Issue Position: The Recovery/Economic Development

Issue Position

The legislature needs to be almost singularly focused on Vermont's economic recovery for the next couple of years. People are unemployed, small businesses are trying to hang on, our health-care system is under huge economic stress and the education fund is in trouble. The challenge is enormous but must be faced head-on. In fact, it must be faced with confidence.
Hopefully, we will recover quickly, but we can't count on that. People need jobs now and doing everything we possibly can for our small businesses will be key to bringing those jobs back.
We need to think on three tracks: the immediate, the near-term, and the building a sustainable, vibrant future.
In the immediate term, and while the pandemic remains in force, we must continue to focus on protecting people, be it in the form of food, shelter or an economic lifeline. While getting started proved a challenge, we are helping people meet immediate needs and we will continue to do so.
In the near-term, as the immediate crises begins to lift, the Agency of Economic Development must put all of its resources into providing both technical and economic support to small businesses trying to re-launch. We will have to work together across all sectors--government, business and nonprofit -- to offer mutual support to re-ignite the economy. To do this, we must bring broadband to every nook and cranny of the Vermont landscape. This crisis has demonstrated unequivocally that broadband is essential for every facet of our lives. Just as FDR brought electricity to the most remote parts of the country, so must we bring broadband to all of Vermont.
We must also help small businesses hire and retain their employees. One of Vermont's biggest economic challenges is a shortage of employees. One of the things I plan to use as an organizing principle as we set priorities is to make it possible for people to work. In addition to universal broadband, we need something close to universal childcare, some form of paid family leave and affordable health insurance. These are prerequisites for a successful economy. Without them, many people who want to work, ironically, can't afford to work. That's crazy and we need to fix it.
Finally, looking more to the future, we must encourage new people and businesses to come to Vermont. As people from outside Vermont are sheltering here during the pandemic, they are learning that they can effectively work remotely. Many will simply stay after the pandemic lifts. We need to encourage that. Their children will attend school here, they will pay their tax dollars to Vermont and they will become part of our communities. Some will bring their businesses here as well. We must welcome these new Vermonters and we must encourage others to come as well.
This area has far more to offer than we have effectively marketed to the world. We are close to major metropolitan areas. We have very good schools and people have options at both the elementary and high school levels. We have a lot of successful entrepreneurs and we need to do everything we can to help them through this, as well as create a welcoming atmosphere for others. We have gorgeous mountains with excellent hiking opportunities and excellent skiing. We offer a strong sense of community to those who are looking for a sane place to raise their children, work remotely, start or bring business, or to retire. This potential has always been here and we need to bring it fully to life.
I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I believe strongly in our potential.

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