Chamber updates: "Bring Back the Trades," hotel TIF progress and regional marketing successes

A representative from the Chamber of Economic Development told the RPC on March 15 that the Chamber will host Bring Back the Trades on May 20 at Castleton University, expecting about 800 high-school students to meet trade employers and view equipment demonstrations.

The Chamber representative also updated the commission on downtown redevelopment efforts in Rutland City. The town's TIF application was expected to be considered by the Vermont Economic Progress Council in the coming weeks; if approved it would clear a major step for a proposed hotel project. The speaker noted that brownfields cleanup work necessary to ready the hotel site could cost "upwards of $5,000,000" and that cleanup funding and federal brownfields assistance will be important to advance the project. The speaker emphasized that voter approval of a municipal bond would also be required for some infrastructure steps related to the TIF program.

Separately, Chamber staff described a regional marketing initiative that has run weekend-getaway visits for prospective residents; staff said 235 people who participated since 2021 had moved to the region. The program pairs families with local "concierge" volunteers and realtors to introduce housing and employer opportunities. The Chamber representative said the program helps recruit skilled workers and encourages employers and towns to participate in regional workforce attraction.

The Commission recorded the Chamber's updates as part of regional partner reports and thanked the Chamber for outreach efforts.