SR Event
Public Commission Meetings on the Future of Jobs & Economic Opportunity for Vermont
Date: Apr, 2008
Time: TBA
Location: Regional Meetings. See below
Address: Vermont
Cost: Free
To Register: Contact Glenn McRae, Ph.D., Director, Policy Development, The Snelling Center for Government. Call 802-859-3090 x 308 or e-mail
For More Info: Contact Glenn McRae, Ph.D., Director, Policy Development, The Snelling Center for Government. Call 802-859-3090 x 308 or e-mail
Event Description
As part of its public outreach effort, the Commission on the Future of Economic Development (CFED) will be working with regional groups to host 12 meetings, six in the spring and six in the summer to gather public input as part of writing the state's strategic economic development plan. From 5:30 to 7:30 pm, CFED will host an open and interactive session for the general public, businesses and organizations, workers and community members who are interested in looking broadly at the future of the local economy, jobs and opportunity for families and support for growing the type of businesses that they want to be the foundation of their community.
Regional Meetings:
Spring:
Public meetings, 5:30-7:30pm
Wed, Apr 23, Brattleboro
Tues, Apr 29, Rutland
Wed, Apr 30, St. Albans
Mon, May 5, Middlebury
Thurs, May 8, White River Jct
Wed, May 21, Burlington
Summer:
Northeast Kingdom, Bennington, Springfield, Central Vermont, Lamoille, and the Champlain Islands. Check for updates at http://www.snellingcenter.org/cfed
Given that regional stakeholders, starting with the regional development corporations (RDC), are most knowledgeable of the key issues and challenges facing communities and employers, and what innovative approaches to economic development are already underway, CFED is partnering with groups in the regions using the RDC as the focal point.
CFED is interested in gathering information on local and regional initiatives. Its charge is to translate this experience and concern into a broad-based state strategy that will help guide action into the future.
In simplest terms, this process will attempt to draw out the following:
- What is the regional "story?"
- What supports the region/community economically today?
- How do all of the economic stakeholders work together (RDC, Chambers, WIB, Tech Centers, school systems, higher education, child care providers, housing organization, social service agencies, RPCs, etc.)?
- What does the future hold for current employers, businesses, institutions?
- What are the major concerns of workers and community members related to economic security and future opportunities?
- If areas are growing, why are they growing; what are the conditions of success; are they transferable to other regions?
- If areas are challenged, what is the basis of the challenge; is it something that state policy, resources and assistance might be able to address?
- What infrastructure is necessary to support economic development in the region?
- What state policies most notably help or hinder economic development in the region?
