Marshfield and Plainfield successfully submitted a joint application to participate in the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s (VCRD) Climate Economy Model Communities Program in 2019. This program – a partnership of VCRD, Efficiency Vermont and local leaders – is designed to help communities identify and implement priority actions that increase economic vitality and affordability in a time of climate change.

In March 2019 a planning committee of local leaders, stakeholders, and representatives from throughout the two communities will convene to guide the local Climate Economy effort and plan for the kick-off in April. This group came up with the name for the process: Revitalizing All Marshfield and Plainfield: RAMP Into The Future.  The RAMP effort is co-chaired by Rich Phillips from Marshfield and Bob Atchinson from Plainfield.  Here is how the process has moved forward since then:

Step 1 – Community Forums and Dinner (April 30, 2019)
In April, the project kicked off with afternoon and evening brainstorming sessions for the full community with an expert Climate Economy Visiting Team. Click HERE to read the notes from the forums.

Step 2 – Priority Setting (May 23, 2019)
The full community gathered month later to hear specific concepts for community climate economy initiatives built from ideas gathered at the kick-off forums. As an outcome of this meeting, four task forces were created to focus on key priorities that now make up the RAMP effort.  Click HERE to read a press release describing the outcome of this meeting. 

Step 3 – Planning and Implementation (June 20, and onward)On June 20, a final large community gathering took place to launch the four task forces. Resource Team experts including the utilities came together with local teams to set work plans. Work is underway to implement the chosen initiatives with ongoing support provided by Jon Copans at VCRD along with other partners.

Click below for more information about the four RAMP task forces that are working to:

• Support And Strengthen Both Village Centers and Improve the Route 2 Corridor Travelling Through Both Towns
• Build A Farm And Food Network In Marshfield and Plainfield
• Improve Transportation Options to Increase Mobility, Reduce Costs, and Reduce Emissions in Marshfield and Plainfield
• Reduce and Transform Energy Use and Increase Renewable Energy Generation For Homes, Businesses, Twinfield School, the Towns, and Other Institutions

To add your name to the list for one of the task forces, click here or e-mail Jon Copans at [email protected].

The Climate Economy Model Communities Program is a community-driven process with local leaders, VCRD, Efficiency Vermont, and other partners to cultivate economic development, innovation, and affordability in the face of climate change. This event is produced by VCRD, a non-profit organization supporting the locally-defined progress of Vermont’s rural communities. For a 1-page summary of the process, click here.