Section 4607 - Powers and duties of the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Board(a) Duties. The Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Board is charged with:(1) optimizing the agricultural and forest use of Vermont lands and other agricultural resources;(2) expanding existing markets and identifying and developing new profitable in-state and out-of-state markets for food, fiber, forest products, and value-added agricultural products, including farm-derived renewable energy; and(3) identifying opportunities and challenges related to access to capital, infrastructure, product development, marketing, training, research, and education.(b) Powers. The Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Board shall have the authority:(1) to design and conduct an ongoing public engagement process, which may include taking testimony and receiving information from any party interested in the Board's activities;(2) to gain information through the use of experts, consultants, and data to perform analysis as needed;(3) to request services from State economists, State administrative agencies, and State programs;(4) to obtain information from other planning entities, including the Farm to Plate Investment Program;(5) to serve as a resource for and make recommendations to the Administration and the General Assembly on ways to improve Vermont's laws, rules, and policies in order to attain the goals set forth in section 4604 of this title;(6) to establish an application process, eligibility criteria, and criteria for prioritizing assistance for awarding grants, loans, incentives, and other investments in agricultural and forestry enterprises and in food and forest systems;(7) to award grants and other investments, which may include loans underwritten and administered through the Vermont Economic Development Authority;(8) to enter into performance contracts with one or more persons in order to provide investment and services to agricultural and forestry enterprises, including:(A) technical assistance and product research services;(B) marketing assistance, market development, and business and financial planning;(C) organizational, regulatory, and development assistance; and(D) feasibility studies of facilities or capital investments to optimize construction and other cost efficiencies;(9) to identify workforce needs and programs in order to develop training and incentive opportunities for the agriculture and forest product sectors after consulting with the Department of Labor;(10) to identify strategic statewide infrastructure and investment priorities considering: (A) leveraging opportunities;(C) return-on-investment analysis; and(D) other considerations the Board determines appropriate;(11) to develop an annual operating budget, and:(A) solicit and accept any grants, gifts, or appropriations necessary to implement the budget pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5; and(B) expend any monies necessary to carry out the purposes of this section; and(12) to identify growing markets and opportunities for the livestock and poultry sectors, including promoting independent animal welfare certification programs.(c) Staff support. The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall provide administrative support to the extent authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and with the assistance of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation to the extent authorized by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, in order to support the Board in the performance of its duties pursuant to this section.Amended by 2023 , No. 6, § 65, eff. 7/1/2023.Amended by 2022 , No. 105, § 145, eff. 7/1/2022.Added 2011, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.) , § 1, eff. 5/15/2012; amended 2015 , No. 39, § 24; 2017 , No. 75 , § 7; 2019 , No. 83 , § 8.