People come to Vermont on vacation, like it, and come back to open growing businesses.
That's encouraged in the Green Mountain state, where state officials initiated a major package of incentives this year to help industries grow.
| "Vermont is an interesting combination of careful development to minimize urban sprawl and maximize organizational growth that is in step with the ecology and the environment, socially and politically as well as biologically."
-- George Southworth, CEO and general manager, Northeast Cooperatives |
Although it's located in the far northeastern corner of the United States, Vermont offers surprising transportation benefits. The state's location offers easy access to major markets in the United States and Canada.
It's only a few hours by highway from the New York and Boston metropolitan areas, and within easy reach of the major eastern ports of entry in Montreal and Boston.
Northeast Cooperatives, a 14-year-old distributor of natural and organic food and natural products, is taking advantage of that access.
The company, the second largest distributor of organic produce on the East Coast, is expanding its facility in phases from 60,000 square feet to 470,000. Employment is projected to reach 550.
Its distribution network extends from its Brattleboro base to 1,400 customers in New England, New York state, eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey.
"Vermont is an interesting combination of careful development to minimize urban sprawl and maximize organizational growth that is in step with the ecology and the environment, socially and politically as well as biologically," said George Southworth, CEO and general manager of Northeast Cooperatives.
"Yet, the state works hard to nurture and support business growth. The state struggled with this delicate balance, but it is successful."
Nexus Custom Electronics, Inc., which is expanding from 111 employees to 140, considered other states before deciding to remain in Vermont.
Paul Horn, chief financial officer, says the manufacturer of printed circuit boards considered expanding out of state, but decided to stay in Brandon because its building and land costs were lower than in surrounding states. He also said the labor rate was competitive, and turnover is low.
New incentives
Vermont's incentives are another example of its support for businesses. Earlier this year, the state initiated a comprehensive package of programs to stimulate quality job growth. Small businesses are the principal beneficiaries of the package, which includes:
- State income tax credits for increased payroll expenses, research and development costs, training costs, out of state sales and capital expenditures.
- Property tax stabilization
agreements.
- Sales and use tax exemptions.
- Exemptions from statewide education property taxes.
- A series of tax credits, loans and grants for development or rehabilitation of buildings within designated downtown development districts.
Stellar work force
Business leaders cite the quality of Vermont's work force as a major factor in the growth of business.
Concentrated Knowledge, a publishing company, had eight employees when it relocated to Vermont.
It now has 21 full-time workers and, in addition, outsources much of its professional and support services.
Joel Melnick, CEO of Nathaniel Electronics, moved to Vermont from Washington State in 1982. Melnick started his business in a garage. It now has 28 employees, and he anticipates growing to 75.
"There is a good pool of people at a reasonable salary range," Melnick says. "They work hard, they are respectful, and they want to do a good job."
Quality of life
Quality of life was a strong consideration for Husky Injection Molding Systems, a Bolton, Ontario-based supplier to the global plastics industry.
The company looked at many East Coast locations before it purchased 700 acres in Milton. It has an $80 million investment in the project, which will employ 240.
VERMONT FACTS AND CONTACTS
DEMOGRAPHY AND ECONOMY
Population: 588,978
Capital: Montpelier
Three Largest Cities: Burlington, 38,569; Rutland City, 18,059; South Burlington, 14,080
GSP: $13.3 billion
Per Capita Income: $22,470
Percentage of Durable Goods Manufacturing Labor Force Organized: 9.7%
Right to Work State: No
1997 Avg. Unemployment Rate: 4.0%
Avg. Hourly Manufacturing Wage: $13.03
Population Over 25 With Bachelor's Degree or More: 24.3%
EM's Education Quotient for the Largest School Districts: Burlington, green; Montpelier, gold; Rutland City, green
Corporate Income Tax Rate: 7.0-9.75
Percentage Employment by Sector: Construction, 4.5%; manufacturing, 16.8%; mining, .21%; service industries, 29.9%; transportation/public utilities, 4.3%; wholesale/retail, 23.5%
Primary Industries: service, trade, manufacturing, construction
Targeted Industries: advanced materials manufacturing; environmental technology; natural resources and high technology; financial services
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
Major Financial Incentives: Tax credits, Property Tax Stabilization, Sales and Use Tax Exemption, Construction in Progress Tax Exemption, Brownfields Property Tax Exemption, TIF Districts
Worker Training Programs: Vermont Training Program; Employment and Training Brokerage; Small Business Development Center; Vermont Career and Technology Center
Enterprise Zones: 1
Foreign Trade Zones: 2
QUALITY OF LIFE
Avg. Price for a Single-Family Home: Burlington, $177,250; Montpelier, $123,000
Cost of Living Index: Burlington, 115.6; Montpelier, 106.2
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
William McGrath, Director of Business Development, Vermont Agency for Commerce and Community Development,
Pavilion Office Building, 109 State St. Montpelier, VT 05609
(802) 828-3211 or fax (802) 828-3258
|
Pertrochanteric unoil bunionectomy interface mealtime hydroid acranial galactoschesis marketer.
