[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6373628,"mediaKeyId","2145690-a80a8078665b0e090659cb7919dd7bd5","parentId",2145690,"title","Advisers and advocates report early wins but warn workforce and outreach gaps remain in Act 76 rollout","audioSeconds",2977,"startMs",3468920,"endMs",6446199,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145690-a80a8078665b0e090659cb7919dd7bd5&start=3468&end=6446","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145690-a80a8078665b0e090659cb7919dd7bd5/thumbnail_3468920.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6373628/Vermont/Advisers-and-advocates-report-early-wins-but-warn-workforce-and-outreach-gaps-remain-in-Act-76-rollout","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373628-2680da776b20dd5dff9f8419965c5888/orig.mp4?Expires=1770791272&Signature=bOazCovFMk5TE96fYpRUerSaJsT2DAR8VGoJIM7vVxJerE6cdfeIG7iVM5IU2l31znv~cG9dCSILlbRoUssM19SSSbWRTNdnhVDQjosZ~-~xG1LdU2fri3Iz1Tk~m7IGRnncK2pZqTCYPCyt5Rn6~Ej8LIYkOOvCYa6zZqKEPLtrQhUguE7bKRZo5WdpY1Y5IlVmZGO0kgr64OON3r6qDB-R3~xMF-F6ilnF9QPhJNluU2OycB4xcT7vDhzurK7JnlY041qNbUL~uopUCQGLqWccg9LUWLh1-Fgkyjy5DFgvjRODrgY3uhh7rGJUVOpUqVtUDudSM145vjoKK~dXzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-23T18:04:29Z","article","Morgan Crossman, executive director of Building Bright Futures, and Anna Brulette, the organization's policy and program director, briefed the committee on Jan. 23 about the role Building Bright Futures plays monitoring and advising on Vermont's early-childhood system and on the first 18 months of Act 76 implementation.

Crossman said Building Bright Futures is charged by state and federal statute to advise the governor, legislature and federal delegation on children and families prenatal to age 8 and to convene a network of regional councils, strategic-plan committees and an interagency coordinating team. \"As an advisory body, we do not directly lobby for or oppose any specific bill or action,\" she told the committee.

Anna Brulette summarized implementation steps under Act 76: the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP) expanded eligibility to 575% of the federal poverty level; co-pays were eliminated for families up to 175% of FPL; the law's payroll tax was implemented; the Childcare Quality and Capacity Incentive Program was launched; and reimbursement rates for programs receiving CCFAP were substantially increased.

Brulette said officials and community partners report measurable early effects: an increase in families enrolled in CCFAP (about 1,600 more families compared with the prior year), over 1,700 additional infant slots reported for 2024 compared with prior baselines, and the first year since at least 2018 in which more childcare programs opened than closed. She also said the Child Development Division launched an online application for families and the department has lowered administrative barriers for eligibility in several areas.

At the same time, Building Bright Futures and advocates emphasized ongoing challenges: the early-childhood workforce remains a bottleneck for capacity and quality; Vermont's data systems remain fragmented and not yet adequate for ongoing, routine monitoring of prekindergarten capacity across public and private settings; and outreach and enrollment among underserved populations (non-English speakers, immigrant communities) is uneven.

Crossman and Brulette described the Pre-Kindergarten Education Implementation Committee (PEIC) work, noting four broad recommendations: maintaining benefits for three-, four- and five-year-old children not yet eligible for kindergarten; prioritizing access expansion for four-year-olds; collecting cost and capacity data to inform expansion; and clarifying delivery models across public and community settings. They said the committee collected surveys and qualitative data from superintendents, school boards and community partners to inform those recommendations but that a more standardized annual data collection method is needed.

Ali Richards, CEO of Let's Grow Kids, spoke on behalf of the advocacy organization and said Act 76 has already stabilized the childcare sector by adding public investment and raising program reimbursement rates. She underscored that increased program revenue has enabled some providers to increase wages and training and that those changes are linked to both quality and capacity gains. Richards and Building Bright Futures urged caution about proposals to repurpose childcare funds in the governor's budget-adjustment discussions and recommended preserving investments while the new system matures.

Committee members asked for more data about program ownership, outreach to underserved families and long-term funding options. Building Bright Futures said it will continue to work with the Child Development Division, First Children's Finance, Child Trends and other partners on improved data collection, targeted outreach in multiple languages and continuous quality improvement.

