At first glance, Addison County seems to have a lot of things working against its economy. It's got relatively high taxes and regulation, yet relatively poor infrastructure -- the nearest interstate is an hour away.
It's partly for these reasons that two of the more traditional industries -- a factory that made plastic broom bristles and one making tape for cash registers -- left the area, according to Andy Mayer, head of the local Chamber of Commerce.
Yet over the last several years, Vermonters have done a curious thing. They've leveraged some of the area's natural resources -- wood, apples, farms, mountains -- to build an economy that Mayer thinks is even healthier than before.
There's Conner Homes -- a company that makes high-end, architecturally accurate modular homes in the former tape factory. Vermont Hard Cider -- maker of the popular Woodchuck. And cheese maker Cabot Creamery. There's also a branch of UTC Aerospace Systems, DR Power Equipment, and Middlebury College -- the well-known liberal arts school.
The college employs a lot of people, as does the tourist industry, which capitalizes on the surrounding lakes and mountains.
Yet it's affordable. Karena Blair, hospitality manager at the Middlebury Inn, moved here a year ago after living in Colorado, Kansas and Texas. The total monthly payments on her four bedroom, two bath house are $550.
"Middlebury is awesome, it's breathtakingly beautiful," said Blair. "I'm pretty much in love with the place."
