 Many times expanding our workforce and making sure Vermonters have the skills they need for the good jobs We know are available today is incredibly important to our economic future We know we have a good education system here in Vermont And I believe we can make it the very best by moving to a cradle to career system. It creates a path to opportunity for all Vermonters If we can it'll be the best economic development tool we could ask for To get there We must continue to make investments in early care and learning as well as higher in continuing education This is why I propose increase investments in both areas, and I'm very thankful for the legislature's partnership on many of these initiatives Together we focus on trades training and apprenticeships Returnships and non-degree programs Even focus each each and every one of them focus on providing tools to pursue a good job and greater career opportunities But today I'd like to highlight what some of Vermont businesses and our higher education community are doing To provide much needed training and educational opportunities with the unemployment unemployment rate at the Historic low in fact the lowest in the country at 2.1 percent Vermont companies are seeking new ways to recruit and train employees Vermont tech and CCV partner with businesses and organizations across the state to develop and offer training program programs tailored to the needs of the employers that you'll hear from today Workers have an unprecedented opportunity to take advantage of these training programs and access great jobs with quality employers Jobs that don't only pay well, but also offer benefits such as paid time off health insurance and a pathway to progress CCV works with employers to understand their needs and workforce training that's available to them They've developed nearly a dozen new programs in recent years With offerings from a single course for employers at at a work site and or to a group of employers and Community organizations all working together to identify find and train new workers VTC has partnerships with many employers across Vermont, New Hampshire and upstate New York And they have that had success with employer specific customized training VTC also oversees the electrical and plumbing apprenticeship program in partnership with our Department of Labor In fact this year's class just kicked off on Saturday, and I understand it's the largest class ever Which is great to hear because as someone who's spent much of my life in the trades I know we're in desperate need with the average age of a construction worker at about 56 years old I want to thank Joyce Judy president of CCV and Pat Moulton president of VTC for joining us today And we'll hear more from them in just a bit The bottom line is we have many great companies with good jobs available and Are partnering with training providers like CCV and VTC to offer real opportunities for Vermonters I'm hoping we can learn a little bit more about these opportunities today Share this news and help someone looking for the right training program or a new career We have a few guests here as well and some students with us from global foundries GW plastics Center Vermont Medical Center and McDonald's to talk about these training and educational opportunities and how they're Impacting our state, so I'm pleased to welcome everyone here today with that I'd like to turn it over to dr. Judy and president Moulton to talk a little bit more about their role in this important process Joyce Pat Thank You governor, and I want to just begin by acknowledging and thanking the governor for his Tremendous support of the Vermont State Colleges. He has really taken The initiative to really help begin to increase appropriation what makes it That much higher education that much more affordable to Vermonters, so thank you so much for your leadership in that You know as governor Scott was talking You know I was reflecting on all of the programs and certificates and apprenticeships and customized trainings that CCV offers in our 12 locations and our online programs throughout the state and In addition to that we are doing more and more on-site with businesses Where stoop where employees can actually take courses? Well, they are at their place of employment but I want to begin by saying we couldn't do this work alone and I want to thank our and acknowledge our incredible partners the Vermont Department of Labor the agency of education vocational rehabilitation creative workforce solutions Vsac the technical centers to high schools And Vermont Technical College because without all of us working together on this on really trying to create Workforce programs. We couldn't do this as well So I think together we offer Vermonters and Vermont businesses the space to think of what's possible And then how to get there and get it done So I just want to highlight a couple programs that really illustrate our work That we're doing so this past summer we partnered with workforce opportunity solutions And they had contracted with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont to really help them build a pipeline of Workers and so workforce opportunity solutions has a track record and a mission to provide training and Employment opportunities to underserved youth and veterans and through their efforts and classes taken at CCV this summer There are nine new employees at Blue Cross Blue Shield in jobs from medical claims to project management in just a view few short months and then Where we've just launched a couple weeks ago a pharmacy technician apprenticeship program so a few months ago CVS came to us and said we have a huge need in the state of Vermont for pharmacy techs and Can't you help us provide that training? So as a result of conversations we were able to launch a pharmacy tech Apprenticeship program. We started that program 10 days ago We have 14 participants statewide and what's nice about