[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6383777,"mediaKeyId","2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0","parentId",2123782,"title","Regional development corporations describe roles, state contracts and reporting requirements","audioSeconds",1101,"startMs",35000,"endMs",1136000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0&start=35&end=1136","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0/thumbnail_35000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6383777/Vermont/Regional-development-corporations-describe-roles-state-contracts-and-reporting-requirements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383777-44ef1eaaf227f6c105ce4928eec0cc96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152802&Signature=cmOkH1cKdnLugV0tK-n4tTfaI1Pew8Rm4aYqeEzFi3LRSZDKbahzdKnA8v~mAC0p00ynRp3jOI3nrs-KvgBjL11ZryI3z1KYuiMN03NrYW4QPmfy~-05McZSboZEUX~OnyISHEeEECrCBp60KuFY8rKLoI49aMcql4NntT6hdLmxkIKNkz3E0AOgTIbj2YUpR3u96AZZEMTbtAmjG~zbwegZfoPECPuOuM9xj20-cOaw6L6YzfVAKO4mNXlrjrSBacvR~h7Z56AbEGBnr~XN8rfyYFCETzGmglg4~6jA6L50c145Jy1tgAjfwpt9oWgqZd-p4geRpwDuKaZl2lhWuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-17T03:13:20Z","article","Andy Jewel, executive director of the Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation and president of the Regional Development Corporations of Vermont, told the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee on Jan. 16 that Vermont’s 12 regional development corporations (RDCs) are independent nonprofit organizations that provide technical assistance, workforce support and site development across the state.

Jewel said RDCs are “a nonprofit entity. We are not a 501(c)(3), so we are not charitable,” and added that most RDCs are organized as 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6) entities that pay taxes and are overseen by local boards. He told the committee RDC boundaries cover the entire state without overlap and that boards set each RDC’s priorities.

The RDCs contract with the state for specific services. Jewel said the state portion of an individual RDC’s budget varies widely—“between 5 and 40%,” depending on the organization—and that RDCs also derive revenue from membership dues, loan funds, leased commercial property and federal grants. As part of the state relationship, he said, each RDC receives an annual $122,000 SAID grant and a separate $10,000 grant to compile and rank regional priority projects for the state.

Jewel described the reporting and deliverables the state requires under those contracts: a quarterly report (with a more extensive fourth‑quarter annual report); entry of available commercial properties into a statewide site database; at least one finance/capital workshop and one job‑fair or workforce event per year; regular coordination with regional planning commissions, the Small Business Development Center and other technical assistance providers; a CRM entry for business visits; and an annual meeting with legislators. He said RDCs are expected to document business visits (25–50 as a scoring range), municipal engagements and work on infrastructure projects such as water and wastewater.

Jewel also described coordination mechanisms: the association of the 12 RDCs meets monthly with the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Department of Labor and maintains a shared website (rdcvermont.org) and a “find your RDC” tool for businesses. He said RDCs routinely work with state partners including the SBDC, VTP (Vermont Training Program), VEGI (Vermont Employment Growth Incentive), Efficiency Vermont, CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) programs and federal partners such as the Northern Border Regional Commission.

Jewel said the RDCs’ work ranges from business technical assistance and lending support to workforce development, site predevelopment and brownfields remediation, and that the RDCs sometimes temporarily hold and predevelop property and pay associated real‑estate taxes.

He invited committee members to the RDCs’ monthly meetings and described peer reviews, required professional development and periodic data reporting to ACCD.

Jewel concluded by noting that while RDCs frequently partner with regional planning commissions and chambers, they are distinct entities that answer to their local boards and that the state primarily uses contracts to obtain needed services from them.

