“Did It work?” It’s a question rarely asked after publicly-funded programs launch. But long after the headlines fade and promises are made, how do we know if those public dollars actually made a difference? Vermont Edition features five stories from VPR's investigative series "Did It Work?" asking the question about electric vehicle incentives, efforts to bring Vermont products to Japan and more.
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The question stuck with VPR reporter and All Things Considered host Henry Epp, who produced a series of stories exploring a singular question about publicly-funded programs in Vermont, both big and small: did it work?
The series followed up on a handful of initiatives over the past few years and looked how much bang — if any — Vermonters got for their buck.
The programs looked at state, federal and even public utility dollars aimed at meeting a public good, helping small businesses or boosting the Vermont brand.
Months or years later, Epp and a handful of other VPR reporters tracked down those involved in the programs to see if the promises panned out.
Read more from the"Did It Work?"series:
- State-Sponsored Vermont Food Stall At Boston Public Market
- Burlington Electric's Vehicle Rebates
- Hiring More DCF Social Workers To Reduce Caseloads
- Promoting Vermont Food Products In Japan
- Vermont's Wood Stove Change-Out Program
Broadcast on Monday, July 29, 2019 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Copyright 2019 Vermont Public Radio