Contact
Jessica Gingras
Phone: (802) 343-3164
jgingras@vtchamber.com

Vermont Chamber Legislative Lunch, February 1

State Leaders Hear from Businesses

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce Legislative Lunch is tomorrow, February 1, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Montpelier. The agenda includes:

Noon              Mark Saba, Chair, Vermont Chamber of Commerce

12:25 pm         John Sutich, Comcast

12:30 pm         Speaker of the House Shap Smith

12:45 pm         Senate President Pro Tempore John Campbell

1:00 pm           Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott

1:20 pm           Governor Peter Shumlin

The forum, sponsored by Comcast, is an opportunity for Vermont business leaders to discuss economic development with the state’s head policy makers and political officials. Among other issues, Vermont Chamber members have identified the following business priorities for the 2012 legislative session.

Health Care: The Vermont Chamber advocates for more choice for employers inside the Health Care Exchange, implementing the Exchange initially for businesses with fewer than 50 employees, and prioritizing cost containment in reform implementation decisions.

Workers’ Compensation: The Vermont Chamber supports simplifying the definition of “independent contractor” in Vermont, resolving conflicts within statute and interpretation.

Economic Development: The Vermont Chamber of Commerce advocates that the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program be made permanent in the state, enticing new and existing businesses to expand and remain in Vermont.

Tourism Funding: The Vermont Chamber urges the Legislature to adopt a permanent funding formula for out-of-state tourism promotion to supplement the existing promotional budget of the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing.

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Contact
Chris Carrigan
Vermont Chamber of Commerce
(802) 223-0904
ccarrigan@vtchamber.com

Berlin, VT: In an effort to recognize and honor Vermont’s best companies, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Vermont Business Magazine created the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Business of the Year Award in 1990. Named for the former Governor of Vermont, this annual award honors a Vermont business that shows an outstanding history of sustained growth while displaying an acute awareness of what makes Vermont unique.

Each year the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Vermont Business Magazine present the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Business of the Year Award during the annual Vermont Business & Industry EXPO. The award is given to the Vermont business that has made exceptional accomplishments on a consistent basis and demonstrated success by:

Continued growth in number of employees and/or sales;
Commitment of company resources, including employees, to community projects;
Recognition of the environment as a natural and economic resource for Vermont; and
Creation of a positive work environment for all employees.

The finalists will be announced in the May edition ofVermont Business Magazine and the winner will be announced during the opening ceremonies of the Vermont Chamber’s Vermont Business & Industry EXPO on Wednesday, May 23, 2012.

Nominees and applicants are encouraged to complete the 2011 Deane C. Davis Award Nomination Form online at: http://www.jotform.com/form/13424041985 . Hardcopy forms are available upon request. Please contact Lisa Goodell atlgoodell@vtchamber.com, (802) 262-0147.

Application deadline: 3/2/12

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the largest state-wide private, not-for-profit business organization represents nearly every sector of the state’s corporate/manufacturing/hospitality community. Our mission is to create an economic climate conducive to business growth and the preservation of the Vermont quality of life.

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Contact
Betsy Bishop
Vermont Chamber of Commerce
(802) 595-5403
bbishop@vtchamber.com

BERLIN, Vt. – On the opening day of the 2012 Legislative Session, Sen. Vince Illuzzi and Sen. Hinda Miller introduced an important health care bill that would allow for greater choice for employers in the new health care exchange that will be implemented on January 1, 2014.

Last year, the Vermont Chamber worked closely with Sen. Illuzzi on language to amend the health care reform bill now known as Act 48. The bill introduced this year, S.272 is consistent with those amendments.

Betsy Bishop, President of the Vermont Chamber said, “The Vermont Chamber supports Sen. Illuzzi and Sen. Miller’s efforts to create greater choice for employers with a focus on the cost of health care insurance and I look forward to working with them to pass this bill this session.”

Illuzzi said the focus of S. 272 is to ensure smooth transition and allow for choice.

“The goal of our legislation is to maintain existing health care plans and expand opportunities to purchase affordable health insurance. We need to ensure that we don’t restrict access to coverage and care, increase costs on employers or reduce payments to providers to the point that they stop practicing in Vermont,” Illuzzi added.

