Montpelier, VT (September 3, 2025) – The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has announced the keynote presentations for the 2025 Solutions Summit. Grounded in the Vermont Economic Action Plan, this event focuses on solutions for workforce growth, housing expansion, and community revitalization. Held on September 18, 2025, at Hotel Champlain in Burlington, this year’s event will bring together business, state, and municipal leaders to translate strategy into action.

Attendees will explore the foundations of the Economic Action Plan and hear from other communities and businesses at various stages of implementation. Through expert insights and break-out sessions, attendees will develop scalable, actionable strategies to build a more affordable, prosperous Vermont. Keynote presentations include:

• Building Vermont’s Talent Advantage, Stephen Moret, President & CEO, Strada Foundation
  • Vermont’s economic future depends on people. As policymakers and business leaders advance the Vermont Economic Action Plan, the state faces a dual challenge: expanding its working-age population and increasing labor force participation. In this keynote, Stephen Moret will share national and Vermont-specific insights on labor force participation and interstate migration of college graduates, along with lessons from Strada’s research on education and employment outcomes. The session will highlight how Vermont can expand opportunities for individuals and strengthen talent pipelines for employers, positioning the state as both an attractive place to live and a competitive place to grow a business.
• MythBusters: Addressing Pushback and Building Buy-In, Kevin Chu, Executive Director of the Vermont Futures Project
  • Myths about growth in Vermont are widespread — from “growth will turn Vermont into New Jersey” to “there aren’t enough jobs” to “Vermont doesn’t have the capacity for more people.” In this interactive session, Kevin Chu will combine numbers and narrative to dispel common misperceptions, preparing attendees to leave as data-informed ambassadors for growth.
• What’s Possible: Investing Now for Prosperous, Sustainable Neighborhoods, Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak; Maggie Super Church (Massachusetts Community Climate Bank); Evan Langfeldt (O’Brien Brothers); Mari McClure (Green Mountain Power); Moderated by Javier Silva (Federal Reserve Bank of New York)
  • This keynote panel explores how Vermont can embrace economic growth while advancing climate resilience, affordability, and abundance. Moderated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and grounded in their publication What’s Possible: Investing Now for Prosperous, Sustainable Neighborhoods, the conversation will feature voices from Vermont and beyond, highlighting how innovative cross-sector collaboration can drive sustainable development.

Attendees will gain insight into practical, forward-looking strategies and examples of success that align investment with impact. The takeaway: economic development and environmental stewardship are not competing priorities but complementary forces. Through real-world experience and cross-sector collaboration, panelists will share what’s working, and what’s scalable, and what solutions can come next as we collectively explore what’s possible for Vermont’s future. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of What’s Possible.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is committed to advancing the Vermont economy and shaping solutions for workforce growth, housing expansion and community revitalization, ensuring our state remains competitive in an ever-evolving economic landscape. The Solutions Summit is sponsored by Google, Delta Dental, UVM Health Network, Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development/Department of Labor, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group, Acrisure, Carris Reels, Front Porch Forum, Green Mountain Power, O’Brien Brothers, VELCO, Vermont Federal Credit Union, and Vermont Saves. Registration for the Solutions Summit is currently open; visit vtchamber.com/vermont-solutions-summit/ for registration and additional information.