Committee hears small-business package: training, resource platform, SBDC and equity-focused support

The Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee met Wednesday, Feb. 26, to review provisions in a draft economic development bill and to hear testimony from statewide small‑business support organizations on proposals to expand training eligibility, add a searchable resource platform and increase funding and coordination for technical assistance.

The proposals are intended to expand capacity for firms with fewer than 20 employees — a sector presenters said represents the majority of Vermont businesses — and to reduce information and access barriers faced by women, BIPOC and other historically excluded entrepreneurs.

Why it matters: Testimony from five statewide providers framed the bill language as a package of near‑term asks (one‑time and base funding) and longer‑term topics (access to capital and a possible conference/performance venue). Presenters said better coordination and modest funding increases would allow existing programs to serve more firms and to link business advising with capital and training resources.

Ellen Kaylor, executive director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, told the committee that the package grows out of a January “Small Business Wednesday” listening session and a subsequent concept paper. "We have an incredible array of highly skilled, experienced business and technical assistance providers in the state," Kaylor said, and "they are woefully under…