Bill > S0327

This bill enacts several provisions aimed at economic development in Vermont, including establishing a study by the Commissioner of Economic Development to identify and improve communication of resources for business growth at all stages, with a report due by December 15, 2026. It also modifies the Convention Center Task Force by adding the President of the University of Vermont as a member and extending its reporting deadline to December 1, 2026, and its existence to July 1, 2027, while increasing the number of meetings for which members can be reimbursed. The bill also repeals the authority to award Vermont Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI) applications after January 1, 2027, and reduces the annual cap for VEGI incentives, while also initiating a study on developing postsecondary culinary and hospitality education programs, with a report due by December 1, 2026, and establishing a two-year hospitality and culinary apprenticeship pilot program with reports due in December 2026 and December 2028. Furthermore, it restructures the Rural Industry Development Grant Program, making it more visible and clarifying eligible activities and award amounts, including provisions for "federally impacted property," and it authorizes "nickel rounding" for cash transactions, allowing businesses to round final amounts to the nearest five cents, with specific notice requirements and exclusions, and establishes a Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) district program, allowing municipalities to designate themselves as such districts to facilitate private financing for renewable energy, energy efficiency, water conservation, and resiliency improvement projects on commercial or industrial buildings, with specific rules regarding agreements, liens, and program administrators.