YCQM - Paul Costello - Jan. 22, 2012 - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
Member Center:
January 22, 2012 -- Paul Costello of the Vt. Council on Rural Development and Rep. Will Stevens, I-Shoreham, join Darren Perron and Keith McGilvery to discuss Vermont's working landscape.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I'M DARREN PERRON.
>> AND I'M KEITH McGILVERY.
OUR FOCUS IS ON VERMONT'S
WORKING LANDSCAPE AND THE NEW
PUSH TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR
PEOPLE TO START FARMING AND
LOGGING.
>> OUR GUESTS ARE PAUL COSTELLO
AND REPRESENTATIVE WILL STEVENS,
AN INDEPENDENT FROM SHOREHAM.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US
THIS MORNING.
LET'S START RIGHT OFF WITH THIS
LEGISLATION UNDER CONSIDERATION
IN MONT BELL -- MONTPELIER.
REALLY IT'S A PUSH TO PRESERVE
AND FURTHER VERMONT'S WORKING
LANDSCAPE.
THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM.
WE'VE SEEN A THIRD OF VERMONT'S
FARMS GO UNDER IN THE PAST
DECADE.
WHY THIS MOVE NOW?
PAUL?
>> THE COUNCIL ON RURAL
DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN CONCERNED
ABOUT WORKING LANDSCAPE FOR OVER
TEN YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THE STEADY
LOSS OF DAIRY FARMS.
THE UNSEEN CHALLENGE TO THE
FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY.
MOST VERMONTERS DON'T KNOW THERE
IS A PARALLEL TREND LINE BETWEEN
DAIRY AND THE FOREST PRODUCT
LINE.
VERMONT HAS TO COMPETE ON A
COMMODITY ECONOMY INSTEAD OF
ADDING VALUE TO PRODUCTS WHEN WE
LOSE MILLS, WHEN WE LOSE DAIRY.
WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY
AROUND THE LANDSCAPE THAT
DEFINES VERMONT, AND FOR JOB
CREATION, FOR ATTRACTING
ENTREPRENEURS, FOR ADDING VALUE
THAT EXPANDS THE ECONOMY IN THE
MOST RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE,
AND WE'VE BEEN DEDICATED TO
ADVANCING THE RURAL LANDSCAPE
FOR YEARS NOW, AND THE BILL KIND
OF BRINGS IT ALL TO A POINT.
>> I COULD TALK A LOT MORE ABOUT
WHY WE'RE AT A TIPPING POINT,
BUT MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE.
>> SURE.
FOR ME, IT CREATES A FRAME FOR
ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE
OVER THE LAST 40+ YEARS IN THE
STATE SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE
AND, TO SOME EXTENT, FOREST
PRODUCTS, CERTAINLY IN THE LAND
USE ARENA.
BACK TO FARM TO PLAY.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT HAVE
TAKEN PLACE IN SUPPORT OF OUR
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, AND -- BUT
IT'S ALL BEEN DISCRETE.
WE HAVE A NEW FRAME TO BUNCH
THEM ALL IN AND SAY {OOPS} THIS
IS IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD, AS A
GOAL WE ARE UNITED TO SAY THAT
OUR AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
PRODUCTS SECTORS ARE SOMETHING
WORTH HAVING IN THE FUTURE,
LET'S GO.
>> WILL, YOU'RE REALLY ON THE
FRONT LINES OF THIS HERE IN
VERMONT.
WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST NEEDS, DO
YOU THINK, AND HOW DOES THIS
LEGISLATION TACKLE THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK, IN A NUTSHELL,
I WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING WORTH
PASSING ON TO THE NEXT
GENERATION.
I'M A FIRST-GENERATION GROWER
MYSELF, WE RAISE VEGETABLES DOWN
IN SHOREHAM, AND I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY IN THE NEXT
GENERATION, ONCE I'M DONE.
AND, FRANKLY, I KEEP THINKING
ABOUT THE JONI MITCHELL SONG,
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT
'TIL IT'S GONE."
