 Well, first of all, I wanted to give a quick update on the weather with severe winds and rain. We're seeing outages across the state Approximately 10,000 customers are without power particularly in southern Vermont Green Mountain power from on electric co-op and Washington electric co-op are the primary utilities impacted at this time Additional crews have been requested by Green Mountain power from Canada and our Department of Emergency Management is supporting that request We expect the winds to continue to gust to 30 to 45 miles per hour much of the day today and then die down tonight So more outages could come The temperatures will be in the 40s and 50s. That's somewhat good news in some respects Rain will continue in the Champlain Valley throughout the day and a flood watch is still in effect for most of Vermont except for the Northeast Kingdom until tomorrow morning Small streams have been impacted. So water moves to the larger rivers So the Winooski Otter Creek and Mad Rivers are all expected to rise But we don't expect any widespread flooding as a result So I want to thank the utility crews for all the work they're doing and going to be doing as well as the local municipalities for their work And we're here to help and we'll continue to update as we move through the next couple of days So now to the task at hand Good morning And thanks for being here today. It seems that most are starting to recognize that Vermont has a workforce challenge We still have around 14,000 fewer people working today than we did at our peak 10 years ago I've made reversing this trend the top priority of my administration because we need more people here to fill the good jobs that we have available To buy houses put kids in our schools This will help lessen and spread the tax burden across a much larger population We desperately need more workers across all sectors But a critical need is in the trades Because we won't have homes to buy or roads to drive or bridges to cross or parks to visit if we don't have anyone to build them And that's why I was pleased to sign out proclamation designated october as careers in construction month in vermont This proclamation was requested by a contractor in winewski Vhv company who is here today Because they and many others wanted to highlight the importance of the construction trades And the critical role they have in building all we have around us Another goal was to increase awareness and interest particularly among students In pursuing these worthwhile careers These are goals. I share as someone who grew up in the trades and the construction business We've seen a trend for decades where kids were are pushed towards a traditional four-year degree And these programs are important and valuable But the unintended consequence is fewer kids seeking vocational careers Which are just as important because we need these professions to keep our state running and country running as well We must strengthen our pipeline in these fields because 25 percent of construction workers in vermont are over the age of 55 And six percent are over the age of 65 Think about that the next time you need a carpenter a plumber electrician This is not a field where you want a shortage because when you call them you typically really need them And beyond the need they're also good careers And ones we should appreciate and take pride in Because reducing the stigma around the trades and blue collar jobs is our collective responsibility Part of that comes with rethinking our education system from cradle to career Because as i've said before whether it's a phd or a cdl All vermonters deserve a path to meaningful employment While we face challenges to grow our pool of construction professionals My team along with our partners are committed to helping vermonters pursue this path and providing the training and skills to do so We're here to talk a little bit more about that work So i'd like to invite secretary curly at this time to share a little more about our needs in this sector Secretary Thank you governor I'm honored to be here today to to celebrate the importance of careers in construction I'd like to highlight how careers In construction and the construction industry as a whole contributes to a strong economy The construction industry and the jobs that the industry provides Represents an investment to our state's future Whether it's public works constructions like roads and bridges Things that serve the transportation needs for decades to come Health care facilities and schools for us to provide needed services to our residents Residential construction that contributes and provides our housing stock or commercial and industrial construction that supports all other sectors in the economy The important work of the construction sector is work that we will benefit from year to year In 2018 the construction sector alone employed more than 15 000 vermaners And total wage contributions were almost 780 million dollars These figures represent nearly five percent of the employment and wage totals for our state In addition, we know there are many self-employed folks in the construction industry as well In fact in 2017 the census bureau reported more than 8600 self-employed individuals In the construction sector grossing an additional 495 million dollars annually Another way to look at the construction industry's incredible impact on vermont Is to look at the contribution of construction to the state's gross domestic product In 2018 construction provided 1.14 billion dollars in GDP Which represented nearly four percent of the state's total which is 33.7 billion Construction workers possess all the skillsets needed to maintain and grow our infrastructure Our construction workforce is aging as the governor said and we're focused on finding workers who possess the skillsets needed to fill these jobs Focused efforts by the agency of education the vermont department of labor The agency of commerce and community