2008 Woodie Awards
I'd love to stay in Vt., but...
Terry Badman
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Opinion
Picture this.
Last Friday, I strolled into the Fair Haven Dunkin' Donuts to grab my usual cup o' Joe. Needs to gets me fixes on, ya' know?
That's when I saw it.
Sitting idly by the cash register was a copy of the Rutland Herald. There,
smothered all over the front page, in BIG BOLD print, read the following: "MetroGroup to close Rutland plant."
I 'bout bowled oer' n' ma' britches.
Here's some history for those of you who don't understand the severity of the situation.
MetroGroup has been one of Rutland County's leading employers since the sixties, and will leave over 200 current employees without jobs. These poor bastards are left to find new jobs in the already dilapidated Vermont job market-
Just in time for Christmas.
But why should you care, you ask? Well, MetroGroup also catered to many college students throughout the years - including myself.
They were often willing to bend for college kids' schedules, and also paid better than most burger joints or crappy mall jobs in the area.
My stint with the company was brief, only a few months, and I've long since moved to slightly greener pastures until I graduate. But the plant closing draws even more attention to the questions many Vermont college students ask.
Where's the money in Vermont? What reason do I have to stay here after college?
There's nothing here. There are no high-paying jobs. There are minimal opportunities in my field. Most people who have money in this state migrated here AFTER they made their fortunes elsewhere.
Don't believe me? Just go online. You know how many journalism jobs I found in Vermont? Less than 10. How many in, let's say Cali or New York? Hundreds.
Rockwellian landscapes and world-renowned Cheddar isn't going to feed my famished piggy bank, y'know?
Yeah I know. Vermont isn't supposed to be California or New York. That's part of its charm. It's supposed to be an aesthetic escape from all the headache of the cities. Why else would city-fed leaf peepers and skiers come here in droves each year?
Last Friday, I strolled into the Fair Haven Dunkin' Donuts to grab my usual cup o' Joe. Needs to gets me fixes on, ya' know?
That's when I saw it.
Sitting idly by the cash register was a copy of the Rutland Herald. There,
smothered all over the front page, in BIG BOLD print, read the following: "MetroGroup to close Rutland plant."
I 'bout bowled oer' n' ma' britches.
Here's some history for those of you who don't understand the severity of the situation.
MetroGroup has been one of Rutland County's leading employers since the sixties, and will leave over 200 current employees without jobs. These poor bastards are left to find new jobs in the already dilapidated Vermont job market-
Just in time for Christmas.
But why should you care, you ask? Well, MetroGroup also catered to many college students throughout the years - including myself.
They were often willing to bend for college kids' schedules, and also paid better than most burger joints or crappy mall jobs in the area.
My stint with the company was brief, only a few months, and I've long since moved to slightly greener pastures until I graduate. But the plant closing draws even more attention to the questions many Vermont college students ask.
Where's the money in Vermont? What reason do I have to stay here after college?
There's nothing here. There are no high-paying jobs. There are minimal opportunities in my field. Most people who have money in this state migrated here AFTER they made their fortunes elsewhere.
Don't believe me? Just go online. You know how many journalism jobs I found in Vermont? Less than 10. How many in, let's say Cali or New York? Hundreds.
Rockwellian landscapes and world-renowned Cheddar isn't going to feed my famished piggy bank, y'know?
Yeah I know. Vermont isn't supposed to be California or New York. That's part of its charm. It's supposed to be an aesthetic escape from all the headache of the cities. Why else would city-fed leaf peepers and skiers come here in droves each year?
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Rick_VT
posted 11/06/07 @ 1:25 PM EST
While this article makes some good points regarding Vermont's poor employment situation, it applies to a broader spectrum than just college grads. While there is a broad range of industries in VT, it can be likened to Noah's Ark - there are only 2 of each job here. (Continued…)
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