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FEATURE 29
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I started out selling cars for Burlington Hyundai. After I’d sold my third or fourth car, I told my boss, ‘This is the most fun I’ve ever had at a job.’ It was so great to meet people every day. Not just, “Hi, how are you? Can I help you?’ But to actually sit down with them, get to know their needs and wants. At the end of the day, that’s a really rewarding experience. Now my job is to bring people in the door via digital media: making sure the websites are up to date, doing graphic design on the website, exploring Google analytics. I’m just constantly learning something new… It’s a fun, unique environment.
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Disclosure: Paul Heintz formerly worked for Congressman Peter Welch.
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receives a green card, Stenger will even- they said, was providing critical suptually have to show that the expansion port for DR Power’s parent company, created 5000 jobs. That figure can in- Country Home Products, thereby clude jobs outside the company payroll; saving the firm 200 jobs in Winooski indirect jobs created through construc- and Vergennes. The press release issued by Leahy’s tion or the increased use of neighboring office identified the senior senator as services also count. Despite the government’s role in “the leading champion of the EB-5 securing investors by providing them investor visa program in Congress for visas, neither those analyses nor any more than a decade.” Congressman other reports about the projects are Peter Welch supports the program; Sen. available to the public. That means Bernie Sanders’ office did not respond to a request for his “job creation can be position on it. claimed via an econoThe EB-5 love goes mist’s report, not a both ways. Stenger, head count,” says Oder, Cummings, Smith the Atlantic Yards and Country Home watchdog. Products CEO Joe But Jeff Carr, a state Perrotto have all given economist who has handsomely to the established one of the campaigns of Vermont nation’s leading EB-5 politicians who supeconomic consultanport EB-5. cies, says USCIS is Since its incepplenty rigorous. tion in 1990 as a pilot “A lot of projects program, EB-5 has nowadays trying to been extended several get approved have to times. According to be much better preLeahy spokesman pared and much more David Carle, “Sen. thoroughly thought Leahy has long adthrough than five vocated ending the or 10 years ago,” he practice of having says. “My belief is the to lurch from extenUSCIS is trying hard to sion to extension and improve the standards going to a permanent of the program.” authorization to imTo Stenger, who prove oversight at all provided reports indilevels. He continues to cating that Jay Peak’s BrE NDAN o’NE ill build bipartisan supexpansion has created port for the goal of an 2820 direct or indirect jobs thus far, the proof is in the pudding. extension.” If Congress pulls the plug in “It’s been a profound increase of investment in our community,” he says. September, Vermont Secretary of “We’ve been under construction for 36 Commerce Lawrence Miller says it months, and we’re going to be under would hurt Vermont — especially in the Northeast Kingdom, where Jay construction for another 36 months.” Candido describes the Jay Peak ex- Peak makes its home. After September, pansion as the “largest building project Stenger would no longer be able to lure foreign investors into funding his next in the state.” plans: new golf villas, another hotel, a mountaintop lodge. A Push for Extension But Stenger is confident EB-5 will Support for EB-5 crosses the political be extended and confident he’ll prove spectrum in Vermont. Former governor wrong those who have called into quesJim Douglas led two trade delegations tion Jay Peak’s financial viability. He to Asia with EB-5 business owners, in believes he will succeed in building a part to drum up business for certified lavish vacation resort in the poorest, companies. Gov. Peter Shumlin traveled remotest corner of Vermont — all in the to Miami in November to host a seminar middle of a recession. With a little help for potential Jay Peak investors. During a visit to Winooski’s DR from his friends. m