Executive Order No. 3-44

(No. 03-03)

[Governor's Jobs Cabinet]

WHEREAS, Vermont's economy must be able to thrive amid ever-increasing competition on the regional, national, and international levels; and

WHEREAS, Vermont's economy faces competition from larger, more diverse economies; and

WHEREAS, Vermonters are deeply concerned about good paying job opportunities; and

WHEREAS, State government must work aggressively to retain jobs and pursue job creation opportunities consistent with Vermont values; and

WHEREAS, a good job advances self-sufficiency, independence, dignity, opportunity and the quality of life in our State; and

WHEREAS, State government must work in tandem with the private sector to achieve an economic environment conducive to job creation.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, James H. Douglas, by virtue of the power vested in me as Governor of the State of Vermont, do hereby establish the Governor's Jobs Cabinet:

The Jobs Cabinet shall consist of representatives from State agencies and departments and shall include representatives from outside state government. The State members shall include the Development Cabinet and the Commissioners of the Departments of Labor and Industry, Employment and Training, and Public Service; the Manager of the Vermont Economic Development Authority; the Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges or his or her designee; and the President of the University of Vermont or his or her designee. There shall be thirteen non-State members appointed by the Governor to serve for terms of three years. The initial appointments of the non-State members shall include four one-year terms, four two-year terms and five three-year terms. The Governor shall appoint the Chair. The Jobs Cabinet may, at its discretion, establish inter-agency work groups to support its mission, drawing membership from any agency or department of state government.

Administrative support to the Cabinet shall be provided by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Public members may receive reimbursement of expenses in attending Cabinet meetings and may receive a per diem pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 1010. The Jobs Cabinet shall meet at the call of the Chair to carry out the following responsibilities:

1) Work collaboratively to identify and meet the needs of job generators and remove impediments to job growth whenever practicable.

2) Open dialogue and establish strategic partnerships among government and key organizations to achieve the goal of greater job creation. The Jobs Cabinet and individual state agencies may refer specific job development projects that present complex and unique issues or require interagency coordination among state agencies and departments to the Chair. The Chair may establish a working group consisting of the State members for review and development of a plan to coordinate the state agencies involved and resolve interagency conflicts, if any, to insure a coordinated and common sense approach.

3) Maintain an ongoing review of the state's permitting processes and make recommendations that will assist business and housing to grow responsibly within a regulatory scheme that is fair, predictable, expedient, and cost-conscious. The Chair, in his or her sole discretion, may refer any proposed project that will create additional jobs through expansion or location in Vermont to a working group consisting of State members for review. The working group may, to the extent practicable and according to applicable laws, identify those aspects of the project where assistance in coordinating interagency communication, permitting or regulatory processes would assist review of the project in an efficient, reasonable and timely fashion. The Chair, in his or her sole discretion, may refer a job development project to the Jobs Cabinet that has failed or chosen not to expand or locate in Vermont for review and identification of factors, including but not limited to, infrastructure needs, state workforce deficiencies, and regulatory requirements, that contributed to the decision not to expand or locate in Vermont. The working group shall report to the full Jobs Cabinet a summary of the projects it has considered and the factors identified as significant to the decision.

4) Remove barriers to and develop incentives for critical infrastructure investment in the State that is conducive to job creation such as broadband, wireless and power.

5) Facilitate small business advocacy forums in each region of the state to create an inventory of the needs of small business, including but not limited to government assistance.

6) Research programs in other states, particularly competitors in the Northeast, to identify Vermont's opportunities and weaknesses relative to those states, recommend where Vermont should focus its efforts, and develop strategies to improve Vermont's competitive position in those areas.

7) Research and closely monitor national and international business trends to help Vermont's economic development strategy stay ahead of its competitors. Identify emerging markets or potential growth areas such as exporting, technology, biotech, and engineering and design appropriate recruiting strategies for those industry sectors.

8) Proactively seek to retain existing Vermont businesses and encourage job growth by developing networks for marketing and purchasing while creating links to other businesses for service and collaborative action.

9) Create and support a culture of entrepreneurship where new enterprise and innovation, especially within the high-tech industry, require private capital to grow and thrive.

10) Continuously seek ways to capitalize on Vermont's key natural resources such as granite, wood, marble and agriculture with substantial consideration to value added products.

11) Encourage the creation, rehabilitation, and preservation of housing that is affordable to working Vermonters.

12) Encourage the reuse of buildings, manufacturing facilities and other infrastructure in our traditional downtown areas.

13) Assure that the State's efforts, and those of this Jobs Cabinet, to maintain and create new jobs recognize the importance of assuring Vermont's environmental heritage and ethic, and that the quality of our environment will support the goals of the Jobs Cabinet, and that a strengthened economy will benefit the State's ability to protect the environment.

14) Advise the Governor on the effectiveness of this Order on job creation and retention in Vermont.

This Executive Order shall take effect upon execution.

Executive Order 01-00 is hereby revoked and rescinded.

Dated April 11, 2003.