IF WE DON'T FOCUS ON THAT GOAL
OF SUCCESSION AND TRANSFERRING
SOMETHING VIABLE IN TERMS OF OUR
BASE, ONE DAY WE'RE GOING TO
WAKE UP AND SAY, "WHAT
HAPPENED?"
>> SUPPORTERS OF THIS
LEGISLATION SAY THIS COULD MAKE
VERMONT A FOOD SYSTEMS LEADER,
BUT FOR FOLKS AT HOME, WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN FOR YOU GUYS AND FOR
OUR STATE, "FOOD SYSTEMS
LEADER"?
>> IN MY OVERSIMPLIFIED
ANALYSIS, WE HAVE THE COMMODITY
FORM, WHICH IS BASICALLY DAIRY,
APPLES TO SOME EXTENT, MAPLE,
AND THEN RELATIONSHIP-BASED
AGRICULTURE.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
EXCITEMENT IN THE LAST TEN YEARS
OR SO AROUND THE
RELATIONSHIP-BASED PIECE, WHICH
IS ONE OF THE SIGNATURES OF THAT
IS THE FACT THAT THE END USER
AND THE PRODUCER HAVE A VERY
SHORT LINK.
THE CONSUMER BUYS DIRECTLY FROM
THE FARMER, TYPICALLY.
THE PRODUCER IS ALSO A
PRICE-SETTER.
IN THE COMMODITY WORLD, THERE IS
A VERY LONG LINK BETWEEN THE END
USER AND THE PRODUCER, AND THE
PRICETAKERS, MOST OFTEN.
SO FOR ME, VERMONT'S FOOD SYSTEM
HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRADE ON
OUR RELATIONSHIP-BASED
EXCITEMENT, WITH FARMERS MARKETS
AND THE FOOD HUBS, AND ALSO OUR
BRAND AND IMAGE, WHICH AS THE
GOVERNOR HAS SAID OFTEN, PUTS US
WITHIN 200 MILES OR SEVERAL
HOURS' DRIVE OF 80 MILLION
PEOPLE.
>> THE OTHER SIDE IS WE LEAD THE
STATISTICALLY IN A NUMBER OF
YEARS.
VERMONT IS NO. 1 PER CAPITA IN
THE FARMERS MARKETS, DIRECT
SALES OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS,
AND CSA DEVELOPMENT -- COMMUNITY
SUPPORTED AGRICULTURAL
PROCESSES.
WAY AHEAD OF OTHER STATES.
STATES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE
IDEA OF THE FOODS MOVEMENT, AND
VERMONT IS STATISTICALLY WAY
AHEAD.
IN WYOMING THEY HAVE ONLY ONE
CSA.
THAT SO, FIVE YEARS AGO IN
HARDWICK, A GROUP OF
ENTREPRENEURS CAME TOGETHER AS
INCENTIVE, AND SAID WE'RE THE
CENTER OF VERMONT'S AGRICULTURAL
RENAISSANCE.
THEY DIDN'T ASK PERMISSION.
BUT WE ALL LOOK FOR LEADERSHIP,
AND YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE MOVED TO
HARDWICK.
A LOT OF ADDITIONAL
ENTREPRENEURS HAVE DEVELOPED NEW
BUSINESSES.
THERE ARE 20 NEW DOWNTOWN
BUSINESSES IN HARDWICK IN THE
PAST YEAR.
THESE ARE NOT ALL
AGRICULTURALISTS, BUT HARDWICK
IS COOL, IT'S THE CENTER OF
INNOVATION, PEOPLE ARE WORKING
TOGETHER, AND THERE IS A
TREMENDOUS SENSE OF OPTIMISM.
AS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SPECIALIST AND SOMEONE WHO CARES
ABOUT RURAL COMMUNITIES, THEY'VE
TAKEN IT INTO THEIR POWER TO
TAKE LEADERSHIP, PULL TOGETHER,
AND STAND FOR SOMETHING.
