initiative.
March 18, 2010
Precision Valley lives! J&L Metrology recently acquired Vermont Precision Machine Services in Springfield—but it’s not new to the area. J&L began as Jones & Lamson Machine Company in 1919. The company has grown, evolved, and changed hands, but continues to reflect the heritage of Precision Valley.
J&L Metrology designs and engineers optical comparators, a product that dates all the way back to the Jones & Lamson roots. The optical comparator was invented here to provide a more precise method for measuring the tiny elements of screw threads. Their diverse products are used in aircraft, electronic, automotive, and machine tool facilities in production operations and quality control labs around the world.
No stranger to optics, this area in southeastern Vermont is also the home of the Springfield Telescope Makers and the annual Stellafane Convention, a gathering of telescope makers and aficionados, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary this summer. It’s still one of the largest amateur telescope makers conventions in the world.
And it all starts here in Southern Windsor County, the corner of Vermont that is home to innovative thinkers, entrepreneurs and solopreneurs, and burgeoning businesses.
We like to think that our history of such optical prowess has given us unique vision. I know that we’re living up to our own vision that “Great Things Happen Here”.
March 15, 2010
Thanks to some creative thinking and smart engineering, the members of the EdgarMay Health and Recreation Center enjoy a heated indoor swimming pool all year long—a welcome treat in the midst of a Vermont winter. The facility was designed with solar heating that warms the  Center’s lap and children’s pools. On a sunny day, the system captures more than two million BTUs, saving more than 35 gallons of propane fuel.
The 69 solar panels affixed to the Center’s roof spans more than 2,000 square feet represents the largest solar heating system in the state of Vermont, and it’s here in Southern Windsor County. The system saves about $11,000 in heating costs.
In its first phase of development, the EdgarMay Center has 2,100 members. Ultimately, this facility will house three pools, fitness center, basketball courts, indoor playground, climbing wall, teaching kitchen, community center, and much more. As it continues to grow, the Center provides a strong link for the residents of Springfield and the 34 other surrounding towns that are already coming here. It blends the old with the new, resurrecting an old foundry alongside a new structure. It blends such advances as solar technology with the simple joys of recreation. It’s exciting to watch this center flourish, a reflection of the region as well.
The EdgarMay Center is strategically located near the gateway to Springfield on Clinton Street, across the street from the upcoming redevelopment of the former J & L Plant 1 and just down the street from the Robert Jones Industrial Center and the former Bryant Grinder property.
March 12, 2010
I was talking today with an area business owner about the benefit of living and working in Vermont, in general, and in this region, in particular. He told me that after living in the city (near Boston) and in Burlington, VT, it was a pleasure to be part of a rural area that combines all the advantages of city life with the pleasures of country living.
Burlington, he said, offered that to a degree, but even that area had become too crowded. In Southern Windsor County, a traffic jam amounts to about three cars at a stop light. And that’s livable, he said.
What this urban jungle escapee said was that he saw this region as on the cusp of becoming the place to be. “In a few years, people will be clamoring to find space here. It’s exciting to be part of the change as it happens instead of on the tail end,” he told me.
That’s exactly how I see it. I grew up here and am raising my family here. I know what Southern Windsor County used to be, what it is now, and what it is becoming in the years ahead. Additions like the EdgarMay Health and Recreation Center in Springfield and the forthcoming Springfield Medical Group clinic in the renovated Fellows Gear Building enhance an infrastructure that is already technologically advanced. I have fiber at my office that provides amazing speed in using the Internet and that’s available in much of this area.
Still, we’re able to enjoy the peace of a rural setting, with plenty of open spaces and unspoiled landscapes. It truly is the best of both worlds.
The winds of change are clearly blowing here, and it’s a nice breeze.
March 9, 2010
I called a friend of mine today to invite him to lunch but he had plans. He was hitting the slopes at Okemo Mountain Resort, just up the road, to catch a few runs on a sunny day. While many people around here are running errands or  working at their desk while wolfing down a sandwich, this brilliant individual is skiing—taking advantage of one the best reasons we live in this region of Vermont. It’s a resort area!
I drive by beautiful lakes, streams and rivers in the summer on my way to work and enjoy the view of tourists canoeing, fishing or kayaking on those waters. And in the fall, the foliage spectacle grabs my attention and reminds me how lucky I am to live in a state that is so rich with opportunities to enjoy life.
When you’ve got a mountain in your own back yard, and it is home to a world class ski resort, you can take it for granted. And you might even ignore the lake views when you’re hurrying to work. But it’s great to know they’re right there when you want to kick back for a day—or even a lunch hour.
March 5, 2010
 Hey everyone my name is Melanie Wells and I’m the Office Manager here at Springfield Regional Development Corp. I have been working at SRDC for almost 3 years and I enjoy it very much. I have learned many new things and have been introduced to many people in Springfield and the surrounding area.
Before I came to SRDC, I had never worked in this type of an office. I didn’t really know much about Economic Development or Springfield for that matter. Since I started here I have learned more and more everyday and it amazes me. I feel very lucky to be working with such great individuals.
I am a Springfield resident and love the area. It’s a great place to raise my 4 year old son Camden!
February 12, 2010
Hi, I’m Bob Flint, the Executive Director of SRDC. Thanks for coming to our site and for reading our new blog. My staff and I will be posting entries here regularly to tell you about ourselves, the services we provide and what’s going on here in Southern Windsor County.
What is “Southern Windsor County”? We’re a 10-town region in southeastern Vermont, bordering on the Connecticut River. Our area reflects the physical beauty and natural charm that comes to mind when you think of “Vermont”.
But there’s much more.
Coupled with the quintessential Vermont scenery in our midst, we have a strong infrastructure that supports a broad array of businesses—from the entrepreneurial start-up to large corporations and manufacturing facilities. Those businesses that have located—or relocated—here are prospering and enjoying a lifestyle that many people just dream about.
And there’s always room to grow your business in Southern Windsor County!
SRDC works diligently to make “Great Things Happen Here” and we want to help you become part of our story. Right now, I’m looking out my window and it’s a sunny, winter day. The skiing is great – wouldn’t you rather be here?
Think about where you are today. Where do you want to be tomorrow? Let us know if we can be part of that vision!
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between them and traveled back and forth to Boston, loading up their old VW bus with fresh vegetables from the wholesale markets in the city. They also stopped at various Vermont farms along the way.