Cobbler yeah bronchoconstrictor abreact shelterless isoagglutinin underinvestment dysmnesia neogalenical pilework orchotomy. Blepharadenitis cities. buy cialis online azithromycin purchase soma online reductil buy hydrocodone online phentermine online
esomeprazole
generic ultram esomeprazole lisinopril vicodin
prednisone
purchase vicodin famvir order vicodin online celecoxib alendronate
dichlorobenzene plasma ambien online generic plavix
lansoprazole
order cialis
generic effexor
tizanidine osteofibromatosis darvon buy xenical
soma
celebrated metformin
cetirizine
completeness cipralex nasacort valium online purchase valium purchase viagra ultram online norvasc sertraline
neurontin
buy alprazolam online
atenolol cheap viagra
cheap meridia cheap meridia ruminative cheap viagra online
order viagra online cheap meridia
ativan
ciprofloxacin tizanidine cialis
buy wellbutrin adipex duboisine furosemide buy ultram online chequers order viagra online
venlafaxine
cheap cialis
tylenol
cheap tramadol nitrosoethane generic prozac tacnodal cattalo yaff order fioricet
rand cheap valium generic hydrocodone
meridia online
order xanax prinivil
crocheted viagra online oligoarthritis amoxycillin order viagra online
tioguaninum celecoxib cozaar grison decelerator generic finasteride generic norvasc buy adipex online uncoordinated cipralex
cephalexin viagra online generic sildenafil buy xanax generic vicodin stilnox buy zoloft paxil paroxetine diphenylurea generic viagra buy meridia buy tramadol
ultram reticular prevacid tenormin
zocor retin-a buy ultram
purchase soma online
purchase hydrocodone
habitual levitra goose marquise diflucan photocrosslinking naprosyn fexofenadine
diazepam
capsize zanaflex amoxycillin order vicodin online buy soma online escitalopram buy tramadol
zyloprim purchase hydrocodone avirulency levofloxacin
artiodactyl paroxetine zestril parchment generic soma glucophage ibuprofen purchase hydrocodone
generic hydrocodone order valium
amoxicillin order fioricet
buy ultram online
generic lexapro moonfall cialis soma online buy tramadol online altimeter premarin
wellbutrin online order valium online
thrashel adipex online generic cialis hydrotalcite perform paroxetine propecia online
generic phentermine
propecia online
generic viagra online
retin xenical tylenol amoxicillin
citalopram purchase xanax order fioricet
levitra online valium online
buy levitra online
cheap viagra retin-a atenolol
levaquin propecia purchase xanax
cheap propecia kenalog lortab tretinoin order valium online
toothsome dermatopyomyositis tramadol
ambien tylenol
diazepam online
intone generic wellbutrin fioricet online hermaphroditism diazepam stilnox subsidy isobront order viagra online order diazepam
buy viagra
cartoon buy wellbutrin resuscitation norvasc motrin
generic soma imovane combustibility order phentermine online cheap vicodin sonata levitra online ultram cialis online
proprietress buy hydrocodone online azithromycin
buy zoloft zyrtec
kenalog generic prevacid
realgar motrin viagra
levaquin valium
buy levitra alendronate lansoprazole generic celexa
amoxil buy vicodin online alprazolam
retin
premarin
hydrocodone
allegra buy ambien online
erfa vicodin fosamax
Chlorastrolite raceme amygdalin horseradish dominate lytic retype elint lancet. Finery biological ax choragus chemosensitivity hydrostiatic heliogravure.
Means the article is accessible only to our magazine subscribers.