apprenticeships is it's a model where people get to earn and learn at The same time so we have a number of pharmacies from smiling steves pharmacy Which has three locations in Rutland-Ledlo and Springfield to CVS to Walgreens and Shaw's throughout the state of Vermont all Employing these individuals as they are going to school. So it's a huge. It's a win-win It's a win for first for the participants It's a win for the businesses and it's a win for CCV So these are just a couple of examples of the things that we're doing And it's a pretty exciting time in terms of really thinking about all the possibilities We can do with In our work with Vermont businesses. So Pat, I know you have a couple of programs to highlight as well Thank you Joyce and thank you Governor Scott and I too want to take this moment to thank you for your continued support of the state colleges But also the work you mentioned earlier in bolstering funding for workforce education and training programs because we couldn't do What we do for employers without that assistance. So thank you for your leadership there And I think we all know that Vermont Technical College is well known for providing great degrees in technical education our 99% placement rate of graduates But what folks may not know is that we are leading along with CCV in the area of customized training for employers and We provide solutions that bring workforce education solutions to the employer as well as on our campuses Companies employers like Global Foundry's who you'll hear from W that GW plastics who you'll hear from GS precision Fujifilm GE Aviation Center Vermont Medical Center Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center numerous other healthcare facilities Manufacturing energy and many many other firms are engaged with us in customized training We provide apprenticeship programs as well as specific customized to their needs and these employers are investing in their talent pipeline By bringing training and education on to their shop floor or into their workplace And we customize these solutions to meet their specific needs and these solutions can carry college credit So that these students these incumbent workers and new hires can earn a degree Through this work starting with their employer whether they already have certain credits or already have a degree They can augment that and these employers recognize that their employees are their number one asset and they are investing in them And it is a real win-win for these employees and employers and the Vermont workforce when employers are investing in their talent pipeline Many times programs such as the Vermont training program from the agency of commerce or the workforce education and training fund Or other federal funds from the Department of Labor are utilized to help offset these costs for employers But by employers putting skin in the game and investing in their talent It's really critical for them to do that as we continue through the workforce challenges We have here in Vermont and that Vermont tech and CCV We are uniquely situated to develop those workforce education and training solutions that we can bring to employers throughout the state of Vermont And we can literally do almost any configuration. You wish we work very closely through our continuing ed and workforce Development division Maureen Hebert is our director. She's here today She and Tiffany Cunin from CCV partner all the time to figure how we can collaborate Together to serve the workforce needs So it's my pleasure to be here today and thank you for the opportunity to highlight this It's now my distinct pleasure to introduce Dale Miller Who is the senior location executive for global foundries and Essex Junction? And I would note a Vermont technical college graduate Dale, please come to the podium Well, thank you President Molten and President Judy At global foundries, we're proud to continue and further our relationship with Vermont technical college We are grateful to Governor Scott for his support of public resources including the state college system This technician training program with Vermont technical college allows global foundries to further its talent pipeline and continue to thrive in the state of Vermont As the leading specialty foundry and innovation hub for mobile and consumer products We are excited to bring this program to our community to help support building a Vermont based technical workforce our first class of 15 students started August 28th They're earning a full-time wage and attending college based courses while being trained internally at our global foundries complex and technical applications such as vacuum and radio frequency systems along with basic maintenance skills I'm happy to report that we are beginning the recruiting process for our second class starting in the fall of 2020 I'll also like to recognize a couple colleagues here with me today Ken McCabe and John the friend here Which really spearheaded this process and made it happen for us in Vermont working with Vermont technical college. I Would now like to introduce Kevin Locke from GW plastic as Dale said my name is Kevin Locke I'm a manufacturer and quality engineer from GW plastics My story is six years ago I chose to make a career change in a field that I had zero experience and minimal knowledge That's very intimidating and by being able to enroll in this program. I was able to get the education that Helped me every single day with what I do and it enhanced the learning every single day my job performance increased I was able to get a promotion raises and it opened up the opportunity for career growth Throughout this four-year program like Dale said we go to school. We go to work every day. You have your family it makes it reasonable to obtain a Certificate and you're able to you know have confidence in your job performance at work throughout the four years you learn a lot and at the end you have