SEVEDS Board Agenda Meeting, December 17, 2015 | 3pm-5pm BDCC
In Attendance: Dutch Walsh, Patrick Moreland, Bill Colvin, Jill James, Bob Stevens, Luke Stafford, Drew Riachards, Martin Langeveld , Ariel Brooks Avery Schwenk, Laura Sibilia, Kristin Mehalick, Alex Beck, Adam Grinold, Jodi Clark,
Via Conference Call: Carolyn Blitz
The Usual Business
- Welcome and Gathering
- Groundbreaking at GSP-the event has now been moved to 12:30 pm on January 28th, Eli Goulds will follow at 2:00 pm
- Approve Minutes
- October Minutes
- November Minutes
- Review and Approve October and November Financials – Jill
- Financials approved for October and November
- Planning to form a Committee to resolve some of the SeVEDS
financial issues
- Executive Committee Recommendation on New SeVEDS Board Chair – Ariel
- Motion approved – Bob Stevents elected as new SeVEDS Board
Chair
- Looking for someone to be reappointed in July
- January Board Meeting Location and Confirming New Meeting Time 3:00 – 5:00 pm
- Moving the meeting back to 2-4 pm
CEDS and FY ‘16 Board Priority Area Updates
- General CEDS –
- CEDS Committee and Scheduling – Jodi
- CEDS Committee needs to meet twice a year
- All of SeVEDS Board plus additional members
- Meet set for January 21st 1:00 pm, right before SeVEDS board
meeting
- January 21st CEDS Committee Meeting – Jodi
- Press Release Event, January 4th? – Jodi
- CEDS Objective 1: Act Regionally
- FYI: Update on CEDS Project Proposals Received and Review Team -Jodi
- Approval of 2015 CEDS Project Rankings – Jodi
- Vital projects: the highest priority and more urgent
- Every project that is submitted receives the benefit of being a part of
the CEDS
- What is the process for challenging a ranking: board has the opportunity to change the rankings but has never done so previously
- Suggestion to rank all projects below the vital line in alphabetical order and the vitals to remain ranked – motion approved
- CEDS Objective 2: Create an entrepreneurial environment and culture to enhance existing business and grow new business.
- Board 2016 Priority: FYI Update of Accelerator – Kristin (see below in consultant update)
- CEDS Objective 3: Improve wage parity with the surrounding laborshed
- Board 2016 Priority: Green Building, Healthcare, Tech Driven Precision Manufacturing
- FYI: Update on work with Consultant Team: – Kristin
1- Depth and breadth of assets supporting development of products and services for green, sustainable and resilient high performance buildings is even more significant than initially mapped.
2- Economic development, education and private sector players in the green building space are very energized about the opportunity to connect assets across state and county boundaries.
3- Leadership team for the Green Building Cluster is strong and diverse in terms of sector expertise. Members seem genuinely excited about the potential of the growth opportunity that can be realized.
4- Windham Counties export growth relative to other counties in the region as well as compared to VT and NH as a whole is quite impressive. (5.6% or almost $216 Million from 2012-2013)
5- Workforce development solutions for higher paying certified career positions is urgent across numerous industries and requires an accelerated and higher quality sustainable systems solution now.
Multiple companies are expanding in the region (advanced manufacturing,healthcare, technology, hospitality, etc.
6- Support services for development of entrepreneurs and innovations within existing businesses is much stronger in Franklin and Cheshire County than in Windham and Bennington County
7-Post-secondary graduation completions (3,500+ in 2014) far exceed current job placement demand, which means the region can support initial growth projections for the green building cluster.Know that there are businesses in the area that are not expanding in the area due to lack of resources
8- 5,265 persons of ages 29 and younger are commuting outside the region to find work. This presents a real opportunity to grow the millennial workforce within the region. What is the education at this level?
9- There is no recognized “hub” for entrepreneurs and innovators in the region. This supports the need for a regional business accelerator resource
10- Talent attraction is an issue all over the region. However, there are indications that the “sustainability ethic” of the region is a strong attractor for younger talent from other regions Jim’s visit to the region the week of December 7th. Attracting employees from across the United States
- FYI: Green Building Leadership Team progress – Frank
- FYI: Milestone One Event, January 28th, 3-5:30 pm Location: TBA
- CEDS Objective 4: increase the size and quality of the workforce
- Board 2016 Priority: Workforce Development and Internship Program
- FYI – 2 New Internship Opportunities Posted
- FYI – WETF Grant Submitted (Attached)
- 2 Interns in Process
- CEDS Objective 5: Retain and attract younger talent through engagement linkages, lifestyle amenities, and meaningful career opportunities
- Board 2016 Priority: SoVT Recruiting
- So.VT YP- Katie Nicgorski from Mnt. Snow Region new steering
committee member
- Six Month event calendar
- Leaders out across the region reaching out to other young professionals
- Fundraiser planned for February 27th, “Creative Black Tie Gala”, currently looking for sponsorship and in-kind auction prizes.
- Fundraiser for the YP Group
- Hoping to hold a slide auction and engaged the whole community
- Community wide event
- CEDS Objective 6: Refine and implement VY-specific workforce and site impact mitigation strategies related to it’s closure
- Tri State CEDS alignment – Adam/Laura
Substantive Discussions
- Regional Selectboard meetings and scheduling – board discussion on petitioning -Kristin and Laura
- What assistants we can rely on from the board for attending the town meetings in March – being mindful of where we are putting our efforts in
- Focus efforts on higher population of towns
- Tracking list for each town meeting
- Utilizing the Young Professionals group for town meeting day
- Frank Knott on Accelerator
- Frank provided an update on the Accelerator and the feasibility study that is being conducted throughout the region
- Frank and Jim will be back in region the week of January 25th to continue the feasibility and facilitate the Green Building Milestone 1 Event
Other Business / Announcements (as needed)
- 501c3 Status Update (if any) – Adam/Laura
- No update
Next Regular Board Meeting will be on Thursday, January 21st. Location BDCC