The region's workforce continues to grow with more people commuting out of the region to work, mainly into Chittenden County. Over the next several decades, a significant proportion of the region's workforce will reach retirement age. The education level of the region's workforce has increased over the past 20 years. During the past several decades, social and economic changes have reshaped work and family life in the region with two-income households becoming the norm.

 

Education, manufacturing, retail trade, agriculture, forestry and construction are the main employment sectors for the region's residents. The region's employment centers - Middlebury, Vergennes and Bristol - are still employing about 70 percent of the region's residents. A growing number of small businesses are starting in the region and the number of self-employed continues to rise.

 

The region's large employers include Middlebury College, Goodrich Corporation, Porter Medical, Addison County Home Health, Addison County Counseling Service and the public school system. The service sector including jobs in education and health services is now the largest sector of the region's economy. Tourism is another growing sector of the region's economy.

 

Agriculture and forestry have played a central role in defining the character of the Addison Region and have historically been, and continue to be, significant parts of the region's economy. Current trends in agriculture are leading to fewer, larger dairy farms in the region. There is also a trend towards small operations focused on non-dairy or specialty-food products.

 

 

 

The Addison County Regional Planning Commission establishes the follow­ing goals and objectives for the Addison Region through this plan.

Goal A.

The Addison Region will be an attractive place to live, work, vacation and conduct business.

To meet this goal, it is our objective:

1.      To stimulate and support economic security, opportunity, growth and a high quality of life in the region's communities.

2.      To create an environment that encourages business expansion, creation and relocation employing all Addison Region residents in jobs that pay good wages and benefits.

3.      To fully utilize the region's tourism potential through the development and support of tourism activities and facilities tailored to the Addison Region.

4.      That the potential of the Addison Region's creative, artistic, cultural and historic resources will be fully realized to enliven the local economy and enhance the character of the region's communities.

5.      That the Addison Region's education, health and non-profit institutions will continue to be vital components of the local economy and improve the quality of life for the region's residents.

Goal B.

The economy of the Addison Region is and should continue to be primarily comprised of small- to medium-sized, locally-owned businesses, which can be created and grow without placing undue strain on local services, schools and property taxes.

To meet this goal, it is our objective:

1.      To actively support the development of new small- and medium-sized businesses in order to spread both job opportunities and impacts on communities throughout the region.

2.      To ensure that industrial, commercial and tourism facilities are developed in a manner that is consistent with local and regional land use plans.

3.      That municipalities will allow for development of home occupations and cottage industries in their zoning regulations, while developing standards for their review that will ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses.

4.      That existing vacant or under-utilized structures or former industrial sites will be considered for reuse whenever possible.

5.      That municipalities will be encouraged to undertake capital planning and budgeting so that future expansion or maintenance of infrastructure will not place undue hardship on taxpayers.

Goal C.

The economy of the Addison Region should continue to be significantly tied to agriculture and forest products in order to ensure the continuation of sustainable farming and forestry in the region and the maintenance of the region's rural character.

To meet this goal, it is our objective:

1.      That locally-owned enterprises will make use of the region's natural resources to produce value-added products, including services that rely on and benefit from our rural character.

2.      That communities should encourage at all levels the purchase of goods and services that are produced locally.

3.      That local businesses should be assisted in expanding the markets for their products and services.

4.      To support diversity in the region's agricultural enterprises in order to insulate the local economy from the impacts of volatile commodity prices and changing markets.

Goal D.

The Addison Region will provide adequate infrastructure and services to support a strong and diverse economy.

To meet this goal, it is our objective:

1.      To steer professional and commercial development toward locally designated village centers in order to support existing businesses, attract new businesses to the region and stimulate village revitalization and development.

2.      To develop and maintain a state-of-the-art information infrastructure required to attract and retain high-tech jobs in the region.

3.      To fully utilize and grow the region's industrial parks and facilities.

4.      That transportation facilities - including pedestrian, bike, rail, air, public transit and vehicular transportation facilities - will be maintained and improved for the service of commercial, recreational and industrial activities.

5.      That a full range of reasonably priced housing opportunities will be available to house the Addison Region's current and future workforce.

6.      That there will be high-quality, affordable childcare available throughout the Addison Region to meet the needs of working parents and provide an enriching environment for the region's children.