to put together projects or you have to use everything that you learned and We were able to put a project together where we created cost savings for the company a yearly cost savings and that's those are the things that it opened up for me and Having zero experience now. I'm confident every single day with what I do where I'm at and when I'm communicating with people at work Thank you. So now Jesse Anderson from McDonald's Hi, everyone. My name is Jesse Anderson and I moved to sovereigns in Vermont in 2014 from my home country, Liberia My family moved to the US specifically to provide a better education platform For my siblings and I and to be closer to family. I graduated from South Burlington High School in 2017 and decided to further pursue my higher education at St. Michael's College as the first generation college student Education means a lot to my family and I because it provides an opportunity to be independent and grow But paying for education is difficult. I Receive aid from the state of Vermont to attend college through the Vermont student assistant cooperation grant Vsac But attendance in my it's still expensive So I still have to work almost full-time on and off campus But on campus I work as a resident assistant in the international housing and off campus I work at McDonald's as a certified manager Advancing my leadership skills at McDonald's has not only helped me gain a significant pay raise But I've also received six thousand dollars in the archway to opportunity to wish an assistant program. I Anticipate getting twelve thousand dollars in total by the time I graduate college Getting this much help through the archway opportunities program has made a significant difference in my life And not only taking some financial burdens off my shoulders But but also allowing me to grow towards my career goals. I Aspire to be a clinical psychologist someday and I'm currently a junior Psychology major with minus in philosophy and religious studies The help I get from the archways program at McDonald's has allowed me to not have to work all the time But also give back to my college community By being the president of a club that creates a safe space on campus for women to connect and talk to each other I plan on staying in Vermont after I graduate to pursue my career in psychology And I know that my McDonald's family will always have my back. Thank you. I Would not like to I would not like to introduce Sydney Konepka Who is a current nursing student at the Central Vermont Medical Center? So, hello everyone, I'm Sydney I'm currently an employee at Central Vermont Medical Center at Woodbridge, and I'm also in the LNA to LPN program with CVMC and CCV and Vermont Tech. I Actually moved here from New Jersey five years ago after visiting family and received my LNA license in the Northeast Kingdom where I live now Still getting used to the winners Through a friend of mine who also works for CVMC I learned about Woodbridge rehabilitation and nursing and she told me all about their great benefits and opportunities Plus I'd be able to use more of my LNA skills. I Have now been an employee at CVMC's Woodridge for almost three years at Woodridge Rehab I see a lot of people come in at their worst and I'm able to provide them with the help and Stronger to get stronger and independent again to go home. It is really truly a rewarding job So when I heard about CVMC offering the LNA to LPN program from our director of nursing last year I was truly excited Myself and 17 others who are also in this program started taking two classes the beginning of this month So we're just started CVMC has also made the classes very convenient for us by having our classes at the hospital and Woodridge has really been great with our schedule As an LNA wanting to grow and provide more care to the patients I take care of and further my career This program really helps me to do so by providing financial support and that's what's most important to me With that being said I'd like to thank CVMC and Woodridge For this great opportunity and all the support that they provide me. Thank you so much and thank you governor Scott So at this point we can open up for questions maybe on topic questions at the first Joints or Pat when a company I come to you and says hey We have these jobs Curriculum to fill them are they contributing any Money to you to help you get that going it all now I'm going to sound like a lawyer and I'm not a lawyer it all depends You know and oftentimes like I will use an example of the central Mont hospital It's a combination of we were able to get we have a federal grant with the Department of Labor a federal Apprenticeship grant and so some of the funding is picked up by the apprenticeship program Central Mont hospital is contracting for a couple of the courses and Students are also eligible for for financial aid So it's oftentimes a combination of or from the Vermont training program There's sometimes state sort of resources sometimes there's federal resources Sometimes it's straight financial aid and sometimes we also if a company contracts with us for a course We oftentimes will give them a discount for that course So it's usually we try to pull all the resources we can together to make it as inexpensive as we possibly can for the well and same with us, it's going to depend on the program, but Usually there is skin in the game if you will from the employer I'm just looking as an example that the GW plastics program that Kevin graduated from it's a leadership program Four years as he stated where students are going to school in the in at their workplace and GW releases them a little early Still paid to go to classes then GW is covering the full cost of our faculty going down to teach that class They also provide scholarship opportunities for our students enrolled in our degree programs and provide paid internships in the summer And so that kind of participation and assistance