Land Use Modernization is an Essential, and Affordable, Housing Solution

Land Use Modernization is an Essential, and Affordable, Housing Solution

Legislators discussed important land use reports this week, in the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee, the House Environment and Energy Committee, and the Rural Caucus. This session is an opportunity to craft legislation that encourages more housing to be built in viable locations, without appropriating large sums of money. In particular, the Vermont Chamber is advocating for housing solutions that incentivize new development in and around our community centers as outlined in the Vermont Natural Resources Board report on necessary updates to Act 250.

Megan Sullivan, VP of Government Affairs, was on the Steering Committee for the report, which underscores the need for strategic changes to Vermont’s land use policy. This work brought together stakeholders with diverse perspectives to reach an agreement on how to best center modernization and incentivize essential housing development in smart growth areas. Several bills have been introduced that would be vehicles for progress in this area and the Vermont Chamber will be engaged throughout the session to ensure real progress is made.

GROW Grants Will Enhance Workforce Recruitment

GROW Grants Will Enhance Workforce Recruitment

Twelve partner organizations were announced as recipients of funding through the Grants for Relocation Outreach Work (GROW) program, an initiative that the Vermont Chamber championed funding for in the last legislative session. The grant, administered by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, will have a positive impact on workforce recruitment and retention. It is an essential step forward to addressing Vermont’s demographic crisis. The GROW grants are divided into two tracks – the Regional Relocation Network Track and the Outreach Track.

Regional Relocation Network Track: Grantees will complement and support the State’s relocation lead generation and distribution system on ThinkVermont.com. Grantees will be required to connect with and follow up on generated leads of potential residents interested in moving to their area.

  • Addison County Economic Development Corporation
  • Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation
  • Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation
  • Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Montpelier Downtown Community Association
  • Northern Forest Center
  • Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region
  • Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce
  • Vermont Professionals of Color Network

Outreach Track: Grantees will organize events and/or conduct activities that promote their region to prospective residents and/or help new residents feel welcome in their new community. Events can target recently relocated families and individuals or potential new residents to support their relocation to Vermont. This track could also include the creation of regional marketing assets to assist with outreach.

  • Addison County Economic Development Corporation
  • Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation
  • Chandler Center for the Arts
  • Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Montpelier Downtown Community Association
  • Southern Vermont Deerfield Valley Chamber of Commerce
  • Northern Forest Center
  • Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region
  • Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce
  • Vital Communities

House Overrides Bottle Bill Veto

House Overrides Bottle Bill Veto

The House voted to override a veto on last session’s “bottle bill,” setting a new trajectory for beverage container management and raising concerns for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers alike. The bill has the potential to disrupt existing recycling infrastructure with an increase in handling fees and the required participation in producer responsibility organizations. The widened scope of the bill could strain current systems, leading to inefficiencies and increased financial burdens on taxpayers.

The bill rewrites the state’s recyclable beverage container redemption law, redefining the scope of “beverage” and “container,” to incorporate an extensive range of liquid products. It includes the introduction of a 5-cent refund on water and sports drink bottles while imposing a 15-cent deposit on wine bottles by 2027. Additionally, it mandates that manufacturers and distributors take part in a producer responsibility organization that is tasked with managing the collection and disposal of these containers.

Shared Priorities Central in Governor’s State of the State

Shared Priorities Central in Governor’s State of the State

Governor Phil Scott’s address to the General Assembly set the stage for a legislative session that has significant opportunities for collaboration between legislators and the Governor on issues that are top of mind for businesses. Both have said that housing solutions and climate recovery and resiliency measures top their priority lists.

Workforce housing and recovery and resiliency are two pillars of the 2024 legislative business priorities. The Vermont Chamber is continuing to work on solutions for modernizing Act 250 to increase housing development and is encouraging legislators to establish a statutory goal for housing supply. We are also at the table advocating for the replenishment of business recovery programs following this year’s flood disasters and supporting work that prioritizes resiliency measures to help secure stability for the Vermont business community.

As anticipated, Governor Phil Scott’s State of the State address echoed his longstanding commitments to the economic well-being of Vermont and fiscal responsibility. For the past decade, the Vermont Chamber has worked to put a spotlight on Vermont’s severe demographic challenges and Governor Scott expressed his shared deep concern about the accumulating impacts on our workforce, reiterating that “the biggest obstacle we face to economic sustainability, is a shrinking workforce.” The Governor also shared that his proposed budget this year will have a modest 3% increase. The Governor will return to speak to the General Assembly again in three weeks with details on his proposed budget.

Flood Recovery and Resiliency the Central Issue for Legislators

Flood Recovery and Resiliency the Central Issue for Legislators

Committees in both the House and Senate took testimony this week on the July flooding and the ongoing impacts of climate change in Vermont. Discussions in the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee highlighted the connection between housing challenges and climate impacts. Encouragingly, the focus was not solely on where not to build, but also on identifying suitable areas for development. Witness testimony stated that the triumph of Irene was the reopening of roads and bridges, while the triumph from the July flooding needs to be the building of new housing outside of floodplains.

In a joint hearing, the House Environment and Energy Committee collaborated with the House Transportation Committee to also address flooding and climate resilience concerns. The discussion focused on conserving and restoring landscapes, including wetlands and floodplains, to mitigate storm impacts. Notably, nature-based solutions were recognized for their dual benefits in reducing flood risk and enhancing community recreation. The Vermont Chamber will be advocating for continued resources for flood-impacted businesses and for policies that increase resiliency while also building housing.