A View From the Hills

A TABLE FOR ONE

HIRING YOURSELF IS ONE WAY TO FIND A JOB

No surprise... times are tough all over, and Vermont is no exception. But tight job market or no, you're committed to moving to Vermont. Naturally, you'll submit your resume from one end of your new community to another. You may even be willing to make a radical career change if it means more time with your family and realizing your dream of moving to Vermont.

Which doesn't necessarily mean a job will be waiting for you. Work in the Stowe and Smuggler's Notch area tends to be in the tourism industry, which in turn tends to be seasonal. The tourism industry does need professionals, from accountants to marketing executives to management, but many of the positions created by tourism are front line hospitality in nature. Perhaps not quite what you imagined for yourself.

Which leaves you with a couple of options: commute to a larger job market, Burlington for example, or make your own work. Thanks to telecommuting it is now possible to move a consulting business to Vermont, complete with your stable of clients, smoothly and seamlessly. Powershift Online is one of several local firms which offer high speed access within the Lamoille County area.

The Lamoille Economic Development Corporation works with new businesses to secure commercial space, permits and funding, and their site has additional resources and information for relocating a business to Vermont.

How difficult is it to set up shop in Vermont? Vermont has become decidedly pro-enterprise in the past few years as state government has come to recognize the need for a more diverse economic base. Regional technical centers and state colleges provide a steady stream of well trained and qualified potential employees, some with world class talent. Just as you have come to recognize that certain adjustments may have to be made with regards to your income expectations upon moving to Vermont, so too these people are committed to Vermont and their communities and have an expectation that they'll be trading higher than average incomes for a better than average place to live.

What sort of businesses thrive in Vermont? In Lamoille County there are several small firms which cater to the wedding industry; staging and managing weddings for clients who wish to marry locally but are coming from some distance. There are several manufacturers of sporting goods, both hardware and softgoods. The ski and recreational opportunities in the area offer ample opportunity for product testing. There are a number of retailers who are also doing significant business through e-commerce, at least two writers who have created online publications as vehicles for their businesses, and people who have set up businesses to support the second home owner.

Your own creativity and work style will determine what work you're best suited to. If you're uncertain, visit the LEDC website and set up a meeting with our local Small Business expert. She'll be able to guide you through from business plan to financing, to launching your enterprise.