Commission on the Future of Economic Development
The Commission on the Future of Economic Development was created by statute (10VSA§1) in Act 184 of 2006. The Commission is responsible for Vermont's long-term economic development planning (previously the responsibility of the Vermont Economic Progress Council). It is charged with producing an economic development plan every five years using "a planning process that is open and inclusive, with broad-based public engagement..."
The Public Assets Institute is monitoring the work of the Commission to ensure that the planning process is open and inclusive, and draws from a broad spectrum of ideas and interests. This page has been set up so that interested Vermonters can learn about the work of the Commission and get involved.
Meetings
All Commission meetings are open to the public. At their first meeting in October 2006, the Commission decided to meet once each month. Meeting dates both past and future are noted below along with agendas, minutes, and other information related to each meeting.
Past Meetings
October 24, 2006 Agenda, Minutes, Secretary Dorn presentation
November 16, 2006 Agenda, Minutes
December 11, 2006 Agenda, Vision:draft, Outline for Public Engagement:draft, Work Plan:draft, Minutes
December 18, 2006 Minutes
January 8, 2007 Agenda, Minutes
February 12, 2007 Agenda, Minutes
March 12, 2007 Agenda, Minutes
April 9, 2007 Agenda, Minutes
May 14, 2007 Agenda, Minutes
June 11, 2007 Agenda and Board Package, Minutes
July 18, 2007 Agenda and Board Package, Minutes
August 13, 2007 Agenda, Board Package, Minutes
September 10, 2007 Agenda, Board Package
October 10, 2007 Agenda, Draft of Vision Statement, Minutes
November 13, 2007 Agenda, Minutes
December 11, 2007 Agenda
January 7, 2008 Agenda, Minutes
February 4, 2008 Agenda, Minutes
March 17, 2008 Agenda
April 28, 2008 Agenda
Future Meetings
May 19, 2008, 9:00am - 4:00pm - location to be announced
June 16, 2008, 9:00am - 4:00pm - location to be announced
Directions to CFED meetings at National Life Building, Montpelier
Directions to CFED meetings at Woodbury College, Montpelier
Testimony
The Commission began taking testimony as of their January 2007 meeting.
Doug Hoffer's Testimony to The Commission on the Future of Economic Development on January 8, 2007.
The Executive Director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), Will Patten, gave testimony to The Commission on the Future of Economic Development on April 9, 2007.
PAI Comments
Comments on CFED draft work plan August 10, 2007
Memo to CFED on the Forbes business climate rankings July 15, 2007
Memo to Community Access Channel Directors January 27, 2007
Suggestions for the Development of the Commission's web site January 10, 2007
Comments on the Report of the Next Generation Commission January 2007
Suggested CFED contacts for a sampling of the 13 subject areas listed in statute (10VSA§1) December 14, 2006
Thoughts on the CFED's Visioning Exercise December 10, 2006
Comments on Secretary Dorn's October 24 Presentation to the CFED November 2, 2006
Public Process memorandum October 30, 2006
Public Access
According to the law that created it, the Commission's planning process must be "open and inclusive, with broad-based public engagement." There are a number of ways to learn more about the long range economic development process and the Commission's work. You can view the Commissions deliberations on public access TV, attend public hearings, or write to the Commission.
Public Access TelevisionThe following stations air recordings of CFED meetings. Please consult your local listings for dates and times.
Barre: CVTV Channel 7.
Bennington: CAT-TV Channel 8.
Brattleboro: BCTV 8 & 10.
Burlington: CVTV Channel 7.
Hardwick: HCTV Channel 16.
Ludlow: LPCTV Channels 8 & 10.
Lyndonville: KATV.
Middlebury: MCTV.
Montpelier: ORCA Media Channel 15.
Newport: NEKTV Channel 14.
Norwich/Hartford: CATV Channel 8.
Rutland: PEGTV Channel 21.
Springfield: SAPA TV Channels 8 & 10.
Waitsfield: MRVTV Channels 44 & 60.
Public Hearings
CFED is hosting a series of public meetings with the goal of discussing strategies for job creation and the state's role in supporting job growth.
