What We Do
Vermonters for a New Economy is a coalition of organizations, businesses, and individuals working to create a new economy for Vermont. You can work with us to design and enjoy the new ways we are owning and operating businesses, banking, exchanging goods and services, financing projects, and earning income. This work enables us to pursue regenerative economic activities that strengthen our food systems, build renewable energy, reuse and recycle byproducts, and foster creativity, culture, and healthy lifestyles.
We create and demonstrate new economic structures and processes:
Ownership Models like public benefit corporations, cooperatives, workers owned businesses, and community owned enterprises.
Financing Options – public banking, small investor markets, and commercial barter systems.
Entrepreneurial Development to support founders of new enterprises.
Means of Exchange such as time banks, food currencies, commercial barter, and other mutual exchange systems.
Management Systems that manage to the multiple bottom lines of community, nature, human development, and long-term health.
Measurement and Metrics that account for natural and human health, happiness, and long-term resilience.
These structures direct energy, money, time, and other resources to:
Generate renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Grow organic food and resilient regional food systems.
Develop our creative sector to generate new ideas and solutions.
Support enterprises that work to reuse and recycle waste products.
Sustain the beauty and value of our forests and highlands ecosystems.
Build health and vitality for all people, regardless of income or other status.
Undertake regenerative activities restoring wetlands, lakes, rivers, and biodiversity.
The New Economistas
Gwendolyn Hallsmith, the founder of Vermonters for a New Economy, and her husband Michael Taub sing topical songs about the economy as a way to help people understand difficult subjects with humor and fun. You can listen to their songs by clicking the links below:
It’s Time for Racial Justice in Our Country