Millcore Foundation promotes education initiatives to close opportunity gaps in Vermont

The Vermont Senate Economic Development meeting on March 27, 2025, featured a significant discussion on enhancing post-secondary education access for young Vermonters. Representatives from the Millcore Foundation highlighted their 30-year partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation, emphasizing their commitment to closing opportunity gaps and strengthening rural communities.

The foundation's work over the past 15 years has focused on understanding what it takes to instill hope in young people regarding their futures in Vermont. They have collaborated with initiatives like Advanced Vermont and My FutureVT, which provide valuable data and platforms to support educational and career pathways.

A key point raised was Vermont's historically low college continuation rates compared to other New England states. The Millcore Foundation has funded various public-private partnerships aimed at addressing this issue. Notable achievements include the establishment of incarcerated education programs, which have led to federal funding that now offers free community college courses and advising for both incarcerated individuals and correctional officers.

Additionally, the foundation has contributed to the development of the bridal occupations framework, supported by the committee, and has worked across bipartisan administrations to produce the "Most Promising Jobs" report. This report aims to inspire young people and job seekers by highlighting available job opportunities and directing them to useful digital resources.

The discussions underscored the importance of collaboration and innovative solutions in improving educational outcomes and workforce readiness in Vermont. As the meeting concluded, the foundation's representatives expressed their commitment to continuing these efforts to foster a brighter future for the state's youth.