[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6233706,"mediaKeyId","3417477-f458ab281347becfe4c0bd3684a0dcd2","parentId",3417477,"title","Committee considers study to examine small‑business financing and support structures","audioSeconds",248,"startMs",1536115,"endMs",1784455,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3417477-f458ab281347becfe4c0bd3684a0dcd2&start=1536&end=1784","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3417477-f458ab281347becfe4c0bd3684a0dcd2/thumbnail_1536115.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6233706/Vermont/Committee-considers-study-to-examine-smallbusiness-financing-and-support-structures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233706-033137f92e9c45b2c2361d789bf12f0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584228&Signature=H~uYyBmyNAsj7wPuqvGIufHhl00N4Mi2hF4fnf-oNj1IQBqqY~~RdSa6aHbkBm1rcFk1~rO8GuhlbkaFylsI9QaBZROLwTKy6PpqjqVABFHcwmd5ElTHcj0bLnpmLFFULH7oLsdVyruGVhnk1GBo5pFJlmF6oj-TGfnSxpYYrMicSxdMBLksXVuSt50oYBVxDPNQ53d9dRKD06IIgJU2R7cc0A25T~XU9VeGw-ZiOXHVvkcfueWZmUnSHNcKA4ku0TZoWJLEZkn9-6k3IjcmVIaMFoFBOMdeEVvYrKlpUJHwVEocZqvNQo4ZnZbfYoea7mMdgRMTMGTVK2t~91lNEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-21T06:51:07.503Z","article","On May 20, 2025 committee members proposed creating a study group to examine financing and supports for very small businesses and to consider whether state government should create a more coherent structure to help those firms.

The proposal would direct the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) to solicit testimony from startups and small‑business assistance providers and to report back to the committee with recommendations on financing, access to capital, and program supports.

A committee member observed that testimony taken earlier and the joint hearing did not reveal a clear, centralized set of supports for very small firms and suggested a strategic review: “I think with that joint hearing we had a while back and testimony we've taken, there's not a lot. Right? So would it make sense to include in this a similar … group looking at financing of small businesses, but a group that would look at how do we create more of a structure in state government to help support small businesses?” the committee member said. Rick Stadel and Pat Tippetton agreed ACCD could be given a charge to solicit testimony from relevant providers (for example, SBDC, sustainable jobs fund and other business‑support organizations) and to provide a report.

No statutory language was finalized in the recorded session; staff were directed to work with the committee to draft study language that specifies the charge and to avoid adding a new, unfunded appropriation for the study group.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Commerce - 2025-05-20 - 9:05AM","oneSentenceSummary","Members proposed assigning the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to solicit testimony and produce a report on financing, access to capital, and supports for very small businesses statewide.","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},6233713,"Committee debates membership and per‑diem language for convention center task force",203,739885,943525,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3417477-f458ab281347becfe4c0bd3684a0dcd2&start=739&end=943","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3417477-f458ab281347becfe4c0bd3684a0dcd2/thumbnail_739885.jpg","/articles/6233713/Vermont/Committee-debates-membership-and-perdiem-language-for-convention-center-task-force","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233713-edef6c65e8c380bad9e038e35b9bc1ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584228&Signature=YZAYkn4nijKgkAmdJl8Uixkf7ItS1cnIG8URrE6~IKi0VpA1RzRmT7LrTgvFmQq3xb2lVTN-mWvCHZPdqmBcPn2P~tHb0fMXz5UOlPSw0-Mr1-9LCB45LvWuxqRc1qYUDXDGrSOGuqCkfqh3kRv79A0F47zhLgcswyzC37gvLvbZ~7t1H1DZdFy3LAMRKmYs5KLOq~IKBjDQyeLXSeDEE-bZH27BqIHalsB~NP~efVmckZqw7SM6l2d-6512TVH48EVg8adXHoW2yzSYoJb8e3~1UJLDQDcgYqUQJmga-iOCASblx3fAE-y06TIXQ51sfqNIQGovsXOKEPA2FzcZ0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on May 20, 2025 discussed Section 10 of S.122, which establishes a convention center and performance media task force and lists appointment authority and membership.

