Cristina Perez Ayala Cano, David Morelos Zaragoza and their German Shepherd dog, Bagheera enjoying a late summer day in southwest Vermont (photo courtesy of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber):

Vermont Business Magazine The Southwest Vermont Chamber of Commerce concludes another year of Vermont’s Stay To Stay program in December with over 200 families registered, over 50 people attending Zoom Reunions, and 8 families moving to southwest Vermont.

“As a result of these links through the program, 6 to 8 families have moved to the area this year,” said Matt Harrington, executive director of the Southwest Vermont Chamber of Commerce. “It’s huge. Those 6-8 families in small communities can influence some school boards, some school boards, volunteerism and small businesses.

“Additionally,” Harrington continued, “when we recently surveyed this year’s attendees, over 40% of the 200 registrants indicated they had an 8, 9 or 10 on the ‘ready to move here’ scale. which means they’re really about to move here.

The Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) developed the Stay to Stay initiative in 2018 as part of the Scott administration’s strategy to attract more working families and young professionals to Vermont to deal with the decline of the state workforce. The Southwest Vermont Chamber was a pilot location for the original program and has been a partner since then.

Prior to the program, Vermont experienced a declining population, an aging workforce, low unemployment, and employers struggling to find employees. According to the findings of the 2019 Southern Vermont Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan (CEDS), the shrinking and aging population in southern Vermont was having a significant impact on the economy. An issue impacting much of rural America, southern Vermont was not alone in trying to reverse this trend and had to capitalize on its ability to act regionally and move forward with competitive regional solutions.

Harrington adds, “Southwest Vermont was in a particularly difficult economic situation at the time and it also had an aging workforce and no new blood was replacing those who were retiring. We thought, well, we don’t really have an option here, do we – we have to jump at the chance. Four years and a global pandemic later, I think Southwest Vermont alone has spoken to over 300 families, created weekends for over 75 attendees, and we’ve probably seen at least a few dozen families. moving to this area because of the program. “

For Stay To Stay weekends, participating areas “rolled out the red carpet” for people who came via a form on the Vermont tourism website. The goal was to convert tourists who already enjoyed visiting Vermont into full-time residents.

The weekends started with a Friday night reception hosted by the Southwestern Vermont Chamber and partner accommodation properties including the Four Chimneys Inn. The Friday reception greeted Stay To Stay travelers with 25-30 local stakeholders joining them including selected board members, downtown program directors, young professionals, board members administration of the room and more to welcome them in town. Saturday and Sunday provided opportunities to explore the area and get a glimpse of life in the community. On Monday, attendees started their morning with a program of coffee and House conversations and then met with employers, realtors, schools and small business incubators before returning home.

The Southwest Vermont program and chamber was featured on NBC’s “Nightly News with Lester Holt” in 2018.

The COVID-19 pandemic halted weekend tours in 2020 and 2021, but partners in southwest Vermont continued the program with monthly Zoom meetings for attendees from across the country to learn more about the region. One-on-one private calls and meetings were also held with the goal of guiding people and helping them make the final decision to move to Vermont. A partnership with the Vermont Department of Labor and regional representatives quickly connected participants with employment opportunities and relocation initiatives.

“It’s part of our job to help attract young people and families to the area, retain a modern and growing workforce, and support a more diverse population,” said Harrington. “We believe that a focused and very agile program like Stay To Stay continues to be needed as we see new families and new workers eyeing Vermont. Obviously, many new families have come to Vermont due to the pandemic, but thanks to a program like Stay To Stay, they are immediately connected and engaged. This helps them to take root in the area quickly.

In addition, the region has seen its diversity increase thanks to the program. As communities in southwest Vermont continue to grow, the Chamber says it is important to harness the talent of all Vermonters so that businesses can capitalize on the growth of women, people of color and the community. LGTBQ community in the labor market.

Harrington continues, “The potential to increase diversity, through recruitment and retention efforts like Stay To Stay, is a great opportunity for Southwest Vermont and all of Vermont to become more competitive in the global economy through the unique talents and contributions of diverse communities. “

Cristina Perez Ayala Cano, 32, of Monterrey, Mexico, made her trip to the counties in southwest Vermont this summer due to the program and has since moved to Bennington, Vermont. She moved with her husband, David Morelos Zaragoza and their German Shepherd dog, Bagheera. Through various interactions with the Chamber and other partners, Cristina landed a position of Assistant Director of Admissions at Bennington College. Her husband, a videographer, recently started working at Hildene – The Lincoln Family Home. Cristina embraced the local community by volunteering for this year’s event in Garlic Town, USA and participating in activities for young professionals.

“Vermont became our first state because we were looking for a community that could be rewarding and where we could thrive,” says Perez Ayala Cano. “The Stay to Stay program helps both promote all that Vermont has to offer, as well as help you upon arrival and integrate into the social fabric that makes Vermont, and in our case Bennington, a place we now call home. “

To learn more about the Stay To Stay program, visit: https://thinkvermont.com/stay-to-stay/

Source: (Bennington, VT) – The Southwest Vermont Chamber of Commerce 11.15.2021