As the Legislature moves forward in making key decisions regarding Act 48, the state’s health care reform bill enacted in the 2011 session, the Vermont Chamber will be advocating for more choice for employers in this new marketplace. The key decisions being discussed and debated this year will be:
Business size – The 2010 federal law requires businesses with 50 or fewer employees purchase health care within that state’s Exchange but it gives the state the option of also including businesses with 50-100 employees. The Vermont Chamber will encourage the Legislature to implement the exchange initially for businesses with fewer than 50 employees, which would not only comply with federal law but also provide the ability to implement the new system with the least amount of disruption, allowing a smoother start to a completely new system.
Essential health benefits – The Legislature will decide what essential health benefits will be offered within the Exchange and that package will need approval from the Green Mountain Care Board. The key factor in this decision is what benefits will be covered through federal assistance and which ones the state will add at its own expense. The Vermont Chamber will work to make sure that benefits are sufficient and cost effective.
Plan options – Act 48 currently allows for three plan options to be offered within the Exchange, eliminating two of the plans allowed by federal law that would likely provide lower cost insurance plans. S.272 would re-visit this decision and the Vermont Chamber strongly supports building a cost-effective system that allows for additional plan options, including the “Bronze Level.”
Off Exchange Market – The Vermont Chamber will advocate for allowing qualified health plans to be sold outside of the Exchange. This would allow additional options for employers after 2014 when the Exchange is implemented.

Bishop also said, “Cost containment should be in the forefront of all decisions made in the implementation of health care reform, including the efforts underway by the Green Mountain Care Board on the continuation of the Blueprint for Health, payment reform, and delivery system reform.”

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Over 150 Vermonters Certified in Safe Food Handling in 2011

Berlin, VT- In 2011 the Hospitality Education Foundation of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce partnered with Efficiency Vermont to certify 156 people in the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe Food Safety program. The ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification is the restaurant industry’s national “gold standard,” accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-Conference for Food Protection (CFP).

“Our members make this investment in training and certifying staff in the ServSafe program because it makes sense for the business and the employee,” noted Betsy Bishop, Vermont Chamber President. “This year we had a record number of member employers investing in staff training through our ServSafe program, as well as a 95% pass rate – certainly a reflection of the quality and commitment to excellence of Vermont businesses and their employees. Our collective goal is to provide a high quality Vermont dining experience.”

The Vermont Chamber offered twelve one-day ServSafe Food Safety trainings and exams in 2011, held in locations from Brattleboro to Burlington and many other sites statewide. Trainings cover sanitation, safe food temperatures, cross-contamination, feeding at-risk populations, and more. The Vermont Department of Health recommends ServSafe training and certification for Vermont restaurant and hospitality employees, and the National Restaurant Association estimates that an outbreak of food-borne illness can cost a food service operation over $75,000 in legal fees, medical claims, lost wages, and sanitizing costs.

“The hazards associated with serving food seem to be changing at an increasingly rapid pace,” asserts Brian Norder of Vermont Food Consulting Services, the certified instructor who partners with the Vermont Chamber to teach the classes. “What may have been thought of as safe even two years ago may now present a risk to customers. Training staff in ServSafe helps address those changing risks and demonstrates an organization’s commitment to the safety of its customers.”

The Vermont Chamber provides access to ServSafe certification classes and exams for foodservice and hospitality employees through its affiliation with the National Restaurant Association. A ServSafe Food Safety certificate is valid for five years in Vermont.

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The Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the largest statewide, private, not-for-profit business organization represents nearly every sector of the state’s corporate/hospitality community. Our mission is to create an economic climate conducive to business growth and the preservation of the Vermont quality of life

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Vermont Chamber Names Bill Stenger as Citizen of the Year Jay Peak Destination Celebration Cuts the Ribbon on Innovative Waterpark as Part of Six Year Expansion

Bill Stenger, President and Chief Operating Officer at Jay Peak Resort, has been selected as the 2011 Citizen of the Year by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Stenger’s achievements will be toasted at a gala event on December 9, in coordination with the sneak preview of Jay Peak’s nationally acclaimed 50,000 square-foot Pump House indoor water park.

The prestigious Citizen of the Year Award, now in its 48th year, highlights the work of a Vermonter who has bettered the state through self-sacrifice, service and volunteerism.