7.      That a range of services such as adult daycare and continuing education will be available in the Addison Region to support a productive, employable workforce in the region.

 

1.                  Continue to actively work with the Addison County Economic Development Corporation and the Addison County Chamber of Commerce to plan and implement economic development strategies for the region.

2.                  Maintain the commercial and industrial property database in cooperation with the Addison County Economic Development Corporation.

3.                  Seek funding to assist with the identification, remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites in the Addison Region.

4.                  Develop educational materials for owners of underutilized former agricultural buildings on converting such structures for industrial, commercial or residential use.

5.                  Support improvements to and expansion of the rail system in Addison County including upgrading the Vermont Rail line from Middlebury to Charlotte and development of the OMYA rail spur.

6.                  Assist communities seeking downtown or village center designations.

7.                  Continue to work with programs and organizations, such as Celebration Champlain, to promote the region, strengthen our tourism infrastructure and improve recreation opportunities for residents and visitors.

8.                  Utilize ACRPC's mapping resources to promote and publicize the region's historic, cultural, artistic, recreational and natural resources and tourism-based businesses.

A.                Workforce, Employment and Income

Workforce

a.      Size of the Workforce

Over the past 20 years, the Addison Region's working-age population, people age 16 and up, has grown at a faster rate than the population as a whole. The number of people in the workforce rose at a rate nearly double the rate of population growth. In 1980, the working-age population was over 21,000 people and the total workforce was about 13,500. In 1990, the region had a working-age population of nearly 25,000 people and the Census counted approximately 17,000 people in the workforce. In 2000, the working-age population was approaching 28,000 of which approximately 19,500 were in the workforce. (See Table 5‑1, page 5-20).

 

The percentage of the working-age population in the workforce has risen over the past two decades from just below 63 percent to over 70 percent. A significant portion of the working-age population not in the workforce is likely retired. In 2000, there were approximately 4,000 people age 65 and over in the region.

b.      Age of the Workforce

In 2000, the median age in Addison County was just over 36 years, an increase of nearly 10 years since 1980. The increase in median age is the result of several factors. As discussed in the Population Section of this plan, in 2000 the largest segment, 24 percent, of the region's population was in the 45 to 64 age group. During the next decade, that segment of the region's workforce will be at or approaching retirement age.

 

There have not been a significant number of younger people moving into the region as a whole. However, the increase in median age over the past 20 years has been highly variable between municipalities in the region, ranging from a low of 5.6 years in the Town of Addison to a high of 15.1 years in Goshen. There appears to be a trend beginning in a few communities of people moving into the region after retirement, while others are attracting younger people.

c.       Education Level of the Workforce

The education level of the workforce has risen considerably over the past two decades. The percentage of the population over age 25 with some type of college degree has nearly doubled and in 2000 it was over 37 percent. The percentage of the population without a high school diploma has dropped from close to 30 percent to around 13 percent. (See Table 5‑3, starting on page 5-23).

 

The availability of quality education for the region's young people and of continuing education for the working-age population are vitally important to the region's economy. A high school diploma is now a requirement for virtually all types of employment and the entry bar to employment continues to rise with many employers requiring some level of college education. (See discussion of education facilities and opportunities in the Utilities, Facilities and Services section of this plan).

d.      Work and Family

During the past several decades, social and economic changes have reshaped our work and family lives. Women now comprise nearly 50 percent of the workforce. Two-income households have become the norm and for many an economic necessity. However, many occupations remain predominately single gender. Out of 46 occupation categories listed by the 2000 Census, 26 had a workforce that was 70 percent or more single gender. For example in the Addison Region in 2000, 85 to 90 percent of healthcare support workers and technicians were women, while over 95 percent of workers in the construction trades were men.

 

Finding quality, affordable childcare has become an increasing concern for working parents. In 2000, nearly 75 percent of children living in two-parent families had both parents working. Almost 80 percent of children in single-parent families had their primary care-giving parent in the workforce. Surveys have indicated that parents believe the quality of childcare in the region is good, but there is not sufficient quantity especially for infants. There are waiting lists at most childcare centers and some home-based daycares in the region. While there is a general shortage of childcare in the Addison Region, for those parents at lower wage levels or working non-standard hours the challenge to find safe and affordable childcare is much greater. Many of the region's childcare facilities are closed during school holidays and most will not care for sick children, requiring parents to make other arrangements or miss work. (See discussion of childcare in the Utilities, Facilities and Services section.)

e.      Commuting

Over the past 20 years, the percentage of Addison Region residents who work in the community in which they live has declined from nearly 50 percent in 1980 to around 35 percent in 2000. More people are working outside the region and commuting longer distances. In 2000, 30 percent of the workforce worked outside the county and the average commute was just over 23 minutes long. (See Table 5‑4, starting on page 5-25).

