By Susan Smallheer, as seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: https://www.reformer.com/stories/youth-center-emerges-as-top-priority,594301 BELLOWS FALLS — Rockingham community members have set their priorities: they want to build a youth center, establish a climate and energy task force, and redevelop Bellows Falls buildings. At a well-attended public meeting Wednesday evening, the second in the “Let’s Take Action” community planning…
The Alchemist co-founder Jen Kimmich is on the VCRD board of directors. —————- By Kenny Gould, as seen in Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kennygould/2020/01/09/how-the-alchemist-goes-above-and-beyond-to-give-you-sustainable-beer/?fbclid=IwAR3Bh1zPmBslcUSVVGDNfEDMi5kswgB2MMcNTbDAbLIIgXI42Oc7_bjB8Ls#2ca09fcce703 By any metric, The Alchemist Brewery is a successful business. Currently, the brewery has two locations: a production facility in Waterbury, where they make their flagship Heady Topper IPA, and a visitor’s center in Stowe where…
By Kevin O’Connor as seen in vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2020/01/09/vermont-town-wrestles-the-cycle-of-revisiting-the-same-challenges-%EF%BB%BF/ ROCKINGHAM — More than 100 residents buzzed as they worked to whittle down two-dozen possibilities into three plans for action: Should the town improve internet and cellphone service? Recruit new residents? Expand an alphabet of opportunities, starting with arts, bike lanes and child care? A local who recalled…
The second meeting of Rockingham In Action, the community visit by the Vermont Council on Rural Development will be this coming Wednesday. The second step of the “Let’s Take Action” visit will be held at the Rockingham Town Hall, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Enhancing quality of life is a goal that’s at the heart of most policymaking regardless of whether you are working from a community or town, county, state or national perspective.
By Susan Smallheer, as seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: https://www.reformer.com/stories/following-the-entergy-money,593574 BRATTLEBORO — Where has that $10 million Entergy Nuclear money for economic development gone? The Windham County Economic Development Program, WCEDP (pronounced “wikidip”), was set up as part of an agreement between Energy Nuclear and the state to soften the impact of the closing of…
By Robert Zulkoski & team, Social Entrepreneur, as seen in Vermont Business Magazine: https://vermontbiz.com/news/2019/december/22/zulkoski-farmers-almanac-says-change-coming “It’s been a long time coming. But I know a change is gonna come.” – Sam Cooke This article was written as a collaborative effort between Vermont Works Management Company and Vermont Innovation Commons. As we wrap another decade, the feeling of…
The temptation with bad news, like that of the closing of Green Mountain College, is to sit on one’s hands, paralyzed by structural change beyond immediate local control. The alternative is to come together, line up strategies and do what is in your power to move your community forward.
In 2016, VCRD held its community visit process in Vernon. Revitalizing the town and establishing a village center was one of the priorities the community chose as a result of the process. This article shares some of the progress they’ve made since the visit. By Olga Peters/The Commons: http://www.commonsnews.org/site/sitenext/story.php?articleno=31591&page=1 VERNON—As at least 20 people toured…
State Rural Development Councils collaborate both with in-state public and private-sector groups and with other states to strengthen rural development. Maine hasn’t had a formal rural development council since Maine Rural Partners shut down in 2016.