“I am delighted to accept the Vermont Chamber Citizen of the Year award. The timing could not be better as family, friends, and colleagues come together to celebrate the Pump House, a new dimension in the creation of a four-season, destination resort at Jay Peak,” Stenger noted.

Since 1985, Stenger has focused on growing the resort into a destination for Vermonters and people worldwide, as a source of fun, sport and relaxation. He has transformed the remote ski area to a premier resort, providing social and economic benefits on a regional and statewide basis.

“Bill Stenger’s innovation and determination have invigorated the economy in the Northeast Kingdom, providing excellent jobs to many in Vermont’s most rural region,” said Betsy Bishop, President of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. “With each commitment, he has shared his entrepreneurial spirit and savvy business skills throughout the state, emerging as a dean of tourism and economic development. Bill’s vision and energy continue to be an inspiration to all.”

Stenger is a champion of the EB-5 foreign investment program, attracting capital at a time when domestic loan opportunities are in short supply. Beyond drawing growth to the Jay area, Stenger has served on a myriad of boards such as the Next Generation Commission, the Travel and Recreation Council, Vermont Ski Areas Association and the North Country Hospital.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce will honor Bill Stenger on Friday, December 9, 2011, beginning at 5:30 pm at Jay Peak Resort in Jay, Vermont. Tickets are $65 per person and include hors d’oeuvres, a plated dinner and an opportunity to toast Stenger for his many accomplishments. Special tours, and complimentary lift and water park tickets, are also on tap for event participants. To register for this event, log on to http://www.vtchamber.com or contact Lisa Goodell, Communication Coordinator: lgoodell@vtchamber.com.

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Contact
Chris Carrigan
VP Business Development
Vermont Chamber of Commerce
802-223-0904
ccarrigan@vtchamber.com

What: VAAA Event
Date: Thursday, October 6th, 2011
Time: 3 – 5:30 p.m.
Place: Mansfield Heliflight, 159 Catamount Drive, Milton, VT 05468
Registration:

• Vermont Chamber Member: No charge (benefit of membership)
• Non-member Rate: $25
• Government officials, speakers and invited guests: No charge
• Media & Press Identification (required)
• Contact Chris Carrigan at 802-223-0904, ccarrigan@vtchamber.com

Berlin – The Vermont Chamber’s Aerospace and Aviation Association (VAAA) will hold its fourth Quarterly VAAA Meeting of 2011 on Thursday, October 6th, 2011 at Mansfield Heliflight.

Sponsored by Mansfield Heliflight and underwritten by the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), this high-profile event will feature and showcase supply chain and procurement opportunities with leading aerospace primes and sub primes, including Aveos Fleet Performance, Bombardier, GE Canada and Rolls-Royce, in the Canadian Aerospace Industry, the fifth largest in the world and a $22 billion market opportunity for Vermont Chamber’s Aerospace and Aviation Association members. In 2009, total U.S. aerospace exports to Canada were approximately $6 billion. Most Canadian companies source over 50% of their aerospace products from the U.S.

“The VAAA Events are an excellent opportunity to meet senior management of leading aerospace firms,” says Bill Berg, Vermont Composites. “The Vermont Chamber’s efforts have helped us open doors and connect with new partners as we grow our business in Vermont, creating quality jobs in our communities.”

An industry seminar for Vermont Chamber members will be held prior to the 3pm event from 1:30 – 2:30pm (Vermont Chamber members only) and will cover:

• New and emerging trends in Canadian Aerospace by Gina Rebelo Bento, CS Canada Aerospace Specialist, International Trade Administration, U.S. Commercial Service
• Export and customs compliance by Senior Trade Advisors Donna Kavanaugh and Darlene DiBernardo, Deringer
• ITAR Exemption by Aaron Melville, Law Offices of Aaron Melville
• Agenda speakers include high-level, industry procurement specialists from Aveos Fleet Performance, Bombardier, GE Canada, and Rolls-Royce.
• Robert Gogo, Director of Strategic Procurement & Vendor Management, Aveos Fleet Performance Inc.
• Jarrod Morley, Supply Chain, Major Structures & Composites, and, in attendance, Louis Bouchard, Senior Business Analyst – CSR & Industry Relations, Bombardier
• Bradley Smith, Vice President, Sourcing, Trading & Industry Benefits, GE Canada
• Geneva Taylor, Strategic Purchasing Executive, Rolls-Royce

As a division of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, VAAA promotes growth and job creation in aerospace, aviation and the related manufacturing sectors in the Green Mountain State. To accomplish this, the VAAA holds events that feature high-growth sectors, market opportunities, tangible, business-to-business (B2B) networking, and sourcing, supply chain and matchmaking opportunities for members with high-level procurement specialists from leading primes and sub primes at sites around the state and throughout the year.

