Such criteria include paying a livable wage, using green business
practices and favoring local businesses. Some board members voiced
concerns that such practices (particularly the local criteria) would
dissuade out-of-The-Valley companies from bidding -- and they might.
But today's economic and environmental realities require a shift in how
we see things. It's in all of our best interest to make sure we do
everything we can to keep the businesses in our community healthy and
in the black. Whether we're supporting local farmers, contractors,
CPAs, restaurants, excavators or ski resorts, we need to look locally
first.
It's in our best interest to make sure that the excavation companies
that work on our roads and bridges and projects pay good living wages
and that those companies are as green as possible. It makes sense that
the planners, contractors, pavers, engineers, etc. that we hire are
traveling a reasonable distance to get here, rather than hundreds of
miles.
Senator Leahy's office announced this week that Northern Power Systems,
now of Barre but formerly of Waitsfield, had received $683,000 in
federal stimulus funds.
While we don't begrudge the company the funding -- to be aimed at solar
power research and development -- we do regret that the company is no
longer locally based and that those federal dollars aren't coming into
The Valley and the local economy.
Taking a stand to support local businesses, to support businesses that
pay their employees a living wage and to hire those who run
environmentally friendly businesses won't bring back Northern Power,
but it might help stave off or prevent the next loss.
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