The Climate Economy Programs are designed to help communities build and implement priority actions that increase economic vitality and affordability in a time of climate change.

Empower Pownal Report – 2017

Pownal was the first community to participate in VCRD’s Climate Economy Model Community Program (CEMCP), named Empower Pownal. CEMCP is community-driven process with local leaders, VCRD, Green Mountain Power, and Efficiency Vermont to cultivate economic development, innovation, and affordability in the face of climate change. Read the Empower Pownal Report and Action Plan. Through the…

Conquering Climate Change One Business at a Time

By Terri Hallenbeck, as seen in Seven Days: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/conquering-climate-change-one-business-at-a-time/Content?oid=8281954 When Paul Costello and his team of organizers started putting together a conference on climate change a few months ago, they decided this one wouldn't be about politics or public policy. Instead, they opted to celebrate entrepreneurs who are trying to combat climate change while also…

Green business summit aims to spur national investment

By Kevin O’Connor as seen in vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2017/08/20/green-business-summit-aims-spur-national-investment/ Paul Costello doesn’t want to talk about the polarizing problem of climate change. He wants to talk about solutions. “We have smart, creative people advancing innovations around agriculture, clean energy, green building, transportation and wise use of resources, recycling and digital technologies,” says the executive director of…

Robert Miller Commentary: Climate economy is an important opportunity

As seen in vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2017/08/16/robert-miller-climate-economy-important-opportunity/ Editor’s note: This commentary is by Robert Miller, of Shelburne, who is CEO of VSECU and a former commissioner of the Vermont Department of Economic Development. He serves on the boards of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, Capstone Community Action and the Energy Action Network. He is on the…

Costello Commentary: Coming Together to Answer Climate Change

As seen in the Times-Argus: https://www.timesargus.com/articles/answering-the-climate-challenge/ This week saw yet another disturbing climate change report in the news—this one authored by U.S. Government officials—highlighting the grave danger humanity faces from climate change. To answer the challenge, we will need leadership, entrepreneurship and creativity. That creativity is all around us in Vermont. We will celebrate that…

Catalysts of the Climate Economy summit set for Vermont

As seen in the Vermont Business Magazine Vermont will host the Catalysts of the Climate Economy (cc:econ), a three-day national innovation summit on September 6-8. Taking place at the University of Vermont in Burlington, the summit brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders working to accelerate economic development by addressing climate change. Speakers at cc:econ…

2017 cc:econ Catalysts of the Climate Economy Summit

Summits History of VCRD Summits Past Summits 2023 4th Vermont Community Leadership Summit 2022: 3rd Vermont Community Leadership Summit 2021: Summit on the Future of Vermont 2019: 2nd Vermont Community Leadership Summit 2018: Making It Happen: Vermont Community Leadership Summit Over 500 entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders attended the cc:econ Catalysts of the Climate Economy…

New Framework VCRD Innovator Story

A New Framework for Design and Construction

New Frameworks is a natural design and construction firm with a central mission to help lead the transformation of our state and region into a climate-adaptive, sustainable place. New Frameworks designs, builds, and renovates homes and small commercial projects that connect with place and help lower our carbon footprint. They focus on using biogenic materials,…