House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

AGENDA

Via Zoom

February 23, 2021 - February 26, 2021

Last Updated 2/26/2021 1:10 PM

Meetings are livestreamed here unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

9:00 AM                   H. 159 - An act relating to creating the Better Places Program

Walk-through and committee discussion.

Rep. Sara Coffey, Sponsor

David Hall, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Chris Cochran, Director of Community Planning & Revitalization, Department of Housing and Community Development

Richard Amore, Planning & Outreach Manager, Department of  Housing & Community Development

10:00 AM                   House Floor and Caucuses

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:00 PM                   H. 159 - An act relating to creating the Better Places Program

Committee discussion.

Rebecca Stone, Principal, Senior Planner & Engagement Specialist, Community Workshop, LLC

Chris Cochran, Director of Community Planning & Revitalization, Department of Housing and Community Development

Richard Amore, Planning & Outreach Manager, Department of  Housing & Community Development

Lydia Petty, Representative, Northfield Placemaking Committee

Karen Horn, Director, Public Policy & Advocacy, Vermont League of Cities and Towns

Benjamin Doyle , President, Preservation Trust of Vermont

2:45 PM                   Break

3:00 PM                   H. 84 - An act relating to the downtown and village center tax credit program

Ellen Czajkowski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Chris Cochran, Director of Community Planning & Revitalization, Department of Housing and Community Development

Caitlin Corkins, Tax Credit and Historic Grants Specialist, Division for Historic Preservation, Agency of Commerce and Community Development

4:00 PM                   Adjourn

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

9:00 AM                   H. 84 - An act relating to the downtown and village center tax credit program

Emily Maclure, Owner, Craftsbury General Store

Caitlin Corkins, Tax Credit and Historic Grants Specialist, Division for Historic Preservation, Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Benjamin Doyle , President, Preservation Trust of Vermont

Chris Cochran, Director of Community Planning & Revitalization, Department of Housing and Community Development

Karen Horn, Director, Public Policy & Advocacy, Vermont League of Cities and Towns

10:02 AM                   Break

10:45 AM                   H. 129 - An act relating to project-based tax increment financing districts

Rebecca Wasserman, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Megan Sullivan, Executive Director, Vermont Economic Progress Council

Joan Goldstein, Commissioner, Department of Economic Development

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:15 PM                   House Floor

10 mins. after the House Floor                   H. 129 - An act relating to project-based tax increment financing districts

Graham Campbell, Fiscal Analyst, Tax and Revenue, Joint Fiscal Office

Seth Jensen, Planning Commissioner, Westford

Fred Kenney, Executive Director, Addison County Economic Development Corporation

David Snedeker, Executive Director, Northeastern Vermont Development Association

Tasha Wallis, Executive Director, Lamoille County Planning Commission

4:30 PM                   Adjourn

Thursday, February 25, 2021

9:00 AM                   Economic Development Bill

David Hall, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

David Bradbury, President, Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies

Sam Roach-Gerber, Director of Innovation, Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies

10:00 AM                   Economic Development Bill

Austin Davis, Government Affairs Manager, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce

Amy Spear, Vice President of Tourism, Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Karen Lafayette, Lobbyist, Vermont Low Income Advocacy Council

Tyler Jokinen, Micro-business Counselor, Bennington-Rutland Community Action

Tom Donahue, CEO, Bennington/Rutland Opportunity Council

10:30 AM                   Break

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:15 PM                   House Floor

2:00 PM                   Results of the Votes for Sergeant at Arms, Adjutant and Inspector General, Trustees of the UVM and State Agricultural College

Joint Assembly.

10 mins after the Joint Assembly                   Department of Labor Update on 1099 Breach

Brittney Wilson, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Governor Phil Scott

4:00 PM                   Adjourn

Friday, February 26, 2021

8:30 AM                   Colburn Amendment to H.315

H. 315 - An act relating to COVID-19 relief

Discussion and vote.

Rep. Selene Colburn, Sponsor

Joan Goldstein, Commissioner, Department of Economic Development

9:00 AM                   Updates from Committee Members

Committee discussion.

9:30 AM                   House Floor

10 mins. after the House Floor                   Economic Development Bill

Committee discussion.

Jordan Giaconia, Public Policy Director, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility

Charles Martin, Government Affairs Director, Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Morgan Nichols, State Director, Main Street Alliance of Vermont

Russ Bennett, Owner of Northland Construction, Camp Meade

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:00 PM                   Economic Development Bill

Committee discussion.

Chris Donnelly, Director of Community Relations, Champlain Housing Trust

Doug Hoffer, State Auditor, State Auditor's Office

3:00 PM                   Adjourn

ATTENTION WITNESSES

Please email handouts to the committee assistant at least 24 hours before your scheduled meeting time. With few exceptions, any documents you send to a committee assistant, are open to the public and may be posted to the committee’s web page.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact

 Amy Todisco at atodisco@leg.state.vt.us