Montpelier, Vt. – The Regional Development Corporations (RDCs) of Vermont, in partnership with the Department of Labor (VDOL) and the Vermont State Workforce Development Board (SWDB), have announced the dates for 12 regional workforce development summits, which they will host this fall to support state efforts to increase the size and skill of Vermont’s workforce.
“Tackling Vermont’s workforce shortage has been a top priority of my administration since day one, with initiatives to recruit, retain, train and retrain more Vermont workers,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I’m pleased to see employers, service providers and stakeholders from all sectors coming together to develop regional solutions to workforce development that will better serve all Vermonters.”
A robust, skilled workforce that is large enough to supply the increasing needs of Vermont employers is critical to the state’s ability to meet its obligations and provide a desirable quality of life for all Vermonters. Building upon recent collaborations among the RDCs, employers, educators, state agencies and service providers, the summits will provide actionable solutions for employers and stimulate better coordination and partnership across these stakeholders.
"The regional summits taking place this fall will help expand and strengthen Vermont's workforce,” said Adam Grinold, president of the RDCs of Vermont and chair of the SWDB. “Workforce needs are driven by local demand we must continue down the path of coordinated efforts across agencies, sectors and industries to connect employer needs with statewide resources, helping grow opportunities for all Vermonters."
The summits will follow the same agenda in each region to meet consistent objectives while encouraging discussion and solutions that meet regional needs. Summit outcomes will be used by each region and the state to strengthen local and statewide workforce development systems, to inform a 2020 statewide workforce summit hosted by VDOL and by the SWDB as it prepares its 2020 Workforce Strategy. The first of the summits will take place on October 3 in Brattleboro.
Regional Workforce Summit Schedule:
Date Region Summit Location
October 3 Windham SIT Graduate Institute, Brattleboro
October 7 Newport North Country Career Center, Newport
October 15 Chittenden County Delta Hotel, Burlington
October 18 St. Johnsbury Northern Vermont University-Lyndon Campus, Lyndonville
October 22 St. Albans St. Albans Museum, St. Albans
October 24 Bennington Bennington Museum, Bennington
November 6 Central Vermont Sugarbush Resort, Warren
November 13 Addison County Middlebury College, Middlebury
November 14 Lamoille County Green Mountain Tech & Career Center, Hyde Park
November 19 Upper Valley Vermont Technical College, Randolph
November 20 Springfield River Valley Technical Center, Springfield
November 21 Rutland Castleton University, Castleton
For more information, please visit www.vermontworkforce.com.