The discussion mattered because the task force’s composition determines which stakeholders advise any future convention‑center work and because removal of per‑diem language could affect member participation.

Rick Stadel, Office of Legislative Council, reviewed the task force language and said members could add a Regional Planning Commission (RPC) representative and possibly adjust executive‑branch membership to specify the commissioner of the Department of Economic Development (BED) or a designee. “You could add a seventh. You could change out one of the current members to add in,” Stadel said while reviewing membership options.

Committee members debated whether the group should include legislative members from both the House and the Senate if the task force is expected to make policy recommendations. Austin Davis, member of the committee, spoke about how RPCs are organized and suggested checking with RPC leadership on whether to appoint a chair or president of that body.

Members also noted that Senate Appropriations had stripped per‑diem language for the task force. Stadel warned, “you have this task force without any per diem language [which] could be troublesome with members on it,” and advised the committee to confirm how legislative members would be reimbursed. The committee discussed removing the contingent‑on‑funding language (Section 10a) and clarifying appointment language.

No formal membership amendments or votes were recorded in the transcript; staff were asked to draft updated language specifying membership changes and to confirm the practical effect of removing per‑diem language for appointed members.","Members discussed adding a regional planning commission representative and other membership changes to a convention center and performance media task force, and raised reimbursement concerns after per‑diem language was removed by Senate Appropriations.",{"_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},6233718,"Committee questions trade‑office funding and an amendment expanding trade‑commission review",943,398005,1341394,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3417477-f458ab281347becfe4c0bd3684a0dcd2&start=398&end=1341","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3417477-f458ab281347becfe4c0bd3684a0dcd2/thumbnail_398005.jpg","/articles/6233718/Vermont/Committee-questions-tradeoffice-funding-and-an-amendment-expanding-tradecommission-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233718-7f1d5732a21d51d48baedbe67a6dcca8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584228&Signature=SxppxZ6dVGM0CS5WLr2NkDJHIugTqL2xjJZ77IH~cCcSnTdnrriJxZ8yQZ1VQLGjWzpmI4zD1EHebyH3zNtrFgjL0frb28JupT-zPh84mqmbDSNG1n7ENeNQj2W~HYZd2z4ScHc4i43Z~MTuHk07U9bvP-8PfeTPPTn7XnR6Ts-j3Qv9nbO03tTGTdVEbC28-oVuci3EnDuRZDv1-8Iy0FV1IsSly4021O3UgARByU-x-iJgIA5DYFySMKRlAe2E6dxmT2lAGGk85Pmd4f5ltXaDmWF0VOpEi~jm8K~55BMQwU1-NpKGUL1Nz5XuyBKdGKgggTwkyLOxndQlWbk4Kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development discussed Section 5 of S.122 on May 20, 2025, which would provide one‑time funding related to the International Trade Office and considered a Senate amendment that expands the review authority of a state trade commission.

The matter is significant because the amendment would change which state entities must review and approve new trade commissions and could affect how the state evaluates partnerships such as the Vermont‑Ireland Trade Commission.

Rick Stadel, Office of Legislative Council, read language for section 5 and noted the $150,000 appropriation for the International Trade Office. “I think the 150 is just to continue providing the trade office,” Stadel said. Committee members discussed that the $150,000 appeared intended to maintain the office’s presence in Montreal rather than fund a broader international expansion.

Separately, the Senate floor adopted an amendment that would require the state trade commission to analyze and recommend whether certain trade commissions should be established or continued. The amendment explicitly names the Vermont‑Ireland Trade Commission; Stadel said the commission is effectively inactive and that the committee recorded no testimony on the amendment. “I’m not super comfortable with this, because I don’t know what this group is doing, if anything, right now and why initially they were not given the authority to review foreign and Vermont grama,” Stadel said, expressing concern about applying a new statutory review to an apparently dormant entity.

Committee members agreed they need more information about the history and current activity of the named trade commission before adopting statutory changes that would apply to it. Staff suggested removing the specific amendment language for now and reconfiguring it if and when more information or testimony is available.

