VSAC Response to the Vermont Governor's Budget Address

The following was released in response to the January 18, 2022 budget address delivered by Vt. Gov. Phil Scott.

Winooski, VT -- The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. (VSAC) thanks Gov. Phil Scott for his leadership and support and for recognizing that making a strong commitment to expanding educational and training opportunities in Vermont is essential to addressing our state’s demographic challenge.

“Vermont’s workforce development, affordable higher education, more internships opportunities, and renewed emphasis on trades training for Vermonters are critical to build the Vermont economy of the future,” said Scott Giles, VSAC president & CEO. “Initiatives led by VSAC including 802 Opportunity and Advancements Grants have proven very successful. Investing wisely in these programs create huge dividends for Vermont families and for the Vermont economy.”

VSAC Highlights:

Workforce Recruitment and Retention

$10 million to reduce education costs for those working towards jobs in the trades, like CDL drivers, plumbers, and welders, including $3 million to help students attain a nursing degree.

Advancement Grant

 $1 Million added to VSAC’s Advancement Grants to help adults pursue non-degree training programs and put people into careers with higher wages like LNAs, EMTs, line workers and web programmers.  

802 Opportunity

$1.5 million for 802 Opportunity to allow any Vermonter from a family earning less than $75,000 to attend Community College of Vermont tuition-free.  Since it began last fall, some 1,750 students have participated in 802 Opportunity. The current eligibility cut-off is a family Adjusted Gross Income of less than $50,000 per year.

VSAC looks forward to working with the Governor and with the legislature to fully fund these vital efforts to meet today’s critical workforce needs and build Vermont’s workforce of the future.

Read the full address here