development along with construction associations Education and trading providers and employers in our state are working diligently and creatively To establish a pipeline of future construction workers You'll hear more about these efforts from deputy education secretary boucher Acting labor commissioner herrington and president molton of vtc at this time I'd like to turn it over to deputy secretary boucher Good morning Excuse me It's a pleasure to be with you this morning to speak about our ongoing work at the agency of education to strengthen career pipelines and the construction trades As governor scott discussed As both governor the governor and secretary curly mentioned we face today a critical shortage of skilled workers going into the construction trades As part of the solution to that challenge at the agency of education We've been focused on developing specific career pathways in construction Beginning as early as middle school as part of our broader effort to ensure that all students graduate from high school Fully career and college ready with all the skills they need to successfully make their next move after graduating We've been executing on this initiative as governor scott mentioned as part of the cradle to career vision That is a core part of the governor's vision for vermont's education system And we've also been doing this work in partnership with our friends and colleagues at the department of labor The agency of commerce and community development and numerous other community stakeholders In construction, particularly we hear consistently from employers that they need employees with a high level of skill And will pay high wages to those who have that skill set Some of those positions can begin directly after high school and some require additional trades based post-secondary training or education Our focus has been to help ensure that vermont's career technical education system or cte system And our high school programs are designed so that students graduate with a clear knowledge of the skills required At entry mid level at advanced levels of work in the construction trades Students know what is needed and they know how to obtain additional work based learning Internships or additional training experiences should they need to pursue those opportunities To that end in 2018 we endorsed the national center for construction education and research's better known as ncr nccer excuse me introductory craft skills curriculum for implementation in all 17 of vermont's cte centers The nccer curriculum is a program used nationwide that culminates in stackable credentials If you don't know what stackable credentials means These are an accumulation of training sequences over time that taken together Ideally prepare an individual for their specific occupation Including the capacity to shift either horizontally or laterally to positions that Are not are sort of similar but needed need a unique skill set and eventually to shift vertically up in their career Building stackable credentials typically occurs in a nimble more flexible just-in-time fashion Then do traditional certification or licensure programs. We need all of these But I think we really need to invest in some of these stackable credential offerings This curriculum endorsement and adoption ensures that all of our employers in the construction trades Can anticipate and bank on the same skill set for all of our graduating cte students statewide And it's also important to note that both employers and cte faculty were critical participants and drivers of this work And we were careful about crafting this initiative that way because we wanted to make sure that we had buy-in and sustainability For the approach we also partnered with the vermont talent pipeline to carry this work part of the vermont business round table Currently we're working with each of the cte centers across vermont to implement this shared curriculum The initial implementation went live last year in fall of 2018 for the entire school year And I can't say I'm not sure this would actually be meaningful for folks But the fact that all of our cte centers are doing the same thing In a particular program of study is actually brand new to our state Usually it's it's very individualized at each particular local cte center So we're actually moving now towards evaluating that that implementation and ensuring that All of our instructors out in the field have the requisite skills to fully implement and to Feel very comfortable about the next step in terms of ensuring that our students get this particular educational curriculum We're also working with cte centers our friends at labor vermont technical college and community college of vermont to develop additional career pathways in the construction trades expanding the roles of apprenticeships in trade programs including plumbing electrical and heating ventilation and air conditioning all critical needs in our State broadly thinking of trades as the governor mentioned And making sure that the initial part of our construction trades pipeline provided at the secondary level So before students actually graduate from high school Really making sure that align seamlessly with the latter aspects of the pipeline that are occurring in the form of registered apprenticeships and post secondary certificate and degree programs across the state In closing I would just echo what the governor and um, secretary curly said in terms of Not being able to say enough about the importance of this work for our economy statewide It's a critical occupational field for vermont and we all have more to do Construction fields offer hands-on high paying jobs in many cases to students just graduating from our cte and apprentice programs But also to those who are seeking additional training and certifications And I believe our collaborative complex work relying on the active involvement of multiple state agencies As you can see as well as employers and educators