Intern reports: tourism revenue, competitiveness dashboard and Chamber priorities highlight housing and workforce challenges

Cabot Sales summarized a series of economic-development briefings for the Vermont House Committee on Commerce & Economic Development on Jan. 16, covering tourism marketing results, competitiveness data and Chamber of Commerce priorities.

Sales said tourism generated about $300,000,000 in tax revenue in 2024 and that recent advertising raised Vermontonsideration as a destination by roughly 10% on exposure and by 30% when advertisements were remembered. "They saw a 145,000 roughly trips from people who would not otherwise have gone to Vermont as a result of the ad campaign," Sales said, and reported an average trip spend of about $2,000 and a campaign cost of $538,000. A transcript note of the campaignconomics included an unclear percentage figure that could not be verified from the audio.

Sales also relayed highlights from a Vermont Futures Project presentation: a competitiveness dashboard showed problems in housing supply and an aging population that shrinks average household size and limits housing availability. According to Sales's summary of that presentation, Kevin Chu told the committee that "data is not destiny, but it could be destiny if we don't do anything," and recommended strategies that include growing larger employers to raise average wages.

The Chamber of Commerce told the Senate committee the state's manufacturing exports have declined faster than expected and urged a study of the business permitting process to identify duplication and inefficiency. Sales also noted a request to maintain funding of $1.5 million for the Grama Mountain Jobs Retention Program and Chamber interest in strengthening the hospitality workforce and exploring a culinary institute. Finally, the Chamber proposed a task force to support automation research while minimizing worker displacement.

Committee members did not vote on these items in the briefing; discussions will inform future committee work and possible follow-ups to verify fiscal figures and program details.