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The Business Refugee Resource Guide was created in response to Burlington's
growing refugee population and the need for local employers to address
challenges to hire, retain and promote refugee workers. The Community
& Economic Development Office (CEDO) of Burlington recognizes this unique
and valuable segment of Burlington's workforce and seeks to collaborate with the
many companies and small and emerging businesses that support refugees.
This guide is a step in linking the businesses with the vital service providers
to promote the economic self-sufficiency of refugee workers. Many services
are integral to the immersion into American life, such as, children and family
services, health care, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and
housing.
The initial contact for most refugees in the state is the Vermont
Refugee Resettlement Program (VRRP) located in Colchester. Here,
refugees begin the resettlement process in Vermont. VRRP provides a
variety of services including case management, ESOL instruction, professional
interpretation/translation, job placement, social adjustment/mental health
counseling, family reunification and other federal assistance available to all
refugees settling in the United States. The objective is to help refugees
achieve economic and social self-sufficiency within eight months, before the
federal assistance ends. VRRP administers a program, Vermont Project
Progress, that comprehensively serves all new refugees, "regardless of
their family composition or economic status."
For 1999, VRRP resettled 398 refugees in Vermont. The Burlington area
saw close to 150 people from Bosnia, Vietnam and other nations. In the
past three years, Burlington has settled more than 400 refugees while all of
Vermont has settled well over 1,000. With a significant number of refugees
currently living in the Burlington area, it is critical that a broad network of
service providers be maintained.
CEDO works to achieve economic justice and sustainability in Burlington by
mobilizing resources and working with businesses, non-profits and citizens to
increase economic opportunities for all, and particularly to extend services to
low-income and disenfranchised populations. The Business Refugee Resource
Guide is a joint project of CEDO and AmeriCorps*VISTA. It is targeted for
Chittenden County, but many service providers are statewide.
CEDO in collaboration with AmeriCorps*VISTA wishes to acknowledge the support
and cooperation of the five Burlington businesses that inspired this
project: Burlington Futon, Inc., Conant Custom Brass, Inc., Fresh
Connections, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and Rhino Foods.
LET US KNOW!
Please help us make the Business Refugee Resource Guide an even more valuable
resource. Let us know your comments and suggestions. Take this
opportunity to alert us to programs/organizations that we have not included, and
tell us if particular chapters were helpful.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Send your comments and suggestions on how we could improve the Guide to Bruce
Seifer at 802·865·7179.
Next Page last updated October 7, 2003 |
