Comment Kevin Chu: Vermont’s future is a choice between shortage and abundance – The Manchester Journal

Personal growth is universally celebrated. We encourage people to continue education, seek professional development and progress in their endeavors. We applaud entrepreneurs who take risks, innovation and build successful businesses. We praise people who overcome the disadvantage and become more resilient in the process.

Yet, as far as Vermont communities are concerned, there is a hesitation to adopt the same idea of ​​growth, some even calling for descent. The growth of the population and the new residential developments are treated as threats against which they must be protected. Protecting what and for whom? What if the true danger doesn’t grow?

We celebrate growth on an individual level – to expand this mood to our country as a whole.

What if we don’t?

The challenges that Vermont faces today – labor shortages, housing crisis, increasing costs of health and education and increasing tax burden – are symptoms of stagnation. The main reasons are the lack of sufficient growth of the population of our working age and the new homes for several decades.

By doing nothing, Vermont risks or increases life costs, or inconvenient reduction of programs, services and infrastructure that Vermonters rely on. There is already evidence of this from two -digit increases in property tax to reduction of transport, proposed reductions in hospital services and school consolidation. These are the options if Vermont does not grow; These are the impact of the choice of shortage.

You don’t like these options? Many Vermonters agree with you. More Vermonters support population growth and increase housing than they oppose it.

What is the alternative?

Choose abundance.

We can make Vermont more accessible and maintain critical growth services. The larger population of working age strengthens the workforce. This supports the success of the business and can lead to higher salaries. Population cultivation also means more taxpayers, not more taxes. Increased home improves the accessibility and accessibility of current and future vermories. Growth guarantees that our communities remain viable for people to build their future, while promoting more resilience and resilience. In depopulated areas, growth can lead to the revival and use of existing resources.

These are the potential benefits of abundance.

How to get there from here?

The first step is to go beyond the endless debate about how we got here or whose guilt it is and to start focusing on cooperation to do something about it. We need solutions, not scapegoat.

Then we have to make a choice. Do we accept shortages and adapt to increasing costs or decreasing services, or do we choose a future of abundance where strategic growth makes Vermont affordable?

If we choose accessibility and abundance, Vermont Futures’ Economic Action Plan outlines a road card informed of data to make this vision a reality.

Let’s take collective thinking about growth. Our future depends on it.

Kevin Chu is CEO of the Futures project in Vermont. Opinions expressed by Columnists and OP-Expired Writers do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.