WE BELIEVE VERMONTERS ARE READY
TO DO A SIMILAR THING, IN THAT
VERMONT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE A DECLARATION LIKE THAT.
AND YOU THINK ABOUT MIDWEST
WHERE AGRICULTURE DOESN'T NEED
THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT
IT USED TO, WHERE DOWNTOWNS ARE
EMPTYING OUT AND YOUNG PEOPLE
ARE NO LONGER CHOOSING TO LIVE.
YOU THINK ABOUT VERMONT'S
CHALLENGE WITH DEMOGRAPHICS.
TODAY RURAL VERMONT IS STILL
COOL, STILL VITAL, STILL MAKING
PROGRESS.
BUT WE COULD END UP LIKE MANY
PLACES IN THE MIDWEST AND FAR
WEST WHERE TOWNS HAVE EMPTIED
OUT AND HAVE EMPTY GLASS
STOREFRONTS.
PEOPLE ARE MOVING FROM THOSE
PLACES, LOOKING FOR A POINT OF
LEADERSHIP.
VERMONT COULD RAISE THE FLAG AND
SAY "WE'RE GOING TO BE THE
CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURISM.
WE WELCOME A NEW GENERATION OF
PEOPLE TO THE LAND.
THIS IS WHERE IT'S HAPPENING,
COME TO VERMONT, AND WE'RE GOING
TO HELP YOU SUCCEED."
>> A FEW YEARS AGO THERE WAS A
COMMISSION STUDY THAT SHOWED
THAT THE AVERAGE VERMONT DAIRY
FARMER WAS ABOUT 60 YEARS OLD.
>> RIGHT.
>> HOW DO WE STEM THAT TIDE?
HOW DO WE TURN THAT AROUND?
WHAT DO WE DO TO KEEP YOUNG
PEOPLE HERE, TO ATTRACT YOUNG
PEOPLE?
WHAT DOES THIS NEW LEGISLATION
DO?
>> WELL, TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST
QUESTION, I THINK PRODUCERS ARE
VERY CLEVER.
THEY'RE ENTREPRENEURIAL BY
NATURE, AND THEY'RE
OPPORTUNISTIC.
I THINK IF MARKETS EXIST,
THEY'LL FIND WAYS TO FILL THE
MARKETS.
SO THE SHORT ANSWER TO "WHAT DO
WE DO ABOUT FOLKS INTERESTED IN
MAKING A LIVING IN AGRICULTURE"
IS "MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO
MAKE A LIVING" OR FOR
AGRICULTURE TO BE PROFITABLE FOR
THEM.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS -- THIS IS
ESSENTIALLY AN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT BILL.
IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
AGRICULTURAL -- AND I HAVE TO
REMEMBER TO SAY FOREST PRODUCTS,
BECAUSE THAT'S THE OTHER
IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS BILL --
AG AND FOREST-PRODUCTS FOLKS TO
HAVE ACCESS TO VARIETY OF
FINANCIAL RESOURCES, REGULATORY
ADVICE, AND THE WRAPAROUND
SERVICE FOR WHEN IT COMES TO
DEVELOPING YOUR BUSINESS AND,
YOU KNOW, MOVING YOUR BUSINESS
FORWARD.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS
THAT COME UP: WHAT SHOULD I DO?
WHO DO I CALL?
WHERE DO I GO?
THERE SEAMS TO BE A DEARTH IN
THAT.
THIS BILL WILL HELP AADDRESS
THAT TO SOME EXTENT AS WELL.
>> LET ME GIVE YOU IN A NUTSHELL
WHAT THE BILL PROPOSES: IT
BUILDS A MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR
VERMONT THAT MAKES THAT
LEADERSHIP DECLARATION AND LOOKS
TO ATTRACT A GENERATION OF
ENTREPRENEURS TO THE LAND, FARM
AND FOREST, AND ALSO BOOSTS
VERMONT'S BRAND AND MARKET FOR
VERMONT PRODUCTS.
