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Summer in the Green Mountains
PHOTO BY HUBERT SCHRIEBL
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What and who is BCIC?
Bennington County Industrial Corporation (BCIC) is a non-profit economic development corporation. It is overseen by a board of business people and professionals from throughout Bennington County, Vermont. Its office is in North Bennington.
What is BCIC's mission?
BCIC's mission is to promote quality jobs in Bennington County. It provides services and information to businesses, runs an industrial incubator, does development projects, and advocates policies that support its mission.
What is BCIC's vision for Bennington County?
BCIC vision is of a Bennington County that is both beautiful and prosperous, with a stable and diverse economy, a good infrastructure, ready access to regional transportation lanes, reasonable taxes and regulation, and a world class workforce and education system.
What kind of economic development does BCIC support?
BCIC supports any economic development that promotes high quality jobs and good clean business. This includes, but is not limited to, manufacturing and information-based business. "High quality jobs" means jobs that not only pay well, but have good benefits and tend to be lasting.
What projects has BCIC done?
Since 1957, BCIC has facilitated jobs-creating and jobs-saving projects. Examples
of recent such projects include locations, retentions, or expansions
of Mach Molding, NASTECH, Vermont Composites, Fairdale Farms, Abacus
Automation, and Stanley Tools. BCIC has helped many other firms in
the area keep and expand jobs by helping solve regulatory, financing
and space problems. BCIC has constructed or rehabilitated five industrial
buildings, ranging in size from 30,000 to 150,000 square feet. BCIC's
incubator houses 36 small business tenants and over 100 jobs.
What does BCIC's industrial park offer?
BCIC's industrial park on Shields Drive in Bennington offers over 45 acres of fully services industrial zoned property. (A large office complex or headquarters campus is very doable there.) The park has beautiful views of the Bennington Monument and the surrounding mountains. Fiber optic, copper, and TV cable are installed on site. The park has approved State Act 250 umbrella permit.
What policies does BCIC advocate?
The following are current examples:
Completion of the Bennington Bypass Highway (work started in 1999)
Deregulation of electricity utilities to benefit all rate payers (legal study done).
Strengthening workforce training and the quality of education (plan in place)
Eliminating the machinery and equipment tax (5 key towns did so)
Is BCIC the "address" in Bennington County for new business leads?
Yes. Keeping, promoting, and pursuing, jobs is the number one duty of BCIC's full-time executive director. Dozens of prospects are typically being courted at any one time. All inquiries get prompt response. BCIC works with concerned town and STate officials to present the most attractive possible incentives to locate, stay or expand in this community. Business retention and expansion is the top priority. BCIC welcomes and cooperates with the economic development efforts of others.
How can BCIC help a firm needing land, a building, or rental space?
BCIC maintains an inventory of available land sites, buildings, and rental spaces in the county. We help inquiring businesses match their needs to available properties. We also facilitate financing and permits to construct building of all sizes.
What other services does BCIC offer businesses?
Examples of business services (mostly free) provided or facilitated by BCIC:
- Manufacturing extension
- Business counseling
- Export promotion
- State permits expediting
- Government marketing assistance
- Training
- Financing and incentives
Additional Resources
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