is really paving the way for the future of education in vermont It's offering clear opportunity and success for our students while simultaneously benefiting our construction employers and businesses It's truly a win-win for all Thank you very much. I'd like to now introduce uh commissioner acting commissioner Mike herrington who will share some perspectives from the vermont department of labor Thank you everyone. I have some remarks here. I but before I do I just want to um give a special thank you to the folks from vermont heating and ventilation it's because of their attention to this topic that we're here today and I just want to say thank you for for bringing us this opportunity so we can celebrate this today and Thank you to the governor uh for supporting this activity today I have to imagine it probably wasn't a hard sell to get him to sign on to this proclamation But let me just say that the construction industry in vermont Is vital to our economy and our workforce Prior to the last recession this industry accounted for about 17 000 jobs However, over the past 10 years we saw that drop especially during the recession Of about 25 percent In the height of the recession that was in 2010 Since then this crucial trade has seen steady growth and currently employs more than 15 000 Vermonters as was mentioned earlier while great progress has been made over the past decade. It is not enough Construction has been and will continue to be a key industry in vermont And because of this the state of vermont and the department of labor continue to invest in training opportunities that advance the skills of those either already in the industry or looking to start a career in the industry Specifically vermont has doubled its efforts with regards to apprenticeships Through more direct efforts specialized programs and recent federal investments the state's apprenticeship program is able to assist employers In building their future workforce Currently there are over 28 registered apprenticeship programs in the state of vermont And over the past 12 months we've had almost 2000 apprentices go through those programs Of these apprentices 70 percent have been in the construction fields Through apprenticeship programs employers can provide critical job training Specific to their business needs while apprentices are learning valuable skills through on the job training This model allows for existing and future workers to be better prepared for the current and future employment demands All while earning a paycheck Our priority remains To grow vermont's economy and expand our state's workforce by continuing to invest in industries that are the backbone of this state For employers who see this announcement We would strongly encourage you to consider developing an apprenticeship program such as vhv At your own company or with a local educational institution Especially as next month we like to celebrate national apprenticeship week from november 11th through the 17th It's now my pleasure to introduce one of our key apprenticeship partners pat molten president of vermont technical college Thank you all Thank you very much commissioner herrington. Thank you governor scott for giving me the opportunity today I also want to kudos to vermont heating and ventilating for really bringing attention to the construction trades and to you governor For stepping up and and signing this proclamation to bring attention to such an important Sector here in vermont and vermont technical college is honored to offer the plumbing and electrical apprenticeship program for the state of vermont We do that in partnership with the vermont department of labor We've had this excellent partnership for a number of years and we deliver this training At 12 sites around the state sarah blue from our continuing education and workforce development division is here And that's the division that heads up the apprentice. She's very much engaged with the apprentices and I'm always impressed at the employers who support these students and the students themselves as sarah and i were chatting They're going to work all day. They're coming to class in the evening. They're coming to class on saturday They're juggling family and everything that goes with it But they know that that's going to end up in a really lucrative career that enables them to afford the quality of life That's so important to them and the construction industry and the related trades Provide that opportunity for vermonters in many cases as the governor points out without a degree But we also have opportunities for degrees in the construction trades Our construction project management program gives students the education they need to lead large commercial industrial and other building projects around the state As excuse me deputy secretary boucher mentioned The career and technical education centers are an excellent place for students to launch that career And that career pathway and we're working with cte centers to build direct pathways to our degree programs And we're looking at other opportunities beyond construction project management where we can offer additional certificate and or degree programs We offer an auto technology and diesel technology program, which is also critical to the construction trades Somebody's got to keep the machinery working Our architectural engineering technology program is teaching students how to design and build energy efficient buildings of the future Technologies we probably can't even envision right now Our civil engineering associate's degree prepares graduates for careers in road bridge and other infrastructure construction fields Which is so critical and we work very closely with the vermont agency of transportation to prepare students for careers at V-trans and in the construction trades V-trans sponsors every year for us a bridge building contest that we do for middle and high school students Where they literally build a bridge out of popsicle sticks