IT ESTABLISHES A FUND THAT WOULD
SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURIAL
SERVICES, IN WRAPAROUND SERVICES
TO SUPPORT POTENTIAL HIGH-GROWTH
ENTERPRISES.
>> $3 MILLION?
>> IT'S ALL PART OF IT.
WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE
LOCAL-FOODS MOVEMENT; WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE RANGE OF
AGRICULTURE, FROM VALUE-ADDED
ICE CREAM MANUFACTURERS, AND WE
WANT TO FIND AND SUPPORT THE
NEXT BEN & JERRY'S AND LET THEM
GO TO SCALE IN VERMONT.
NOW THE CHEESE CAVES UP IN
JASPER HILL IN GREENSBORO --
WHAT'S SO COOL IS THE YOUNG
FARMERS HAD A HUNDRED-COW DAIRY
FARM, AND THEY SAID WE WANT TO
MAKE AND STORE LOCAL CHEESE, BUT
LET'S THINK BIGGER, LET'S BUILD
AN ECONOMIC CLUSTER, LET'S BUILD
THESE CAVES AT SCALE AND TEACH
OUR NEIGHBORS HOW TO MAKE
CHEESE, SO THEY'RE GOING FROM
PARTICIPATING IN THE COMMODITY
ECONOMY TO CAPTURING HIGH-END
DOLLARS, BUILDING JOBS IF THAT
RANGE, SO REALLY LEVERAGE THE
ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF THEIR
COMMUNITY, AND MEANWHILE THEY'RE
BUILDING, THEY'RE DISTRIBUTING
TOGETHER, MARKETING TOGETHER,
BRANDING TOGETHER, AND
ULTIMATELY, WE WOULD LOVE TO
SELL CHEESE TO THE FRENCH WITH A
SPECIALTY LIKE CAMEMBERT.
WHY NOT?
WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD INVEST IN
PRIVATE-SECTOR LEADERSHIP, IN
SLAUGHTERHOUSES, MILK BOTTLING.
LET'S ENCOURAGE LEADERSHIP TO
TAKE THE NEXT STEP, AND ANCHOR
BUSINESSES THAT CAN SUPPORT
THEIR NEIGHBORS AND HELP OTHER
PEOPLE SUCCEED.
>> WE NEED A NEW DESIGNATION, A
WORKING-LANDS DESIGNATION, THAT
LOOKS AT PARTICULARLY VALUABLE
ENTERPRISE LANDS, LANDS WITH
FOUNDATIONS FOR BUSINESSES AND
JOB CREATION IN RURAL VERMONT
THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL
ECONOMY.
I MEAN, WE BELIEVE THAT THE
WORKING LANDSCAPE IS SORT OF OUR
FOUNDATION FOR OUR CHARACTER AND
OUR CULTURE, AND THAT THESE
PARTICULAR LANDS ARE INCREDIBLY
VALUABLE FOR EVERYTHING FROM
SCENIC TO ECOLOGICAL SERVICES,
CLEAN AIR AND WATER, TO
RECREATION.
AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOME
INCENTIVES THERE SO THAT THESE
PARTICULAR LANDS WOULD HAVE
EASIER ACCESS TO FUNDING FOR
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
THEY MIGHT GET CAPITAL GAINS TAX
BREAKS FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE
FOREST HARVESTING, OR THE SALE
OF COWS, OR THE TRANSFER OF
SKITTERS AND TRACTORS {OOPS} SO
THOSE CAN BE SOLD MORE CHEAPLY
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION COMING
IN.
AND FINALLY, WE THINK THE STATE
HAS TO HAVE A MORE SYSTEMATIC
PLANNING CONVERSATION, THAT
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A PLANNING LAW
BASED ON ACT 200 THAT DESIGNS A
T, AND THE T IS LOCAL AND
REGIONAL PLANNING THAT SHOULD BE
COMMUNICATING WITH THE STATE,
AND THEN AGENCY PLANS.
WHEN IT WAS DESIGNED AS A
PLANNING COORDINATION
CENTERPOINT.
