del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook
What's this?
BENNINGTON, Vt. - Bennington's Capitol Christmas Tree 2007 project just got $50,000 richer.
Representing Gov. Jim Douglas, Commissioner of Tourism and Marketing Bruce Hyde recently joined forces with state Rep. Mary Morrissey and state Sen. Dick Sears to deliver the pledge to members of the organizing committee in a brief ceremony held at the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, the project's lead agency.
"It's a great honor to contribute this offering to what is steadily turning into a regional event past the boundaries of Bennington County and Vermont," Hyde said while presenting the windfall. "There are already promising signs of involvement from throughout Vermont, and the state government wants to validate those efforts.
"This is a wonderful opportunity not only to promote Vermont and its people, but also to have positive residual effects on our neighbors and on those along the route of the tree's delivery."
Hyde was referring to the 10-day, 60-vehicle caravan scheduled to transport the tree to Washington, D.C., in late November. A series of daily scheduled stops and events is planned to commemorate the tree's journey, celebrate the season and honor the
"There's a veterans component to this, something we as Vermonters believed was in keeping with our history and the tradition of the Green Mountain Boys," Morrissey said, referring to the fabled Revolution contingent led by Ethan Allen. "We will be stopping at VA hospitals along the way and in the nation's capitol to salute the men and women of our armed forces who've given us the many freedoms we enjoy."
Organizing committee co-chair Lindy Lynch was grateful for the gift - not the only contribution to the Capitol tree effort, which officially kicked off this summer.
"While it's difficult to estimate the magnitude of in-kind donations at this point - and there have been many - private donations to date are approaching what the state just granted us, around $40,000 and still coming in at a nice flow," Lynch said. "This shows the magnitude of interest in the project."
Erenhouse, as the executive director of the Bennington chamber, feels the increased interest on a daily basis.
"Inquiries about anything associated to the Capitol Tree 2007 are on the rise," she said. "While there has been nationwide attention to this project, we're very gratified to see inquiries from the Albany and Berkshire County areas, which we consider welcome neighbors to join us in the upcoming festivities."
Sears said the most telling sign that the venture is more than just a tourism magnet is the deep civic involvement from throughout the state - and the government's ability to back it up with hard cash.
"You know, these are tight economic times," he said. "I'm so proud of the legislature in uniting to help fund this project, because it's one that will have a positive ripple effect throughout the region, and for quite some time.
"There have been so many people coming forth with offers of help and services, so it's great to be able to support this effort in a way that puts an exclamation on our commitment as Vermonters, and also to represent New England."