dental floss and elmer's glue And if you ever want to have a good time come down to the bridge building contest because especially the middle schoolers They have uniforms they decorate their bridges and we have a machine that actually Smashes the bridges and will register the amount of weight and support And we've had a middle school class come up with a bridge that sustained over 2000 pounds of pressure out of popsicle sticks And glue and dental floss those are the future engineers of tomorrow And we do that to try to introduce students to these lucrative careers in fact just today governor We have over 700 young ladies on our campus in randolph center for the women can do conference This is an opportunity where we introduce young ladies to non-traditional careers in construction Engineering law enforcement firefighting you you name it It's always a gorgeous day for when these girls come to campus for women can't can do but They just bully on through because that's what women do and we're very pleased to do that in construction In conjunction with vermont works for women the mcclure foundation the vermont's women's fund and the agency of education And v trans is there this morning with trucks and and machinery and introducing students to the opportunities Our continuing education and workforce development and the division is also engaged in green building trainings that we can certify folks to do Building inspections and other green building techniques The division also is working again with nccr You'll notice a theme here offering a credentials project supervision course in the construction trade trades to become site certified leaders We offer a number of summer camp opportunities to young people to experience and and experiment with various careers Our rosie's girl stem leadership camp at our randolph center campus engages young young ladies in leadership Development around science technology math and engineering the stem field We will be offering again this year the national summer transportation Institute working with v trans at and it will be at our randolph and wiliston campuses We have some information on the table This provides young men and women the opportunity to explore careers in transportation through awareness of the complex transportation systems We've all come to rely on and we offer other summer camps for middle and high school students in computer programming Aeronautics and more these are there are excellent opportunities in the construction sector in vermont And vermont tech is proud to prepare students to to launch those careers Through certificates as well as degree programs and we're pleased to continue to partner with the state of vermont and expanding our apprenticeship programs And expanding opportunities for young people in this trade It is lucrative and there are many opportunities and thank you very much for the opportunity Well, thank you very much pat and you do tremendous work there at vtc and it continues to be a staple in the in this profession Um At this point, we'd be happy to answer any questions you have about the subject at hand Then we can get into other questions if you'd like after it seems governor since the day you took office The demographic challenge has been at the top of your list. Yeah. I mean, is there any place in vermont where there isn't a demographic challenge? Unfortunately, no And that's part of our struggle and part of our challenge and when you look back at I talk about this a lot of 30 000 fewer kids that we have in our schools from 20 years ago That has a ripple effect across our state colleges as well as in all sectors And I think it really does impact the trades in particular Because they're the ones to stay here in vermont and and we're not having we we've somewhat lost the crop so we have to find Approaches ways to to entice to bring more people into the into the state Whether it's through the immigration or whether it's with some of the state-to-state programs and and so forth that we've we've been encountering As well as the, you know, the military Pensions that I keep talking about that we should we should stop Attaxing military pensions because we want people after they retire from the military. They're in their their prime And they can come back into the workforce So they they pay attention to who attacks us and who doesn't we're one of just a handful of states under 10 at this point That continues to tax their their pensions So they don't come here. So we have to find other opportunities every way we can To attract more people into the state and affordability is part of that Do you have a sense of how many construction jobs are open right now that aren't filled? I Might might be able to answer this but but I would Every sector is impacted and I would say that There is not a construction company in vermont that isn't looking for help But I don't know if you have any statistics. The only thing I would say is We did go back into the numbers and look at this but the it's such seasonal work And it fluctuates so much that it's hard at any one given time to be able to track how many positions are open For instance right now, you know, we're we're on the downward side of the construction season So that changes and skews the numbers And I but the thing I would also point out is we don't typically think of all the ancillary construction Jobs that are out there too. So when we talk about flaggers And gis and and other things of that nature, they're not I don't think we think about them as construction work, but they are part of that cohort of people It sounds like you were talking about the the folks that are in a pipeline to sort of become involved in the trades and the construction trades in vermont, I mean Are you Obviously, we have a demographic issue. There aren't enough people young people sort of in our school systems, but as far as Things are going right now. Are you satisfied with the number of people that are sounds