Accomplishments & Recognition:

Over its 25 year history, Vermont Associates has successfully developed a comprehensive continuum of services for Vermonters and has been recognized as a leader on the national level. For example, in the SCSEP, with a federally established job placement goal of 20%, the company's performance has ranked it 1st in the US in 2002 (105% placement); 2nd in the US in 2001 (96% placement); in 2000, 2nd in the US (61% placement) and 1st in the US (264% participants served - the only year this rate was available); and 1st in 1999 (116% placement). Vermont Associates operated one of the first SCS Experimental Projects in the country (1984 to present) and has consistently exceeded its goal of 80% job placement.

Vermont Associates has provided the direction and leadership in creating important statewide partnerships. It has received overwhelming support and endorsements for its project activities from the State’s Workforce Investment Board, representing Vermont's private sector business community, the Department of Aging and Independent Living, and the Vermont Department of Labor. In addition, Vermont Associates was asked to host senior economists from the Employment Analysis and Policy Division, Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD, Paris, France as part of an international study examining training programs for special populations.

Vermont Associates was awarded one of seven highly competitive national grants to develop an innovative Dislocated Worker Demonstration Project. The project developed was identified as a 'Best Practice' and was featured in the publication A Guide To Serving Mature Workers In One-Stop Career Centers, USDOL.

In 2002 Vermont Associates was also selected as a “Best Practice” site in the study researching 'how outstanding SCSEP programs help older workers transition to jobs, offer high value community service employment opportunities and overcome various challenges to attain excellence'. The study was published by USDOL, as The Nine 'Best Practices' Of Highly Effective SCSEP Projects.

Vermont Associates' projects and administrative protocols have been presented as models at national conferences sponsored by USDOL, National Association of State Units on Aging, and Coalition of Northeast Governors. Vermont Associates' management have been invited to testify before the US House Education and Labor Committee, the US Commission on Civil Rights, etc. Ms. Pat Elmer, Founder and Executive Director, is Past Chair of the National Working Group of the National Council on the Aging, Cofounder of the New England Older Worker Forum and was the recipient of the National Association of Older Worker Employment Services' prestigious Dorothy Bauer Award in 1997.