 

Of the region's 18,000 workers, approximately 15,000 traveled to work in a private vehicle in 2000. Of those people nearly 90 percent drove alone and ten percent carpooled. Of the around 3,000 workers not commuting in a private vehicle, half worked at home and the other half walked to work. The percentage of people carpooling or walking to work declined noticeably in the 1980s and continued to decline somewhat during the 1990s. (See Transportation section for more information on commuting).

 

According to the 2000 Census, virtually no one in the Addison Region took public transportation to work. Due to the rural nature of the region, public transportation is not widely available. However, Addison County Transit Resources is currently improving its service providing regular bus routes in the region and is considering expanding its routes to serve more of the region's communities. As the service has become more reliable, ridership has increased. (See the Transportation and the Utilities, Facilities and Services sections for further information on public transportation).

 

Additionally, if commuter rail service linked Chittenden County and the Addison Region, some of the region's commuters would likely choose to travel to work by train. In 2000, nearly 4,000 Addison County residents traveled north into Chittenden County to work. (See Table 5‑2, page 5-21).

Employment

a.      Employment Rates

According to the 1980 Census, 94 percent of the region's workforce reported having been employed at some point during the previous year. In 1990, that figure was 96 percent and in 2000 it was 95.5 percent.[1] Over the past two decades there has been a noticeable increase in the percentage of the workforce working part-time. About one-third of the region's workforce worked part-time according to the 2000 Census. The percentage of people with full-time, but seasonal employment has declined. (See Table 5‑5, page 5-27 and Table 5‑10, starting on page 5-32).

 

Over the past decade, unemployment in the Addison Region ranged from a high of 7.4 percent in 1992 to a low of 2.7 percent in 2000 as reported by the Department of Employment and Training (DET). Employment trends in the region generally followed state averages, although peaks and valleys were slightly more extreme in the Addison Region than in the state as a whole. The DET's figures are based only on employment that is covered by unemployment insurance. So rates in the region's more rural towns may be less accurate due to significant amounts of farm or self-employed workers who are not included. (See Table 5‑6, page 5-28).

 

There is a fair amount of variability in employment rates between municipalities in the region. Bristol, Vergennes and Whiting have employment rates that are consistently lower than the regional average. Cornwall, Lincoln, Middlebury, Monkton, New Haven, Waltham and Weybridge have rates that are generally above average.

b.      Employment by Industry

According to the 2000 Census, the largest employment sectors for Addison Region residents were education and manufacturing, which together employed around 6,000 people. About 2,000 people worked in retail trade, while agriculture/forestry and construction together employed around 2,700 people.

 

Over the past two decades there have been shifts in the employment sectors. The percentage of the region's workforce employed in agriculture or forestry has declined by nearly half and the percentage employed in manufacturing has decreased by a third. The number of people working in the health and human services sector has more than tripled and the number working in construction has nearly doubled.[2] (See Table 5‑7, page 5-29).

c.       Employment by Occupation

According to the 2000 Census, service, administrative or office, and management, business or financial occupations employed approximately 2,500 Addison Region workers each. Over the past 20 years, management and professional occupations have seen the largest percent increases, while farming and forestry have seen the most significant decreases.[3] (See Table 5‑8, page 5-29).

d.       Self-Employment

Due to its rural nature and agricultural economy, the Addison Region has consistently had a greater percentage of self-employed workers than the state as a whole. In 2000, the percentage of the workforce self-employed ranged from a high of greater than 21 percent in Waltham to around nine percent in Vergennes. The total number of self-employed people in the region has increased from around 1,700 in 1980 to about 2,400 in 2000.

e.      Non-Profit and Government Employment

In 2000, approximately 25 percent of the region's residents worked in the non-profit or government sectors. The percentage of people employed by the state or federal government has declined over the past 20 years, while the percentage working for local government has remained fairly steady. In 2000, over 2,700 Addison Region residents worked for non-profits.

f.        Employment Centers

According to the 2000 Census, just over 70 percent of, or around 13,000, Addison County residents worked in the county, a decrease of about 5 percent since 1990. Around half of those people, approximately 6,500 worked in Middlebury. Vergennes and Bristol are the other employment centers for the region's residents at around 1,500 and 1,000 workers respectively.

