CEO Guide to Site Selection

Vermont

SLOW GOING AND SOLID GROWTH IN THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE

The Green Mountain State may not have the biggest economy, but it offers a slower-paced quality of life that many executives enjoy and can’t find anywhere else. Vermont retains a top spot in several national rankings for things like clean air and safety, and the small size of the state means business leaders and government are often a close-knit community. The growth in remote work and incentives has also made the state an attractive place for tech workers. Gov. Phil Scott is now proposing a 2023 budget that will use funding to help make the state more affordable in areas like housing. In April 2022, Vermont held the largest job fair in state history in Essex Junction, with more than 150 employers and 2,000 job seekers.

"My administration remains focused on retaining and creating jobs and supporting businesses in every region of the state…. [The small business credit initiative] will support our innovative employers, helping them to grow and become national leaders while strengthening our communities here at home.”
Phil Scott
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranking

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

No

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2010 and 2020

KEY INCENTIVES

Vermont Employment Growth Incentive: Offers cash payments to companies that meet milestones for job creation, payroll and capital investments. Enhancements are available for green businesses and those that create jobs in specific labor markets.

Vermont Training Program: Offers grants to cover up to half of the cost of training for new hires and incum- bent workers.

R&D Credit: Offers a state tax credit of up to 27% of the federal tax credit for research and development expenses.

Vermont Brownfields Revitalization Fund: Offers loans and grants to private developers, nonprofits and municipalities for the remediation of brownfield sites.

EDCs

Vermont Economic Development Authority

veda.org

Think Vermont

thinkvermont.com

Montpelier Alive

montpelieralive.com/doing-business-in-montpelier

Business Resources & Development, City of Burlington, VT

burlingtonvt.gov/CEDO/BusinessDevelopment

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

Vermont’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program will include access to low-interest loans and early-stage venture capital investments. The program recently received an additional allocation of more than $29 million in venture capital to focus on seed fund in- vestments for high-growth technology innovation companies. “Never before have we had such an opportunity to fund startups and early-stage capital for Vermont companies,” said Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein. “These investments present an enormous opportunity for venture capital in the state.”

BIG DEALS

  • Vermont-headquartered solar companies joined forces in September 2021 in a deal where iSun acquired SunCommon for $40 million.
  • Tech company OnLogic announced in October 2021 it was expanding its headquarters and operations in Burlington.
  • Darn Tough Vermont opened a new factory and announced 50 new jobs in in Waterbury in October 2021.
  • Vermont Livestock Slaughter & Processing received a $1 million-plus investment in November 2022 through the first round of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP).

BIG COMPANIES

  • Logic Supply
  • Dealer.com
  • Revision Military
  • MyWebGrocer
Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.