No formal committee votes were taken; presenters offered to provide their legislatively mandated monitoring report and to return with more detailed, disaggregated data on demand.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Commerce - 2025-01-23 - 1:05PM","oneSentenceSummary","Building Bright Futures and Let's Grow Kids reported to the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee that Vermont's Act 76 has rapidly expanded Child Care Financial Assistance Program eligibility and increased provider reimbursement rates, producing new slots and more open programs but leaving workforce shortages, data gaps and outreach shortfalls to be addressed.","taxTitle","Commerce & Economic Development, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",36720,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6373633,"VOREC and FPR describe expanding outdoor-recreation grants, statewide support and business impacts",1212,2147550,3359615,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145690-a80a8078665b0e090659cb7919dd7bd5&start=2147&end=3359","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145690-a80a8078665b0e090659cb7919dd7bd5/thumbnail_2147550.jpg","/articles/6373633/Vermont/VOREC-and-FPR-describe-expanding-outdoor-recreation-grants-statewide-support-and-business-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373633-ff2debdf04bdf8ee1df4b0d3740a0442/orig.mp4?Expires=1770791272&Signature=ZZHDKAl88nDvYQkShdXVz6ZTS6fHG2JSUK1XbhaC2EeCB1iYAWolw69~4gWT30Yrip64UhM28kDqMqrPUIyymj~iwDkwimVA~z73vpCY9zIGXMghMtWPpUrTayE0uwCIIFwiC1Tq7Og5Xw0weQpILyL7bcLmpgBsMoQgtbb7jmhly5tSdfAfJyL0QJGbhQY7SIMc--59kkHix-sipXYgn2Egcqk~htihHWUnv8oOKFLsiSuhm1c2CJGobRKGyIwi-VawTNxMs8VOIKEenSL~E8WODfM-ES7mnoZG-j1rLuYM1xvPFjG5molR5DCbq~8h9ZDpBlYUXOrOW78pK1Jvjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rebecca Washburn, director of lands administration and recreation at the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, told the same committee that the department administers land leases, licenses and conservation programs and plays a long-term role in recreation planning and grants.

Washburn described the department's role as a landowner and administrator: boundary management, leases (including maple-sugaring licenses), long-range management planning and conservation easement monitoring. She noted Vermont is nationally recognized for administering Forest Legacy funds and cited example public acquisitions such as Molly's Falls Pond State Park and Green River Reservoir.

On recreation, Washburn described the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC), established by the governor in 2017, and the group's steering committee of public and private partners. She said VOREC and the department provide grant support, data and technical assistance to communities and local trail groups, and fund statewide services such as Trailfinder, a nonprofit trail-mapping service.

Washburn outlined the department's grant programs: annual Land and Water Conservation Fund grants (federally funded through offshore lease receipts), the Recreation Trails Program (a Federal Highway Administration program), and a state-funded Recreation Grants program launched in 2019. The department has added project-development and equity-focused tracks and, following flood events, a flood-recovery track to allow retroactive financing of emergency repairs and resilient redesigns.

Washburn highlighted recent outcomes: about $6.5 million in grants made from one-time allocations two years ago; distribution of grants across the state; and projects such as fully accessible playgrounds and visitor-center materials to promote local recreation economies. She noted the department is using mapping tools to spot grant gaps and perform targeted outreach.

Washburn said VOREC's steering committee includes state agencies and private-sector partners and named several representatives serving on the panel. She described partnerships that helped move businesses to Vermont (for example, a bike company locating to Waterbury) and cited adaptive-recreation impacts that have led some people to relocate for access to outdoor activities.

On implementation, Washburn said the department is launching an implementation phase of its Move Forward Together Vermont plan and planned a press event for Outdoor Recreation Day on Feb. 12. She also noted the department provides grant funding to a wide set of partners including VAST and VASA (motorized trail organizations) and nonprofit trail maintenance groups; the department has prioritized equity, climate resilience and stewardship in its grant work.

Committee members asked about data on economic impact, program distribution and the department's ability to support underserved communities; Washburn said the department is collecting data, using mapping tools and conducting outreach to fill gaps and has pilot projects and communications work underway.

No legislative action or vote occurred during the presentation; Washburn offered to return with additional detail on economic valuation and implementation as requested.","Rebecca Washburn presented the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation's recreation and lands administration work, described VOREC's steering committee and summarized recent grant investments, federal funding sources and community projects that support trails, inclusive access and local economies.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6373639,"Vermont FPR outlines forest management, state parks pressures and a roadmap for the sector",1902,147600,2050545,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145690-a80a8078665b0e090659cb7919dd7bd5&start=147&end=2050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145690-a80a8078665b0e090659cb7919dd7bd5/thumbnail_147600.jpg","/articles/6373639/Vermont/Vermont-FPR-outlines-forest-management-state-parks-pressures-and-a-roadmap-for-the-sector","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373639-db550078d36fceaef274cf0f8946690f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770791272&Signature=EtFXyB-k5G8YfCrjJBSazfUGufKe8O-HyKeTtjPPLJs7UKAWubIJnnJ7mhYf9t8U1TVxOytWKtO38qClzk9ZFuxln8OZWlSCp4LFjmI5uhZ-ey9cBi-~BUECtTdHpNIu8n1wxlQ1m70Go2QarHrnjd0adCzYsHlcHViA87Wb5pq3h-vg96tF73da2Mxrn3uA4P~O~RHt-e-DjGXBh~gi19kBjrAUCzBcsNp5QX740LNn3ajtrUiV0cNpKaG6B7ebvUeQWAqLfVbOInc53FgoyVu5W5SWvacOt8bmRUrmkSg7USvvViQBUkHvyuApN0WrhQSvanFsKZ2GJXS2LVfSLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Danielle Fitsko, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, told the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on Jan. 23 that forests cover about 76% of Vermont and that the department is working across forestry, parks and recreation to keep forests healthy and sustain a growing outdoor economy.

