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Roundtable Releases 3 Qtr CEO Economic Outlook Survey

Vermont’s CEOs Willing to Invest in the Future

The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses appear optimistic for long-term growth and a gradually improving employment environment.  According to the most recent Vermont Business Roundtable survey, business leaders expect to invest more in both capital expenditures and personnel compared to the last quarter.  While most respondents predict that sales will remain unchanged for the coming quarter, there are businesses that are already experiencing an increase in sales.  Roundtable President, Lisa Ventriss, said “The forecasts gathered this quarter indicate an economy in transition and activity that is trending upward nicely. It complements what we are hearing anecdotally from our members.” (more…)

Blunt Instrument or Functional Tool?

During testimony before the Blue Ribbon Tax Structure Commission this week, Ken Perine, Chair of the Roundtable’s Tax & Fiscal Task Force was asked the question, should the state’s economic system be used to incent social policy, or put another way, should Vermont’s tax system be used as a “blunt instrument or a functional tool?” Actually, the question perhaps should have been asked, “should the state’s economic system continue to be used…”, because that is indeed how we operate today. (more…)

Tax Foundation’s Ranking of Vermont Highlights Need for Tax Policy Changes

Tax Foundation’s Ranking of Vermont Highlights Need for Tax Policy Changes, Business Group Says
by Neil Downing

Date: Oct. 2, 2009

The Tax Foundation’s recent ranking of Vermont as having one of the nation’s least business-friendly tax environments underscores the need to change the state’s tax and spending policies, according to the Vermont Business Roundtable. (more…)

Op-Ed: Accuracy is Critical to Energy Debate

Op – Ed by Lisa Ventriss, President of Vermont Business Roundtable

As the debate over Vermont’s energy future moves ahead, it is imperative that the public debate – and the resulting decisions – be based on a full analysis of the most current information available. The recent paper issued by Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) sets out an ambitious vision, but fails that most basic of tests and threatens to create unrealistic expectations and promises. VPIRG would like Vermonters to believe that Vermont Yankee power can be replaced with renewable energy at a lower price, but while this may sound appealing, it is simply not true. (more…)

Op-Ed: Put on Your Rally Caps!

Op – Ed by Lisa Ventriss, President of Vermont Business Roundtable

Economic development comes in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes it’s disguised as a preschooler wearing a baseball cap, an outsized glove, and singing ‘Take me out to the ballgame!” That’s right; Vermont’s Lake Monsters, the farm team for the Nationals, is an economic engine. The team is also a community builder, a family therapist, a source of good clean fun, and a ladder to the big leagues for the likes of Red Sox standout Jason Bay and others who have had the privilege of playing on our various teams over the years. Vermonters and our visitors love our minor league baseball; its traditions, players, and memory-making games. (more…)

Interview with Bill Stritzler, Chair

Question #1: From your vantage point high in the mountains at Smugglers’ Notch, “America’s Family Resort”, how would you describe the current trends within the travel/recreation industry, and what does it portend for economic development in the state? (more…)

Age Cohort, Ed Attainment, and Migration

New England’s strong base of young professionals is due to the high educational attainment of its 25-39 year olds. At issue is the rate of growth in that cohort in N.E. has slowed (overall, 21% fewer young adults in 2007 than in 1990) while in other parts of the country it is growing. Still, research by the New England Public Policy Center shows that all the N.E. states but Maine, exceed the national average for young adults as a percentage of the total adult population. (more…)

Economic Outlooks Stabilizing

The opinions of Vermont’s leading employers continue to reflect the strain of the current global recession, according to the results of the Roundtable’s 2009 Q2 economic outlook survey that concluded earlier this month. On the whole, though, members seem to have stabilized in their outlooks, if not begun turning in a more positive direction; more CEOs are expecting their sales to increase in the next six months while negative outlooks for capital expenditures and employment levels have decreased. (more…)

WCAX Interview with Bill Stritzler (VIDEO)

In case you missed it, here is the WCAX interview with Marselis Parsons and Bill Stritzler, President of Smugglers’ Notch and Chair of Vermont Business Roundtable, on July 13, 2009 regarding VBR’s released 2nd Qtr. 2009 CEO Economic Outlook Survey.

Posted with permission by MT. Mansfield Television, Inc.
Produced by WCAX TV News (www.wcax.com)
All rights reserved by MT. Mansfield Television, Inc.

Roundtable Mobilizes Around Tax and Fiscal Policy

As we  begin our emergence from the Great Recession and see budget deficits forecast through FY13, the Roundtable’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force has been taking a fresh look at these and related issues.  The Task Force, which began meeting earlier this summer and will continue  through November, is chaired by Ken Perine, President of National Bank of Middlebury, and a member of the Roundtable’s Board of Directors. Recommendations will be submitted to the Board for consideration at its November planning retreat. (more…)

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