TO DAY WE HAVE THAT STRUCTURE
WITHOUT A CROSSING POINT, AND WE
HAVE THE IDEA OF A DEVELOPMENT
CABINET THAT LOOKS TO THE
FUTURE.
WHAT'S VERMONT'S GREEN ECONOMY
GOING TO LOOK LIKE?
HOW DO WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF
AGRICULTURE AND FOREST PRODUCTS?
WE BELIEVE THAT CABINET IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO VERMONT'S FUTURE,
THAT WE NEED A MORE SYSTEMATIC
PLANNING PROCESS, NOT TOP DOWN
BUT TO BUILD COMMUNICATIONS AND
HELP PEOPLE WORK IN A COMMON
SENSE OF DIRECTION.
THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ALL
ABOUT.
SO WE NEED THAT.
AND IT SHOULD BE STAFFED.
SO WE THINK THAT THIS
COORDINATED OFFICE FOR PLANNING
CAN UNIFY STATE AGENCY PLANNING,
CAN CONNECT TOWNS AND REGIONS TO
THAT PLANNING SO THERE IS
COMMUNICATION, NOT TOP DOWN BUT
A LINE OF COMMUNICATION THAT
EMPOWERS THE SYSTEM THAT MAKES
IT MORE MEANINGFUL FOR EVERYONE,
IN LINE WITH VERMONT'S LONG-TERM
LAND-USE GOALS.
>> AND POSSIBLY, THE ONE YOU
WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, YOU TWO
SHARE A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF
OPTIMISM ABOUT WHAT'S COMING OUT
OF MONTPELIER, BUT HOW DO YOU
MAKE SURE THAT ORDINARY FOLKS
ARE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION
AND CAN BUY INTO WHAT YOU'RE
TRYING TO DO?
>> HMM.
WELL, I THINK THERE'S ALREADY A
BASE WE CAN BUILD ON RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE -- EFFORTS LIKE THE UNIBELL
FOUNDATION AND RAFFIN AND
ROLLIN, CERTAINLY THE FARM TO
PLATE REPORT THAT THE
SUSTAINABLE JOBS REPORT PUT OUT
SHOWED TREMENDOUS OPTIMISM, AND
IN SOME WAYS, {OOPS} MAYBE
CHURNED THE WATERS A LITTLE BIT,
OF INTEREST.
THEY INTERVIEWED THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE
LEADUP TO THE REPORT.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE READY, AND
OUTREACH WOULD BE ONE OF THE
THINGS, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF MY
JOBS, TO JUST HELP GET THE WORD
OUT.
FACT IS, I THINK UNDER THE
GOLDEN DOME IN THE STATEHOUSE, I
THINK THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST
IN THIS.
{OOPS} EVERYBODY HAS TO EAT,
EVERYBODY HAS TO LIVE UNDER SOME
SORT OF SHELTER, AND BOTH AG AND
FOREST PRODUCTS CAN PLAY A ROLE
IN THIS.
IT'S AS MUCH OUR JOB TO GET THE
WORD OUT AS ANYBODY ELSE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS, UNDER
THE GOLDEN DOME, $3 MILLION IS
SET ASIDE FOR GRANTS OR LOANS,
POTENTIALLY UP TO 15 MILLION.
HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT?
>> THAT IS THE QUESTION, AND THE
HOUSE AG COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON
THAT.
THIS WILL BE -- I HAVE NO FIRM
PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW.
OF COURSE, IN OUR HEART OF
HEARTS, WE'RE HOPING TO HEAR
MENTION OF IT IN THE BUDGET FROM
THE GOVERNOR.
WE DIDN'T HEAR IT.
THAT'S OKAY.
THAT MEANS OUR WORK IS CUT OUT
FOR US.
IT WOULD BE PREMATURE FOR ME TO
SAY ANYTHING SPECIFIC BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC IDEAS
YET.
