Why are you running?
To follow through on financial stabilization, workforce, and regulatory work needed to ensure that people and businesses can survive / thrive during and after COVID.
tell us about yourself
Senator Lyons is a College Biology Professor bringing unique scientific perspectives to the Senate. Her experience, leadership, and results demonstrate commitments to people, business, and environment. She Chaired the Williston Selectboard and Chairs Senate Health and Welfare Committee. She will continue work on challenges posed by state revenues and budgeting during our public health crisis with unprecedented financial instability.
[email protected] | 802-863-6129 | 802-318-8556
Is Vermont business friendly?
No.
Surveys say we are not business friendly, yet VT believes in small business, farms, local economic development, and environmental regulations that conserve VT’s values and character. Many work tirelessly to ensure renewable energy underscores our future but resist the business model that changes our working landscape. VT tourism and lodging provide huge opportunity, workforce, and revenue. How can we also be unfriendly with such economic leaders? It is important that we celebrate small businesses that are the bedrock of our economy. It is also important that we not hold on to traditions of land use regulation that block business development. Incentives ensure that downtown and growth center development support VT’s traditional settlement patterns. Sustaining dual enrollment programs, alternative credentialing, or Vermont State Colleges builds workforce, childcare and related services needed for many business sectors. Health care costs continue to rise, and we are working to lower rate of cost increase through the All Payer model. Businesses including schools need relief from these and other costs. Permit fees, taxes, energy and transportation provide services needed to help businesses locate and grow. We are fortunate to have Vermonters volunteer at the local level to balance business, services, the environment, and sense of community.
Why should a business owner support you?
Building / keeping a business during this emergency is wrenching. VT businesses seflessly support public health recovery resulting in economic loss. VT overall lost more per capita than other states (US CHAMBER). My family members own small businesses, are sole proprietors, entrepreneurs, work for non profit organizations or larger business. I understand about risks, up front investments, regulatory influences, IT, inventory, supply chain, UI, PUA, health care, marketing, customer relations and related issues. I bring a unique scientific background to the Senate. Data informed decisions result when scientifically developed information comes from those most involved with the problem – business owners, workers, customers. Some solutions require changes to underlying laws, some on the ground changes. I refer business problems to the administration, Senate Economic Development, Finance, or other Senate Committees to resolve problems for Real Estate, Energy, Retail, Food, Hospitality, Tourism, Commercial and Industrial businesses. As Chair of Senate Health and Welfare Committee I know the importance of sustaining Health Care businesses. Whether it is a single propiertor, child care, or a larger residential care facility, each faces financial, workforce and supply issues. We developed solutions including telemedicine, regulatory relief, or workforce additions to sustain many health care businesses.
What could the Legislature do to support the creation of more well-paying jobs in Vermont?
Whether incentives come from business, an outside funding agency, or government — incentives work. Loan repayment in exchange for work commitments attract workers to our state. AHEC at UVM adds workers with health care provider grants. Nonprofit organizations reduce Substance Use Disorder or mental health counselor turnover with such grants. Child Care is essential for new businesses, remote, and other workers. Grants given to childcare workers to further education may ensure child care for new jobs. It is important that incentives go to Vermonters as well as to those moving to the state. Vermont cannot compete with large tax breaks elsewhere. Downtown, growth center, TIF, VEDA, VEGI programs can attract NEW employment opportunities. Film and related tax credits can help local businesses and attract more outside (production) companies. VT’s creative economy can thrive. We should market to attract businesses to VT’s public health and recreation environments — that are safer than other states’. No business can survive without adequate broadband. The Administration must complete planning for internet deployment in Vermont. Local internet service can be developed serving rural parts of Chittenden district and the state. VSC should identify programs that attract students and focus on those areas for workforce development.