Labor Commissioner and Deputy Health Commissioner will present awards October 27 Vermont statewide—The Vermont Safety and Health Council annual expo and Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in Worksite Wellness Awards will take place on October 27, 2026, at the Killington Grand Resort. Registration is open now on the event website.
Vermont Commissioner of Labor Kendal Smith and Deputy Health Commissioner Julie Arel will present awards to 115 employers for their efforts to promote wellness and safety and improve their employees’ wellbeing. This year’s recipients include schools, banks, utilities, retailers, food co-ops, bakeries, municipalities, nonprofit agencies, health care organizations, retailers, educational institutions, construction companies, manufacturers, insurers, and more (the full list is below).
The awards provide an opportunity for the State of Vermont to thank businesses and organizations for their efforts to support a healthy Vermont workforce. These efforts help keep health care costs down, improve productivity, and make Vermont a great place to live and work.
“Employers play a key role in creating environments where workers and their families can live healthy lifestyles and feel invested in their careers and their communities,” said Janet Franz, Chair of the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. “Employers tell us they use the worksite wellness award application as a tool to benchmark their accomplishments and determine where improvements can be made.”
At the Expo, participants will learn about best practices and innovations for workplace health, safety, and overall wellness. They will have opportunities to see how other employers support worker wellbeing and experience activities to reduce stress, boost mood, prevent accidents, and improve musculoskeletal health.
Learn more about the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which promotes health and wellness through physical activity for people of all fitness and ability levels.
The following Vermont employers will receive a 2026 Governor’s Excellence in Worksite
Wellness Award:
BRONZE
802 Cars
Chittenden Solid Waste District
Morristown Centennial Library
Town of Colchester
University of Vermont Foundation
Vermont Public
SILVER
Brattleboro Food Co-op
Brattleboro Retreat
Families First of Southern Vermont
Gifford Health Care, Inc.
Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont
King Arthur Baking Company
Lund
Middlebury College
Mt. Ascutney Hospital & Health Center
National Life Group
Northwestern Medical Center
Passumpsic Bank
S.D. Ireland Companies
St. Michael’s College
Stone Environmental, Inc.
Vermont Gas Systems
Vermont Precision Tools
Washington County Mental Health Services, Inc.
Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Woodstock Farmers Market
World Learning, Inc.
GOLD
ARIS Solutions Inc.
A.N. Deringer
Age Well
ASIC North, Inc.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
Browns River Middle School
Butternut Mountain FarmCapstone Community Action, Inc.
Cathedral Square
Central Vermont Council on Aging
Champlain College
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
Chroma Technology Corp.
City Market Onion River Co-op
City of Burlington, VT
Clara Martin Center
Community Care Network
Community National Bank
Co-operative Insurance
Copley Hospital
Counseling Service of Addison County, Inc.
DEW Construction
EastRise Federal Credit Union
Engelberth Construction, Inc.
Engineers Construction, Inc.
Essex Westford School District
Fluency
Founders Memorial School
GlobalFoundries
Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital
Green Mountain Support Services
Hallam-ICS
Hartland Elementary School
Heritage Aviation
Howard Center
Hunger Mountain Coop
Injury & Health Management Solutions
Jay Peak Resort
Jericho Elementary School
Lake Champlain Chocolates
Lamoille County Mental Health Services
Local Motion
Manufacturing Solutions Inc
Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District
NEW CHAPTER, INC.
North Star Health
NorthCountry Federal Credit Union
Northeast Kingdom Human Services
Northern Counties Health Care
Northfield Savings Bank
Northwestern Counseling & Support Services, Inc.
Norwich University
PC Construction
ReArch Company, Inc
Red Hen Baking Company
Revision Military
Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
Special Olympics Vermont
Springfield Hospital, Inc.
St. Johnsbury School
State of Vermont
The Burton Corporation
The EDGE
The Heritage Automotive Group
The Richards Group – IMA
The Vermont Country Store
The Wellness Center (North Country Hospital)
Town of Brattleboro
United Counseling Service
University of Vermont
University of Vermont Health
Upper Valley Services
VEIC
Vermont Electric Cooperative
Vermont Electric Power Company
Vermont Federal Credit Union
Vermont Information Processing
Vermont Law and Graduate School
Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Vermont Mutual Insurance Company
Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust
Vermont Smoke & Cure
Vermont State Housing Authority
Vernon Advent Christian Homes
VHV Company
VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region
Woodstock Inn & Resort
The Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is a physical activity promotion and advocacy group comprised of volunteers appointed by the Governor and representing a broad spectrum of Vermonters. The council’s purpose is to promote health and wellness through physical activity for all people living in Vermont at all fitness and ability levels. Recognizing the inequity faced by historically marginalized communities navigating racial, physical, social, economic, and systemic barriers to participation in physical fitness activities and recreational sports, the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports seeks to remove barriers and expand access for all
individuals and communities across the state of Vermont through a welcoming for all people in Vermont.
The Vermont Safety & Health Council is a group of Vermonters, fellow New Englanders, and Northern New Yorkers interested in promoting safety and health in our communities and workplaces by sharing information and knowledge. VSHC is a nonprofit that is operated by the volunteer efforts of its board of directors and members.
VSHC provides an excellent venue for networking, safety and health resources, and a voice in the future of health & safety in Vermont.
