Vermont Business Roundtable chair, Bill Stritzler, Managing Director of Smugglers’ Notch Resort, has announced the election of three Vermont CEOs to three-year terms on the Board of Directors. The new directors assumed their roles during the Roundtable’s Annual Membership meeting on January 14, 2010. (more…)
Op – Ed by David Coates, former Managing Partner of KPMG and Vermont Business Roundtable Member, and Bruce Lisman, former Chairman of J.P. Morgan Company’s Global Equity Division
A long campaign season ahead, lots of gubernatorial candidates, and an economic catastrophe that may change how we think about economic growth make for an ideal environment in which to consider new approaches to how we govern our State. This economic crisis is forcing us to re-examine with fresh eyes our tax structure, our educational funding and our public pension plans. And there is another idea worthy of public discussion. (more…)
Vermont’s CEOs Willing to Invest in the Future
The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses appear optimistic for long-term growth and a gradually improving employment environment. According to the most recent Vermont Business Roundtable survey, business leaders expect to invest more in both capital expenditures and personnel compared to the last quarter. While most respondents predict that sales will remain unchanged for the coming quarter, there are businesses that are already experiencing an increase in sales. Roundtable President, Lisa Ventriss, said “The forecasts gathered this quarter indicate an economy in transition and activity that is trending upward nicely. It complements what we are hearing anecdotally from our members.” (more…)
During testimony before the Blue Ribbon Tax Structure Commission this week, Ken Perine, Chair of the Roundtable’s Tax & Fiscal Task Force was asked the question, should the state’s economic system be used to incent social policy, or put another way, should Vermont’s tax system be used as a “blunt instrument or a functional tool?” Actually, the question perhaps should have been asked, “should the state’s economic system continue to be used…”, because that is indeed how we operate today. (more…)
Tax Foundation’s Ranking of Vermont Highlights Need for Tax Policy Changes, Business Group Says
by Neil Downing
Date: Oct. 2, 2009
The Tax Foundation’s recent ranking of Vermont as having one of the nation’s least business-friendly tax environments underscores the need to change the state’s tax and spending policies, according to the Vermont Business Roundtable. (more…)
Op – Ed by Lisa Ventriss, President of Vermont Business Roundtable
As the debate over Vermont’s energy future moves ahead, it is imperative that the public debate – and the resulting decisions – be based on a full analysis of the most current information available. The recent paper issued by Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) sets out an ambitious vision, but fails that most basic of tests and threatens to create unrealistic expectations and promises. VPIRG would like Vermonters to believe that Vermont Yankee power can be replaced with renewable energy at a lower price, but while this may sound appealing, it is simply not true. (more…)
For a brief moment I thought I was listening to BBC’s coverage of Parliament. The rowdiness of the House gallery, climaxing with Joe Wilson’s total loss of decorum, made me think of the days when Tony Blair took his thumps for being too close to the U.S. The only difference in this case was that politicians then turned their displeasure on Wilson. Blair had no such support. (more…)
Op – Ed by Lisa Ventriss, President of Vermont Business Roundtable
Economic development comes in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes it’s disguised as a preschooler wearing a baseball cap, an outsized glove, and singing ‘Take me out to the ballgame!” That’s right; Vermont’s Lake Monsters, the farm team for the Nationals, is an economic engine. The team is also a community builder, a family therapist, a source of good clean fun, and a ladder to the big leagues for the likes of Red Sox standout Jason Bay and others who have had the privilege of playing on our various teams over the years. Vermonters and our visitors love our minor league baseball; its traditions, players, and memory-making games. (more…)
Question #1: From your vantage point high in the mountains at Smugglers’ Notch, “America’s Family Resort”, how would you describe the current trends within the travel/recreation industry, and what does it portend for economic development in the state? (more…)
New England’s strong base of young professionals is due to the high educational attainment of its 25-39 year olds. At issue is the rate of growth in that cohort in N.E. has slowed (overall, 21% fewer young adults in 2007 than in 1990) while in other parts of the country it is growing. Still, research by the New England Public Policy Center shows that all the N.E. states but Maine, exceed the national average for young adults as a percentage of the total adult population. (more…)