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The Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the largest statewide, private, not-for-profit business organization, represents nearly every sector of the state’s corporate/hospitality community. Our mission is to create an economic climate conducive to business growth and the preservation of the Vermont quality of life.

VTDigger

Contact: Lisa Goodell
Communication Coordinator
Vermont Chamber of Commerce/
802-262-0147
lgoodell@vtchamber.com

August 29, 2011
VisitVT Facebook Page Facilitates Conversation between Vermont’s Tourism Industry and Visitors in the Wake of Hurricane Irene

Berlin – The Vermont Chamber of Commerce today launched a social media effort to assist businesses and tourists using its facebook page, www.facebook.com/VisitVT. Businesses can go to the page to post updates and chronicle recovery efforts from Hurricane Irene, or post that they are open and ready for business. The posts will provide an up-to-date resource for tourists, visitors and local residents who are looking for information on their favorite places to visit, or to check in on vacations that are already booked.

For businesses to connect with other businesses about cleanup, repairs or estimates, the Vermont Chamber is encouraging individuals to take advantage of the Vermont Chamber Facebook profile where they can go to find information and connect with other members and businesses. Vermont Chamber staff will respond to inquiries and help with referrals.

“Many businesses have sustained damage, but many more are open as usual,” noted Vermont Chamber President, Betsy Bishop. “Since we are entering one of our busiest times of the year, we want visitors to know that they can still come to Vermont, and that the recovery is well underway. This social media initiative will not only help visitors, but also be a resource for Vermont Chamber members who are trying to get the word out that Vermont is open for business.”

Businesses are being encouraged to post remarkable stories, instances of guests or employees being heroic, and the creative ways that they are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

Businesses that are unable to access the internet or post on Facebook may contact Lindsay Lord at llord@vtchamber.com or 802-262-2114.

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VTDigger

Contact
Lisa Goodell
Communication Coordinator
Vermont Chamber of Commerce
802-262-0147
lgoodell@vtchamber.com

Berlin – The Vermont Chamber of Commerce announces the highly anticipated 2011-2012 Top Ten Winter Events.  Each year, a panel of independent judges chooses Vermont’s best activities, selected for their diversity, wide appeal, and consistency with Vermont’s brand.

Vicky Tebbetts, Vermont Chamber Senior VP, noted, “Vermont is known for being a destination in which to relax, reconnect with friends and family, get outdoors, and get back to basics. This year’s Vermont Chamber Top Ten Winter Events feature time-honored traditions as well as contemporary experiences from all regions of the state.”

The Vermont Chamber Top Ten Winter Events take place from November 2011 through March 2012.

The winners in chronological order are:

Thanksgiving Weekend at Billings Farm & Museum

Woodstock, November 25 – 27, 2011, 10 am – 3:30 pm

Walk back in time during Thanksgiving at Frederick Billings’ 1890 farmhouse. Visitors are greeted by costumed interpreters as they demonstrate cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal in the historic kitchen. Relax in the Victorian parlor and learn how the American Thanksgiving evolved; ride in horse drawn wagons around the farm fields. Adults $12, seniors $11, students (5-15) $6, ages 3-4 $3, 2 and under free. www.billingsfarm.org, 802-457-2355.

Vermont International Festival

Essex Junction, December 2-4, 2011, Fri. 5 – 8 pm, Sat. 10 am – 6 pm, Sun. 10 am – 5 pm

The Vermont International Festival is a unique, unforgettable celebration of the cultures that comprise our community. Find crafts from all over the world, ethnic and gourmet foods, and traditional international music, dance and stories. Local cultural and ethnic organizations provide information about their programs with exhibits, demonstrations and workshops. This annual gala offers a fun environment in which to learn and experience new things and appreciate other cultures. Admission is good for the entire weekend: individuals $6, seniors 65+ $3, children 6-12 $3, family passes $15. www.vermontinternationalfestival.com, 802-863-6713.