 

Another approximately 4,000 Addison Region residents, or over 20 percent, worked in Chittenden County. Burlington and South Burlington are the major employment centers for those workers. Around 750 Addison Region residents worked in Rutland County in 2000. The number of Addison Region residents working in Chittenden County increased during the 1990s by nearly 1,200 people, while the number of residents working in Rutland County held fairly steady. (See Table 5‑2, page 5-21 and see further information on commuting in the Transportation Section).

 

 

Income and Wages

a.      Income

Over the past 20 years, income levels of Addison Region residents as a whole have increased. After accounting for inflation, the median household income in Addison County has risen over $9,000 or nearly 30 percent from 1980 to 2000 to around $43,000 a year. However, not all communities in the region experienced growth at that rate. The towns of Goshen and Whiting actually saw decreases in median household income after adjusting for inflation and Middlebury was virtually flat. (See Table 5‑9, starting on page 5-30).

 

Vermont tax records support the Census data. Comparisons of adjusted family median income levels over the past 15 years show decreases or flat growth in a number of communities including Bridport, Middlebury, Vergennes and Waltham. Other Addison Region towns showed significant growth including Addison, Cornwall, Ferrisburgh, Monkton and Weybridge. (See income tables in population section).

b.      Wages and Benefits

In 2000, the median annual earnings figure for all working individuals in the Addison Region was around $20,000. This figure is about half the region's median household income, reflecting that a significant number of the region's households are two-income. This low annual earnings figure is also influenced by the fact that 60 percent of the region's employed population does not work full-time year-round. The annual earnings figures do not take into account any benefits paid to workers. However, it is likely that the one-third of the region's workforce that was employed part-time in 2000 receives few or no benefits.

 

In 2000, the median wage for men in Addison County was nearly $25,000, while for women that figure was close to $16,000. Women are more likely than men to be working part-time, which accounts for some of the disparity in earnings. Additionally, some of the fields employing the highest percentage of women are lower paying than fields employing mostly men.

B.                Employers and Economic Development

Employers in the Addison Region

The Addison Region has traditionally had very few large employers and many small employers. According to the Vermont Department of Employment and Training (DET) in 2000, there were approximately 1,100 private employers in the Addison Region.[4] Nearly 80 percent of these employed fewer than ten people. There were ten employers that employed 100 or more people. The total number of private employers in the region has increased from around 800 in 1987 to over 1,100 in 2000. Most of this growth is due to increasing numbers of very small businesses employing fewer than five people. In 2000, 40 percent of people employed in the county worked in firms with less than 20 workers. Another 30 percent worked for firms employing 20 to 99 workers and the final third worked for employers that employed over 100 people. (See Table 5‑11 and Table 5‑12, page 5-32).

 

The figures produced by the DET reflect only part of the economic picture of the region. The federal Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) estimated that in 2000 there were nearly 21,400 full-time and part-time jobs in Addison County.[5] Of those, one-quarter or approximately 5,500 were proprietors working in their own farms, businesses or partnerships. These are jobs that may not be captured in the DET reports. (See Table 5‑14, page 5-36).

 

In 2000, the Census Bureau reported that just under 6,500 people in the region worked in their municipality of residence. It is likely that many of these people are proprietors working in their own farms, businesses or partnerships, especially in the region's rural communities. Interestingly, the 2000 Census also indicated that around 15,900 people worked in Addison County. Comparing that figure to the 21,000 jobs in the county estimated by the BEA provides a rough idea of the number of people in the county working more than one job. (See Table 5‑4, starting on page 5-25).

a.      Large Employers

In 2000, there were ten private employers that employed 100 or more people in Addison County. Together these firms employed over 3,500 people. The region's largest employer is Middlebury College, followed by Goodrich Corporation. Together they employ approximately 1,900 people. The number of large employers in the region has remained fairly stable over the past 15 years. However, the percentage of people employed in the county who work for large private employers has declined by more than ten percent between 1987 and 2001. (See Table 5‑12, page 5-34).

