Vermont Business Magazine The Hinesburgh Public House, a Vermont Benefit Corporation, has just released its Benefit Report as required by statute. A Benefit Corporation is an option under Vermont law that allows a for-profit corporation to incorporate a social mission with its financial goals. The Public House was started by Will and Kathleen Patten in 2012 to fill a need in the community.
“Communities are defined by their gathering places” said Will Patten, “and we wanted to support the town’s sense of place.”
As a Benefit Corporation the Public House’s five-part mission is to support non-profit community-builders, employees, guests, local food producers and investors. State law requires that a Benefit Report be posted on a company’s web page that tracks efforts to accomplish those missions.
According to Patten, the data is built on annual internal audits. Customer comment cards and employee surveys gauge the progress with two stakeholders. Purchases from local food and beverage producers are tracked as a percentage of sales. Efforts to support non-profit community-builders are described as is return on investment. The report can be found at www.hinesburghpublichouse.com/Benefit.
Will Patten was especially heartened by a recent comment card that read, “The Public House has warmed this community.”
Source: Hinesburgh Public House 1.5.2018