by Denise Smith, Vermont Council on Rural Development
At the recent Statewide Civics Bee I participated in, Vermont students offered thoughtful and practical solutions to community challenges—a powerful reminder of civic responsibility. I was struck by their creativity, problem-solving skills, and commitment to making a difference. Their ideas reflect the kind of civic responsibility that has long sustained our democracy: people stepping forward for the greater good through local engagement. Yet across the state, fewer people are stepping up to serve in local roles, weakening the trust and relationships that support leadership.
At VCRD, we work alongside communities every day to strengthen the conditions that allow leadership to grow. Through our leadership programs and the Vermont Community Leadership Summit this October, we help neighbors and leaders strengthen skills, connections, and the networks that sustain local action.
We see leadership everywhere: neighbors organizing support for one another, volunteers sustaining long-term projects, and young people asking how things can be done differently. When people feel connected and supported, they are more likely to step forward and stay engaged. By fostering belonging, we strengthen civic trust, and in doing so, we cultivate the leadership our communities and our democracy depend on.
If we want a strong and resilient democracy, we must continue nurturing the relationships that sustain it. Belonging, civic trust, and leadership grow together, and VCRD is proud to help communities tend and strengthen them through our work.
Denise Smith, Executive Director
Click here to read the full Commentary: “Why Belonging, Leadership and Civic Trust Matter More than Ever”
VCRD Board Retreat
The VCRD Board met in Bennington in June for a two-day retreat. A site tour offered a close-up look at major redevelopment underway in the downtown including the Putnam Block, a hard hat tour of the Benn High project (old Bennington High School), the new skate park, and more. These projects are breathing new life into Bennington with more housing, jobs, and things to do in town.The visit sparked reflection on how long-term, multi-phase projects come together through sustained collaboration, investment, and community engagement. It also brought us back to VCRD’s 2012 Community Visit in Bennington, when residents first elevated priorities like downtown revitalization and the skate park. Board members reflected on both the promise and complexity of redevelopment, including questions of affordability, access, and the balance between community voice and private development. Day two included panel discussions with partners from the Village Trust Initiative and local leaders from Bennington. We also advanced some internal strategic work, affirming our core values and adopting our new tagline “Building Community. Inspiring Action.” This reflects VCRD’s belief that when Vermonters come together around shared priorities, it strengthens the relationships – and sparks the inspiration – that help towns turn good ideas into real, community-led action.
A New Way to Donate to VCRD: Gifts of Stock
We are pleased to announce that we can now accept gifts of appreciated stock. For many donors, contributing stock that has grown in value can provide meaningful tax benefits and is another powerful way to strengthen VCRD’s work. To learn more, reach out to Denise Smith at [email protected] or 802-355-0694.
Bradford Skate Park and Youth Engagement
VCRD is compiling community stories for our upcoming revision of the Community Leadership Guide. Many thanks to Jean Carlan who we interviewed for this story.
Bradford’s skatepark journey is a powerful example of how a spark from local youth grew into a years‑long, community‑powered push for public investment. It began when young people stepped up during the 2021 Community Visit and named a skatepark as a real need in their community (see the “Moving Forward Together” Community Visit report here). What followed was a long stretch of testing ideas, building consensus, and nurturing new leaders. Early wins, including a dog park and a small skate ramp, showed that the community could deliver. Steady outreach at town meetings, public events, and through the Youth Center kept the vision alive and visible. As the project matured, so did its leadership. A volunteer task force joined forces with the town’s Parks and Recreation Commission, forming subcommittees for fundraising, design, and day-to-day coordination. Youth stayed at the center, shaping outreach and speaking up at town meetings, even as the group continually recruited new young voices to keep the energy going. Major progress came through layering resources with planning grants, ARPA dollars, and ambitious state and federal funding applications all while navigating setbacks, leadership changes, and shifting municipal dynamics. What kept the effort moving was clear communication and a deep sense of community ownership. When skepticism surfaced, local champions showed up, made the case, and pushed the project forward. Bradford’s experience shows that when many voices are invited in, when momentum grows through small wins, and when the whole community feels ownership, big projects can take root and thrive. Bradford is poised to break ground on the skatepark in 2027 and we can’t wait to follow their progress!
Brandon: A Hub and Our Home Community Visit
Over 200 Brandon community members came together this spring for the Brandon: A Hub & Our Home Community Visit. The three-step process kicked off with a community dinner and in-person and virtual forums to gather ideas for the future. Through the process, Brandon community members chose top priorities and created three local task force groups that will work to open a laundromat in Brandon; expand trails and safe walking and biking routes; and expand and improve housing. Over 20 state, regional, and Federal leaders participated in the process and are available to support Brandon community members as they advance these initiatives. Visit bit.ly/BrandonOurHome for notes, videos, and more information about the process. Visit VCRD’s website to learn more about the Community Visit process and the funders that make this work possible.
