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LCRCC Presents: Vermont-Québec Enterprise Initiative

The Vermont-Québec Enterprise Initiative (VQEI) was born of the belief that the historic relationships shared by Québec and Vermont provide an excellent foundation upon which to build even greater economic ties. For centuries, the state and province have seen families and businesses migrate back and forth across the border bringing with each migration a deeper understanding of family, culture, history and shared experiences.

There are many successful companies that got their start in Québec that now house part of their operations in Vermont. Likewise, Vermont companies look to Québec as its largest trading partner. These ties that bind us can and should only get stronger. Each year, $5 billion in trade crosses the border.

The VQEI is focused on bilateral, value-added, economic development. We know that Vermont is the best place for a Québec company seeking a U.S. presence. Our state offers world-class educational, arts, cultural and lifestyle opportunities. Our communities are true neighborhoods where residents quickly feel they are welcomed and at home. For any company that values its workforce and their families and that is looking for a partnership with government, there is no better place than Vermont.

Our work has begun to yield results. We already have two company start-ups in the St. Johnsbury area with several more in the final stages of negotiation for locations in Chittenden County, as well as many more in the initial stages of exploring the opportunities in Vermont.

Gail Stevenson, the Director of VQEI, mingles and discusses international business relations,

Why VQEI?

The mission of VQEI aligns with LCRCC’s goal of promoting the region and the state as the ideal place to do business.

Several years ago, LCRCC made an introductory foray to business leaders in Montréal. They were very welcoming but also a little suprised by our request to engage with Québec businesses. Every single person said they loved Vermont for all the traditional reasons – beautiful nature, great skiing and other outdoor sports – as well as the new reaons such as the growing localvore, music and micro-brewery scenes. However, they said that they had no idea that Vermont was open to business connections!

We heard this view again and again as we spoke with more Québeckers, so LCRCC decided to do something about it. Thus, VQEI was born in 2015 as a partnership between LCRCC and the Vermont Agency of Commerce to promote the state’s benefits to the business community in Québec and elsewhere throughout Canada. The original two-year partnership has formally expired, but the LCRCC deems this work so important that it is continuing the VQEI on its own with close collaboration with the state. Indeed, Governor Scott believes that improved and long-term business relations with Québec are critical, and has made several trips to Québec, Ontario and Prince Edward Island in the first months of his governorship.

VQEI partners with Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region, a Burlington-based organization dedicated to engendering awareness of French culture through a variety of activities, including those that take advantage of our proximity to francophone Canada.

How do we market Vermont?

We reach out as much as we can. The province of Québec has a network of trade promotion organizations whose task is to promote Québec companies’ exports. We liaise with them and organize “trade missions” both in Québec and in Vermont that link interested businesses with experts who can help them with the many aspects of setting up a company in another country – immigration lawyers, accountaints, bankers, insurance companies, experts on workforce development programs, and much more. We work with the state to make sure that the state’s political leaders are as engaged as need be. We attend export promotion and other “awareness-raising” events in Canada and elsewhere and we organize our own events for specific sectors and groups around the state to make everyone aware that Vermont is open for business.

VQEI hosted a Sherbrooke business delegation for a two-day event at Jay Peak that included business development discussion, networking, and tours of the Revision Military and Garneau facilities.

What are Vermont’s advantages?

There are many reasons why businesses should consider Vermont:

  • Strategic location close to both Québec and huge U.S. markets – 80 million people live and work within a half-day’s drive
  • Vermont has some of the most extensive and cheapest gigabyte access in the U.S., and 99% of households have access to broadband
  • Vermont has some of the lowest energy rates in New England, as well as a fast-growing renewable energy sector
  • Vermont has relatively reasonable prices for space
  • The advantage of a small state is that high-level decision-makers are engaged and available
  • We have a burgeoning digital and e-economy as well as a range of advanced manufacturing industries
  • Vermont has workers to fit companies’ needs
  • We have 25 higher education institutions that produce graduates with top-level skills
  • We have a long and common heritage with Québec – and we’re close by so it’s easy to start a U.S.-based company from Québec and easy to manage it’s growth

How can I help?

You can help us by spreading the word about the VQEI. You can also sign up for our newsletter, download our business manual, like us on Facebook, and share our Facebook posts, website, videos, and events with your networks.

The time is now to let the world know that Vermont is open for business!