Christmas in Weston

Weston, December 3, 2011, 11 am – 4 pm

An old-fashioned Christmas festival! Tours, sleigh rides, Santa, caroling and more. Experience the Vermont Country Store, the Museum Mill, the Old Parish Church, and many other locations throughout Weston. Free. www.westonvt.com or www.yourplaceinvermont.com, 802-228-5830.

Coolidge Holiday Open House

Plymouth Notch, December 11, 2011, 10 am – 4 pm

Enjoy the traditions of the season at Plymouth Notch – one of Vermont’s most picturesque villages. Visit the Coolidge Birthplace decorated as it would have been in 1872, the year the future president was born. Several other historic buildings are also open free of charge. www.historicvermont.org/coolidge, 802-672-3773.

First Night Burlington

Burlington, December 31, 2011, noon – midnight

First Night Burlington is Vermont’s largest one-day event, celebrating New Year’s Eve in downtown Burlington. This substance-free performing arts festival is in 20 different venues downtown and is fun for all ages! Adults $18, kids $5, family pack $39. www.firstnightburlington.com, 802-863-6005.

2012 Stowe Winter Carnival

Stowe, January 16-29, 2012

The 38^th Annual Stowe Winter Carnival, “The Greatest Stowe on Earth,” is a fourteen-day festival that takes place in the heart of quintessential Stowe, Vermont. The town comes alive in late January with a celebration of winter sports and the arts. Events such as the Snowgolf and Snowvolleyball Tournaments, Stowe Schuss Ski Race, and the 12^th Annual Ice Carving Festival entice everyone to the outdoors! Free for spectators, some entry fees for participants. www.stowewintercarnival.com, 802-777-5510.

Chester Winter Carnival

Chester, February 17-19, 2012

Fun for all ages! Events are guaranteed to get one outside for winter fun. Sled races, dog sled rides, skating outdoors and broom hockey warm one’s heart and evoke laughter on the coldest February days! Free admission. www.chester.govoffice.com or www.yourplaceinvermont.com, 802-875-2693.

30^th Annual U.s. Open Snowboarding

Stratton Mountain, March 4-11, 2012, 9 am – 5 pm

The final stop of the Burton Global Open Series and the longest standing snowboarding event on the planet. Come watch as amateurs compete on the same platform as the world’s best riders including Vermont superstars Louie Vito, Hannah Teter, and 2011 defending champion Kelly Clark. Free. www.stratton.com, 800-STRATTON.

Vermont Chili Festival

Middlebury, March 10, 2012, 2 – 4 pm

Warm up with the Better Middlebury Partnership’s 4^th Annual Vermont Chili Festival! Taste the best of the best from restaurants and caterers around the state, when they flock to historic downtown Middlebury. Cast your vote for the award-winning chili! The event includes activities for all ages. Adults $3, children under 12 $2. www.bettermiddleburypartnership.org, 802-388-4126.

Green Mountain Film Festival

Montpelier, March 16-25, 2012

Expect the best at the Green Mountain Film Festival – one won’t be disappointed. Powerful programming on a wide range of subjects, interesting and often unexpected guests, and a convivial atmosphere make this ten-day event an audience favorite. “I traveled the world without leaving Vermont,” is frequent spectator sentiment. Admission fees vary. www.greenmountainfilmfestival.org, 802-262-3423.

About the Vermont Chamber of Commerce

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the largest statewide, private, not-for-profit business organization represents nearly every sector of the state’s corporate/hospitality community. Our mission is to create an economic climate conducive to business growth and the preservation of the Vermont quality of life.

VTDigger

Shumlin, left, with Patricia Moulton Powden

Gov.-elect Peter Shumlin named four members of his cabinet Monday. He made the announcements at the UVM Davis Center.

Lawrence Miller, founder of Otter Creek Brewery and currently CEO of Danforth Pewter, will be secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Patricia Moulton Powden, former commissioner of the Department of Labor, will serve as his deputy. Annie Noonan, former executive director of the Vermont State Employees Association, will head the Department of Labor, and Chuck Ross Jr., a longtime aide to Sen. Patrick Leahy, will be the new secretary of agriculture.

Shumlin said the new agency chiefs would be focused on creating new jobs for Vermonters through integrated economic development initiatives.

