The Winooski river as pictured from the Champlain Mill. The mill is the new home of Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, which has made it's longtime home in Burlington before moving to Winooski this year. Photo courtesy of needpix.com.

Vermont Energy Investment Corporation has moved to the heart of Winooski’s downtown, bringing with it 200 new jobs to the Onion City.

VEIC is moving to Winooski’s repurposed Champlain Mill, which originally housed the American Woolen Company from 1912 to 1954. The Mill is home to the Waterworks restaurant, The Winooski Mill Museum, Champlain College’s Emergent Media Center, The Coaching Center of Vermont, Physicians Comping Service — and now VEIC.

VEIC advances progress in Winooski’s Down Town master Development plan, fostering business recruitment and expansion while supporting the downtown core, city officials said.

“it supports the ongoing preservation of historic resources by continuing adaptive reuse of the mill,” Winooski Community and Economic Development Officer Heather Carrington said.

Carrington said that by embracing VEIC Winooski is fostering smart growth, as VEIC stands to protect Vermont’s undeveloped green space and rural character. “I expect the relationship will only be strengthened and expanded with them moving to Winooski,” said Carrington.

Founded in 1986, VEIC’s mission is to reduce the economic and environmental costs of energy use. Their plans have caught the attention of small, resource-strapped governments across the map, having offered consulting services in 18 states and six foreign countries, according to VEIC’s website.

“The opening on the fifth floor of the mill really caused us to move as quickly as we could,” said Scott Comeau, VEIC’s chief financial officer. The 32,000 square feet space will house their 200 employees — when everyone is able to work in the same space again. The location is a great fit for the company as it is close to the interstate, has ample access to public transportation and has plenty of food and other amenities within walking distance, Comeau said.

This is not the first time VEIC has worked with Winooski.

The company helped the city build and install HVAC controls in the O’Brien Community Center, as well as a project that installed energy savings equipment in a city wastewater treatment facility that lowered energy costs. They have begun talking about installing electric vehicle chargers in the parking garage downtown.