Vermont is a great place to live, work, and play whether as a remote worker enjoying the unparalleled quality of life in one of our 251 towns and cities or working in one of the exceptional and innovative companies that Vermont is famous for. There are many well-paying opportunities available today. For more information about Vermont, including help finding and training for available jobs, and to see why you and your family should consider a life here, visit www.thinkvermont.com.

General Information

During the 2017-2018 legislative session, to supplement the support the State provides current workers and employers, the Vermont legislature created and passed S.94 which, in part, creates an incentive grant program for remote workers relocating to Vermont.  This new program allows new residents of Vermont who relocate to work remotely for companies outside Vermont to be reimbursed for some related expenses.

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development is tasked with creating an implementation plan for this remote worker incentive.  Work on crafting that program will begin in the weeks to come. It should be noted that reimbursement levels and parameters have not been established. The program will begin in January of 2019. For information, please visit www.thinkvermont.com/relocate. To be placed on a list to receive updates when they are available late this year, please send your contact information to info@thinkvermont.com with “Remote Worker” in the subject line. You can also sign up for the 802+You newsletter to be notified when the program goes live.

Here is the specific language from the bill (S.94) regarding the establishment of a remote worker program:

Sec. 1. NEW REMOTE WORKER GRANT PROGRAM
(a) As used in this section:
(1) “New remote worker” means an individual who:
(A) is a full-time employee of a business with its domicile or primary place of business outside Vermont;
(B) becomes a full-time resident of this State on or after January 1, 2019; and
(C) performs the majority of his or her employment duties remotely from a home office or a co-working space located in this State.
(2) “Qualifying remote worker expenses” means actual costs a new remote worker incurs for one or more of the following that are necessary to perform his or her employment duties:
(A) relocation to this State;
(B) computer software and hardware;
(C) broadband access or upgrade; and
(D) membership in a co-working or similar space.
(b)(1) The Agency of Commerce and Community Development shall design and implement the New Remote Worker Grant Program, which shall include a simple certification process to certify new remote workers and certify qualifying expenses for a grant under this section.
(2) A new remote worker may be eligible for a grant under the Program for qualifying remote worker expenses in the amount of not more than $5,000.00 per year, not to exceed a total of  $10,000.00 per individual new remote worker over the life of the Program.
(3) The Agency shall award grants under the Program on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available funding, as follows:
(A) not more than $125,000.00 in calendar year 2019;
(B) not more than $250,000.00 in calendar year 2020;
(C) not more than $125,000.00 in calendar year 2021; and
(D) not more than $100,000.00 per year in each subsequent calendar year, to the extent funding remains available.
(c) The Agency shall:
(1) adopt procedures for implementing the Program;
(2) promote awareness of the Program, including through coordination with relevant trade groups and by integration into the Agency’s economic development marketing campaigns; and
(3) adopt measurable goals, performance measures, and an audit strategy to assess the utilization and performance of the Program.
(d) On or before October 1, 2019, the Agency shall submit a report to the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development and the Senate Committee on Economic  Development, Housing and General Affairs concerning the implementation of this section, including:
(1) a description of the procedures adopted pursuant to subdivision (c)(1) of this section;
(2) the promotion and marketing of the Program pursuant to subdivision (c)(2) of this section; and
(3) any additional recommendations for qualifying remote worker expenses or qualifying workers that should be eligible under the Program, and any recommendations for the maximum amount of the grant.