Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development

06/14/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Joseph Kao, CEO & Co-Founder of Magnefy, on winning the $25,000 DeltaClimeVT end-of-program award!

Department of Economic Development (DED) Commissioner Lyle Jepson attended the celebration, where DeltaClimeVT Program Director Kurt Eriksen presented the peer-selected honor. Adding to the momentum, Burlington Electric Department General Manager Darren Springer announced an upcoming collaboration with Magnefy.

Managed by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, the DeltaClimeVT accelerator helps climate-economy startups scale quickly and build a foundation for long-term success in Vermont.

Pictured: Kurt Eriksen and Dr. Joseph Kao

06/13/2026

Congratulations to Colin Riggs and Diane Abruzzini of Rigorous Technology, named the 2026 Vermont SBA Small Business Persons of the Year!

ACCD Secretary Lindsay Kurrle spoke at the SBA Awards ceremony to celebrate their achievement. Based in Williston, Rigorous Technology is developing the next generation of industrial robotics systems. ACCD is proud to support businesses that blend economic growth with technological advancement.

06/12/2026

Congratulations to Julia Connell, winner of a 2026 Public Service Recognition Week award! Though Julia’s official title is Community Development Specialist, her colleagues simply call her ‘The Fixer.’ When a particularly thorny issue pops up, or a project starts to go sideways, the Department of Housing and Community Development folks like to say, “This seems like a good one for Julia!” With a brilliant mind for problem solving, a stellar reputation among partners, and a knack for making a room go from panic to productive, Julia makes hard things happen.

Thank you, Julia, for letting nothing get in the way of transformational projects and for always putting Vermonters first!

06/11/2026

Congratulations to Shelley Pembroke, winner of a 2026 Public Service Recognition Week award! Shelley, a Digital Marketing Specialist for the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, has been recognized by both her peers and agency leadership for her courage, bravery and determination in leading ACCD's digital accessibility team. Recognizing a need and stepping up to help her teammates succeed seems to come as second nature to her. We thank Shelley for her leadership on the incredibly important topic of accessibility, and we see, appreciate, and celebrate all that she brings to the Agency every day!

06/10/2026

Congratulations to Anna Strong, winner of a 2026 Public Service Week Recognition Award! Nobody cares more about her work than Anna, a Financial Director for ACCD. Before her time at the Agency, she spent eight years working for the Vermont Department of Mental Health, two of them as the Director of Operations at the Vermont Psychiatric Hospital. While there, she put in long hours of overtime and extra time because she cared so much about the people her work impacted. When she joined ACCD, stepping away from her colleagues and especially the patients in the hospital was incredibly hard for her to do, but we are extremely fortunate she made the decision she did, because she doesn't flinch in the face of hard, high-volume work. Anna is an outstanding colleague and a great friend, and it’s because she cares every single day.

06/10/2026

Congrats to Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District for yesterday's GRAND OPENING of the Eco Depot!

The new facility in Berlin can handle anything: hazardous materials, batteries, and other tough stuff that doesn't go in a recycling bin. ACCD's Brownfields Remediation Fund put $63,000 towards a $109,000 clean-up job, clearing the way for CVSWMD to help Vermonters clean up!

06/09/2026

Congratulations to Elisabeth Nance, winner of a 2026 Public Service Week Recognition award! A Grants Program Manager, Elisabeth has her professional finger on the pulse of everything going on in the Department of Economic Development. Her wealth of experience and knowledge is balanced with a much-appreciated and often dry sense of humor, bringing a realistic and efficient approach to supporting the prosperity of Vermont citizens. She is a model of teamwork in action!

https://aoa.vermont.gov/state-vermont-public-service-recognition-awards

06/09/2026

GET OUT this weekend for Vermont Days! On June 13 and 14, state parks and historic sites offer free admission to visitors. Whether you're on the water, walking the woods or learning local history, this is your cost-free chance to celebrate the arrival of summer!

And on June 13, it is FREE to fish in Vermont lakes and rivers for residents and visitors alike!

For more information and to learn more about Vermont Days, visit

Spend the day on the lake, discover a state park you’ve never visited before, immerse yourself into Vermont's past, or cast a line, all for free during

06/05/2026

Capitol for a Day is no cookie-cutter event!

The odometer is climbing in Rutland, where ACCD Secretary Kurrle and Vermont Chief Recovery Officer Doug Farnham met up with Ben Clark, owner of Ann Clark Cookie Cutters. Did you know that the company is the largest manufacturer of cookie cutters in America?!

06/05/2026

It's Capitol for a Day in Rutland!

Among her stops today, ACCD Secretary Kurrle (in white) visited the transformational projects happening in Killington, including this new water tank that will gravity feed into the village.