What's in a Chamber?

The Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce is here to be our region’s hub for economic vitality, community resilience, and leadership. Our goal is to support a thriving NEK where businesses can grow, talent can flourish, and communities can prosper.

This is a sizeable mission, and one that we can’t go at alone. Our strategy is to build a connected, sustainable, and prosperous economy by working across sectors—business, workforce, education, housing, and community development.

None of us can be expected to have a singular solution to everything. At the chamber, we recognize the wealth of expertise that exists in our region in folks who understand their own day-to-day needs both personally and professionally. This is exactly why we operate as a membership organization, open to all—businesses, nonprofits, and individuals—working to serve the hugely diverse needs of the region through programs, advocacy, and connections.

So whether you’ve found your way into the chamber to make use of our fuel savings, or to get your business listed on our local directory, we hope you stay with and engage with us as we work together to craft a Northeast Kingdom that works for us all.

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By Loralee Tester • November 21, 2025

Lead & Tackle - Returning To Our Roots In The Northeast Kingdom

Winter in the NEK

By Loralee Tester • November 17, 2025

Winter Guide 2025-2026: Where Adventure And Warmth Meet

Business Spotlight; OneWorldU

By Loralee Tester • November 17, 2025

OneWorldU Helps Local Businesses See New Possibilities

Housing, Workforce & the Work Ahead

By Quintin Tomasi • November 4, 2025

For Chamber Director, Loralee Tester, October was a month filled with meaningful conversations about the systems that shape our communities. One event from Let’s Build Homes brought together hundreds of Vermonters focused on addressing Vermont’s housing crisis. “The energy and collaboration in that room were deeply inspiring — a reminder that solving housing isn’t about changing what makes Vermont special, but ensuring our children and workforce can afford to stay here.” – Loralee Tester Tester also had the opportunity to sit on a state committee exploring health outcomes through the lens of an abundance mindset — asking what we might uncover if we focused on possibility rather than scarcity? That same spirit was reflected later in a talk featuring Derek Thompson , co-author (alongside Ezra Klein) of Abundance . Thompson ended the talk on this powerful note: “Growth is good. Change is hard. Both are true. And stasis sucks.” It’s a timely challenge for all of us. What can we — the Northeast Kingdom — do to encourage healthy growth, embrace valuable change, and acknowledge that stasis only deepens our affordability and workforce challenges? There’s so much good work happening already. “I was honored to serve as a judge for this year’s Rumble in the Kingdom , where four remarkable businesses won prizes and eight more showcased powerful, community-driven ideas. Innovation is alive and well here in the NEK.” – Loralee Tester More good work is still to come. The Chamber’s new Workforce Development Coordinator begins next week. This position, funded through a grant from the Vermont Department of Labor , will help accelerate the efforts of the NEK Chamber’s Manufacturing Consortium , building stronger connections between employers, educators, and future workers. We are endlessly grateful for the support of chamber members who continue to make this important work possible. In December, we’ll be sending out 2026 membership invoices. We’re working hard to make membership even more valuable, with new member-to-member benefits designed to save you money and connect you with other local businesses. Current benefits include: Fuel Discounts through our partner programs . Group Rates for dental, vision, and pet insurance — a fantastic way to extend benefits to your employees or yourself. Exclusive Member-to-Member Offers: Linda Lanteigne Photography – discounted headshots and business photo sessions Northeast Kingdom Online – reduced-rate website design for members– details to come in next month's newsletter Catamount Arts – free popcorn with your movie ticket We’re working to introduce membership cards to make it easy to access and verify your benefits. If your business would like to offer a discount or perk to fellow members, please contact the Chamber office . It’s a wonderful way to promote your business while contributing to a more connected, thriving community.