Hartford: Five villages collaborating on the move

Vermont Business Magazine, Jun 01, 2004 by Ottmann, Gayle

What a difference 20 years can make! Many of us remember the River City Revival Meetings; the formation of the Hartford Development

Corporation; those first community meetings on building public bathrooms at Quechee Gorge; conceptual drawings for new schools - all those visions and dreams that every village and town put on the wish fist of "what ifs."

What is very rewarding for citizens and businesses alike is the realization that many of those visions and dreams are now reality or certainly approaching completion.

Throughout this evolution, the Quechee Chamber of Commerce played a key role in participating in meetings, providing information to the membership, and supporting all activities. As Chamber growth and perceived business needs dictated a broader focus, the Quechee Chamber became the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce; the office was moved to White River Junction; membership increased two-fold, and its presence has become an important partner in Hartford's growth.

The Chamber has instituted several new programs this past year. Eggs and Issues breakfasts featured Governor Douglas, the Creative Economy Summit Initiative, a visit from the lobbying team of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, representatives from Vermont Social Services. A Membership and Relocate Publication Committee has partnered with the Town of Hartford to publish a Community Profile. The first edition will include all town wide information that any potential resident or business would need to make a move to Hartford. Included in the booklet will be a listing of Chamber members and a four-color town wide map. It is hoped the booklet will be ready by the end of the summer.

The Chamber's web site at www.harffordvtchamber.com continues to expand with many new features covering the five villages of Hartford. Partnering with member businesses has developed a bulk heating fuel program for members only; a communication bundling program with SoverNet; a member-to-member discount purchasing plan for members and their employees. We continue to offer excellent health, dental, and long-term care insurance plans.

Partnerships are key to this community's ability to move forward. Following are Examples of this collaborative effort:

Quechee Gorge Visitors Center - the new building will be owned by the Army Corps of Engineers; located in the Quechee Gorge State Park; the program administered by the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce and its newly formed Tourism and Travel Council; flower gardens designed by the Quechee Garden Club.

State Welcome Center - the Town of Hartford is entering into a lease with the State of Vermont Buildings and Institutions for the Welcome Center space located in the railroad station in White River Junction; the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce will sub lease that space, moving its offices there on June 30, 2004. The Chamber will maintain its office in the Center while administering the program at the Center. The New England Transportation Museum housed next door to the Welcome Center will assist with volunteers and planning special programs for the Center and Museum.

Creative Economy Initiative - with the impetus and organizational skills of the Upper Valley Community Foundation and consultant, Shelly Hadfield, representative artists, educators, businesses, non-profits, local municipalities and state agencies brought months of planning to conclusion on April 25, with the exciting and wonderful Discovery Tour of Downtown White River Junction. For several hours, over 700 visitors strolled the downtown streets visiting the Tip Top Building (home of over 25 creative businesses including galleries, restaurant, woodworking, printmaking, bookstore, etc); tasting the many food offerings of local restaurants; listening to music; viewing artists exhibitions; attending the lecture at the School for Cartoon Studies, and so much more.

On Monday, April 26, 300 participants gathered in Woodstock to attend the daylong workshops and hear the inspirational keynote speakers address the many faces of the Creative Economy and its importance in our community, state, and country. The fact that many had to be turned away from registering is a tribute to the organizers of this two-day event but also lend credibility to those who fuel this newest aspect of economic development.

Railroad Row Development - again, downtown White River Junction is in the spotlight with the ambitious project underway on Railroad Row. This project is an outstanding example of private sector belief in White River and Hartford - a belief in its future that can only be the beginning of more economic progress in the downtown area. And, this project is not only buildings and sidewalks; the Town of Hartford will be developing a small park at the street entrance, a park with granite block and waterfalls, a park that will be a monument to Veterans of all Wars.

Benches, pathways, bridges will link the park with the riverbank and, eventually, be an integral link to the downtown walkways.

Other individuals are investing in the downtown area through the procurement of commercial buildings for future leasing purposes. Area Realtors tell us that they continue to receive inquiries for commercial space on a daily basis - another sign of the perceived value in investing in Hartford.