Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that Deputy Secretary Lucy Leriche will step in as Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, replacing outgoing Secretary Patricia Moulton. Moulton leaves her post on September 9th to serve as interim president of Vermont Technical College. Leriche has served as Deputy Secretary at the Agency for four years. She has been active in business recruitment and retention, expanding housing and strengthening downtowns and community centers across the state, and strengthening tourism and marketing of Vermont across the globe.
“Lucy has a proven track record of working with employers to create jobs in every region of Vermont,” Gov. Shumlin said. “She’s worked closely with Pat, and will continue the focus of the development team that’s helped Vermont recover from the worst recession in memory.”
“Governor Shumlin’s comprehensive approach to economic and community development includes nearly every Department and Agency of state government”, Leriche said. “His ‘all hands on deck’ approach to job creation and economic vitality have resulted in 17,200 jobs created since he first took office in 2011. I am honored to have the opportunity to continue working to grow jobs and the economy, and to strengthen our downtowns and communities in this new role.”
In addition, Shumlin said Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein will oversee the Vermont EB5 Regional Center.
Leriche grew up working on the family farm as it grew into a modern business supplying eggs throughout the Northeast region of the U.S. She has a background in real estate development, including mixed use commercial and residential development, and also worked as a loan underwriter for community development projects. Leriche also has extensive policy development experience having served in the Vermont Legislature from 2005-2012.