Updates from VCRD - May 2024
Expertise and funding available to support community revitalization through the Village Trust Initiative
Vermont Council on Rural Development Your village is an essential part of your community and of Vermont’s identity and future. The Village Trust Initiative is a new program offering expertise and funding to help towns with populations under 2,500 create or bolster a local community trust organization (a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports the vitality of the community) to support a revitalization project in their village. These projects could be the revitalization of a general store, the creation of a community center, improvements to the accessibility of an old town hall, renovation of a large historic home into village-scale housing, and more. There are many possibilities, so bring your creativity and vision to the table!
The selection process begins with the completion of a simple intake form due Friday May 24, 2024 by 4pm. A select number of interested communities will be invited to submit a full application. If you are interested, submit the intake form and find out more here: https://ptvermont.org/village-trust-initiative/. Contact Nicole Gratton at [email protected] if you have questions.
Submit the Intake Form and Find out More
Facilitation and support for municipalities
The Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) is here to help! Towns around the state are contacting VCRD for FREE assistance to plan and implement eligible projects. In some cases, we can provide funding to move your projects along. Could your town benefit from facilitation, community engagement or other services? Reach out to Jessica Savage at [email protected].
Learn More about our MTAP Services
“Bridport Comes Together” Community Visit process kicked-off on May 7th
On May 7th, over 140 Bridport community members came together in the 1st step in our Community Visit Process – a 3 month process to help the community identify and implement key priorities for the future. Participants attended forums to share assets, challenges, and ideas for Bridport’s future and enjoy a free community dinner. On June 4th, the community will come back together to choose priorities and build local task force groups to take action. Visit bit.ly/BridportTogether to find out more.
“Franklin Community Voices” task forces forming on May 14th to build action plans
Franklin community members are coming back together on May 14th for the 3rd and final VCRD-facilitated phase of the “Franklin Community Voices” Community Visit. Participants will work to develop action plans for the three initiatives the community prioritized through the process – Expand Childcare Options; Improve Communication and Info Sharing; and Collaborate for the Health of Lake Carmi – and are forming task force groups to implement them. Attendees will work with a resource team of federal, state, business, and nonprofit leaders as they frame action plans and identify next steps towards success. Visit bit.ly/FranklinVoices to find out more.
Workshop: Sharing a Vision for Youth Success
June 11th | 10-11:30 AM | Virtual
Over the past year and a half, VCRD and an advisory group of youth and adult experts have gathered success stories, challenges, and action ideas from over 600 Vermonters on how we can better support Vermont youth. The results of this process will be shared in a Vermont Vision for Youth Success report to be released soon. In this workshop, we will hear reflections on these findings from members of the Youth Opportunity Advisory Group and other experts, and discuss how to move the action recommendations forward to boost youth opportunity, aspiration, and success in Vermont.
Workshop: Legislative Roundup
June 25th | 10-11:30 AM | Virtual
Each year, decisions made in the Statehouse have impacts on and create opportunities for our communities. From flood recovery and infrastructure to housing, zoning, boosting community capacity, energy, recreation, funding, and more – it can be difficult to follow these decisions and what they might mean for your work and your community. This workshop will bring together voices from the Administration, legislature, advocacy groups, and others to share key highlights from the 2024 session and how your community can connect to potential opportunities that may emerge in the year ahead.
SAVE THE DATE: August 6, 2024
Community Leadership Summit
Forge Forward; Thrive Together
@ Vermont State University Randolph
Come together on 8/6/24 with hundreds of community builders from across the state to build skills, capacity, and connections. This event will be an opportunity to dig into what it takes for a community to thrive – capacity, economic vitality, emergency preparedness, youth engagement, inclusion, engagement, and more – and will offer a diverse range of topics tailored to support and connect people in all aspects of local vitality and resilience. Through workshops, panels, and networking sessions, attendees will gain insights to drive local initiatives, build connections and resources, and exchange success stories and best practices. New this year are optional participation pathways which attendees can choose to follow: Climate Resilience and Long-term Recovery; Youth Leadership and Engagement; and Understanding and Solving Our Persistent Challenges. We hope you will join us! Visit vtrural.org/summit/ to find out more.
Vermont Council on Rural Development
9 Bailey Ave., PO Box 1384 Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 223-6091 | https://www.vtrural.org | [email protected]