§ 211. Legislative findings
(a) The Legislature finds that it is necessary to alleviate and prevent unemployment and
underemployment and to raise the per capita income within the State, that the development
and increase of industry, including the further processing of agricultural products,
within the State will promote the prosperity and general welfare of all citizens,
and that this chapter is necessary and desirable in order to accomplish these purposes.
The Legislature also finds that it is necessary and desirable to encourage the development,
production, and distribution of renewable energy resources within the State.
(b) The Legislature further finds that small businesses are responsible for generating
the majority of new jobs, and substantial economic development opportunity exists
encouraging entrepreneurial development and innovation in Vermont. The Legislature
further finds that business incubator facilities have proved to be effective tools
to help small and start-up businesses through the difficult early years with low-cost,
flexible space, necessary support services at an affordable cost, and with managerial
and technical assistance on such items as bookkeeping, inventory control, marketing
and personnel. Vermont’s experience with business incubators confirms their value
in nurturing jobs and entrepreneurship. The Legislature further finds that business
incubator facilities related to institutions of higher education nationwide have been
an excellent source for successful business enterprises.
(c) Therefore, the general public advantage requires:
(1) an increased inventory of industrial sites and modern buildings suitable to house
new or existing business enterprises;
(2) the expansion, reclamation, or renovation of existing buildings to house new or existing
business enterprises;
(3) low-cost capital available to local development corporations for the purchase of land
for industrial sites, for planning and development of industrial parks, and for the
construction of speculative industrial buildings and small business incubator facilities;
(4) low-cost capital available to industrial enterprises to provide land, buildings, and
equipment for industrial expansion;
(5) aid to existing business enterprises in the State when such aid will prevent serious
reduction in employment or will enhance or increase the existing level of employment;
(6) low-cost capital for the abatement of industrial air and water pollution and general
improvement of the disposal of industrial waste;
(7) low-cost capital to assist Vermont family farmers to farm as provided in subdivision 272(3) of this title;
(8) low-cost capital available for the purchase of land, buildings, and equipment to process
Vermont milk, including the processing of milk into cheese, yogurt, or other value-added
milk products; and
(9) low-cost capital to assist the wood products enterprises to provide an adequate supply
of mill quality chips for Vermont public and private schools and other entities that
rely upon wood as a primary source of heating. (Added 1973, No. 197 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1975, No. 217 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1985, No. 81, § 2; 1985, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 24, 1986; 2003, No. 63, § 73, eff. June 11, 2003; 2003, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 91, eff. June 8, 2004.)