Fitsko said the department manages 55 developed state parks, welcomed more than 1,000,000 visitors during the last operating season and recorded a roughly 40% increase in state-park visitation over the past six years. \"State parks is really a business,\" she told the committee, noting the department handles thousands of invoices, reservations and refunds and holds roughly $280 million in infrastructure assets.

The department described forestry programs that work on forest health monitoring, a small wildland fire team and partnerships for mutual aid. Fitsko said FPR now has 24 staff who are \"red-carded\" to national wildland-fire credentials so they can be deployed under the Incident Command System, and the agency also brings in logistical staff to support large events.

FPR staff outlined a multi-pronged Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap, developed after a General Assembly request in 2021. The roadmap focuses on five pillars including forest management and land use, business environment and workforce development, research and innovation, industry reputation and the link between the forest economy and Vermont communities. Fitsko said the roadmap is now in an implementation phase guided by a steering committee.

The department said Vermont's forest economy generates direct annual benefits on the order of $130 million and, accounting for multipliers, more than $2 billion; the sector employs roughly 10,000 people directly and more than 13,000 with indirect jobs included. Fitsko said workforce aging, equipment costs and marketplace unpredictability have stressed the supply chain; two sawmills closed in the previous year, she told the committee.

On adaptation and resilience, Fitsko described investments the department is making to help loggers withstand wetter and more variable seasons, including a $1 million appropriation the General Assembly provided to support best practices and more resilient road networks and landings. She said FPR is working with the Department of Environmental Conservation and other partners on low-interest loans and other mechanisms to help logging operators buy lower-impact equipment.

Fitsko also described the agency's forest protection work: long-term monitoring plots for forest health, a diagnostic laboratory for pest and disease testing, and expanded wildland-fire staffing and training with local fire departments and the Vermont Fire Academy. The department noted it used mutual-aid agreements this past season, including bringing an engine from New Hampshire.

On state parks, Fitsko emphasized climate resilience, accessibility and staffing constraints. She said FPR currently employs about 45 year-round state-park staff and brings on roughly 450 seasonal employees; a statutory limit on temporary seasonal employment of seven months constrains the department's ability to operate longer seasons and expand shoulder-season services. She also said the parks modernization study and related planning will prioritize resilient siting of facilities, shorelines and roads as well as energy and accessibility improvements.

The commissioner named a small team working on a forest economy program and said earlier one-time funding from the General Assembly (about $1 million) and other grants are supporting logger and industry assistance, plus an implementation steering committee is meeting to move roadmap recommendations into practice.

Asked about maple-sugaring leases on state lands, Fitsko deferred to Rebecca Washburn, director of lands administration and recreation, who confirmed FPR issues multi-year licenses (typically 15-year leases) for tapping on state land and that those licenses yield modest revenue and research opportunities in partnership with UVM's Proctor Maple Research Center.

Fitsko and staff fielded questions from committee members about climate impacts on logging days and harvest windows, tariff risks for the forest products market, and interagency coordination with the Green Mountain National Forest. The department repeatedly framed many responses as ongoing efforts: monitoring, partnerships, pilot programs and capacity-building rather than newly adopted rules or votes.

The presentation concluded with an offer to provide more detailed briefings on the roadmap and implementation plans to the committee.

A number of funding and program details remain implementation steps rather than completed policy decisions: the roadmap is in rollout, federal grants and one-time appropriations are being spent, and the department is refining programs for loggers, forest health monitoring, and state-park resilience and staffing.","Commissioner Danielle Fitsko and FPR staff briefed the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee on the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation's work: forest health and protection, wildland fire staffing, a strategic roadmap for the forest economy and rising state park visitation and infrastructure needs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Advisers and advocates report early wins but warn workforce and outreach gaps remain in Act 76 rollout

VOREC and FPR describe expanding outdoor-recreation grants, statewide support and business impacts

Vermont FPR outlines forest management, state parks pressures and a roadmap for the sector