The Origins of the Northern Vermont-Quebec Trade Coalition

The origins of the Northern Vermont-Quebec Trade Coalition (NVQTC) are based in an Economic Development Administration-funded (EDA) cluster study report conducted in 2004.  This report determined that despite having an immediate proximity to an international border and a major international market (Montreal, QC), the six northern counties of Vermont (Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orleans) had less international economic activity than counties located at a much farther distance from the border.  The report determined that businesses lacked the technical expertise necessary to navigate the increasingly complex regulatory environment and the region was uninformed of the economic growth potential associated with near-border economies. 

On October 3, 2005, the Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont (EDCNV) received an EDA grant award in the amount of $100,000 to develop a Transparent Border Initiative with the following scope of work:

• Implement a trade initiative which is designed to assist manufacturing clusters with trade regulations for the exportation of goods and services in neighboring and non-neighboring foreign countries.
• The trade initiative will assist with the identification of: potential niche markets or growth clusters to assist industry growth and/or diversification by increasing exports; foster growth of business development; provide sustainable high-paying jobs; provide workforce training in high-technology fields; and address barriers to growth in terms of international and domestic trade, with a specific focus on exports of products and services.

 In order to give the program the regional strength needed to succeed, EDCNV contacted a Canadian economic development organization who had fortuitously introduced themselves during an International Economic Development Council Conference in 2004.  The Conseil Economique Du Haut-Richelieu (CLD) was excited by the opportunity to develop a cross-border, international trade development program as it fit Canada's greater regional trade development goals.  In less than 30 days, the CLD was able to raise the necessary $100,000 in matching funds from a diverse group of economic development organizations located throughout southern Quebec Province (Monteregie and Cantons du L'Est, respectively). 

Officially launched on January 3, 2006, the Northern Vermont-Quebec Trade Coalition is North America's foremost, regionally-based international trade coalition representing the first time in U.S and Canadian history that such a program has been funded by both governments. 

For more information about the Northern Vermont-Quebec Trade Coalition, please contact Bill Zuccareno, Chief International Officer at (802) 309-5821 or (802) 524-4546 or by email.