Looking ahead, Jewel told the committee RDCs will continue tracking regional priority projects, supporting water/wastewater infrastructure and workforce initiatives, and working with state partners to refine incentive and technical assistance programs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Commerce - 2025-01-16 - 9:00AM","oneSentenceSummary","Andy Jewel, executive director of the Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation and president of the Regional Development Corporations of Vermont, told the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee that Vermont’s 12 RDCs are independent nonprofit organizations that deliver technical assistance, workforce services and site predevelopment under state contract.","taxTitle","Commerce & Economic Development, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",36720,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6383760,"RDCs emphasize workforce housing, water/wastewater and Act 181 implications",153,2292000,2445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0&start=2292&end=2445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0/thumbnail_2292000.jpg","/articles/6383760/Vermont/RDCs-emphasize-workforce-housing-waterwastewater-and-Act-181-implications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383760-a9e60ccf7c06628260963d2a7a0aaa55/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152802&Signature=CQAMnIaLAXQ5w9Cqjr6-9HAH4hdVvjRJwQBIt-czIh2ZbGtTMgC7NwDPycEj22SYUHO~KSNkPbQyULdNCzZlQPHMsegknxV5Vchf7j19lGUoETHHGEz4NQMP-jVDKZq85671h1WIMewO9JQF223PUWtwZLcCwxpneypdzQ1CMNZrbK0d84pGrSNGTSaGHnUJdlzPzfMmpP473ksPfHI6UDXyQVQLk4rfnsWbk82iWuB55fuU3jWEhncTxlAXQhgcfeQnhyXOfTOjdAKafY6ZoNmQ6PO03ix7qdooQGwrB2QReboelgG5vPpwyhb6lIBZpzzLY5RlDSqVPpOiQlkI7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andy Jewel told the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee that workforce housing should be targeted to the specific needs of regional employers and that water and wastewater investment is a key constraint in rural housing development.

“Housing that we develop meets the gaps that we have in our workforce,” Jewel said, describing employers that need specific roles such as forklift drivers or engineers and the importance of housing suitable for those workers. He said water and wastewater projects are “a really slow process” in rural areas because municipalities often lack capacity and projects need significant predevelopment work.

Jewel discussed Act 181, which created temporary exemptions from Act 250 in some villages and downtown districts and established a tiered long‑term approach. He said the tier structure and proximity rules (for example, a question about an 850‑foot threshold) will be important as the state finalizes long‑term rules and implementation (Jewel noted the Act’s long‑range build‑out timeline through about 2027).

Committee members raised current‑use penalties and the complexity of allowing limited development on lands enrolled in current use. Jewel said the penalties for removing land from current use can be significant and gave an example of a childcare facility that faced large costs to remove property from current use when donated by a farmer.

On brownfields and predevelopment, Jewel said contamination frequently halts otherwise funded projects and cited local examples where remediation needs stopped projects from proceeding. He urged more brownfields money at the state level to complement federal programs and to allow municipalities and RDCs to move projects to shovel‑ready status.

Jewel also said RDCs have been discussing creative housing approaches with municipalities, including master‑lease models where a building is constructed and a business operates a master lease and rents units to its employees at below‑market rates. He recommended support for measures that reduce barriers to housing development in rural regions.","Andy Jewel told lawmakers that housing aligned to workforce needs, water and wastewater investments in rural areas, and continued refinement of Act 181 provisions are priorities for RDCs this session.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6383762,"RDCs push for continued rural industrial development and brownfields funding",1142,2218000,3360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0&start=2218&end=3360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0/thumbnail_2218000.jpg","/articles/6383762/Vermont/RDCs-push-for-continued-rural-industrial-development-and-brownfields-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383762-9935e028a9f15a31df6408ad7c3cdfc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152802&Signature=IgGn7LBTxMRtumwZM38838zibAj-uWk8pYHsXCM2wCfCxIZrJkCOKdPSDAZ7eQCRnMp8oheK2wUkZl8y7jQLhuPIZ0RY6ePolcLzTaS1Qfbl380uKgBELujoycbTDlhS6RYAx-vjP2iWwfMAh3UGpL4LsIcMi4163OZDvUyfj6uu7AgyEp8YQZh3jeQGS-ynf2vnj7sQlHJtz1Ve3Dhh0QL3ilyPpUTHJPxglhsqhskbNklz7Q61PDUo0ngILTNH9wSglZmu0G9wwIcvNatPcdjg7~3o5FUi-t8sasmRBqBm55QpgmiNHMwDuhU9grIM0eoxWN5iyRt5IHH~~dMszA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andy Jewel told the committee that sites suitable for industrial and commercial development are limited in Vermont because properties must meet many criteria—flat land, water and wastewater access, transportation and electrical infrastructure—and that the state’s rural industrial development pilot (referred to by Jewel as RIDDIP) helped secure and predevelop land for business use.

