Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and members of his cabinet will be in Bennington County on Tuesday, September 24 for its Capitol for a Day 14-county tour. Governor Scott launched this initiative in June 2018, and he and his cabinet visited all 14 counties over the following 10 months. The second round of visits began this summer, and the administration will revisit each county over the next several months.
Capitol for a Day gives local constituents, municipal government leaders and other partners the opportunity to connect directly with state leadership and staff.
“This initiative has been tremendously rewarding and productive,” said Governor Scott. “It’s been great to get back to each county, with the opportunity to see new local programs and projects, as well as hear from Vermonters about the challenges they face and the impact of the work we’re doing in Montpelier.”
Follow along on social media using the #VTCapitol4aDay hashtag.
WHEN: Tuesday, September 24
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Various locations throughout Bennington County.
GOVERNOR SCOTT’S PUBLIC SCHEDULE
8:00 – 9:15 a.m.
Cabinet Meeting
Orvis, 4180 Main Street, Manchester
Who: Governor Scott; cabinet; extended cabinet; and legislators
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Roundtable Discussion: Suicide Prevention and Mental Health
United Counseling Service, 100 Ledgehill Rd., Bennington
Who: Governor Scott; Human Services Acting Deputy Secretary Monica Hutt; Mental Health Commissioner Sarah Squirrell; Health Deputy Commissioner Tracy Dolan; and additional members of the cabinet and extended cabinet
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Ribbon Cutting at Lake Paran Village
893 Paran Rd., Shaftsbury
Who: Governor Scott; Housing and Community Development Commissioner Josh Hanford; project participants; and additional members of the cabinet and extended cabinet
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Understanding Your Education Property Tax
Bennington Fire Department, 130 River St., Bennington
Who: Governor Scott, Administration Secretary Susanne Young; Tax Acting Commissioner Craig Bolio; Tax Economist and Director of Policy Douglas Farnham; Education Secretary Daniel French; Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union Superintendent James Culkeen; and Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union Director of Finance and Operations Renee Gordon
4:15 – 5:00 p.m.
Woodford Stagecoach Road ATV Discussion & Ride
Long Trail, Woodford (Click here for directions)*
Who: Governor Scott; Forests, Parks & Recreation (FPR) Commissioner Michael Snyder; Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter; FPR Lands Administration and Recreation Division Director Becca Washburn; USFS Recreation Program Manager Emily Lauderdale; USFS Manchester District Ranger David Francomb; Danny Hale, David Gilderdale and Mike Smith from the Vermont ATV Sportsman’s Association (VASA); and representatives from the Town of Woodford
*Attendees should start at the AT/LT parking area on Route 9, which provides access to the trailhead.
This schedule is subject to change.
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC EVENTS WITH CABINET & EXTENDED CABINET
8:45 – 9:00 a.m.
Visit Vermont Retirement Planners, LLC
54 Highland Ave., Manchester Center
Who: Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak
9:15 – 10:00 a.m.
Visit Finn & Stone Insurance
377 Center Hill Rd., Manchester Center
Who: Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak
9:15 - 10:35 a.m.
Roundtable Discussion: State Finance, Short-Term Rentals, Prewritten Software Accessed Remotely & the 2019 Legislative Session
Old First Church Barn, 1 Monument Circle, Bennington
Who: Tax Acting Commissioner Craig Bolio; Finance & Management Commissioner Adam Greshin; Tax Economist and Director of Tax Policy Doug Farnham; Tourism & Marketing Acting Commissioner Heather Pelham; and Digital Services Deputy Secretary Shawn Nailor
9:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Tour of the Factory Point Bank Building
4928 Main St., Manchester
Who: Public Service Commissioner June Tierney; Public Service Clean Energy Finance & Program Manager Ed Delhagen; Public Service Director of Clean Energy Development Fund Andy Perchlik; Pellergy Owner Andy Boutin; Office Manager of Vermont Renewable Fuels Alison MacDonald; Vermont Renewable Fuels staff Chip Straub; and Factory Point Building Manager Dan Scarlotta
9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Visit Happy Days Play School
426 East Arlington Rd., Arlington
Who: Education Deputy Secretary Heather Bouchey
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Pop Up Baby & Toddler Storytime Showcase
Bennington Free Library, 101 Silver St., Bennington
Who: State Librarian Jason Broughton
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Woodford State Park: Camping & Day Use Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Woodford State Park, 142 State Park Rd., Woodford
Who: Human Services Acting Deputy Secretary Monica Hutt; Natural Resources Deputy Secretary Peter Walk; and State Parks Director Craig Whipple
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Tour Black Rose Creamery
195 VT Rte. 315, Rupert
Who: Agriculture, Food & Markets Secretary Anson Tebbetts; and Agriculture, Food & Markets Deputy Secretary Alyson Eastman
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Building Community Grants Presentation and Roundtable
Bennington County Industrial Corporation, 111 South St., Suite 203, Bennington
Who: Buildings and General Services Commissioner Christopher Cole; and local municipalities and non-profit organizations
10:15 – 11:00 a.m.
