Municipalities, nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations encouraged to submit projects by September 18
Vermont Business Magazine Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC), Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC), and Windham Regional Commission (WRC) have opened the annual project submission process for Southern Vermont's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and Regional Priority Project (RPP) programs.
Organizations throughout Bennington County and the Windham Region, which includes all Windham County towns and the Town of Weston, are invited to submit projects that are in alignment with regional economic and community development goals.
An informational webinar will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to explain both programs (CEDS and RPP), review submission requirements, and answer questions from prospective and returning applicants. To learn more, register for the webinar, or submit a project: www.sovermontzone.com/ceds-rpp-project-submission
Project submissions will be accepted through September 18, 2026.
"The projects submitted through this process tell the story of where Southern Vermont is headed," said Adam Grinold, Executive Director of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation. "Every year we see communities, businesses, nonprofits, and institutions bringing forward ideas that address housing, workforce, infrastructure, childcare, healthcare, and economic opportunity. Our job is to help connect those projects to partners, funding opportunities, and the broader regional strategy that can help move them forward."
The submission process serves two related but distinct purposes. The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is Southern Vermont's federally recognized economic development strategy and serves as the region's implementation framework for economic development. The annual update tracks projects across Bennington and Windham Counties, measures progress toward regional goals, and helps align local initiatives with state and federal funding opportunities. Over the past fifteen years, the Southern Vermont CEDS process has helped communities advance housing, infrastructure, business development, workforce, healthcare, and community investment projects across the region.
“In addition to helping us understand the landscape of community development, economic development, housing and infrastructure projects in Southern Vermont so we can aid in connecting projects to resources, the RPP process serves as a way of measuring the understanding and impact of the Southern VT CEDS,” said BCRC Executive Director Bill Colvin. “This information is important as we work toward future iterations of the document and strive to keep it meaningful.”
Projects at all stages of development are encouraged to participate. Whether a project is in the concept phase, actively seeking funding, under construction, or recently completed, inclusion in the CEDS update helps create a more complete picture of economic development activity across Southern Vermont.
Projects that are implementation-ready and seeking additional visibility may also be considered for the Regional Priority Project (RPP) process by completing supplemental questions within the same submission form.
Regional Priority Projects are part of a statewide initiative coordinated through Vermont's Regional Development Corporations in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the Northern Border Regional Commission. The RPP process highlights the top economic and community development projects in our region that are best positioned to attract state and federal funding.
In Southern Vermont, all Regional Priority Projects are first submitted through the CEDS process, allowing applicants to complete a single form for both opportunities.
Organizations that submitted projects in previous years do not need to start from scratch. Previously submitted information can be updated and reused as part of the 2026 submission cycle.
Technical assistance, office hours, and proposer support will be available throughout the submission period.
Key Dates
June 29, 2026 – Annual solicitation opens
July 22, 2026 – Public CEDS/RPP webinar
September 18, 2026 – Project submission deadline
December 15, 2026 – Publication of annual CEDS update and announcement of Regional Priority Projects
Questions?
CEDS and General Submission Questions
Laura Sibilia [email protected]
Regional Priority Projects – Windham County
Owen Perry [email protected]
Regional Priority Projects – Bennington County
Jonathan Cooper [email protected]
About Southern Vermont's CEDS
The Southern Vermont Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is the region's federally recognized economic development strategy for Bennington and Windham Counties. Since 2011, the CEDS has provided a framework for identifying priorities, tracking implementation progress, coordinating investments, and strengthening the competitiveness of projects seeking state and federal support.
About Regional Priority Projects
The Regional Priority Project (RPP) process identifies implementation-ready projects that demonstrate strong regional impact and alignment with regional priorities. RPP designation helps elevate projects that are well-positioned to advance and supports coordination between local, regional, state, and federal partners.
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation
Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies