VCRD is facilitating a non-partisan and broad-based partnership to support local agriculture and forestry, grow and attract farm and forest entrepreneurs, and conserve Vermont’s Working Landscape far into the future. Join the Partnership to add your voice, keep informed, and help shape the campaign for Vermont’s Working Landscape.
One of the reasons I love Vermont is because of its agricultural background. Between the push for a Working Landscape, and the fact that we have the most CSAs per capita anywhere in the United States, Vermont has developed a reputation as a beautiful haven for those who are looking for locally sourced and sustainable…
The Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Investment Bill turned the recommendations in the Vermont Working Landscape Partnership’s Action Plan into legislative language for consideration by Vermont lawmakers in the spring of 2012. The bill (S.246 and H.496) passed the House and the Senate, and was signed by Gov. Shumlin in May 2012 as Act 142. Legislative Intent:…
We are actively working to promote the growth of the WLEF fund through the Working Lands Coalition, which we convened to support continued public funding for farm and forest enterprises, with a goal of $15M which will be transformational for Vermont's cultural and economic future. Meet some of the farmers and foresters that received working…
Vermont Public Radio: http://digital.vpr.net/post/conference-focuses-financing-working-lands According to those working to improve farming and forestry opportunities in Vermont, the state is experiencing a renaissance. There’s an influx of interested young people and a host of new ideas for keeping the land productive. The third annual Financing the Working Landscape Conference Thursday in Middlebury will provide a chance…
In August, VCRD was honored to serve as a partner with the Windham Foundation to facilitate their thirty-fifth Grafton Conference. On the 50th year anniversary of the foundation, they wisely chose to bring together key industry and policy leaders to address the topic: “Vermont’s Forest Economy: Advancing Creativity and Entrepreneurship in Value-Added Forest Products.” The…
16 Grantees will Receive Over $750,000 in Total Funding Governor Peter Shumlin, Agency of Agriculture Secretary Chuck Ross, Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lawrence Miller, Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Michael Snyder, and the Working Lands Enterprise Board will announce the 1st round of grant recipients from the “Service Provider” and…
The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) has its roots in the 1992 Farm Bill. The organization has also taken strong leadership in the creation of Vermont’s Working Landscape Partnership, a non-partisan and broad-based coalition to support local agriculture and forestry, grow and attract farm and forest entrepreneurs, and conserve Vermont’s “Working Landscape” far into…
As a neutral policy and community development convener, VCRD is rarely directly connected to legislative matters but we are excited today about two important developments! ******* First, as the dust settles on the 2013 Vermont legislative session, we are pleased to report that the Working Lands Enterprise Fund has been allocated $1,425,000 for the FY14…
The Working Lands Enterprise Board received a total of 387 applications for the three investment areas, for a total requested amount of $11,569,397. Some examples of requests include processing equipment, facility upgrades and expansions, marketing assistance, product development, technical assistance and start-ups. The maps below show the breakdown by investment category, as well as type…
Members of the Working Lands Coalition launched their “5-by-3” campaign on Wednesday, February 13, 2013, at the Vermont State House. The day included an early morning presentation to the Rural Economic Development Working Group (REDWG), testimony in front of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, and a press conference in the Cedar Creek Room. The…