Visit Traver Gardner Investment Group
4331 Main St., Manchester
Who: Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak
10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Visit & Tour with Town of Dorset
Dorset Town Offices, 112 Mad Tom Rd., Dorset
Who: Housing & Community Development Commissioner John Hanford; Vermont Community Development Program staff; and Town, business and community leaders
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Visit Southwest Vermont Career Development Center
321 Park St., Bennington
Who: Commerce Secretary Lindsay Kurrle; Workforce Development Program Manager John Young, Workforce Development Director Sarah Buxton; Labor Acting Commissioner Michael Harrington; and Education Deputy Secretary Heather Bouchey
11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Agency of Digital Services IT Staff Discussion at Vermont Veteran’s Home
325 North St., Bennington
Who: Digital Services Deputy Secretary Shawn Nailor; and Digital Services IT Specialist Scott Betit
11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Visit Fisher Elementary School
504 East Arlington Rd., Arlington
Who: Education Secretary Dan French
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Tour Equinox Valley Nursery & Garden Center
1158 Main St., Historic Rt. 7A, Manchester Center
Who: Agriculture, Food & Markets Secretary Anson Tebbetts; and Agriculture, Food & Markets Deputy Secretary Alyson Eastman
12:45 – 1:30 p.m.
Visit Woodford Elementary
995 VT Rt. 9, Woodford
Who: Education Secretary Dan French
1:00 - 1:45 p.m.
Visit Church Insurance Company
210 South St., Bennington
Who: Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Meet with Bennington County Emergency Management Personnel, Firefighters and EMTs
Bennington Village Fire, 130 River St., Bennington
Who: Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling; Vermont Emergency Management Director Erica Bornemann; Division of Fire and Safety Director Michael Desrochers; representatives from the Department of Health
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Presentation of Penguin Random House 1st Runner Up Library Award for Innovation Through Adversity
John G. McCullough Free Library, 2 Main St., North Bennington
Who: State Librarian Jason Broughton
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Economic Development, Act 250 and Taxes
Old First Church Barn, 1 Monument Circle, Bennington
Who: Natural Resources Deputy Secretary Peter Walke; Economic Development Deputy Commissioner Brett Long; Tax Economist and Director of Policy Douglas Farnham; Housing & Community Development Director of Community Planning & Revitalization Chris Cochran; and Natural Resources Board General Counsel Greg Boulbol
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Visit Pownal Elementary School
94 Schoolhouse Rd., Pownal
Who: Education Deputy Secretary Heather Bouchey
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Visit Mack Molding
608 Warm Brook Rd., Arlington
Who: Commerce Secretary Lindsay Kurrle; and Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein
2:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Tour Clear Brook Farm
47 Hidden Valley Rd., Shaftsbury
Who: Agriculture, Food & Markets Secretary Anson Tebbetts; and Agriculture, Food & Markets Deputy Secretary Alyson Eastman
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tour Bennington Welcome Center Energy Efficiency Upgrades
Bennington Welcome Center, 100 Route 279, Interchange of Routes 279 and 7, Bennington
Who: Buildings and General Services Commissioner Christopher Cole
3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Bennington Housing Needs Tour
Begins at 219 Pleasant St., Bennington (proceeds to multiple locations)
Who: Housing and Community Development Commissioner Josh Hanford; Vermont Housing Finance Agency Executive Director Maura Collins; Shires Housing Executive Director Stephine Lane; and managers of Bennington rental housing
3:15 - 4:00 p.m.
Visit Bank of Bennington
155 North St., Bennington
Who: Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Hospitality and Service Industry Coffee Hour
Four Chimney’s Inn, 21 West Rd., Bennington
Who: Acting Commissioner of Labor Michael Harrington; Acting Commissioner of Tourism and Marketing Heather Pelham; Commissioner of Economic Development Joan Goldstein; and invited businesses/constituents
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Community Conversations & Libraries
Martha Canfield Library, 528 East Arlington Rd., Arlington
Who: State Librarian Jason Broughton
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.
Tour Vermont Moonlight Cookies
1261 Rt. 7A, Shaftsbury
Who: Agriculture, Food & Markets Secretary Anson Tebbetts; Agriculture, Food & Markets Deputy Secretary Alyson Eastman; and Commerce Secretary Lindsay Kurrle
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Tour of CCV Bennington
324 Main St., Bennington
Who: Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael Pieciak
Please note, events and meetings that are not open to the general public are not listed.
This schedule is subject to change.