like the answer is no based on But what is the goal for like the number of Um students in college and or high school you'd like to see Yeah, well, I we'd always like to see more. I think there's That's in my mind a two issue one is internal Within our state and then external. How do we bring more people to our state? So for me? I think there's always we always see a demand We can always put more people into the funnel and into the system You know, we would when we talk about reversing the trend And and bringing more people in it's not just about going to a net neutral We need to be in a net positive And so while we talk about losing You know 6,000 people out of our workforce in our schools that that actually equates to us needing to attract more than that To begin to rebuild You know the the funnel and the people in our system and in our going through our programs So, um, you know, it's it's quite a feat, but I you know, we're we're working diligently and and um, I think we've seen progress and and we'll continue to see progress Well again with a 2.1 percent unemployment rate the lowest in the in the country Yeah, at the beginning, do you think too many young people are going to school for four-year degrees? Well, I think there are other opportunities. I think that we we should be looking to make sure that we um Utilize the two-year programs as well as some of the the industry themselves have have Stepped up to the plate and and it provided training in different ways I think there's other approaches that we'd be taking traditionally everyone looked at a four-year program Uh, I'd say from our technical college In its history had two-year degrees associate degrees and could go on to a four-year program At that point I've had numerous friends that went for civil engineering at VTC and went from there from a two-year program to a four-year at uvm But I I also know many who went through the the two-year Civil engineering program who work for the state right now in in v-trans So, um, I just think that we uh, we have to to to think outside the box We have to to continue to find different approaches And and not use the the four-year Degree as a barrier For for those interested in the trade it isn't always the answer If I if I may add at vermont tech, we have certificate which are one-year programs. We're building more CCV also community college of vermont's engaged in certificate programs And often that's really all you need to get out and into the into the trades with a certificate And then sometimes students get the get bitten by the bug and want to go on and get their associate's degree or bachelors But it's important and I agree with the governor It's important to offer all kinds of pathways for students Maybe you can't afford a four-year degree right out of the gate a certificate or associates is a great way to start Engaging in the apprenticeship programs. We're launching new apprenticeship programs in various Accounting health care and construction and industrial maintenance. Those are great opportunities You earn and learn at the same time so there's always room for a four-year degree But there's always lots of other options again I think what you've done with the apprenticeship program in conjunction with the state Is a model for other sectors as well I mean these are if you go to the to the graduation which I've done for the last number of years And these are people who are working during the day and they're going to classes at night It might take them years to accomplish But they're committed and and I and it's really rewarding to see The families who are there and these these these employees Coming up through the ranks and wanting to better themselves. So this has been whether it's in electrical or plumbing There's other opportunities as well for apprenticeships I guess does any of what needs to happen involve changing our or expanding our Vacational offerings or is this more about getting people here? It's it's a little bit of both Trying to to blend I believe I you know, I was in When I went to spalding I did I was in the vocational program in the afternoons Because I love to build and craft and create things. So and I really liked to do that So I went in entered the program in the afternoons For two years. I was in the machine trades program And then I did my college prep in the mornings, but there's a certain stigma that was attached to that I didn't feel a part of either. I felt as though Those in the college prep in the mornings wondered why the vocational kid was here with them in the in the mornings And in the afternoons They looked at me differently because I was in the in the other wing in the morning So it's there's a stigma that does exist I think it's up to us to try and blend that to to combine that it's not Just for those who can't make it in one area or the other It's it's it's a great opportunity and and very rewarding and then these are these are highly paid jobs at this point because of supply and demand And as they can attest to I mean they're they're living this For month eating and ventilating. I'm sure you're looking for help today, right? Yeah, how many would you could you take today? Yeah, so every company is looking for help right now Sure, come on another So, uh, I think I think um, one of the real key pieces is we're starting introducing students to these CTE programs early on so in seventh grade they're starting to learn about these particular particular options The other thing I don't um, I talked about the shared curriculum. I think part of the Strategy with that is then we have very usually CTE regional centers have very tight connections at the local level And they're able to work closely But we want a system where students who graduate from any of those tech centers can actually go around the state and could actually Be employed to to make to to fill some of those gaps that are that are where you folks are even though they've been trained in the