No formal decision to adopt or remove the amendment was recorded in the transcript; staff were directed to gather additional information and to invite relevant parties, including the Irish mission or representatives, for future testimony.","Members discussed a $150,000 trade‑office appropriation and a Senate amendment that would require a trade commission to review trade‑commission proposals, including the Vermont‑Ireland Trade Commission; committee members expressed concern about applying the change to an inactive commission without testimony.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6233724,"Committee reviews S.122, confirms some one-time small-business funding and strips unfunded expansions",426,2400,429145,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3417477-f458ab281347becfe4c0bd3684a0dcd2&start=2&end=429","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3417477-f458ab281347becfe4c0bd3684a0dcd2/thumbnail_2400.jpg","/articles/6233724/Vermont/Committee-reviews-S122-confirms-some-one-time-small-business-funding-and-strips-unfunded-expansions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233724-266d01f22fb7f9bf0ebe76cad1a07321/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584228&Signature=Ep03k-FKU2jRE2UFpSHMEg4W7CA76rDBUr7HdUxGxcTAEy7HyAKfZ5yotaFrA12ih2Ahor4JwPWgDepgCosnhczrtnp~GAUEH0hWZcdrLx62SoKKNHvj8DepffK0vXSsJUjYv0IhB5u1CHFOJeDZwdze68ioVK~CIK-W~x0e5nEvcTjRgS~rs0mPa5-trGa2I5z6ADypqY-HxreX5fdAUTi6KKLq2-jNgZjRdAe5XnHJcznHtKOqc0slqjOQcYHYaGoXfj~w5B4pzldOvyVYKNlBOD8MprAhcp89VSMzxzKuYalC8kFWs4c3Egg3r28tQNG2mE-mjnBfYMqX~7ShqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members in the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on May 20, 2025 reviewed S.122, the economic and workforce development bill sent from the Senate, and identified several provisions that were not funded in the budget while confirming some one‑time allocations.

The discussion matters because the bill contains a mix of program expansions and time‑limited appropriations intended to support small businesses across the state; committee members flagged items that cannot move forward without budget authority.

Chair, Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, opened the committee’s review and asked staff to run through what remained in the budget. Pat Tippetton, Joint Fiscal Office, said, “the first appropriation is in section 2A, was to the Department of Economic Development for expanding services for small businesses that is not in the budget.” Rick Stadel, Office of Legislative Council, reiterated that sections not reflected in the budget should typically be removed from the bill.

Committee members confirmed specific allocations: the Professionals of Color Network received a one‑time appropriation of $200,000; the Vermont Small Business Development Center (SBDC) received a one‑time appropriation of $150,000 to the Higher Education Coordinating Council (HCCD); and the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund received a $25,000 one‑time top‑up in addition to base funding, which committee staff noted results in combined funding of about $275,000 for those line items. The microbusiness development program was noted as having a base appropriation of $493,339 in the budget.

Other items in the Senate bill that committee members said are not included in the enacted budget — and for which they recommended removing enabling language — included a planned expansion to Department of Economic Development services and a proposed $1 million expansion to the downtown tax credit program. Pat Tippetton said he had sent an inquiry to confirm the tax‑credit numbers and later reported the budget contains a roughly $13.5 million accommodation for due tax credits that the committee had addressed in separate legislation (S.51), meaning the $1 million expansion in S.122 was not required.

Committee staff directed members to double‑check language where necessary, and staff (including Stadel and Tippetton) agreed to draft amendments that remove or narrow provisions the budget did not fund. The bill’s effective date was discussed as July 1, 2025.

The committee did not take a formal vote on S.122 during the session covered by the transcript; members asked staff to return with proposed statutory language and confirmations of budget treatment before making final changes.","The Vermont House Committee on Commerce & Economic Development reviewed S.122 on May 20, 2025, identifying which appropriations in the Senate version were not funded in the budget and confirming several one-time allocations for small-business programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee considers study to examine small‑business financing and support structures

Committee debates membership and per‑diem language for convention center task force

Committee questions trade‑office funding and an amendment expanding trade‑commission review

Committee reviews S.122, confirms some one-time small-business funding and strips unfunded expansions