Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pillar Recommendations

In October, the Vermont Futures Project announced recommendations to grow and sustain Vermont businesses to enhance Vermont’s current innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. To secure our economic future, we must scale and grow Vermont’s mid-sized businesses, defined as having 20 to 499 employees. These companies are the mainstay of Vermont’s employment base which provide stable jobs, good pay, and career … Read more

Completion of Economic Plan in 2020

The Vermont Futures Project has identified six pillars , each one with a long-term target. After completing our Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pillar last month, we turn our attention to the Quality of Place Pillar focusing on the goal to build or retrofit 5,000 housing units annually. We are creating an advisory committee to address Vermont’s housing supply to … Read more

Addressing Public Policy with Innovation and Entrepreneurship Recommendations

Since the release of our public policy recommendations for innovation and entrepreneurship , we have been working with the Vermont Chamber lobbying team to move forward with potential legislative initiatives. We are working on legislation to offer a competitive grant program to provide professional assistance to help entrepreneurs developing SBIR grants, patenting, and commercialization. We are also working to … Read more

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Recommendations

To secure our economic future, The Vermont Futures Project has identified the need to scale and grow Vermont’s businesses (20 to 499 employees) through enhanced innovation and entrepreneurship. We offer the following initial recommendations for private businesses, state government, non-profits and individuals. Together, we can reach shared goals to grow Vermont’s employment base while creating … Read more

Statewide Young Professional Focus Groups

The Vermont Futures Project, in partnership with statewide Young Professionals (YP) groups, facilitated 13 YP focus groups around Vermont this fall. As the Vermont Futures Project works to create an actionable statewide plan for sustainable economic growth, we want to hear from young professionals as we believe that Vermont’s future depends on their voice. One … Read more

Strengthening the Innovation Ecosystem

Montpelier, VT (October 24, 2019) The Vermont Futures Project announces recommendations to grow and sustain Vermont businesses with further development and additional support to enhance Vermont’s current innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. To secure our economic future, the Vermont Futures Project has identified the need to scale and grow Vermont’s mid-sized businesses, defined as having 20 … Read more

Paul Carroccio, Wendy Knight Join Vermont Futures Project Board

The Vermont Futures Project is pleased to announce that Paul W. Carroccio and Wendy Knight have joined its Board of Directors. Paul is the CEO of TPW Real Estate based in Manchester. TPW was founded in 1987 and is family-owned boutique real estate sales, rentals and property management firm with offices in Manchester, Stratton and … Read more

Employer of Choice

he Vermont Futures Project recommended the development of a statewide workplace engagement strategy and framework that small, mid-size and large employers can adopt to attract new workers and enhance retention of their existing workforce. Through a series of discussions, thought leaders came together progressing from a place of Vermont’s workforce reality to imagining what success … Read more

Internships

The Vermont Futures Project has now completed a two- part research project and recommendations to evaluate whether internships held during student’s time in Vermont colleges might provide a way to engage and retain these students following graduation. Last year, Phase I determined there is an ample supply of internships but our conversion rate to jobs … Read more

Quality of Place Pillar Begins

The Quality of Place pillar is the next one to receive attention, focusing on the goal to build or retrofit 5,000 homes annually. We began this discussion at the Economic Conference in January with Board member Leslee MacKenzie moderating a panel featuring Maura Collins of Vermont Housing Finance Agency and Jonathan Slason, a data analyst … Read more