Barre Mayor Says Effort To Bring State Workers To Town Will Continue

AP/ Toby Talbot

The former Brooks Drug mall is seen on North Main Street in Barre. Governor Peter Shumlin says he'd like to move the Department of Education to a new building proposed for the site.

Since Tropical Storm Irene wiped out the state office complex in Waterbury, the city of Barre has been making a pitch for at least some of the complex's 1,500 state workers to re-locate to the Washington County city.

Now, it appears Governor Peter Shumlin likes the idea. In the governor's budget address he suggested moving the Department of Education and its 170 workers there, an announcement that was greeted with enthusiasm by Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon.

The Mayor tells VPR's Mitch Wertlieb while he's excited about the prospect of getting those workers, and developing a new multi-use downtown building for them, it's not a done deal and the lobbying effort will continue.

Click listen to hear the interview.  

Click here for more information on the City Place development and Thursday night's meeting.