Chittenden County is Next Stop on Lt. Governor Dubie’s Jobs Tour
(MONTPELIER) – Lt. Governor Brian Dubie will focus on employers in Chittenden County Thursday, listening to what they say will help them retain existing jobs and grow new jobs.
Dubie launched the state-wide Jobs Tour on January 13. So far, he has visited with employers in Rutland, Brattleboro, Waterbury, Randolph and Bennington. He plans to continue the tour through the coming weeks.
So far, Dubie reports, the feedback from businesses large and small is centered on taxes, and the state’s regulatory environment.
Forbes Magazine recently ranked Vermont as the 47th best state in the nation to do business. The ranking is down eleven spots from the previous year.
Dubie attributes the drop in part to the Vermont legislature’s failure to reduce state spending and “right-size” state government in 2009. “Actions have consequences,” he said, “and raising taxes in a recession, as the legislature did last year, is not leadership. It sends the message that Vermont is closed for business. When our small businesses grow, we create the revenue that funds all the great things that we value in our state.”
Still, Dubie says he is bullish on Vermont. “There is no bigger cheerleader for Vermont than me,” he said. “But we simply must do better than 47th. Making Vermont the best state in New England to do business and earn a living must be priority one,” he stated.
“We need to send a message to our employers and employees that Vermont values them, and we need to send a message to the world that Vermont is open for business.” Dubie is encouraging state legislators to go to businesses in their own districts during the next few weeks, and meet with employers and ask the same question, “How can Vermont make it easier for your business to hire and prosper?”
The itinerary for Thursday is as follows:
Chittenden County Jobs Tour
Thursday, February 4, 2010
7:00 am to 7:45 am The Charlie + Ernie + Lisa Show
WVMT AM 620 Burlington – Plattsburgh
Listen Live at http://www.barnabasroad.com/wvmt_launch.htm
8:00 am to 9:30 am Breakfast Round Table
The Doubletree Hotel South Burlington
with GBIC, Cynosure and Lake Champlain Regional Chamber Boards of Directors
10:00 am to 11:30 am Tour Rhino Foods
Burlington
12:00 pm to 1:45 pm Employer Roundtable lunch
The Doubletree Hotel, South Burlington
1:30 pm Media Availability
The Doubletree Hotel, South Burlington
2:00 pm to 3:30 pm Tour Dealer.com
Burlington