 

Additionally, there have been shifts in the types of large employers away from manufacturing towards the service sector. There has also been a shift in the focus of economic development in the region, which formerly was heavily focused on manufacturing, to include a wider range of sectors. In 1972, the ACRPC Regional Plan listed the region's major employers as Simmonds Precision, Van Raalte, Standard Register, Polymers and Drake, Smith and Company. Thirty years later Goodrich Corporation (formerly Simmonds Precision), Standard Register and Specialty Filaments (formerly Polymers) are still among the region's large employers. However, Middlebury College, the Counseling Service, Porter Medical Center, Addison County Home Health Care and the region's high schools are also listed among the large employers.   

b.      Small Businesses

Small, new businesses are the main source of economic development and job creation in the Addison Region. Over 90 percent of employers, over 1,000 firms, in the Addison Region in 2000 were small businesses that employed less than 20 people and over 60 percent, around 700 firms, employed fewer than five people. About 40 percent of people working in the region worked in a small business in 2000. In addition, approximately 5,500 people in Addison County were proprietors working in their own businesses or partnerships in 2000 according to the BEA. Around 2,400 people in the Addison Region reported themselves as self-employed in the 2000 Census.

 

During the 1990s, Vermont became a leader in small business creation. In the past 15 years, the number of firms in the Addison Region employing less than five people has grown by over 250, accounting for much of the growth in the region's economy. Even though initial employment gains may be small, start-up businesses have immediate impacts on the local economy. Small businesses tend to hire and buy locally, putting more money into the local economy than they send out.

 

According to the 2000 Census, approximately 1,500 people in the region worked at home. During the past 20 years, the amount and types of home-based employment has increased. In 1980, the Census reported just over 1,000 people working at home and the BEA estimated that there were more than 900 farm proprietors. In 2000 the Census reported just over 1,400 people working at home in the region and the BEA estimated just under 900 farm proprietors. So, agriculture as a percentage of home-based employment in the region is declining as the numbers of other types of home businesses are growing.

c.       Employers by Sector

According to the Department of Employment and Training in 2000, manufacturing, trade, healthcare and education were the most significant sectors of the Addison County economy. Over 60 percent of people employed in the region worked in one of these sectors. (See Table 5‑13, page 5-35).

 

Over the past 30 years, jobs in the manufacturing section have declined. The biggest increase has been in the service sector, which had about 2,100 jobs in 1970 and in 2000 had nearly 8,000, according to the BEA. The service sector, of which the biggest components are health and education services, is now the largest piece of the region's economy. (See Table 5‑14, page 5-36).

 

According to the DET in 2000, the average wage in Addison County was approximately $27,000. Average wages in the region's employment sectors ranged from a low of just under $11,000 to high of over $40,000. Those sectors at the upper end of the wage scale included private education, manufacturing, postal service and state employment. Education and manufacturing together represented around 35 percent of employment in the region. At the lower end of the wage scale were jobs in food service, rental and leasing services and local government administration.[6] (See Table 5‑13, page 5-35).

1.Agriculture and Forestry

Agriculture and forestry have played a central role in defining the character of the Addison Region and have historically been, and continue to be, significant parts of the region's economy. However, pressures from both inside and outside Vermont are changing the shape of agriculture and forestry in the region.

 

The amount of land devoted to farming has decreased steadily statewide over the past several decades. During the 15-year period from 1982 to 1997, the county lost 11 percent of its farmland while state average was 20 percent.[7] The 1997 Census of Agriculture reported that Addison County had 683 farms with a total of nearly 205,000 acres in farm production. The first agricultural census in 1978 counted approximately 700 farms in the county with a total of around 240,000 acres in production. Interestingly according to the 1850 Decennial Census, one of the first to document detailed information about agriculture, there were around 2,300 farms in Addison County with a total of nearly 243,000 acres of improved farmland.

 

During the past 30 years, the numbers of farms and people employed in agriculture have fluctuated. The BEA estimated in 1970 that there were around 950 farm proprietors in Addison County and an additional 1,000 people employed on farms. There were also another 100 people employed in agricultural services and forestry. In 2000, there were just over 880 farm proprietors and 660 farm employees. The agriculture services and forestry sector had grown to over 520 workers. (See Table 5‑14, page 5-36).

