Lt. Governor Phil Scott Issues Statement on Regional Chamber of Commerce Closure
Montpelier, Vt. – Lt. Governor Phil Scott today issued following statement about the closure of the Manchester and Mountains Regional Chamber of Commerce, which he referenced in a recent statement:
“In late March, a regional chamber of commerce in Bennington County announced it would have to close its doors. One of the primary reasons for its closure was a major financial setback with the loss of the ability to offer insurance to members in 2014 due to Vermont Health Connect. Days after the chamber announced its intention to close, the community rallied together to try to preserve it. There was a glimmer of hope for the chamber and community.
“We learned today, however, that despite the best efforts of community members, the Manchester and the Mountains Regional Chamber of Commerce is filing for bankruptcy.
“While it’s long past time to transition to a health insurance exchange that works and is affordable, the impact of Vermont Health Connect on this local chamber is a painful symptom of the underlying disease: The business and political climate in Vermont is increasingly hostile to small businesses and their employees.
“We can change this – and we should start now. If we all work together and pull in the same direction, treat our businesses as partners, and grow Vermont’s population, we can reverse this trend. We must think about what we want Vermont’s future to look like and the Legislature must craft policies which help make that a reality – before another business or another chamber is forced to close its doors.”