Summits convene state and federal leaders and encourage their cooperative goal-setting and mutual investment in response to key rural priorities in Vermont.

Panel: Lead by example, lead together

By Kate Barcellos, as seen in the Rutland Herald: https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/local/panel-lead-by-example-lead-together/article_9c38041d-9110-5718-a74e-27da4b5e7335.html CASTLETON — The Casella Theater at Castleton University was standing room only as hundreds of municipal administrators, organizers and legislators gathered Monday for the Vermont Community Leadership Summit “Making It Happen,” hosted by the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Gov. Phil Scott cited both John…

Dan Smith: A new generation of local leadership

By Dan Smith, VCRD board member and president and CEO of The Vermont Community Foundation, as seen in vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2018/09/04/dan-smith-new-generation-local-leadership/ Vermont faces a set of economic and demographic challenges that, if left unaddressed, will continue to erode communities, widen the gap between regions and stretch the distance between poor families and wealthy families in our…

“Making It Happen: Local Leadership for Vermont Communities” Summit to Take Place October 1 at Castleton University

The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) has launched registration for a statewide one-day summit focused on supporting emerging and existing local leaders working to improve life in their communities across the state. The summit is happening October 1 at Castleton University.  Vermonters can find out more and register here: https://www.vtrural.org/Summit18 Summit organizers believe that in democratic…

Catalysts of the Climate Economy Summit – 2017

Over 500 entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders attended the cc:econ Catalysts of the Climate Economy Summit – a 3-day national innovation summit in Burlington, Vermont to gear up for the next stage of economic development and prosperity in a low-carbon future and accelerate progress toward the significant economic opportunities associated with solving the unprecedented challenges…

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…