 

Farms in the Addison Region face issues relating to their workforce that are common to agriculture across the state and nationally. The median age of farmers is higher than the median age of workers in other economic sectors. Given the very high start-up costs, it is difficult for a young farmer to buy an operation from a farmer wanting to retire. Additionally, lower wages in the agricultural sector make attracting younger workers more challenging. Some of the larger farms in the region now employ foreign workers as farm labor, mainly from Mexico and Central America. Additionally in the region, the ability to provide housing for farm workers on the farm has been a concern.

 

Between 1982 and 1997, the market value of agricultural products sold in Addison County increased by 56 percent. When adjusted for inflation however, these figures indicate that the prices received for agricultural products have not kept pace with inflation. In 1998, the total economic impact of agriculture in the region was $240 million.[8]

 

In the Addison Region, dairy farms comprise nearly 75 percent of the agricultural sector. While the number of dairy farms has declined, the size and production of those remaining has increased. Currently, dairy farms are facing serious economic challenges including volatility in the price paid to farmers for milk. Future predictions for dairy farming in the region point to fewer and larger operations. At the other end of the scale, the number of small or part-time agricultural operations that produce non-dairy products and specialty foods has grown.

2.Manufacturing

Around 16 percent of the jobs in Addison County were in the manufacturing sector in 2000. The DET reported 70 units and 2,223 employees in manufacturing with an average wage of about $36,000. The BEA estimates indicate that over the past 30 years the manufacturing sector has employed a declining percentage of people working in the region. In 1970, manufacturing represented nearly 18 percent of the region's jobs, while in 2000 that figure was just under 11 percent.

3.Education[9]

In 2001, Middlebury College employed over 1,250 faculty and staff, making it the largest employer in the Addison Region. (For further information on Middlebury College see the Utilities, Facilities and Services section of the plan). Of those employees approximately 85 percent live in the region; 94 percent of the college's full-time employees live in the region. Approximately half of the college's employees live in the towns of Cornwall, Middlebury and Weybridge. Addison Region residents employed by the college earn approximately $45.6 million in wages and $13.7 million in benefits.

 

The region's public education system, if it were considered a single entity, would be a larger employer than Middlebury College. There are 16 elementary schools, a middle school, three high schools and three supervisory unions located in the Addison Region. (See discussion of education in the Utilities, Facilities and Services section for further discussion of education). According to the Vermont Department of Education, the region's public education system employed the equivalent of about 1,130 full-time employees in 2002. In 2000, the Vermont Department of Employment and Training reported a total of nearly 1,360 people employed in the public education system in 2000. Over three-quarters of the people employed in the public education system are women. Teacher salaries vary between the region's schools; the state average was around $39,000 in 2002. The state average teacher-aid salary was around $12,000.

4.Healthcare

Approximately 10 percent of the jobs in Addison County are in the fields of healthcare and human services. Large employers in the healthcare and human services sector in the Addison Region include Porter Medical Center, Addison County Home Health and Addison County Counseling Service. This is a sector that is expected to grow in the future as the number of elderly in the region requiring care increases.

 

Porter Medical Center is the major institutional provider of healthcare in Addison County. (See the Utilities, Facilities and Services section for more information on Porter's healthcare services and facilities). Porter Medical Center is the third largest private employer in Addison County. Over two-thirds of Porter Medical Center's employees live in Addison County. Around 15 percent of the employees of Porter Medical Center live in Rutland County and five percent reside elsewhere in Vermont. Approximately 11 percent of Porter Medical Center's employees live in New York.[10]

 

Employment at Porter Medical Center is evenly split between full-time and part-time jobs. Full-time jobs equaled 42 percent of the total jobs, part-time jobs 40 percent and other contractual arrangements accounted for 18 percent of the total. Porter Medical Center is an important source of employment for women in Addison County. In 2001, just over 560 of the 670, or 84 percent, of the employees at Porter Medical Center were women.

 

Addison County Home Health is another large employer in the region providing in-home healthcare and hospice services. In 2000, Addison County Home Health made nearly 56,000 visits to over 1,200 patients. They employ a mix of full- and part-time employees and in 2000 had the full-time equivalent of 96 workers.[11]

5.Tourism and Trade

The Addison Region attracts visitors with its wide array of recreational, cultural and shopping opportunities. Nearly every municipality in the region offers food, lodging or activities aimed at attracting visitors. In 2000, the Department of Employment and Training (DET) reported that there were over 80 units of employment in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food service in the county. Those units employed nearly 1,250 people.