Jewel said the program funded a small number of awards in the most recent round and that the RDCs would like to see it continued with additional funding. He described the program as allowing RDCs to acquire or predevelop property, clean or pre‑permit it as appropriate, and then sell or transfer the land to a business buyer and return proceeds to a revolving fund.

On brownfields, Jewel said many village commercial parcels are contaminated because of historic practices and that public projects often stop when remediation is required. He offered examples in his region—Yellow Barn Project in Greensboro Bend and South View Meeting House—where remediation needs stalled otherwise funded projects. Jewel said federal EDA brownfield dollars have been an important source but are “drying up,” and he recommended more state brownfield funds (he suggested an additional $5 million) to keep projects moving.

Jewel and committee members discussed municipal ownership models: RDCs sometimes take temporary ownership of parcels to perform remediation and then transfer cleaned properties to developers, which can ease the administrative burden on municipalities. Committee members asked whether the recent RIDDIP awards had progressed; Jewel said the program had four awards made recently but projects had not reached disposition yet.

Jewel recommended preserving funding for property acquisition and predevelopment and exploring tax exemptions or other incentives to facilitate transfers to developers after remediation.","The Regional Development Corporations asked lawmakers to continue and expand a recently funded rural industrial development program and to increase state brownfields remediation dollars, saying suitable industrial/commercial sites are scarce and remediation gaps stall projects.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6383767,"RDCs outline plan to administer federal CDBG disaster funds for flood economic injury",111,3157000,3268000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0&start=3157&end=3268","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0/thumbnail_3157000.jpg","/articles/6383767/Vermont/RDCs-outline-plan-to-administer-federal-CDBG-disaster-funds-for-flood-economic-injury","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383767-11519df84738f1e820af60552458bb49/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152802&Signature=Kd8cD0eit0xuEvKmhW2Nhm4jl6owz-E~LjNbfSz~PAxUde6qIxNzbBxRZx2RosEm8C~AvX-9ItG1nXW3nXbzraztobd5Q6-pfa8QFMdwYpGGj6F6Ev7IfEUONV4~dWUFvLfWvMMe3SSNKGa3iiD-dkoErGKYbUiBwXsV~yD3knfs3PCDMPG2Y8d8vOnOqUS2qdF19VjKZWqfAW5yfOoUth-7F0nW4ytrawIicNOdcjQLhpcix-3~RJzCwmh3tChmE3SXdeQPkkYDWBhJH465K6jKJK~sQeJur2vAMTZ4PzuFGGupUJ1ZDYy2ofIehqHAtw2S0vSBMRoyULm6IMdPJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andy Jewel told the committee that Senator Peter Welch had secured a federal disaster supplemental—about $66 million—to Vermont for disaster relief tied to the 2023–24 flooding events. Jewel said the funds are available through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster relief program and that RDCs would administer a program to address economic injury to businesses.

Jewel explained the difference between physical damage and economic injury: the Business Emergency Gap Assistance (BGAP) program covered physical damage to inventory and equipment after the floods, while lost revenue tied to temporary shutdowns or supply disruptions (which Jewel called “economic harm”) was not covered in prior rounds. He said RDCs plan to stand up an economic‑injury grant program similar to the 2016 CDBG disaster recovery program administered after Tropical Storm Irene and that the RDC network would manage the federal funds and program administration.

Jewel said the planned program would be federally funded and that RDCs were not asking for state dollars to run it, but he asked the committee to be aware of the effort and to coordinate where appropriate. He also noted that agricultural businesses would be eligible under the planned program.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about scope and timing; Jewel confirmed the funds are for the 2023–24 flood events and that RDCs would manage administration and grants distribution if the program moves forward.

