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Intern reports tourism rebound, governor's SPARC proposal and fair stormwater costs to Commerce & Economic Development Committee
Summary
Helen Argrace, the committee intern, told the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee on Jan. 31 that Vermont tourism returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, the governor's housing omnibus includes a TIF-like rural program called SPARC, and several state fairs face costly stormwater mitigation under the 3-acre rule.
Helen Argrace, the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee intern, briefed the panel on Jan. 31 about recent activity in the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs, including tourism numbers, a proposed rural version of tax-increment financing, consumer-assistance results and stormwater compliance costs at state fairgrounds.
Argrace told the committee that Vermont recorded 15,800,000 visitors in 2023, returning to pre-pandemic levels, and summarized the Think Vermont relocation initiative: from roughly 562 prospects in 2024 the program tracked, 52 new family housing units were created for relocating prospects, accounting for 97 new individuals who moved to Vermont. She also reported workforce-housing examples discussed in the Senate committee: Killington maintains about 463 subsidized employee housing units and Vermont Glove purchased a 10-unit building with four units dedicated to employees.
The nut of the briefing concerned the governor's omnibus housing proposal, which is not yet introduced as a bill but was presented to the Senate committee in a…
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