I THINK WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW
IN COMMITTEE IS IN THE PROCESS
OF KIND OF REVIEWING THE BILL,
IN A SENSE DECONSTRUCTING THE
BILL TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S
PRACTICAL, WHAT CAN WORK.
IT'S A HIGHLY ASPIRATIONAL BILL.
PART OF COMMUNITY PROCESS IS TO
CHUNK THAT DOWN INTO WHAT'S
DOABLE.
LET'S NOT SELL A FALSE SENSE OF
HOPE.
AND SO -- SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH
THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
YET AS WE DO THAT, WE OBVIOUSLY
HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON HOW WE'RE
GOING TO PAY FOR THAT.
THAT'S PART OF THE NEGOTIATION.
>> THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID NO
BROAD-BASED TAXES.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY KIND OF
FEE, ANY KIND OF TAX TO PAY FOR
THIS?
>> WE ARE A POLICY COMMITTEE,
THE HOUSE AG COMMITTEE.
CERTAINLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT --
, CAROLYN BRANIGAN IS ON THE WAYS
AND MEANS, AND WE'LL BE {OOPS}
WORKING WITH WAYS AND MEANS AND
APPROPRIATIONS TO SEE WHAT WE
CAN WORK OUT.
>> WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK
TO PAY OUR BILLS HERE, AND WE'LL
BE RIGHT BACK IN JUST A MOMENT.
BRANNING AAN BRANAGAN
AGRICULTURE {OOPS} CAROLYN
BRANIGAN CAROLYN BRANAGAN.
>> WELCOME BACK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VERMONT'S
WORKING LANDSCAPE WITH PAUL
COSTELLO AND REPRESENTATIVE WILL
STEVENS.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS, LET'S
TALK ABOUT THE SUPPORT IN THE
STATEHOUSE.
IT APPEARS THAT THIS MEASURE IS
GETTING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
AND WE'VE HAD -- WE HAVE -- I'LL
CALL IT THE DRIP TEAM, DEMOCRAT,
REPUBLICAN, INDEPENDENT, AND
PROGRESSIVE, FOUR LEAD SPONSORS.
WE MADE A POINT OF KEEPING IT
THAT WAY TO SHOW MULTILATERAL
SUPPORT FOR IT, EVEN IN OUR
COMMITTEE THE CONVERSATION HAS
MOVED KIND OF BEYOND THE
TRADITIONAL "HOW ARE WE GOING TO
PAY FOR IT" TO "IF WE CAN'T GET
THE FULL THREE MILLION, IT'S A
CONVERSATION WORTH HAVING,"
WHICH HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTING.
>> DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY
CONTROVERSY?
BECAUSE LOGGING IS PART OF THIS.
IN YEARS PAST, WE HAVE SEEN SOME
ENVIRONMENTALISTS COME OUT
AGAINST THAT IDEA.
ARE YOU ANTICIPATING ANY
OPPOSITION?
>> WELL, WE'RE GETTING SOME
PUSHBACK FROM FOLKS WHO DON'T
SEE A ROLE FOR GOVERNMENT IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
WE'RE SEEING THAT.
I SUPPOSE THERE'S SOME OTHER
PREDICTABLE THINGS, BUT PEOPLE
ARE INTERESTED, IF ONLY BECAUSE
THEY'RE CURIOUS, BUT, NO, I
THINK IN GENERAL, PEOPLE REALIZE
THIS IS -- THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
THIS IS POTENTIALLY
TRANSFORMATIONAL, AND I THINK
THEY WANT TO BE ON BOARD.
AGAIN, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT
WORKS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, NONE OF US
WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK BACK 20 YEARS AND WISH THEY
COULD HAVE DONE MORE.
>> LET ME FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING
ABOUT LOGGING.
I GREW UP IN NORTHEAST KINGDOM,
I KNOW THERE ARE SAWMILLS THAT
HAVE GONE UNDER AS A RESULT OF
BASICALLY OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE
NORTH, CANADIAN SAWMILLS
SUBSIDIZED IN SOME FASHION.
