Senate committee advances economic-development bill, adopts draft 1.5 on 4–1 vote

The Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs on an unspecified date approved draft 1.5 of a consolidated economic-development bill by a 4–1 vote, advancing a package that includes funding for arts and film initiatives, an outdoor-rec business support appropriation, expansion of trade offices and a directed study on a proposed convention center.

Committee Chair said the group aimed to finish the economic development bill and vote on it; the clerk recorded a committee vote of 4–1 to adopt draft 1.5. The committee approved language that (1) includes the Vermont Arts Council’s full funding request subject to federal matching rules and a separate $120,000 proposal to build a film- and creative-media resource database, (2) provides an appropriation to the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance to continue a technical-assistance program seeded with prior VOREC community grants, (3) funds expansion of state trade offices, and (4) creates or refines a trade/Irish trade commission with new disclosure and per-diem language. The bill also directs a study to evaluate the economic impact of a convention center and sets reporting deadlines.

The arts-and-film…