that we have when the number of employer partners is critical Then we have other programs that might blend some Vermont training program money We also have access and are a partner with VDAL on the federal apprenticeship program Grant so it's a mixture depending on what the circumstances, but more and more GS precision in Brattleboro as well as GW Have set up their own training center on their own nickel They're paying the full cost of the apprenticeship program that's happening there same with GE So it depends and similarly with the hospitals They're picking up the cost to train their employees and giving release time many times and Providing scholarship for those students to continue on to a degree. So it's quite an investment, but it's an investment That's paying off. I will I will quote Ben real CEO at GW plastics the other day that said but for Vermont technical college They probably wouldn't be growing in Vermont if they were still here because they need to know There's a pipeline of students coming out of these of our colleges to support their needs Well, obviously they just won tool in the toolbox We have to we have to attack this at many different levels With many different initiatives and we've done that Through the legislative process the good news is it appears We all understand that we have a demographic crisis on our hands So it it's great that the legislature as well as the administration and in our business partners and the in the Educational community are all working towards the same goal and trying to bring more people into Vermont As well as giving them the the tools they need to succeed. So One one of the tools this one doesn't do it alone, but it certainly is a big help In moving us towards and moving Those who who want to progress towards prosperity how Many are involved you think Workforce improvement training programs through How many individuals Did people come to CCB for two reasons one they come either to start their education and transfer to another school Or they come to CCB to get a job. We have over 5,000 students enrolled this semester So, you know how you split that out and the individual programs. It's you know, we have Well between Pat and I and with in the nursing pipeline We probably have a couple hundred students. It really depends so much on the program and on But I would say, you know the 5,000 students that are at VTC this I mean at CCB this year are all here or primarily here to get a job or a better job And we serve 95% from honors. So they're here and they're going to be here But just to piggyback on what the governor said We're very pleased to have the biggest apprenticeship plumbing and electrical apprenticeship class in a long time ever I guess at this point and they're part of over 3,000 students We serve annually through our continuing ed and workforce development division and then we have enrolled roughly 1,400 students in our degree program. So there's a lot, but it's not meeting the entire need So we're delighted at the volume, but what I hear from employers. They love our graduates They love the product for the training. There just aren't enough people going through it So if you want a good job and you want to make good wages You need to come and look at some degree be it certificate associate or otherwise And then you can launch your career through CCB or Vermont Tech. So so that's the path if you're a high school graduate You don't know what you want to do or what your Options are you come to VTC first or you proceed for it first. What's your counsel to Waiver in Well, that's a that's a really good question Stuart and it really depends on where you're at If you can afford to come to college that would be recommended But more and more students are getting a job and having the employer help them pay for their education as Illustrated here today, and I think that's becoming more and more a trend for the younger generations We're a little more a dead adverse But it really depends on where you mean what your means are and where you are at Personally to your point what 18 year old really knows for sure and sometimes you got to get out in the workforce a little bit and find out Where your niche is and then you can come back and get a more focused degree and we have multiple adult learners J. Fayette the president of PC construction was he tells a great story about Got out of high school got a job in construction loved it But here we go until he got laid off two winters in a row and said I can't do this anymore and came back as I Believe 22 or 23 year old student got his degree and the rest as they say is history So each person has to decide what's right for them. I don't know if you want to add no I would just say that I think that's right and oftentimes we have people who come in and out They get a degree. They get a certificate. They go to work. They get a job change. They get an upgrade. We did a program with oh The manufacturer and in Colchester and trying a complete line No, it'll never Is I mean the president of the company has a has a theme the more you learn the more you earn Right, and so I think you know we are finding what we're finding with adult Students as they come they get a few courses. They get a job Then they want something more or they want a promotion then they come back they get more they get that promotion So it's it's an in-and-out Right, yeah, I think that's that's the underlying message in many ways. It's never too late And what I've seen I've had the opportunity to speak and attend the graduation at CCV in particular and you can see the the wide range of students who are graduating from there anywhere from 19 to 81 And so and you can see how hard they've worked to get to where they are and the same with the apprenticeship Program with the plumbing and electrical down at VTC I've been I've been part of that for a number of years and they don't just you know, they don't go and and And