Businesses and professionals, families and business owners, all choose their location based upon modern conveniences and their ability to thrive. Clean water, working bridges, safe roads, and access to the internet are huge factors in sustaining Vermonters now and in supporting new Vermonters in the future.
The key to keeping Vermont's economy sustainable is to help keep our young people in Vermont, to invite young professionals and business owners to our communities, and to support working families. How does this help? People in their 20s and 30s typically use fewer services than older Vermonters. They reside, work, and recreate in their communities --helping to shoulder the town's tax burden. Young people are innovators, contributors, and supporters. They form new businesses, join civic groups, buy houses, start families.
How can we invite young people to be Vermonters? By investing in the infrastructure they need for 21st century jobs. Cell service, high speed internet and reliable roads aren't modern day luxuries, the are necessary to innovation and town infrastructure.
Utilities and infrastructure in many of Vermont's small towns can't support modern lives and utility contracts made in Montpelier don't always reflect the best needs of rural residents. Modernizing our infrastructure will keep older Vermonters in their homes longer while encouraging new innovators to become a part of our towns. That's a recipe for reliable economic growth.
With this campaign, my goals are protecting small farms and businesses, supporting sustainable and responsible growth, and investing in Vermont's robust schools. By focusing on these three priorities, we will be able to retain our responsible and engaged young people while also attracting a new vibrant labor pool during the current urban flight from big cities. By bringing environmentally minded and creative thinkers to Vermont, we will expand our tax base and bolster our economy. These issues are all different sides of the same cube.