Kirk Dombrowski, the University of Vermont's vice president for research and economic development, will chair the Economic Acceleration working group on Governor Phil Scott's new Vermont Artificial Intelligence Economic Task Force. The task force brings together members from 10 counties and sectors including higher education, healthcare, nonprofits, energy, and economic development to study how AI is reshaping Vermont's economy.
The task force will recommend workforce, investment, and policy actions based on its findings. Dombrowski's group will build Vermont's AI readiness framework, identify the state's highest-value AI opportunities, and recommend steps to capture them, with attention to communities affected by demographic shifts and workforce declines.
"As a result of this new technology, I believe we need to do our homework to understand how it can help us while also addressing some of the challenges that come with it," Scott said. "And to do that, I've appointed members who represent almost every county in the state in some of the sectors we believe will be most impacted."
State governments across the country are creating similar task forces to study AI's economic effects. AI for Government training covers how public agencies are approaching AI adoption and policy.
Economic Acceleration working group
Dombrowski's working group is one of three. The other two will explore small business competitiveness and community resilience.
"Vermont has the talent, creativity, and collaborative spirit to become a leader in the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence," Dombrowski said. "Through the Economic Acceleration Working Group, we're identifying the state's highest-value AI opportunities and developing practical recommendations to help Vermont capture them. By bringing together perspectives from government, industry, higher education, and communities across the state, we can ensure that Vermont is prepared not just to adapt to AI-driven change, but to benefit from it in ways that reflect our values and priorities."
Dombrowski's AI work at UVM
Dombrowski already co-chairs UVM's internal AI Taskforce with Chief Information Officer Kellie Campbell. Campbell recently co-chaired the Vermont Digital Government Summit in South Burlington.
Policy makers working on AI issues need a working knowledge of the technology's capabilities and limits. The AI Learning Path for Policy Makers offers structured coursework on these topics.
Why this matters for government, education, and IT professionals
The task force's recommendations could reshape Vermont's approach to AI workforce development, which affects public sector hiring and training. IT and education professionals in state government may see new AI-related roles, training requirements, and procurement policies emerge from these recommendations. The working group's emphasis on communities affected by demographic shifts also signals where AI investments may be directed.
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