Vermont Secretary of State Engages Local Entrepreneurs During Business Tour

The tour included five organizations, namely Hidden Wisdom Puzzles, HatchSpace, Green Mountain Welcome, Mill and Whistle Café, and WheelPad L3C.

On Thursday, June 4, Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas engaged in discussions with leaders from various businesses and organizations in Brattleboro and Wilmington as part of her ongoing initiative to connect with local enterprises. The purpose of the business listening tour is to collect insights and feedback regarding the experiences these organizations have had with the Secretary of State’s office and broader state issues.

The tour included five organizations, namely Hidden Wisdom Puzzles, HatchSpace, Green Mountain Welcome, Mill and Whistle Café, and WheelPad L3C, which provided the Secretary insights into their operations and challenges. Staff members from her office organized the tour to ensure a diverse range of businesses were included.

During the meeting at HatchSpace, a nonprofit woodworking school, concerns were raised by the proprietor of Hidden Wisdom Puzzles, Ted Lawrence, who highlighted issues with the state’s online systems and the difficulties faced in navigating official websites. He expressed a habit of being cautious with emails that contain links, reflecting a broader concern regarding online communication. Lawrence acknowledged the assistance received when calling the state for clarifications but emphasized the need for improved online interfaces.

After visiting HatchSpace, Copeland Hanzas moved on to Green Mountain Welcome, a nonprofit focused on helping immigrants and refugees adjust and succeed in the local community. During this meeting, organizational leaders addressed challenges such as barriers faced by immigrant and refugee professionals in integrating their qualifications into Vermont's workforce. They also discussed the impact of federal funding cuts that occurred during the previous administration, as well as ongoing issues related to labor shortages, housing, and rising living costs that affect newcomers.

The president of Green Mountain Welcome, Jack Rossiter-Munley, conveyed the urgency of building community-driven support systems. He pointed out that decreased federal support poses a challenge to the organization’s capacity to operate effectively and noted that state support is essential for their continued work.

The Secretary's next destination was the Mill and Whistle Café, a local establishment run by business partners Drew and Liz Christo. They shared their experiences regarding the increasing cost of living and its effect on hiring locally. They noted the challenges posed by a shrinking population of young residents in Wilmington, suggesting that these factors complicate efforts to staff their café with local employees.

The Christos explained that affordable housing and childcare are significant contributors to their staffing challenges. Liz Christo highlighted the dangers of long commutes for staff coming from Brattleboro, particularly in winter, while Drew Christo reiterated the rising costs of living in their area compared to larger cities, attributing these to the logistics of serving a less populated region.

The final stop on the tour was at WheelPad L3C, which specializes in building accessible housing solutions for individuals with mobility challenges. The President of WheelPad, Julie Lineberger, voiced the need for clearer guidelines to help businesses understand the necessary steps to start operations in Vermont. Lineberger acknowledged the benefits of recent improvements to the state’s online resources but urged for additional innovations that could streamline the process further.

Copeland Hanzas remarked on the valuable discussions held during the tour, noting common themes emerged pertaining to digital infrastructure and the cost of living. She recognized these concerns as critical challenges that extend beyond her office’s scope and noted the importance of addressing issues like minimum wage increases and affordable housing in reaching effective solutions.

Throughout her tour, Copeland Hanzas expressed gratitude for the candid feedback and insights shared by local business leaders, indicating that the experiences discussed reflect broader challenges within the state that require attention.