Jewel framed the proposed program as complementary to prior BGAP awards and as focused on helping businesses recover lost revenue and regain operations after flood events.","Andy Jewel told the committee Senator Welch secured a roughly $66 million federal supplemental for disaster relief; RDCs would administer CDBG disaster relief funds to address business economic injury from 2023–24 floods without requesting state funds.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6383772,"RDCs urge state to revive small‑business technical assistance grant after high demand",1042,1877000,2919000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0&start=1877&end=2919","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2123782-d868bb3e1a1083e5f1cfb7f468fa8cc0/thumbnail_1877000.jpg","/articles/6383772/Vermont/RDCs-urge-state-to-revive-smallbusiness-technical-assistance-grant-after-high-demand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383772-8c8eeecbbeb43e7dfc8023787874dcd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152802&Signature=fvqyJAFYIUezrMMRekQs9IPUzqlyupKwG7Cc1NS3RFFJIrobuCa5iChL2y1b30H-xYuzBftqkMFwkEzFlSiY93fJHqBW-J-Hle4m8L5LL5HRucdZXovxK7h3AswNhRrcv3gW~U1HviblVu9kmQC3q2dYnIHagAep4Oxw1aneiWOyVE9f3fEc5GuUcUz8Rva7IIImc4vJbA2qAx3jIfgSxz~PP10-~GFSxCDQ4dl0pMrlk0uJK0-3e~Y9PTC2E9~sQKRPgTiOP~GxhXt0LyHCyBebcch8Zt1AJ-i8KuUW9YLIS-4t0JAjBQDEXqpW7XIcdXHeT9cd1Idiqr-IenYmhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andy Jewel, president of the Regional Development Corporations of Vermont, told the committee that a recent statewide small‑business technical assistance program administered by RDCs funded 209 projects and left roughly 300 applicants on a waitlist.

Jewel said the program distributed about $1.25 million in the last round and that average awards were small—designed to pay Vermont vendors to provide technical services such as websites, marketing and inventory management. “The average award was $3,463,” he said in describing the program’s typical grant size and purpose. He said the program allowed RDCs to “connect [businesses] with a web developer” and pay for the vendor to deliver the work, which often kept small firms in business or allowed them to grow.

The program included an intake and a vendor vetting process; RDCs required scopes of work and post‑project evaluations and removed underperforming vendors from the vendor list. Jewel said the RDCs maintain vendor registries and that the administration and application infrastructure already exists, which would allow the program to restart quickly if funded.

Committee members asked for performance metrics: completion rates, deliverables and vendor vetting. Jewel said RDCs maintain spreadsheets and success‑story booklets and can provide outcome data electronically to the committee, and that a data lead (Melissa Bowney) coordinated program metrics.

Jewel said the program prioritized certain groups at the direction of the state—BIPOC business owners, people with criminal-justice histories, rural enterprises, women and “mature Vermonters”—and recommended the committee consider restoring funding to meet persistent demand.

Committee members asked how applicants were prioritized and how RDCs ensure vendors complete work; Jewel described intake, scopes of work, end‑of‑project evaluations and vendor removal as controls the RDCs use.

Jewel said the program gave RDCs a “foot in the door” with small businesses that otherwise struggle to meet the requirements of larger incentive programs, and that restarting the program would help the RDC network better serve vulnerable and undercapitalized businesses.","Regional Development Corporations told the committee a prior small‑business technical assistance program funded 209 projects statewide and left roughly 300 applicants waitlisted; RDC leaders requested the program be reconsidered for funding this session.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Regional development corporations describe roles, state contracts and reporting requirements

RDCs emphasize workforce housing, water/wastewater and Act 181 implications

RDCs push for continued rural industrial development and brownfields funding

RDCs outline plan to administer federal CDBG disaster funds for flood economic injury

RDCs urge state to revive small‑business technical assistance grant after high demand