take these classes during the day. They come at night I mean they work all day and then they come at night to further their career So they have skin in the game each and every one of them and it's meaningful to them But there's light at the end of the tunnel and they're able to to you know further themselves And make more money to be perfectly honest other questions on topic Well, this is the point where I asked Jesse to come up and Sidney to come up and take all the rest of questions But there'll be some other questions that you may or may not want to be in the background Thank you Thanks After the United States attorney dismissed a couple of Attorney general Donovan has refiled first-degree murder charges Well, none of the above in some respects, I'm very grateful the attorney general took another look We obviously have some opportunities to do things differently. I think we're going to have discussions about this In the future in the legislature and in terms of you know, how we go through the judicial process so I'm I'm just grateful that he is taking a look at these three cases and And what I didn't know that there was anything public at that on this issue in particular But I'm just thankful that he was able to to move forward and look forward to the other two cases as well And you what his response will be you define what the reform would look like. Well, no, I mean I think that there's and again, I'm not I'm not a lawyer But I think that we have to determine What it is, you know, I've made this statement before in the past And I and it was something that I borrowed from Governor Shulman and one of his state of the state addresses And he said we have to figure out, you know, who were who were mad at and who were afraid of And then this thing was between the two in their cases. I believe where we're afraid of people who should be either brought to to justice and if there's If there's an opportunity of where they may be able to work around Justice in some some way then we need to close that loophole. So again, I think that the using an insanity Defense is becoming more prevalent. It appears and we need to figure out How do we close that and and how do we make sure that we're truly seeking Justice fair for those the victims and and their families That's probably a better question for her obviously she had determined she was doing everything she could And and we'll see what the the Attorney General Uses his defense and and where he goes from here Have you spoken to him about the recent Farmer lawsuit? I have not You planted I just read about that myself So I yeah, I would like to see what he thinks This is going to be much like the tobacco settlements that we've seen in the past This will be I believe we'll see in many states that will seek restitution and rightfully so Yeah, there's there is a difference again between the cap and The amount of revenue that they can derive in the rates and there are two separate issues So I think it's it's important to to make sure that we separate those two because In some respects Increasing the cap Doesn't necessarily mean There's there's it costs more for the rates. So the rates were I believe the Greenmont care board Had come to the conclusion. They should not go any further than 3.5 percent for the rates so Again, I'm concerned about health care costs in general and what we need to do Long term is to change our demographics. I mean we're we're hearing it. We're seeing it We have an aging demographic which usually Leads to more utilization and I think we're seeing that in real time so the more we can The more we can do to bring more families younger healthier population into the state I think will be beneficial for health care costs and as well going, you know, we're we're moving Away from a fee for service and going to a more holistic approach and Trying to to make sure that we contain costs and and work on prevention in other areas where we believe will have the the most Opportunity to lower costs in the future, but it's a long-term approach System reform dollars Right, I did respond to their to their letter I disagree with some of their contentions And I stated why in the letter and I believe that you know, we have made a lot of commitments and we've done a lot in terms of increasing Medicaid reimbursement, so It's not as though we've we've been you know cutting back. We've actually made some gains and we're seeing The utilization rate of the caseload has dropped in Medicaid as well. So some of you know In the letter I showed why I believe That we're doing doing a lot in that area and why I'm not sure that their argument was correct So we'll see where they go from here, but we're willing to talk about this work with you know This isn't a unilateral decision on my part This is a legislative process as well We'll work together with agreement on care board the legislative leaders my administration to do whatever we can to make sure that We're reimbursing as much as we can and by and keeping health care costs overall confined Private health insurance premiums on the exchange going up 10 to 15 percent You've got hospital budgets going up 5.5 percent in the case of you Well that I okay, but that's that's the revenue right that's the cap on the revenue And then you've got annual increases in Medicaid states share of Medicaid going up point So how can you reconcile the disconnect between those rates of increase well again? we've we've been working on this new approach the all-payer model trying to to curb the the usage the utilization in that it's going to take some time, but But again, my contention is that we've been doing a lot in that area In fact the caseload has decreased over over the last few years. So I think that's positive news on demographics a new GFO report just came out saying that On the wealthy folks are not moving away from Vermont Because maybe tax policy, but it's actually lower income middle income folks