Vermont Chamber Pushes for Workforce Training

Advocating for greater integration of the business, education and workforce training sectors, Vermont Chamber President, Betsy Bishop, moderated a workforce development panel during a daylong conference in Randolph today.

Bishop said, “Even in this economic climate, finding skilled workers to fill key jobs challenges many Vermont employers. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is committed to helping member businesses address this need.”

Held at Vermont Chamber member, Vermont Technical College, and organized by a number of statewide partners, the panel addressed the question of how to bridge the gap between current actions and future needs in skill training. “With focused training, both employers and employees benefit, making business good for Vermont,” said Rick Milliken, chair of the Vermont Chamber Board of Directors and general manager of the Doubletree Hotel in South Burlington.

Over the last year, the Vermont Chamber identified a clear need in the hospitality sector and subsequently embarked upon a project with the New England Culinary Institute, Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and the state Workforce Development Council to establish an Industry and Education Center of Excellence (IECE) for Vermont’s hospitality industry. The Vermont Chamber entered this partnership in recognition that hospitality is one of the few sectors that has maintained a high level revenue contribution to the state during the last economic cycle.

The goals of the Hospitality IECE are to strengthen the state’s hospitality career education and training programs, to provide Vermonters incentives to pursue hospitality careers in Vermont, and to support sustainable economic growth and commerce. The IECE will facilitate workforce apprenticeships, create a hospitality industry and career promotion strategy, and support career advancement opportunities for hospitality employees.

As the Hospitality IECE progresses, more attention is being drawn to workforce development. “We believe that a committed and highly skilled workforce is essential to the competitive position and future growth of the hospitality industry in the state, and through this effort we are developing a comprehensive education and training system to support the industry,” stated Bishop.

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