Greater Burlington economic development leader warns of shrinking industrial land, urges state recapitalization and housing supports

At a meeting of the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee, Frank Coffey of the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation described a decades‑long shift in Vermont economic development and urged the Legislature to replenish industrial land capacity and support housing and workforce programs.

Coffey said GBIC — the regional economic development organization for the Burlington area — was created by an act of the legislature in the 1950s to build industrial parks and the infrastructure necessary for employers. He told the committee those land‑banking strategies that worked in the mid‑20th century are strained today because land and infrastructure costs have risen sharply and available lots are rare.

"We were created in 1954 by an act of the legislature," Coffey said, and the organization historically used state and federal help to build water, sewer and road infrastructure so municipalities could host industrial parks. He added that GBIC still…