HOW DO WE COMPETE WITH CANADA,
IN VERMONT?
>> GREAT QUESTION.
MAYBE PAUL'S GOT SOME INSIGHTS.
>> YOU CAN'T COMPETE IN THE
GLOBAL ECONOMY FOR THE BOTTOM OF
A COMMODITY MARKET.
AN INCREASING NUMBER OF VERMONT
LOGS ARE CUT AND SHIPPED FOR
PROCESSING OVER THE BORDER.
YOU THINK IN A HARD-MAPLE TRUNK
OF WOOD, THE GREATEST VALUE IS
YOU GO FROM THE STUMPAGE TO THE
MILLING TO THE MAKING OF A
HIGH-END BOWL AND FURNITURE AND
SO FORTH -- THE VALUE CHAIN IS
REALLY ON THE HIGHER END.
WE DON'T WANT TO SELL OUR LOGS
FOR PROCESSING IN CHINA AND
PURCHASE THEM BACK AT LOWE'S.
WE WANT TO KEEP THEM CLOSE, AND
CAPTURE AS MANY DOLLARS AS COME
BACK TO RURAL COMMUNITIES.
IT'S ABOUT JOBS AND RURAL
PROSPERITY IN VERMONT.
THE INTERESTING THING IS THE
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY, THE
DNRC IS A PARTNER OF OURS IN
PROMOTING THIS, OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE
VERY IN FAVOR OF IT.
I THINK THE ENVIRONMENTAL
MOVEMENT IN VERMONT IS AT A
POINT WHERE IT'S SAYING, YOU
KNOW, DO WE WANT TO STOP
LOGGING?
OF COURSE NOT.
WHAT IS IT WE STAND FOR?
AND THEY HAVE TO {SFOOND} A
GREEN ECONOMIC BASE FOR THE
FUTURE.
SO A LOT OF THEIR WORK, LIKE THE
WORK AT THE LAND TRUST, IS NOT
JUST PRESERVING AND PROTECTING
AND CONSERVING POCKETS OF
VERMONT FOR LONG TERM.
THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY, HOW DO WE
BUILD THE ECONOMY THAT'S GOING
TO HAVE THE GREEN RESULTS THAT
WE NEED FOR LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABILITY?
AND THAT CONVERSATION CONNECTS
DIRECTLY TO THE
ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT
CONVERSATION IN VERMONT.
SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
NEW ALLIANCES THAT FIT WITH A
REALLY DEEP TRADITION OF HOW WE
ARE AS A STATE.
SO IT'S EXCITING.
>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO CONTEST THE IDEA OF
KEEPING JOBS HERE IN VERMONT,
BUT HOW DO WE DO IT?
ARE THEY ALLIANCES OR CAN
MONTPELIER HELP?
>> I THINK THAT WHERE DOES THE
LEADERSHIP COME FROM?
THE LEADERSHIP COMES FROM THE
ENTREPRENEURS, THE BUSINESS
PEOPLE, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS, WE ALL HAVE TO SEE --
WILL'S FARM DOESN'T RUN BY
ITSELF.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR BACK TO
THE PLOW, AND YOU HAVE TO
ENCOURAGE RISK-TAKING AND
INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
INVESTING STATE RESOURCES, WE'RE
NOT TALKING ABOUT INVESTING IN
COMMODITY PRODUCTION, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT INVESTING IN
BUSINESS GROWTH, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT CREATIVE STRATEGIC
INVESTMENTS THAT HELP LEVER
IN{STRA} -- INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT'S GOING TO CREATE MORE
BUSINESS CREATION.
THAT'S WHERE IT'S DIFFERENT,
WHERE IT'S IN{SIS}IVE, AND THE
RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS GOING TO
BE OF TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO
VERMONT.
IT'S GOING TO FILL OUR TAX ROLLS
IN THE FUTURE.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT ONE OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTNERS WHO IS
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BILL PUT
BEFORE ME IS "WHAT HAPPENS TO
VERMONT IF WE DON'T DO THIS?"
