Vermont Chamber Helps to Repurpose ARPA Dollars From Embattled COVID Paid Leave Program to Workforce Development

A priority for the Vermont Chamber this session is to ensure unspent ARPA dollars that were promised for workforce solutions and businesses would remain used for that purpose. In recent weeks, the Vermont Chamber worked with the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee to identify over $10 million of such funds from the embattled FY23 COVID Worker Relief Program to help fund the important workforce development programs in H.484.  

The paid leave program was established by the legislature last session, but with less than $1 million making it out the door, most of the remaining funds will be redirected to ensure they are spent to help support Vermont’s workforce. In total, the workforce development bill would invest $40 million in recruitment and retention strategies.