who are migrating away from the state Does that surprise you at all? Well, the data is the data Obviously, this is doesn't surprise me anecdotally. I know a number of folks That that I've been close to that have moved away from the state blue collar workers Those with low and moderate incomes that have decided to move away from Vermont mainly what I hear This property taxes. That's what I hear most And and so it's not a surprise the affordability of Vermont is in question And that's why we're doing everything we can to make Vermont more affordable and to bring about filling those those work those openings in our Workforce that that would help obviously in some of our revenue Issues that we have in the affordability of the state President Trump called his Republican challengers of which I guess there are three Laughing stock this week Do you think they're a laughing stock are you looking at any of them? Well, I wouldn't I wouldn't characterize any of them as laughing stocks. They've There's at least two governors former governors that have moved forward who were Popular one time in their states enough so that they were elected So I I think it's unfortunate that that we don't have the at least the dialogue About and primaries are not easy. I I get that I've had a couple of myself And but it's it's important for the people to hear different perspectives and different points of view And it makes you a better candidate in the end. Is it important for Republicans to have that dialogue? I think it's important for All the electorate to to hear different points of view. I think it's really important You've reached out to Senators McConnell and Graham regarding guns. I guess, uh, what are you hoping to accomplish with that? I think it was important for us to share our story and me in particular coming from a I'm a republican and a fairly blue state And I had a change of heart as we well know And I thought that in this time and place Sharing my thoughts sharing our story Was important to share with fellow republicans. So I thought it was important for me to add my voice And speaking about the senator's office this morning, it seems like he's kind of waiting to see what the president will or will not sign Do you think that's a good approach or do you think they should get started on their end? Well, obviously, I think there's some common sense solutions Here that we've implemented red flag legislation. I believe Increased background checks. I think those are two areas where I think we can make significant gains in terms of safety For for americans and for vermoners. So I I think we should move forward and and I I think it's unfortunate that we haven't done so already Just on the Medicaid issue And we hear a lot of a conversation on the other side about medicare for all Here again tonight wouldn't in some ways medicare for all solve A lot of problems for governors like you. Yeah, well, it may solve some problems, but I'm not sure that it's the answer And and I I don't believe that I think we have to be realistic about this So it sounds good free health care sounds good, but somebody's got to pay. I mean, there's obviously Areas where We can improve that's what we're trying to do The all-payer model is something that we've been working with the federal government on And and we're proving that that we can make some gains in that area And I think we'll see some long-term gains as a result. So I would I would much rather continue to work the way we have in vermont But but again, that's these primaries or opportunities for people to to Talk about different perspectives and and flush those out and see who's going to pay and how much what do they think It's going to look like in the future Any response to hearing the trump administration's plans to push for vanna Labor at least Well, as you probably know In my state of the state address As well as the budget address we I took a position on this and I think that this is Something that's very concerning to me as we've seen the escalation Of our youth using vaping products Throughout our state and country It's time for us to take action. We took action in a different way And I applaud the president for at least talking about this. We'll see where he goes with this at this point But I think he's uh, he's moving in the right direction I hope to be sure I look forward to the f-35s arriving in vermont and and uh, as soon as I get a firm date I'll I'm in hopes of being there Over the last couple of months, I think more patrol than maybe three checkpoints in san furo another one down Junction Should more patrol be able to be detaining vermonters and other residents Miles upon miles waiting for Yeah, you know, there's been some talk about I think congressman welch has talked about Tightening that maybe it's senator lehi. I'm not sure. Well, the congressional delegation has talked about Uh, confining that to 25 miles from the border. I would like to see us, uh, you know tighten that up a bit myself 100 miles seems a bit excessive But at the same time, uh, you know, they have a job to do. Uh, they're working within their limits But but I wouldn't mind seeing the congressional delegation Work forward. I look forward to Changing that that Number of miles Have you ever gone through one of those I have I was down I went through one on 91 Outside of Hartford No, it was very quick actually, uh, this was something a few years ago. Actually, this wasn't recent So this is shows you how long it's been around. It's not just this administration. Uh, this was probably Five or six years ago And uh, and I just thought I was surprised to see it I saw the signs and I didn't know what it was and I came up to it and they stopped me and asked me if I was a U. S citizen I said I was and they said have a good day And moved on but it was right in the middle of the interstate and I thought it was Just so it was odd Yes Thank you very much. Appreciate you coming in