Brattleboro - April 23
Rutland - April 29
St. Albans - April 30
Middlebury - May 5
White River Junction - May 8
Burlington - May 21
Contact the Commission:
Glenn McRae
802-859-3090 x 308
glenn@snellingcenter.org
Background
Examples of Regional Community Economic Development Plans (CEDS)
Southern Windsor Region (February 2003)
Greater Lamoille County Region (March 2004)
Annual Report for Chittenden County (2006)
Find similar reports for other counties.
Other Reading & Resources
Vermont Business Climate: Interstate Business Relocation Myths vs. Reality Addendum to Phase 9 of the Vermont Job Gap Study, with the permission of The Peace & Justice Center and High Road Vermont/Vermont Democracy Fund (April 2006)
Economic Development in Vermont: Funding, Priorities,and Performance Phase 9 of the Vermont Job Gap Study, with the permission of The Peace & Justice Center (January 2006)
Grading Places: What Do the Business Climate Rankings Really Tell Us? Peter Fisher (2005)
Strategic Vision and Business Plan for Job Creation and Economic Advancement Vermont Department of Economic Development (2005 update)
A Survey of Economically Targeted Investments: Opportunities for Public Pension Funds Doug Hoffer (February 16, 2004)
Advancing Vermont's Creative Economy Vermont Council on Rural Development(September 2004)
Strategic Vision and Business Plan for Job Creation and Economic Advancement Governor James Douglas (2004)
The Economic Impact of Vermont's Child Care Industry Windham Child Care Association and the Peace & Justice Center (June 2002)
The Douglas Vision: A Plan for Prosperity Jim Douglas (2002 gubernatorial campaign)
A Plan for a Decade of Progress: Actions for Vermont's Economy Vermont Economic Progress Council (2002)
The Leaky Bucket: An Analysis of Vermont's Dependence on Imports Phase 6 of the Vermont Job Gap Study, with the permission of The Peace & Justice Center (July 2000)
Commissioners
Bill Botzow
Pownal, Bennington County
House Member Appointed by Speaker
Hope Crifo
Middlesex, Washington County
Appointed by the Vermont Labor Council
Staige Davis
Shelburne, Chittenden County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Kevin Dorn
Essex Junction, Chittenden County
Appointed Ex-Officio, Office named in Legislation
Barbara Grimes
Burlington, Chittenden County
Appointed by House Speaker and Senate President Pro-Tempore
A. Jay Kenlan
Wallingford, Rutland County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Fred Kenney
Bolton, Chittenden County
Appointed Ex-Officio, Office named in Legislation
Dan Kurzman
Derby Line, Orleans County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Mary Lintermann
Stowe, Lamoille County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Susan (Sam) Matthews
East Montpelier, Washington County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Hinda Miller
Burlington, Chittenden County
Senate Member Appointed by the Committee on Committees
David Mount
Burlington, Chittenden County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Mary R. Niebling
Plainfield, Washington County
Appointed by the Vermont Association of Non-Profit Organizations
Will Patten
Hinesburg, Chittenden County
Appointed by House Speaker and Senate President Pro-Tempore
See complete bios of commission members
The Public Assets Institute has contracted with Doug Hoffer, who conceived this project, to be its point person. He is monitoring the work of the CFED and providing it with recommendations, research, and testimony. As PAI's representative, Doug coordinates with businesses, advocates, nonprofits, academics, and other citizens to ensure that the Commission's planning process fulfills the legislature's intention to draw on a broad spectrum of ideas and interests.
Doug Hoffer is an policy analyst with eighteen years of experience in economic development policy and research. He holds a B.A. from Williams College and a J.D. from SUNY Buffalo Law School and worked for the Community & Economic Development Office at City Hall in Burlington for five years prior to becoming an independent consultant.
In addition to the nine phases of the Job Gap Study, Doug has authored reports on economically targeted investment of public pension funds (Vermont State Treasurer), the economic impacts of the child care industry (Windham Child Care Association), and wind energy (Renewable Energy Vermont). He has also conducted audits and reviews for the Vermont State Auditor, performance measurement reports for the Burlington Electric Department and Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity, and reports on Wal-Mart and corporate subsidies (Good Jobs First), and housing and wages (VT Housing Council). He has also conducted research on the economy and economic development for the Legislature, High Road VT, VT State Employees Association, VT Sustainable Jobs Fund, Town of Fair Haven, VT AFL-CIO, and others.
You can reach Doug directly by email at drhoffer@comcast.net or by phone at 802-864-5711.