Consultant outlines economic development strategy: innovation districts, talent pathways and streamlined permitting
July 23, 2025 | South Burlington City, Chittenden County, Vermont
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A consultant presented a first-ever Economic Development Strategic Plan that recommends focusing on three industry clusters (life sciences, aerospace/advanced aviation, and electrical/clean-technology manufacturing), creating an innovation district near the airport, and building capacity within the city to deliver targeted business attraction and retention efforts.
"One of the big findings is that South Burlington is starting from a place of strength," the consultant said, summarizing research showing the city's high educational attainment, a working-age population above state averages, and existing anchor firms. The consultant noted that the city already hosts important companies in batteries and electrification, cited connections to regional research capacity, and recommended leveraging those assets to attract allied suppliers and startups.
The plan emphasizes five goals: build innovation and sector partnerships; keep and attract diverse talent; make the city a stronger destination for visitors and entrepreneurs; prepare sites and processes to welcome quality growth; and create a dedicated economic development team to deliver the plan. Recommended actions include a city-center innovation hub for early-stage firms and co-working, an airport-area innovation district to support electric aviation and applied R&D, targeted workforce partnerships and reskilling programs, and streamlining permitting and site-readiness processes to reduce time-to-build.
The consultant said the plan is linked to the City Plan 2024, not a departure from it: "The economic development strategic plan is really a plan that is inside the City Plan 2024," the presenter said, framing the strategy as a refinement of existing zoning and growth targets rather than a new direction.
Commissioners asked how the plan would address housing, childcare and talent pipelines. The consultant said the plan calls for aligning workforce training and education with the targeted industry clusters and for continued work on housing and childcare as supporting elements that enable talent retention and recruitment.
On implementation, the consultant recommended a modest staffing investment or a designated coordinator to shepherd projects, a data-driven inventory of available commercial sites (a de facto commercial "MLS"), and a marketing/promotion program to tell a concise story about the city's assets. The consultant highlighted steps already underway with regional partners, including research computing capacity support for a regional technology hub.
No formal action or funding decisions were made at the presentation; the consultant said the full plan (including an implementation schedule) will be circulated to city staff and the commission.
"One of the big findings is that South Burlington is starting from a place of strength," the consultant said, summarizing research showing the city's high educational attainment, a working-age population above state averages, and existing anchor firms. The consultant noted that the city already hosts important companies in batteries and electrification, cited connections to regional research capacity, and recommended leveraging those assets to attract allied suppliers and startups.
The plan emphasizes five goals: build innovation and sector partnerships; keep and attract diverse talent; make the city a stronger destination for visitors and entrepreneurs; prepare sites and processes to welcome quality growth; and create a dedicated economic development team to deliver the plan. Recommended actions include a city-center innovation hub for early-stage firms and co-working, an airport-area innovation district to support electric aviation and applied R&D, targeted workforce partnerships and reskilling programs, and streamlining permitting and site-readiness processes to reduce time-to-build.
The consultant said the plan is linked to the City Plan 2024, not a departure from it: "The economic development strategic plan is really a plan that is inside the City Plan 2024," the presenter said, framing the strategy as a refinement of existing zoning and growth targets rather than a new direction.
Commissioners asked how the plan would address housing, childcare and talent pipelines. The consultant said the plan calls for aligning workforce training and education with the targeted industry clusters and for continued work on housing and childcare as supporting elements that enable talent retention and recruitment.
On implementation, the consultant recommended a modest staffing investment or a designated coordinator to shepherd projects, a data-driven inventory of available commercial sites (a de facto commercial "MLS"), and a marketing/promotion program to tell a concise story about the city's assets. The consultant highlighted steps already underway with regional partners, including research computing capacity support for a regional technology hub.
No formal action or funding decisions were made at the presentation; the consultant said the full plan (including an implementation schedule) will be circulated to city staff and the commission.
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