[ladelfina]

Originally Posted by pauldorell

really unpleasant like Nevada - legalize prostitution.

Casinos! Isn't that the fallback revenue-generator nowadays?

[ladelfina]

Originally Posted by LisaMc46

why make $50,000 in VT when you can make $75,000 in another state with a similar cost of living?

Lisa, I saw you say the same thing elsewhere, I believe. You make it sound like everything only comes down to money, and that no other quality-of-life issues count for much (clean environment, clean food, low crime, helpful neighbors). Some of the cheaper places out there would make it necessary to live in a gated community paying HOA fees, or make you want to send your kids to private school… at least that's the impression I get of many places.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by 68vette

You hit the nail on the head. There are two issues at hand. Vermont has one of the lowest if not the lowest birth rate in the country (a good indicator on why the school population continues to decrease). With that in mind, we don't have the youth resource available to spur and/or supply growing or new business. The second issue is Vermont has cornered itself as a vacation destination (the biggest industry-tourism). There is large amounts of money that can be generated in this important industry, but the big issue is the jobs it creates. Low paying entry level positions.
There are good paying jobs in state, but as others pointed out, this is a rural state. If the were say one hundred high paying jobs available, there would most likely be hundreds more if not over a thousand low paying jobs at the same time. This is why competition is fierce for the higher paying jobs in state. Unfortunately, by just electing a politician who is pro business will have little impact. There are so many layers to the the political system that even resistance at one of those levels could be enough to stall an initiative. In Chittenden County as an example, we have seen this time after time. A company wants to move in. They get the green light from a city or town leader and then the slowdown starts. There are environmental impact studies, traffic pattern studies, people who don't like or approve of big box or corporations, etc, etc. Often times the hassle of development or the cost of development is not worth it. They pick up and move on to another state.

Vermont is a rural state with poor connectivity from north to south due to the locational disadvantages of major highways. I think that is another reason why Vermont is at a disadvantage compared to New Hampshire. All rural states have a brain drain issue, some more than others. Based on what I am seeing I think more people are starting their own online businesses which for many is a supplemental source of income, but not a primary source. I think cost of living is one of the biggest reasons why you are seeing younger mobile demographics move elsewhere if they aren't able to secure a good paying job where they currently reside. You mention demographics, but New Hampshire has a much older population than Vermont in the more rural northern and central 2/3 of the state. The same is true for rural areas of the Appalachians in New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, etc.

[MTK1]

These are demographics for the downtown Burlington are for the past 10 years.


2000 2010 change
Householder 15 to 24 years 368 458 24%
Householder 25 to 34 years 454 550 21%
Householder 35 to 44 years 267 279 4%
Householder 45 to 54 years 166 249 50%
Householder 55 to 64 years 125 235 88%
Householder 65 to 74 years 135 159 18%
Householder 75 to 84 years 110 117 6%
Householder 85 years and over 50 57 14%

One contributor to the increased number of younger householders is growing
enrollment at Burlington’s colleges. As of the 2011-2012 school year, the University of Vermont (UVM)
had a total enrollment of 12,122 students, including undergraduate, graduate, medical and non-degree
students. Due to significant enrollment increases since 2000, the number of UVM students living off
campus, primarily in downtown Burlington, has increased to an estimated 6,400—a 40% jump during
the past 10 years.

Imagine if these off campus college students weren't factored in?

[MTK1]

These are demographics for the downtown Burlington are for the past 10 years.


2000 2010 change
Householder 15 to 24 years 368 458 24%
Householder 25 to 34 years 454 550 21%
Householder 35 to 44 years 267 279 4%
Householder 45 to 54 years 166 249 50%
Householder 55 to 64 years 125 235 88%
Householder 65 to 74 years 135 159 18%
Householder 75 to 84 years 110 117 6%
Householder 85 years and over 50 57 14%

One contributor to the increased number of younger householders is growing
enrollment at Burlington’s colleges. As of the 2011-2012 school year, the University of Vermont (UVM)
had a total enrollment of 12,122 students, including undergraduate, graduate, medical and non-degree
students. Due to significant enrollment increases since 2000, the number of UVM students living off
campus, primarily in downtown Burlington, has increased to an estimated 6,400—a 40% jump during
the past 10 years.

Imagine if these off campus college students weren't factored in?

[MTK1]

Between
2000 and 2009, the state’s growth
rate (2.1%) was well below the
national average (9.1%).
Vermont’s population is not
anticipated to change significantly
in the near future. This
expectation has raised concerns
about an ageing workforce.

Since 2000, the Vermont economy
has added about 6,200 jobs,
growing by 2.1% over the eightyear period. Five counties
experienced net job losses from
2000 through 2008: Essex
(-26.3%), Windham (-7.3%),
Bennington (-4.8%), Orange
(-1.3%) and Chittenden (-0.6%)
counties. Grand Isle added jobs at
the fastest rate among the counties
at 14.4% over the period


The most striking population
statistics involve the aging of
Vermont. The state has one of the
oldest populations in the nation.
Between 2007 and 2008, the two
age cohorts with the largest
percent increase were 55-64 years
old and over 65 years old. The
aging of the state could present a
challenge to Vermont’s workforce
and health care system

[FrugalYankee]

Originally Posted by ladelfina

MTK, what should "Vermont" do, do you think?

A suggestion:
establish a permanent office of Ombudsman for businesses to review cases where there is good reason to believe that a decision to penalize a business by any VT state agency has been carried out improperly or unjustly. We all know that it is rampant, a huge source of frustration, and a deterrent to businesses staying in the state or choosing to settle here.

The governor's office could show that it is taking the interest of businesses seriously, especially those too small to fight VT agencies on their own. Heck we would even have a "hall of shame" where some of the more egregious acts of state officials could be published online. Maybe they would not try to throw their weight around as much if they knew they might be taken to task for it.

[pauldorell]

Originally Posted by ladelfina

Casinos! Isn't that the fallback revenue-generator nowadays?

It looks as if Massachusetts may already have beaten Vermont to it: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/us...asinos.html?hp. So much the better!

[jenny1951]

I would surely hate to see a casino built in Verrmont, but I sure did like the old thoroughbred track, Green Mountain. if thoroughbred racing wasn't in such a rapid decline, I would love to see another track in the northeast.

[LisaMc46]

Originally Posted by ladelfina

Lisa, I saw you say the same thing elsewhere, I believe. You make it sound like everything only comes down to money, and that no other quality-of-life issues count for much (clean environment, clean food, low crime, helpful neighbors). Some of the cheaper places out there would make it necessary to live in a gated community paying HOA fees, or make you want to send your kids to private school… at least that's the impression I get of many places.

Of course quality of life issues matter, but if you have to work two or three jobs as many Vermonters do, it's difficult to find time to enjoy the great outdoors and other benefits of living here. I do volunteer work in my community and can tell you that many seniors who have worked hard their entire lives don't have a great quality of life b/c they can barely afford to keep their oil tanks and cupboards filled.

Most of my friend's children who have left after college have moved on to areas that offer both a nice lifestyle and good-paying jobs.

The frustrating part of the lower salaries here is that they don't coincide with the COL. If the COL were proportionately low it wouldn't matter.