House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development

AGENDA

Via Zoom

March 9, 2021 - March 12, 2021

Last Updated 3/12/2021 4:26 PM

Meetings are livestreamed here unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

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

This bill will become the Committee's Economic Development Bill.

Seed capital discussion.

Cassie Polhemus, CEO, Vermont Economic Development Authority

9:25 AM                   Break

Unplanned break due to technical difficulties.

10:00 AM                   House  Floor & Caucuses

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:00 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                   H. 84 - An act relating to the downtown and village center tax credit program

Discussion of the new language.

Ellen Czajkowski, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

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

3:35 PM                   Adjourn

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

9:00 AM                   S. 110 - An act relating to extending eligibility for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation

Discussion of the Senate's unemployment insurance

pandemic emergency unemployment compensation bill and possible vote.

Damien Leonard, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Michael Harrington, Commissioner, Department of Labor

Cameron Wood, Director, Unemployment Insurance Division, Department of Labor

Mat Barewicz, Economic & Labor Market Information Director, Department of Labor

10:15 AM                   Break

10:30 AM                   H. 336 - An act relating to promoting economic opportunity for BIPOC-owned businesses

Emil Void, Founder, Black Financial Alliance

Weiwei Wang, Vice Chair, Vermont Professionals of Color Network (Chittenden County)

Tino (Charles) Rutanhira, Chairperson, Vermont Professionals of Color Network (Chittenden County)

Curtiss Reed, Executive Director, Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity

Mark Hughes, Executive Director, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance

12:00 PM                   Lunch

1:15 PM                   House  Floor

10 mins. after the House Floor                   H. 159 - An act relating to creating the Better Places Program

 This bill will become the Committee's Economic Development Bill.

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

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

4:00 PM                   Adjourn

Thursday, March 11, 2021

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

This will become the Committee's Economic Development Bill.

Tourism discussion.

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

Kenneth Jones, Economic Research Analyst, Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Heather Pelham, Commissioner, Department of Tourism & Marketing

10:20 AM                   Break

10:30 AM                   Economic Development Bill

H. 159 - An act relating to creating the Better Places Program

Discussion about the Vermont state colleges and workforce development.

This will become the Committee's Economic Development Bill.

Katherine Levasseur, Director of External & Government Affairs, Vermont State Colleges

Sophie Zdatny, Chancellor, Vermont State Colleges

Sharron Scott, Chief Financial Officer, Vermont State Colleges

11:36 PM                   Lunch

1:15 PM                   House Floor

10 mins. after the House Floor                   H. 159 - An act relating to creating the Better Places Program

This will become the Committee's Economic Development Bill.

4:00 PM                   Adjourn

Friday, March 12, 2021

9:00 AM                   Committee Updates

Updates from committee members and interns.

Michael Harrity, Intern to House Commerce & Economic Development Committee, University of Vermont

William Heath, Intern to House Commerce & Economic Development Committee, University of Vermont

9:30 AM                   House Floor

10 mins. after the House Floor                   H. 159 - An act relating to creating the Better Places Program

This bill will become the Committee's Economic Development Bill.

12:00 PM                   Lunch

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

This bill will become the Committee's Economic Development Bill.

Vote.

1:20 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