Starting December 3, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce's five-member lobbying team will tour Vermont to hold Legislative Preview Forums for businesses in partnership with more than 10 local and regional chambers of commerce. The Forums are designed to educate business owners on the key issues expected to arise in the 2015 legislative session, including tax proposals, tourism funding, health care, education funding and economic development.
The Vermont Chamber will also present its Economic Growth Agenda, which offers a plan to legislators that will ignite economic growth, create greater affordability, and generate more jobs for Vermonters. At the Forums, businesses will have an opportunity to provide feedback and comments to Vermont Chamber staff and attending legislators.
“As I travel throughout Vermont and talk with business owners of all sizes and their employees, I hear the same message: Vermont needs a plan for economic growth and job creation,” said Betsy Bishop, President of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
“With a $100 million projected budget deficit this year, spending and revenue will drive policy discussions at the State House. If we want to solve these ongoing challenges, economic growth and job creation must be at the forefront of all discussions,” explained Ms. Bishop.
As part of its Economic Growth Agenda, the Vermont Chamber recommends that policy leaders:
- Preserve the Agency of Commerce and Community Development budget, which is currently less than one percent of the General Fund;
- Address spending problems in education, health care and the State’s general fund while avoiding harmful tax increases;
- Support existing workforce training programs to invest in Vermonters and address the growing challenge of talent acquisition for businesses;
- Contain health care costs through ongoing work at the Green Mountain Care Board; and
- Facilitate growth and development by addressing process issues in permitting.
“The Chamber will continue to bring the voice of business to the State House, so we ensure that economic growth is part of the solution,” said Bishop. “The Economic Growth Agenda that we’ve developed, and are refining with the input of Vermont businesses, will show legislative leaders how to support an environment that will grow our economy, create greater affordability, and generate more jobs for Vermonters.”
View the complete list of Forums here.
Berlin, VT (December 2, 2014) – Vermont Chamber of Commerce: Since 1912, the Vermont Chamber of Commercehas represented every sector of the state’s business community. With approximately 1,500 members that employ more than 45,000 people, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce is the largest statewide, private, not-for-profit business organization in Vermont. Its mission is to create an economic climate conducive to business growth, and the preservation of the Vermont quality of life.