Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation gives awards to individuals, business important to the community

FRANKLIN COUNTY – Local business professionals and impact-making folks were honored Thursday at the annual meeting for the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation. 

FCIDC members gathered at the Champlain Country Club to socialize, catch-up and network while presenting three awards to outstanding area community members. 

FCIDC executive director Tim Smith and executive director for the Franklin Grand Isle Workforce Investment Board, Kathy Lavoie, presented the awards and introduced the recipients — Stephanie Hodgeman, Jolley/SB Collins and Marie Dussault. 

Rick Manahan Civic Involvement Award

The Rick Manahan Civic Involvement Award was the first award to be handed out and is selected by the Franklin Grand Isle Workforce Investment Board. The board helps provide funding to schools for the implementation of school-based learning strategies and professional development opportunities. 

The award was started in 2010 when Manahan passed away. Lavoie said Manahan is remembered for his individual contributions to the community. The award honors both Manahan and the awardee for their community leadership, community service, commitment to civic involvement and their personal commitment to others. 

This year, the award went to BFA-St. Albans counselor Stephanie Hodgeman, to her surprise. 

“Like so many of the past recipients, this year’s recipient has been at this juncture supporting individuals, families, business and communities for decades,” Lavoie said. “She’s a community leader, professionally and personally. She has a personal commitment to others, especially our children.”

Hodgeman moved to Franklin County from California during grade school. She stayed in Vermont and Franklin County after graduating from the University of Vermont. 

Through her efforts, Hodgeman created the BFA Rotary Interact Club in 2017, which has grown to include 80 students. She created a program to collect and borrow used prom dresses, supports the annual coat collection and initiates food drives. 

“Few things are community based without the support of Stephanie Hodgman and the band of youth volunteers that she convinces to come along and to take the lead,” Lavoie said. 

Most recently, Hodgeman organized Tech Discovery Day with help from FCIDC and many other community partners. During the event, BFA- St. Albans students were able to discover career opportunities and pathways. 

Hodgeman was caught by surprise when her name was called. She was surrounded by her family as she stepped up to receive the award with tears in her eyes. 

“I joke at home that I’ve raised 4,000 children of my own, old mother hubbard who lives in the cupboard, and I’ve had so many mentors,” she said. “I have a heart for a strong Franklin County and a county that supports multi-generational families…  I want our children here building our future. So thank you everyone, because it’s going to take all of us to keep our children here.”

FCIDC Business Award

Businesses are considered for the annual Business Award based on their involvement in the local community, contribution to local causes,  focus on job retention and creation and significant ongoing capital investments. 

This year, the award went to Jolley Associates and SB Collins. 

The convenience store located at many gas stations around New England is in its last year before being sold to New York-based company Stewart’s Shops. 

Smith said the group made significant investments in restoration and improvement in the Franklin County area, adding Jolley’s recent contribution to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. 

“I’ve made the comment for years that we as Vermonters are spoiled because of Jolley and Maplefields, their competitor,” Smith said. “We’ve been spoiled by Jolley’s for the quality of their business, the cleanliness of their business, the variety that they have within those stores and you can always bet you will have a good experience at a Jolley store.”

In job retention, Smith said the group has been providing quality jobs to rural Vermonters with many working for decades with the Jolley family. 

“Franklin County is a better place to live due to the commitment that SB Collins has made to our county. For that we thank you,” he said. 

Accepting the award was Mary Ellen Jolley, who took over the business after founder Robert passed away in 2009, and Bruce Jolley. 

 “Yeah, we just had a great run, and we have wonderful employees that we couldn’t do it without so thank you for this,” Mary Ellen said. 

Bill Cioffi Individual Award

The Bill Cioffi award was named after the former FCIDC chair who passed in 2016. He served on the board for 30 years and became a mentor to Smith. 

Beginning with an impersonation of NBC political journalist Steve Kornacki, including jacket off, rolled up sleeves and a Post-it Note board to draw on, Smith began to give context to the next awardee. 

“She worked for Chittenden Bank and Franklin Lamoille Bank, right? That’s where she got started in banking, and then she moved on to VEDA [Vermont Economic Development Authority],” he said during his impression, “Which is the one econ development authority that we use a lot. She was there for 30 years, right?…” 

The winner, Marie Dussault, has worked with FCIDC giving out loans to them totalling $27,500,000 in 14 loans.  

While introducing her, Smith recalled when he started out work with the FCIDC and Dussault went out to lunch with him, starting a path they would walk together for projects in Franklin County. 

Through her loans, Dussault was able to finance the Peerless Clothing Warehouse in the St. Albans Industrial Park, loans for the industrial park itself for roads and sewer, as well as spending loans to help develop other areas in Franklin County 

“​​The great thing about working with Marie is our ability to evaluate other grants for loan resources and help bring the development costs down on the project,” Smith said. “I always appreciated Marie’s willingness and knowledge. At the same time, Marie was tough, always scrutinizing the numbers and asking questions.”

He added that with Dussault looking toward retirement, she’s left a legacy on Vermont and Franklin County through her work. 

While accepting the award, Dussault said in the coming months before her retirement she plans to work hard and hopes to get more work done on the industrial park and other important projects.  

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Tim,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of laughs, a lot of stressful moments of how you’re going to pull something together, and I’m going to miss that.”

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