Verizon Partners with Vermont Agency to Promote Economic Development

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. -- With its quality of life, skilled workforce and world-class telecommunications infrastructure, Vermont offers

tremendous opportunities for businesses that want to invest and expand.

Efforts to promote the state's advantages received a significant boost today as Verizon announced it will create a promotional "tool kit" for the

Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.

The kit, which will include a video, CD-ROM and printed materials, will be used as a sales tool by the agency as it seeks to attract new businesses and jobs to

Vermont. Verizon is developing the promotional package, valued at $150,000, for the agency.

"This initiative reflects Verizon's commitment to invest in the communities we serve," said Ivan Seidenberg, president and co-CEO of Verizon.

"Vermont is very important to Verizon. We know this state has powerful potential for sensible, enlightened economic development."

Seidenberg will describe the program in a keynote speech tonight at the annual Vermont Business EXPO Dinner in Burlington.

Gov. Howard Dean, M.D., said the state is delighted that Verizon is making this investment in Vermont. "Vermont has a tremendous economic

development story to tell and this project will help us do just that," Dean said.

Vermont is one of three areas selected by Verizon this year for a "Region of Choice" initiative. Region of Choice is a company program that

promotes a region beyond its boundaries in an effort to attract employers and additional jobs to a region. A region can be a number of communities, counties or

a state, as in the case of Vermont.

Verizon will work with the state agency to design a marketing "tool kit" that promotes Vermont's many advantages. Production will take about six

months. Filming of the video is scheduled for the fall. The complementary promotional materials will include brochures, new graphics and design packages and

direct mail items.

"Verizon is a terrific partner in our efforts to create quality jobs for Vermonters," said Agency Secretary Molly Lambert. "Choosing Vermont

as a Region of Choice makes a clear statement that Verizon is committed to remaining a valued partner for the long term and we're very grateful for that

commitment."

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development's mission "to preserve Vermont's heritage, promote vibrant communities, and create a sustainable

economy that provides all Vermonters with the opportunity for meaningful employment" provides the foundation and overall context for economic

development. Operating within the agency, the Department of Economic Development administers programs and provides services to Vermonters to strengthen

its workforce, assist in closing Vermont's wage gap with the rest of the nation, encourage use of the state's natural resources to gain competitive advantage,

support sustainable community development and strengthen downtown centers, and create economic opportunity in under-served or under-used regions of

Vermont

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of

wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 112 million access line equivalents and 27 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest

directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with approximately 260,000 employees and more than $65 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global

presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

####