WE'RE A NEUTRAL CONVENER OF
PUBLIC PROCESS.
WE DON'T THINK WE KNOW BETTER
THAN THE PEOPLE WE BRING
TOGETHER.
WE BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER
AROUND THIS AS A PROBLEM,
BECAUSE WHEN WE DID A STUDY ON
THE COUNCIL, IT WAS THE LARGEST
ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC VALUES AND
PRIORITIES OF VERMONTERS OUTSIDE
OF A GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION EVER
IN VERMONT.
PEOPLE ASKED WHY ARE YOU HERE?
I DIDN'T COME TO VERMONT TO MAKE
MONEY.
I DIDN'T COME TO VERMONT BECAUSE
-- I CAME TO VERMONT BECAUSE I
LOVED WHAT IT STOOD FOR, FOR THE
SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND FOR MY
CONNECTION TO THE LAND.
THE BEAUTY IN THE LANDSCAPE, THE
CONNECTION TO PEOPLE WHO WORK
THE SOIL ARE INVALUABLE TO US AS
A HERITAGE, BUT ALSO IT'S ALIVE.
OUR OWN KIDS CAN PARTICIPATE,
THEY CAN GO VISIT A FARM, THEY
KNOW WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES
FROM.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHO HOLDS OUR
LAND AND HAS SUSTAINED IT -- NOT
ACCIDENTS.
THE DECISIONS THAT HAVE ADVANCED
IT ARE MADE BY INDIVIDUAL
FAMILIES THINKING ABOUT THEIR
ECONOMIC FUTURE AND HOW THEY
SUSTAIN THEMSELVES.
FOR VERMONT TO STAY VERMONT, WE
HAVE ENCOURAGE THE CREATIVITY TO
SET DIRECTIONS THAT WILL PROVIDE
AN ECONOMIC FOUNDATION FOR THAT
LAND IN THE FUTURE.
WE WON'T PRESERVE IT BY PUBLIC
FIAT, BY REGULATION, OR BY
PUBLIC PURCHASE.
WE HAVE TO DO IT WITH A REAL
ECONOMY, AND THAT MEANS
LEADERSHIP FROM THE PRIVATE
SECTOR.
SO THIS BILL IS ALL ABOUT
ENCOURAGING THOSE PEOPLE TO TAKE
RISKS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND
TO BUILD AN ECONOMY THAT
SUSTAINS THE LAND.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 90 SECONDS LEFT
AT THIS POINT, BUT VERY QUICKLY,
I WANTED TO GET TO: THIS
MEASURE IS ALSO CALLING FOR
MUNICIPALITIES TO OFFER SOME TAX
BREAKS TO PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE
IN THIS.
VERY BRIEFLY, CAN YOU SUM UP
WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS?
>> IT'S UNDER DISCUSSION, BUT
IT'S ENVISIONED AS BEING A
VOLUNTARY EFFORT TO MOVE TOWARD
WHAT OTHER STATES CALL
ENTERPRISE ZONES, WHERE CERTAIN
BENEFITS WILL ACCRUE FROM
CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.
ONE PROPOSAL RELATES TO CAPITAL
GAINS BENEFITS AND POSSIBLY
ESTATE BENEFITS.
THE COMMITTEE PROCESS WILL HAVE
TO SORT THAT OUT TO SEE HOW
PRACTICAL THAT IS, AND/OR ARE
THERE OTHER BENEFITS WE CAN
OFFER TO THAT DESIGNATION.
>> IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS, VERY
MUCH SO, BUT IT WOULD BE -- IT'S
DESIGNED TO BE KIND OF A
PARALLEL TO SAY, WHAT CURRENT
USE DID FOR PROPERTY-TAX EQUITY.
>> REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS, PAUL
COSTELLO, WE APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME THIS MORNING AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WHAT HAPPENS WITH
THIS BILL DOWN THE WAY.
>> SO DO WE.
>> THANKS FOR JOINING US,
EVERYBODY.
WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
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