Economic & Workforce Development Bill - RV Highlights

The Joint Fiscal Office issued the Committee of Conference Report on S. 11 - An act relating to economic and workforce development on May 11, 2022. The report nicely summarizes the bill that is still waiting for the Governors signature. Highlights are:

  • $250,000 in General Fund dollars to the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation to establish a two-year contract for the development of the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap. The roadmap is meant to strengthen, modernize, promote, and protect the forest products sector in the State. (Section 45)

  • $387,000 in General Fund dollars to Vermont Technical College to develop a skilled meat cutter training and apprenticeship facility.

  • $1.3 million in General Fund dollars to Everyone Eats (Restaurants and Farmers Feeding the Hungry Program, Section 53e). The State funds will match Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds available for the program.

  • $2.5 million in General Fund dollars to administer a statewide forgivable loan program of $5,000 per graduate who commits to work in Vermont for two years after graduation - with additional loan forgiveness for nurses, physician assistants, nurse faculty members, and mental health professionals

  • $500,000 in ARPA SFR funds to the State Refugee Office to administer grants to refugee or New-American focused programs to support increased in-migration or retention of recent arrivals.

  • $250,000 in ARPA SFR dollars to the Vermont Professionals of Color Network for business coaching and other training for BIPOC business owners; networking; and career fairs, workshops and paid internships.

Call the Office of Governor Phil Scott if you want to leave a message for the Governor on open bill signing actions at 802 828-3333. Read more about bills that Rural Vermont covered and that also have not been signed yet here.

Rural Vermont