 

Tourism activities provide significant income to the regional economy and residents also benefit from the variety of recreational activities available in the region. According to the Department of Taxes in 2001, Addison County had over $37 million in taxable meals and rooms receipts. Most tourism-related businesses in the region are small and many are entirely owner-operated. The DET indicated that there were 23 lodging employers in the county in 2000, while the Addison County Chamber of Commerce lists nearly 40. So, the DET figures do not fully account for the number of units and employees in this sector. This sector of the region's economy is growing.

Addison Region and the Larger Economy

a.      Addison Region and Neighboring Counties

Due to geography, history and economic conditions, the Addison Region is more closely linked to neighboring Chittenden and Rutland counties to the north and south than to neighbors over the Green Mountains or across Lake Champlain. Approximately 420 Addison County residents commuted to counties other than Rutland or Chittenden in Vermont in 2000 and around 320 people commuted in to work. Around 130 Addison County residents worked in New York in 2000 while about 630 New York residents worked in Addison County. (See Table 5‑2, page 5-21).

 

Chittenden or Rutland counties have been and will likely continue to be employment centers for people living in the Addison Region. The profile of many of the Addison Region's economic sectors is fairly similar to Chittenden and Rutland counties. The manufacturing, retail trade and healthcare sectors are significant employers in all three counties. However the education and agriculture and forestry sectors are a larger part of the Addison Region's economy than they are in Chittenden or Rutland County. Wages in Addison and Rutland counties are generally at or below state averages, while in Chittenden County wages in most sectors are higher than state averages. (See Table 5‑14 through Table 5‑17, pages 5-36 to 5-39).

Economic Development

a.      Downtown and Village Center Revitalization

During the 1990s, many municipalities in the region began to see a need to restart the economic heart of their communities, their downtowns and village centers. They have begun making improvements to attract businesses that will serve both residents and tourists. Throughout the region there are downtowns, villages and hamlets with existing buildings and infrastructure that could serve the needs of small businesses while maintaining the region's high quality of life. Maintaining historic development patterns of village centers surrounded rural countryside balances economic and environmental interests.

b.      Industrial Sites and Infrastructure

Seven of the region's 21 municipalities have land zoned for industrial or light manufacturing use. In the early days of Addison County's history, water was the primary factor in siting industrial activities. Waterpower was harnessed in small mills in communities throughout the region. Lake Champlain allowed shipping of goods and the lakeshore towns flourished. After the Civil War, as railroad lines developed, their corridors became hubs for economic activity. As roadways replaced railways, industrial development shifted again. The vast majority of region's industrial activity is currently found in places with easy access to state highways, mainly in Bristol, Middlebury and Vergennes.

 

Telecommunications technology is becoming the economic infrastructure of the future. While it is difficult to document exact numbers, an increasing number of people in the Addison Region are telecommuting or operating a technology-based business from their home. Over the past 20 years the number of Addison Region residents that reported working at home has increased by 350 people. The Addison Region is an attractive location for telecommuters to settle, but access to technology is key to promoting this type of economic development.

c.       Economic Development Organizations

There are number of organizations working to foster economic development in the Addison Region.

1.Addison County Economic Development Corporation

The Addison County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC) is a private nonprofit, economic development corporation that promotes industrial and economic growth in the county. The primary goal is to foster, encourage and assist in the physical location of new business and the expansion of existing business enterprises within the area.

2.Addison County Chamber of Commerce

The Addison County Chamber of Commerce (ACCOC) is a voluntary partnership of business and professional people. ACCOC works to encourage and represent responsible business activity to make the region a better place for people to live and work.

3.Addison County Business Education Partnership

Addison County Business Education Partnership (ACBEP) is charged with working to continuously develop and promote a quality workforce preparation system to effectively meet the needs of both employers and employees in our community. Through this alliance, community leaders collaborate together for the purposes of identifying both the needs, and the strategies necessary to develop both new and improve upon workforce development strategies already in existence.

d.      Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

The Addison County Economic Development Corporation with the support of the Addison County Regional Planning Commission and the Addison County Chamber of Commerce began the process of developing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Addison County in 2000. The CEDS was adopted in 2003, making the region eligible to receive funds from the federal Economic Development Administration.

 

Endnotes