“I am thrilled that each of these talented individuals has agreed to join our job creation team,” Shumlin said in a statement.

“Agriculture is a critical engine of economic growth and there is a direct connection between our farms, our vibrant communities and a strong economy,” Shumlin said. “The Agency of Commerce will work closely with the Agency of Agriculture to seize the job creation opportunities that sustainable and conventional agriculture represent. The Agency of Labor will play a critical role in developing workforce training initiatives that support small businesses and create good jobs. Lawrence, Pat, Chuck and Annie will make a great team, and I am grateful to them for accepting this challenge.”

The new administration has received hundreds of resumes, sources say, and must fill 84 positions, according to a report from the Associated Press. Shumlin said he would name more members of his cabinet after the Thanksgiving holiday.

David Dill, secretary of the Agency of Transportation, told his staff in an e-mail on Monday that he would leave state government as of Jan. 1. Dill recommended that Shumlin retain the remainder of the VTrans executive staff.

Last week, Steve Dale, the commissioner of the Department of Children and Families announced that he was also leaving the state to take a job as executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association.

Shumlin named his transition team two weeks ago and five top staffers last week.

Over the weekend, Shumlin attended a National Governor’s Association meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he met with 29 other newly elected governors. It is the first time since 1920, when 27 new governors beat out incumbents for their seats, that so many new candidates have been elected to gubernatorial office.

“The interesting thing for me was regardless of political party how much we have in common in terms of the challenge we’re facing and the need for information to meet those challenges,” Shumlin said. “I was sitting next to the governor-elect of Connecticut. On a per capita basis he has to cut the biggest amount of any other governor in the country. We have challenges in Vermont but some of these other governors have even bigger challenges.”

What follows is a rundown of Shumlin’s latest appointments.

Lawrence Miller, Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Miller, 44, who describes himself as a dilettante, singlehandedly started Otter Creek Brewery in 1989 straight out of college (he graduated from Reed College in Portland, Ore.). His company was the third major brewery to launch in Vermont, after Catamount Brewery and Long Trail Ale. Miller sold the business in 2002 to Wolaver’s Certified Organic Ales and began working as a business consultant for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. In 2007, he became CEO of Danforth Pewter. He will leave
that position to become secretary.

Shumlin, left, with Lawrence Miller

In an interview, Miller said he was surprised to be tapped for the position. So, why did he take the job?

“When I thought about it, I thought about all the people who helped me along the way,” Miller said. “What I’ve been about is growing jobs and making things happen with brands, and this agency has been tremendously supportive of my work over the years. It was a compelling argument that it was a good time to give back. It’s gonna be a chunk of work.”

Miller has previously served in important, if peripheral, roles in state government. He was the chair of the Vermont Economic Progress Council for two years and served on the council for nine years in all. VEPC overseas the Vermont Employment Growth Initiative, and under Miller’s tenure, the program changed its tax credit program for businesses. Instead of tax credits, the state now gives incentives to businesses once they have met employment targets.

Miller’s own business, Otter Creek, was a recipient of VEPC incentives.

“I think we need to look at the data and understand how it’s performing every few years,” Miller said. “It’s important to have the tools; it’s important for our people talking to businesses looking to come to Vermont for that site selector to be able to check the box yes, there is a program. We are never going to be able to compete with other states for the giveaways they provide.”

Miller is also serving as a director of The National Bank of Middlebury, Community Financial Services Group and Bridge School and is an advisory board member for several businesses. He is a former chair of the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund.

Patricia Moulton Powden, deputy secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Powden, 51, was commissioner of the Department of Labor from 2007 through 2010. Last spring, Powden was instrumental in an extensive and controversial overhaul of the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund system. In the summer, she took a job with the Vermont Chamber of Commerce as communications director.

One reporter noted that she was the only “carryover” so far from the Douglas administration, and Shumlin quipped that Powden is “more than a carryover.”

Powden was a deputy commissioner of the Vermont Department of Economic Development under Gov. Richard Snelling. Douglas named her to the full-time chair of the Vermont Natural Resources Board. Early in her career, she was the executive director of the Springfield Regional Development Corporation. She is the daughter of Al Moulton, who was a pioneer of economic development in Vermont. Powden is a graduate of the University of Vermont.

