"It was not lucrative incentives or low wages
that won us over to Vermont, but the state's quality of life and environmental values,"
said Robert Schad, chief executive officer for Husky Injection Molding Systems, an
Ontario-based plastics injection molding machine manufacturer. "We believe that
these values will help us attract the very best people."
Husky Injection Molding Systems announced in June its plan to construct a state-of-the-art
plastic injection molding facility in Milton, where it expects to employ 240 people.
"Today, it is the company with the best work force that wins in our competitive
global economy," said Schad. "We're looking forward to a tremendous future
here."
The first phase of the new facility will require a $90 million investment and
is expected to be completed in June 1998. Over the next 10 years, the company plans
to expand to 700,000 square feet, with a work force of 1,000.
With such a large anticipated payroll for its new plant, Husky sought out a site
that was likely to provide quality employees.
"We considered sites all over the United States for this investment,"
said Schad. "The hot runner operation we plan for the site will set new standards
of excellence and will be a showcase of modern manufacturing."
Husky has manufacturing facilities in Canada and Luxembourg, and technical centers
in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Japan. Its decision to open a new plant in Milton was
made easier by the state government, which took the company through the permitting
process.
"We were very demanding, but the Vermont team was up to every challenge we
put before them," said Schad.
Vermont worked particularly hard to secure the Husky move because the company's
investment in Vermont represents a true win-win situation.
"Our development mission is to bring high-wage jobs to the state
while preserving the quality of life Vermont is known for," said William Shouldice
IV, secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. "For companies
like Husky that can bring us both sides of that equation, we're prepared to walk
many extra miles."
With Husky, Shouldice said, the state "established a new direction. The state,
business community and town all worked together with Husky to make this happen. It
was one seamless mosaic."
Custom Job Service
Vermont's quality work force and its pro-growth atmosphere are two reasons businesses
cite for moving to the state. Another is its custom job package, which includes interviewing,
pre-screening and training.
The Vermont Job Service helps match companies with qualified employees based on
a comprehensive database, and the state will pay up to 100 percent of pre-employment
and classroom training costs and up to 50 percent of the wages of employees participating
in on-the-job training.
Other training programs available to qualifying Vermont businesses include International
Standards Organization (ISO)-9000 Classroom Training; on-the-job training for machinists
and precision tool makers; custom training for manufacturing, service and research
and development employees; on-the-job training for management; cross-cultural classroom
training; and cross-over training for employees who seek greater job security and
for companies who seek more cost-efficient operations.
Vermont is also safe. In fact, it was recently recognized as the safest state
in the country. It also has low workers' compensation rates.
Vermont's status as a small New England state with a population of just 500,000
means its residents enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle with less stress and congestion
than their big-city counterparts. The Rating Guide to Life in America's 50
States, published by Prometheus Books, rated Vermont No. 1. The guide used 125 criteria,
including everything from per capita income to women-owned businesses, to rate the
states, and gave Vermont a score of 666 out of a possible 1,000.
Colchester is a good example of Vermont's business communities. Located about
3 1/2 miles from downtown Burlington on Interstate 89, Colchester attracts general
manufacturers, general office and retail businesses. It is close to Burlington International
Airport and is just an hour-and-a-half from Dorval Airport in Montreal, Canada.
Like all businesses in Vermont, Colchester businesses are close to an international
market, at the state's border with Canada. The area features 27 miles of shoreline
along the beautiful Lake Champlain, and is served by six colleges and universities,
including the University of Vermont in Burlington, which is home to the region's
largest medical education and research facility.
Among the businesses that have a Colchester address are Coca-Cola, Paydata, Colburn
Insurance Co. and Englebert Construction.
Vermont is positioned well in the country to allow its businesses to serve major
markets easily. Within 500 miles of the state are Boston (170 miles), Buffalo (300
miles), Cleveland (500 miles), Montreal (115 miles), New York City (280 miles), Philadelphia
(325 miles), Pittsburgh (460 miles) and Toronto (350 miles).
The nearby Port of Montreal is the closest to northern Europe, and Vermont is
served by more than 300 toll-free miles of interstate highway, as well as major motor
carriers with in-state terminals, and three year-round commercial airports.
Extending a helping hand
Companies interested in locating in Vermont will be offered a great deal of assistance
from the Vermont Economic Development Department. Among the department's services
are financial, site selection, export and foreign trade, recycling and waste-reduction,
and permitting assistance; power rate incentives; training programs; help with federal
contract procurement; immigration support; manufacturing technology; and assistance
developing relationships with local businesses and banks.
Among the financial assistance programs available in Vermont are VEDA Subchapter
5 direct low-interest loans, industrial revenue bonds, VEDA Subchapter 2 mortgage
insurance, export working capital guarantee, Financial Access Program and rural economic
activity loans.
These and other programs in the state are designed to encourage business growth,
and are administered through such organizations as Green Mountain Capital, Ltd.,
Vermont Venture Capital Corp., Vermont Community Development Program, the United
States Small Business Administration, as well as 33 commercial banks and local and
regional revolving loan funds.
Electricity in Vermont is abundant and the state's larger power companies offer
lower rates for companies moving into their service areas.
Vermont's general sales tax rate is 5 percent, and the state features 33 exemptions,
including food, prescribed medicines, and residential fuel and electricity. There
is also a tax phase-out for energy used in the manufacturing process of commercial
goods, and there are no county taxes on individuals and corporations in the state
of Vermont.
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.
