By STEPHANIE JEROME
It’s been a crazy busy in Montpelier this past week. It is the time we call “cross-over,” where all the policy bills need to be voted out of the House of Representatives. We spent long days and evenings debating bills, such as Paid Family Leave Insurance, biodiversity resistance, suicide prevention, sports wagering , universal school meals, and radiology assistants. These bills will now move to the Senate, where Senators provide their input and opinion.
This session, my House Commerce and Economic Development Committee developed a bill titled “An act relating to enhancing workforce and economic development opportunities.” This bill’s purpose is to strengthen Vermont’s workforce shortage, especially in critical sectors, including education, health care, mental health, social services, corrections, and climate. The bill provides about $40 million in appropriations for forgivable loan programs, scholarships, child-care programs, small-business technical assistance, and regional workforce development. This is our effort to keep people working in state and to attract new workers in critical workforce areas.
This bill has a strong focus on helping educators with the Vermont Teacher Forgivable Loan Incentive program administered through the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, and the Emerging Pathways Grant program will provide support and mentorship for prospective educators seeking licensure. This is a “grow your own” program to help people already employed in the school system to become classroom teachers. There is also a new mentorship program to assist new teachers.
Learning does not always stop at the end of high school. In order to earn more income, there is often a need for adults to gain more skills and certifications. The bill appropriates funds for Vermont’s Serve, Learn, and Earn program which supports workforce development goals through meaningful, paid service and learning opportunities for young adults. The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Vermont Audubon, Vermont Works for Women, and Resource VT administer Serve, Learn, and Earn and offer trainings throughout the state. In addition, we have provided money to expand Adult Literacy programs statewide.
We have continued to expand programs, scholarships, and forgivable loans within the Vermont State College system, including a Restorative Justice BS program and a summer 3-D printing certificate program for high-school students and recent graduates. We are providing $1 million for emergency medical services training needed throughout Vermont. We are also providing forgivable loan and scholarships for mental-health professionals, critical occupations (including early childhood occupations, clinical mental health counseling, dental hygiene and nursing), and trades scholarships. For students who have graduated from a college or university, we have started a unique program for them to start their careers with Vermont employers, and receive forgivable loans for up to two years.
We have continued to invest in the economic engine of our state, to assist small businesses, and ease bureaucracy of local commercial development. The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund will be starting a coaching program to help energy businesses pivot to the clean-energy industry. We are investing in clean-up of existing brownfields, so the sites can be redeveloped. In order for Vermont to receive from $250 million to $500 million in funds for the federal CHPS Act, we have allocated $5 million in training funds. To continue a successful pandemic-era program to assist small businesses technical assistance and operations, we have allocated funds to Regional Development Corporations.
In order to draw attention to the importance of Vermont’s Tourism Sector (locally and statewide), I helped to coordinate this year’s Tourism Day on 3/22/23. The day started with a two-hour hearing with presentations by restaurants, trail organizations, downtown organizations, and lodging establishments to the House and Senate economic development committees and was attended by over 100 businesses and non-profits. It was followed by a resolution on the House floor honoring the industry, and a lively afternoon reception with Vermont craft beverages and local food. Over 150 industry leaders came to the Statehouse to celebrate successful survival of the pandemic and an upturn in our tourism economy.
As always, please reach out to me if I can be of assistance.
Take care,
Rep. Stephanie Jerome (Rutland-9)
802-683-8209
