Vermont Business Magazine VMEC and the Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Small Business Law Center and Clinic have announced a new partnership aimed at expanding legal services for manufacturers across the state.
Through this collaboration, VMEC and VLGS will host a webinar series designed to help manufacturers better understand their rights and responsibilities, and how to protect themselves and their employees. Topics will include contracts, regulatory compliance, business entities, risk management, and other legal issues that small manufacturers often face.
The first free webinar in this series, “How to Hire and Work With a Lawyer,” will be held on Wednesday, May 14 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm EST (registration here). Attendees will learn what a lawyer brings to a small business, what to expect when working with one and how and when to get the right kind of legal help.
“We are delighted to be partnering with The Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Small Business Law Center and Clinic to bring more support to Vermont’s small and medium-size manufacturers,” said Patrick Boyle, VMEC Center Director & CEO. “Vermont manufacturers face multiple opportunities and challenges in today’s business environment. Introducing them to first-class legal support can only be beneficial to their bottom line.”
In addition to educational programming, manufacturers will also be able to access one-on-one guidance from an attorney, ensuring they get personalized support for their specific needs.
“Our partners at the Vermont Bar Association work closely with us to help entrepreneurs find an attorney to meet their specific needs, and we help them get started with ten free hours,” said Nicole Killoran, Professor of Law at VLGS and the Director of the Vermont Small Business Law Center. “We are excited to be able to bring these services to Vermont’s manufacturers and to support such an important sector of our economy.”
This partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Vermont’s manufacturing community by providing tools, knowledge and resources that enable long-term business success. For more information about upcoming webinars or events, please visit vmec.org or sblc.vermontlaw.edu.
About VMEC: Part of the nationwide MEP National Network and hosted by Vermont State University since 1995, VMEC operates as a not-for-profit with a primary mission, “To Strengthen and Empower Vermont Manufacturers.” A local resource and trusted adviser to manufacturing enterprises of all sizes, the VMEC team brings world-class expertise in consulting, coaching, hands-on implementation support, training and education for leaders and workers. VMEC provides proven systems and solutions focused on strategies, processes, products, technologies and people.
Vermont Law and Graduate School, a private, independent institution, is home to a law school that offers ABA-accredited residential and online hybrid JD programs and a graduate school that offers master’s degrees and certificates in multiple disciplines, including programs offered by the Maverick Lloyd School for the Environment, the Center for Justice Reform and other graduate-level programs emphasizing the intersection of environmental justice, social justice and public policy. Both the law and graduate schools strongly feature experiential clinical and field work learning. For more information, visit vermontlaw.edu, Facebook and Instagram.
Celebrate National Apprenticeship Day, April 30
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a nationwide celebration where Apprenticeship USA partners - employers, apprentices and graduates, industry representatives, labor organizations and federal, state, and local government agencies and more - host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for strengthening our economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs and creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into in-demand jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor coordinates NAW in order to promote Registered Apprenticeship, in accordance with the National Apprenticeship Act.
Last year marked 10 years of NAW, with over 2,500 apprenticeship events and proclamations in all states and several territories. In response to stakeholder feedback, NAW was moved to spring, with a weeklong celebration to resume in 2026. To help with the shift, there will be a single National Apprenticeship Day on April 30; read how you can get involved by exploring resources, submitting and finding an event and spreading the word.
Check out the State of Vermont Dept. of Labor blog post on Brattleboro's G.S. Precision and their successful School of Manufacturing Technology.
Reminder - 30th Anniversary Special Edition Impact Report and Annual Impact Report available
In February, we released our annual impact report and following that release, we unveiled a 30th Anniversary special edition to further celebrate our three decades in business!
Since 1995, VMEC has assisted hundreds of Vermont’s small and medium-sized manufacturers to solve problems, improve their economic competitiveness, grow through innovation and enhance their technological capabilities. The results include higher profits, savings in time and money, people and physical investments and the creation and retention of higher-paying manufacturing jobs with good benefits – all significantly enhancing our local, state and national economies.
As Vermont’s only singularly-focused resource for manufacturers, VMEC is uniquely positioned to deliver measurable impact from state and federal investments. We are mission-driven to strengthen and empower Vermont manufacturers. Job creation and retention, wages and benefits, client investment, increased and retained sales are just a few of the highlights that stand out to produce what compiles our measured outcomes and impacts.
Contact us today so we can help you achieve your greatest growth potential!
Randolph Center, VT www.vmec.org
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