Mayor Clavelle Welcomes Newcomers

Welcome!

Vermont welcomes you to one of America's most beautiful and vibrant cities. Ideally situated on the shores of Lake Champlain, with panoramic views of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains, Burlington is the economic and cultural center of Vermont. As the State's largest city, it is the center of banking, health care, education, and commerce.

The vitality of the Church Street marketplace is similar to that of Boston's Faneuil Hall.

Easily accessible via air, highway, rail, and water, the area has long enjoyed a reputation as a recreational playground with fine hotels, restaurants, shopping, and attractions offering friendly Vermont hospitality.

Burlington is culturally diverse, with the amenities and services of a large urban area successfully blended with the tranquil countryside, white church steeples, and lovely college greens of New England. In 1999, the City was ranked No.1 by Arts & Entertainment Television in its list of "Top Ten Cities to Have it All." Maturity Magazine rated Burlington as one of the "50 Best Places to Live" in its May/June 2000 issue.

The abundance of galleries and theaters in the area adds to Burlington's "Big City" feel. Residents can enjoy the cultural benefits of a large urban setting, while avoiding the problems normally associated with those areas.

The convention and meeting industry is vital to the economy of Burlington. A division of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Convention Bureau has been responsible for bringing more than $30 million in meeting and convention business to Vermont's economy since its inception 12 years ago.

Because of the state's small size, Burlington's city government and Vermont's state government offer citizens and community business leaders unique access to the governing process.

The Burlington Electric Department (BED), a department of City government, boasts low rates and a clean power mix with a high percentage of renewable energy. As a locally-owned, not-for-profit utility, BED is sensitive to business and community needs. BED has received national recognition for its money-saving energy efficiency programs available to all of its customers.

Downtown Burlington serves as Vermont's largest employment center. Its award-winning Church Street Marketplace ensures its continued role as a major tourist destination. Continued public and private development of Burlington's waterfront still maintains its economic vitality well into the 21st century.