A common theme voiced by Colvin and others is the new-found sense of cooperation among business and civic leaders.
In May, 130 people attended the first Southern Vermont Economic Development Summit in Brattleboro to brain storm on issues common to both Bennington and Windham counties - the two southern most counties in the state.
"There's a tremendous amount of excitement about doing regional economic development work around Bennington County … and partnering with Windham County," said Colvin, the commission's assistant director and community development program coordinator.
He said the state has given preliminary approval for a planning grant to devise a CEDS - a comprehensive economic development strategy.
Colvin said final approval is expected shortly with a formal launch of the project in October.
He said efforts are also underway to extend and improve cooperation between the northern and southern parts of the county.
Colvin said despite the proximity cooperation between the north and south shires "haven't always been a finely oiled machine, if you will."
One example of the new cooperative effort between the shires is the formation of a workforce in education committee chapter in Manchester.
Colvin's positive assessment is seconded by Wayne Granquist, chairman of the Southern Vermont Economic Development Zone, which comprises both Bennington and Windham counties.
Compared to three or four years ago, Granquist said there's a greater appreciation today for economic development in southern Vermont than there was before Vermont Yankee closed.
"There's a lot of work going on that's laying the foundation for that kind of growth," he said. "I don't think we've seen it yet but it's encouraging to see what is happening."
Granquist said there's no better example of a community coming together then the Putnam Block Project, which is being lead by local businesses and institutions.
"That's really important for downtown and the Select Board just approved the tax increment financing district," he said.
But Granquist also said there are other challenges that must be met.
As the second oldest state in the country next to Maine, he said Vermont has to find a way to keep and attract workers and their families.
He said that's especially true in a rural area where it's hard to attract millennials who want access to high-speed broadband while living in a place where there are lots of activities close by.
Colvin said the Putnam Block project can help build the type of infrastructure that can go a long way in attracting people to the area and also provide badly needed housing.
Industry
Manufacturing has had its up and downs in the county but Colvin said the outlook is positive.
The $208,000 grant will help cross-train NSK's 325 workers in what Colvin said are advanced manufacturing processes.
He said in the last few years lower level jobs have been lost to the NSK plant in Tennessee. While the grant may not lead to new jobs, he said it does at a minimum secure the existing higher level jobs.
Vermont Composites is also doing well, according to Colvin. He said the company, part of the Kaman Composites group, is building an addition onto its Performance Drive building. He said the addition was made necessary when the company won a contract for a new product line.
Although the company hasn't said it would hire more workers, Colvin said "new line, new addition suggests new jobs."
In the north shire of the county, Colvin said business is humming along at Mack Molding in Arlington.
Perhaps the most pressing problem for companies is finding workers, which Colvin said is an ongoing statewide problem.
Mack Molding is the county's largest manufacturer with 560 employees in Vermont (and another 600 at its locations in North and South Carolina).
"Business is really, really good," said Jeffrey Somple, president of the plastic injection molding and contract manufacturer. "We've probably got more new products under development right now than in the last 10 years."
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