Why did she take the job?

“I didn’t know this was coming, but I was honored to be asked,” Powden said. “This is my passion; I love economic development work, and Lawrence will be great to work with.”

She said they will form a team with a total of five to six exempt positions, and then “we’ll be going out and talking to businesses and finding out what do you need, making sure they know about tools already in place, breaking down those (departmental) silos, figuring out how we can collaborate on value-added agriculture and manufacturing and innovation and entrepreneurism, as well as the whole renewable field.”
“Those are areas we’re going to have to get cracking on right away,” Powden said. “We’ve got some ideas, and we’ll be putting together a plan and make sure the vision is clear, and work with our Regional Development Corp. and Regional Planning Commission team members to get the plan out to them and help them be part of the team again.”

The relationship between the agency and the RDCs and the RPCs, which provide economic and environmental planning services for businesses, became frayed in the last legislative session. The Douglas administration sought to consolidate the several dozen separate regional groups into nine
entities under the Challenges for Change government restructuring plan. In the end, the RDCs and RPCs were cut by roughly $1 million and were not forced to consolidate, though they have to submit requests for proposals for funding instead of receiving automatic funding for programs. The agency itself has lost 22 staff positions since the beginning of the recession.
Powden said she anticipates more changes to economic development programs next year. “That’s going to be one of the first things — where are we at with that progression, what more do we need to do, and what does the 2012 budget look like – because it’s not going to be pretty,” Powden said.

Annie Noonan, commissioner of the Department of Labor

Annie Noonan, right, Lawrence Miller, left

Noonan spent most of her career working for the Vermont State Employees Association. She started working for the union in 1980, and she left in 2005 after serving as executive director of the organization for eight years. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont.

Why did she take the job?

“I think that I have an ability to bring workers to the table on the tough issue, whether it’s because they trust me,” Noonan said. “I think working families will work with me. I think I tap into three decades’ worth of knowledge around worker training needs and how people feel when they get unemployed.”

She said inadequate transportation and child care continue to be barriers for Vermont workers. She said too few young Vermonters are coming up through the apprenticeship programs in the building trades.

“We need to catch kids early, so they can find rewarding careers in Vermont, so that the kids stay here,” Noonan said. “That’s really the economic future – a young workforce.”

Noonan said she has experience running a small business – VSEA, which has 25 employees.

Chuck Ross Jr., secretary of the Agency of Agriculture

Ross has served as a congressional staffer for Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., for 16 years. He is director of the senator’s Vermont office, and he previously served in the Vermont Legislature. “There’s some sadness because I’ve worked for him (Sen. Leahy) for a long time.”

Leahy congratulated Ross on his new position. Leahy said Ross is “steeped in issues, from the big picture to the nuts and bolts.”

“Along with his mastery of policy, Chuck has a keen political sense and a wonderful sense of humor,” Leahy said. He was talking about and working for sustainable agriculture long before it became the rage. He is skilled in bringing people together to find common ground and the way forward.

Chuck Ross, left, with Shumlin

Ross represented Hinesburg for six years in the Legislature and served as chair of the House Natural Resource and Energy Committee before he went to work for Leahy. Ross has served on the boards of Shelburne Farms, the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University
of Vermont, the Vermont Council on Rural Development, Fletcher Allen Health Care, the University of Vermont and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont.

Ross said he signed onto Shumlin’s cabinet because “it’s just a first-rate team.”

“I’ve been able to be involved in a lot of fun stuff, but this is the essence of Vermont, the world of agriculture,” Ross said. “I really appreciate Gov.-elect Shumlin’s vision, which is really looking at
agriculture as an integral part of the economy. If you look at how the tentacles of the agricultural economy stretch into the Vermont economy, I’ve heard anywhere from 40 percent to 50 percent of our economic base is connected to agriculture. So that’s really exciting to me to see it recognized in that way.”

The current secretary of agriculture, Roger Allbee, had high praise for his replacement. “Chuck has exhibited a commitment to agriculture in the state and nationally,” Allbee wrote in a statement. “This appointment shows further commitment to the work that the agency does to support our producers and the open, working landscape so important to our state. Mr. Ross has the background, experience, knowledge, vision and connections to work aggressively to move Vermont agriculture forward on every level.”

Ross said the agency, like others in state government, has been hit hard by recent budget cuts.