south For instance, so I think that's part of what we're doing around that systemic change too Thank you, other Any other questions about the topic? So you're welcome to stay but Be happy to take any other questions or try to answer any other questions you might have Uh, what's been Your reaction within the republican party will stay wide in nationally to your thoughts on the impeachment issue Um, to be honest, I haven't heard back from any any officials within within the party Um, or for that matter, uh, any other governors who happen to be republicans Uh, we certainly have a number of people on both sides the aisle calling in uh to the governor's office Either uh thanking or voicing their displeasure for any action I might take but But officially I have heard nothing from anyone else I mean, I've seen some Not some nice things on some of the national media the national conservative media You don't pay attention to those I try not to right, you know, I'm just trying to do What I think is right, um, I've I've explained it I feel as though I'm I'm like an umpire or a judge. I just call the call them the way you see them And try and be honest about that and forthright. I think we have an obligation as political leaders within our own states Throughout the the country we see so much polarization So much divisiveness, uh, that we have an obligation to reinstall that faith and trust that's been lost people want to have faith in their government And we as leaders have a responsibility just tell the truth and be as transparent as we can Regardless of the ramifications, you know, who knows what will happen in the next election for for anyone. So But but while you're in office, uh, you take an oath To uphold the constitution As well as to do your best for your constituents and and that's that's all I try to do Um, you might have seen senator ash recently sent a letter to the treasurer urging her to divest our pensions from fossil fuel companies investments and I'm just wondering if you would ever Support that if that's something you Want to look at after gmp. Yeah, I thought the that was interesting gmp divesting I think this has been a topic of conversation Obviously, this is under the purview of the treasurer And I'm sure she'll take this seriously be happy to To talk with her about that, but um, but Again, I think she has a uh a responsibility as well to oversee that and that's her She'll make a decision on her. I I would defer to her. I mean in in theory. Do you think it's a good idea? I think I think again, she has a responsibility, uh to To the pensions and and retirement funds and so forth So she's trying to do the best she can to make sure that we're we're Able to pay those pensions in the end and and you know, we're having that debate We've had this debate for last number of years about the the lack of Of the underfunding of our pensions and our liabilities. So This falls within that. So she's she's got a tough Balancing act. So she determined that it was risky to pull those investments. You well, they they were apparently I mean I'm not I don't want to speak for her. I think it's a better question for her But obviously she's trying to do the best she can balancing Those funds that are lucrative with those who who are which aren't and trying to do whatever she can to make sure that She maintains that balance We're seeing some pretty big headlines overseas right now the u.s. Pulling troops out of syria It's gotten mixed messages from mixed reactions from both sides of the aisle Where do you stand? Well, I mean again, I I think they've weighed in we saw this in in congress Yesterday, which was a bit of a surprise It's a bipartisan reaction to to the withdrawal out of out of syria and Syria turkey the Kurds And and I and I think that the both democrats and republicans Voice their displeasure and and the way it was done Whether we should be out of there or not Is is a separate question And I think the most would say we need we need to bring our troops home But how you do that is important and I and I believe that we saw that rebuke Yesterday with with congress And across party lines Have you had a discussion with the attorney general or the attorney general's office regarding the new public records? I have not Obviously, I spoke with uh, I think that was reported. I spoke with my cabinet about this on tuesday And we'll you know, it seemed clear to me the spring court decisions seem clear That we we aren't going to we're not going to charge if someone has a Camera and wants to take pictures of any documents their public documents And they we have an obligation to to follow the law. So it seemed clear to me I think Your office had said or you had said that there is a sort of clarifying guidance coming on this Well, yeah, we need to to make sure I mean I I spoke uh at the from from this position to the cabinet But I we need to put it in writing So I'll be working with secretary young on this and make sure that everyone understands What position we're in and where uh, where we're supposed to go so that we're consistent I think that's important the consistency across the administration is important I mean, how does that work if the ag says it's going to go one way and you say it's going to go another way Well, we have a responsibility for the administration And they will follow whatever We determine that they should do so but But the ag Can can do what he wants within within his organization, but We're we're taking a different tact Both the attorney general and the secretary of state Would suggest in creating a new position that was for a new office that would deal with his public records requests and sort of Relieved the burden I guess I mean where where do you stand on? I'm not looking to grow the bureaucracy any further than it is right now to be honest with you I think we can handle this within the house. I don't know why We would need a whole new office to do this All right. Thank you very much