Commerce & Economic Development committee backs broader task force to study a Vermont convention center

The Commerce & Economic Development Committee discussed forming a task force to evaluate whether Vermont should pursue a convention center and how to coordinate statewide assets to host larger conferences.

Brett Long, interim commissioner of the Department of Economic Development, told the committee that the issue has come to the department’s attention after the captive insurance industry association (BCIA) signaled it might move its conference out of state. “They've actually talked about moving their conference out of state, which we obviously would not like to see happen,” Long said, adding that the department supports an investigation into a convention center.

Committee members said the task force should look beyond a single building and examine related capacity: hotel rooms, transportation, parking, and other infrastructure needed to host large events. A member said the group should “look at the whole enchilada,” urging the panel to include regional planning and development input so local assets can be assessed and, where appropriate, smaller venues used as satellite or complementary sites.

Members agreed to revise the draft task-force language to specify that the commissioner of the Department of Economic Development (or designee) and the commissioner of Tourism and Marketing (or designee) be explicit members, and to make clear that regional planning commissions (RPCs) and regional development corporations (RDCs) may be called in to provide local analysis. The committee also discussed whether to include legislative members and left that decision open to the appropriations process and scheduling constraints.

Discussion included examples and potential sites mentioned by speakers: Burlington and Chittenden County for its airport and infrastructure; the White River Junction area for interstate access; and the former Southern Vermont College campus as a site for smaller, high-end events. Committee members noted prior, informal work on the issue and suggested the task force might formalize existing research rather than start entirely from scratch.

Members raised practical questions the task force should address, including: who is asking for convention capacity, what types and sizes of events Vermont can attract, whether a full-scale central convention center or a hub-and-spoke model of venues is preferable, and how to fund any studies or capital projects. One committee member asked whether there is money in current budgets to pay participants or consultants; that question was left unresolved and tied to the appropriations process.

Speakers referenced national and regional consultants and programs that perform this work elsewhere, including organizations abbreviated in the meeting as CFA, SBDC and VITA, suggesting the task force could evaluate outside expertise instead of building all capabilities in-house. The committee also discussed the status of the Commission on International Trade and whether its remit or membership could be used or expanded to support international trade and sister-state relationships in partnership with any convention strategy.

There were no formal votes recorded in the transcript excerpt. Committee members agreed informally to amend the task-force language as described and to keep the group “small and nimble,” calling in additional participants as needed. A timeline concern was raised; speakers noted a “tight timeline” and referenced November 1 as a date tied to scheduling and deadlines for the work, but no firm deadline or appropriation was adopted during the discussion.

The meeting segment concluded with scheduling notes: Secretary Curley was expected to join a follow-up discussion at 1:30 p.m. to clarify removed budget items affecting marketing programs, and committee members planned to reconvene after a related floor resolution was handled.

What happens next: committee members will finalize the task-force membership language and await additional briefings, including from the Department of Tourism and Marketing and Secretary Curley, before making any formal recommendation or requesting funding from appropriations.