“What’s clear is that there has been an enormous erosion of personnel in state government, and it’s clear to me I’m going to be confronted with that the minute I walk in the door, and that’s probably been necessary because of our budgets,” Ross said. “We’re going to have to figure out a new way of
doing business. We may need to be more innovative and creative in response to a need for support. I look at that as a challenge.”

Though the dairy industry – the mainstay of farming in Vermont — has been decimated by low milk prices, he said farmers have reason for hope.

“You go around to the dairy farmers, and that’s an innovative group of people,” Ross said. “They didn’t’ survive this long without being really good business people and without being able to solve problems creatively. I hope to tap into that kind of entrepreneurship. I think they’re seeing themselves differently than they have in the past. It’s less about making sure the milking is done and a truck is there to pick it up when we’re done.

“There’s a conversation happening today that wasn’t happening 10 years ago,” Ross said. “To have the dairy community come around to supply management, that’s enormous, and …we may be able to pursue success. Maybe not in the next month or the next year, but we’re moving in that direction.”

VTDigger

As our country and state continue to claw out of the deepest economic dive in 80 years, every candidate is talking about jobs. Finding and keeping a good job is everyone’s top priority. The recession has left more than 11,000 Vermonters on unemployment, and countless more who are ineligible for unemployment. The recession has caused individuals to travel many miles, sometimes beyond Vermont’s borders, to find a job. The recession has forced even more Vermonters to make difficult choices in balancing critical needs. Yes, this election is all about jobs.

Candidates for statewide offices have their plans for creating jobs. While the Vermont Chamber values planning for a flourishing economy, Vermonters must keep in mind that politicians do not “create” jobs. Government does not create jobs; it facilitates the creation of jobs by setting policies that stimulate the economy and business climate. Legislators do not create jobs; they pass laws that produce tax, regulatory and other policies that create the environment where a business of any size may grow.

Businesses create jobs. Our corporate leaders, managers, owners, partners and others sign the paychecks with which Vermonters pay their mortgages, buy their groceries, obtain health care, and direct personal funds in hundreds of directions, fueling the economy.

Each of us has one precious vote. On behalf of those wanting to maintain and create jobs for Vermonters, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce has developed a number of tools to make decisions about the candidates. What are the candidates’ records on stimulating an environment where businesses can start and grow jobs? How does one discern if a first-run candidate will represent the ideals of the employer community?

Visit the website of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce at www.vtchamber.com and take a look at the Vermont Chamber Legislative Report Card, tallying legislators’ votes on business-friendly proposals over the last biennium. Peruse how your legislators performed on key votes to create a climate conducive to business growth in Vermont. Check the Vermont Chamber website to learn who is running for office in your area.

Vermont is home to tens of thousands of businesses, providing about 355,000 jobs. Ask our candidates if they have ever had to meet a payroll because if they have they understand the perspective of a business owner who is responsible for the lives of his/her employees and the impact increasing taxes and regulations have on the ability to create jobs. Have they talked directly to employers about the challenges of operating a successful business in Vermont? Where do they stand on raising taxes, providing low-cost energy and increasing workforce training?

Vermont’s tourism economy is responsible for about 37,000 jobs. Where do our candidates stand on providing funding to promote tourism in the Green Mountain State, where together visitors and employers provide jobs, buy services from businesses that support the tourism industry such as banks and insurance companies, and pay millions of dollars in property, sales, gas, rooms and meals taxes?

Our small but charismatic state is brimming with innovators and entrepreneurs. How will our candidates create tax credits and encourage access to capital that can help a business expand and create jobs? Will they support those policies for all economic sectors or just a chosen few industries?

Vermonters are heavily reliant on government programs and currently we as a state are questioning whether these programs are sustainable during these difficult economic times. If our candidates support growing government programs, how will they pay for it? When will that money be available to pay for it? And will they make the job creators in this state pay for that?
Fall festivals, trail walks, chicken pie suppers: it’s classic Vermont, and it’s a great time to meet our neighbors on the campaign trail. Will policy culminate in action? Will your legislators work with business to benefit all Vermonters?

Inform yourself, ask questions that matter, hold candidates accountable for their votes and their policies. On November 2, vote for candidates who understand the need to create policies that help businesses grow jobs!

VTDigger