VCRD will be working in the town of Wardsboro this fall. Stay tuned for more!
Village Trust Initiative Opens Applications for Final Cohort
A new round of funding and support will soon be available to help a third cohort of small Vermont towns breathe new life into the historic buildings and shared spaces at the heart of their communities. The Village Trust Initiative (VTI) — a partnership of Preservation Trust of Vermont, Vermont Council on Rural Development and Vermont Community Foundation — is a multi-year program currently supporting 12 small towns across Vermont in creating or bolstering a community focused local non-profit organization to advance a transformational redevelopment project in their village. Participating communities receive financial and technical support, as well as hands-on technical assistance to ensure projects successfully meet a community identified need, contribute to a thriving village, and act as a catalyst for future projects within the village.
Now in its third year, VTI opened its last application round in June. Towns with fewer than 2,500 people, based on the 2020 Census, are eligible to apply. A recording of an informational webinar with Q&A is available here. To apply for the Village Trust Initiative Program, click here. The deadline for applications is September 8th at 5pm. VTI open office hours with Nicole Gratton of PTV and VTI Director Kaziah Haviland are available via Zoom on Mondays from 1-2pm and Tuesdays from 9-10am via Zoom. To sign up for office hours, email [email protected] or call/text 802-227-4059.
Climate Economy Resilient Communities Updates
The updates below from communities impacted by devastating flooding highlight the resilience of Vermonters. VCRD celebrates and honors the people coming together locally and across the state to rebuild, reconnect, and move their communities forward.
Two years after the Re-Imagine Johnson process, the Johnson EATS committee hosted another community meal at the Johnson Elementary School in May. Exciting events are upcoming in Johnson such as the first Blueberry Festival on August 1st at Legion Field hosted by Discover Johnson, the nonprofit launched after Re-Imagine Johnson whose mission is "Fostering renewal and growth in and around Johnson Vermont by promoting the unique strengths and assets of our community."
The Town of Johnson was awarded a Recreation Economy for Rural Communities grant from the U.S. EPA, one of 25 national awards issued in 2025. With community input, the plan is intended to bolster Johnson’s economy and revitalize the downtown through increased outdoor recreation activity. The key event in the planning process is a community workshop, which will be held from 6:30-8 pm on August 27th and a day-long workshop on August 28th at the Stearns Student Center at Vermont State University Johnson Campus. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the workshop sessions, more information and registration coming soon on the Town of Johnson website here.
After the Plainfield Forward process, the Plainfield Housing Advisory Committee (PHAC) formed to develop financially feasible pathways to more housing opportunities. They have been connecting with individuals through door-to-door conversations, tabling at the farmers markets and community meals, and through flyers asking people to share what housing needs exist in the community. Organizing work for a Plainfield Resilience Hub continues with efforts to strengthen town-wide collaboration. Spring beautification projects included cleaning Grace United Methodist Church and planting donated seeds and plants from American Meadows. Summer activities are focused on bringing sustainability to the Farmers Market and the Community Meal program hosting a free bi-weekly community meal, and launching Plainfield Community Night. And this fall, they are conducting a needs & resources assessment and forming a cohort to build relationships and collaboration among town and community partners.
The City of Barre was recently in the news with their Adopt-A-Drain project which allows Barre residents the ability to adopt a drain on their street to keep clear of debris to prevent flooding. The Barre Rivers Collective, which formed on the heels of the VCRD 2021 All in For Barre Community Visit process, and Amanda Gustin, a Barre City Council member who was part of the VCRD Resilient Communities Barre Up process, have been instrumental in getting the word out. Adopt-A-Drain is a national program and anyone can adopt a drain as an individual or as an organization in their neighborhood by checking out the website here.
The Town of Hardwick and local groups have partnered to host summer community discussion around flood topics during their Monday Community Meal at the Atkins Field Pavilion. More information can be found here.
Vermont Community Leadership Summit:
October 6, 2026
@ VTSU Castleton Campus
On October 6, 2026, join hundreds of community builders from across the state to connect, share skills, and leave ready to take action in your community. The Vermont Community Leadership in Action Guide (currently being revised) will shape workshops, panels, group discussions, and networking. Sessions will explore practical tools and strategies for leadership and facilitation skills, community engagement and volunteerism, local economic vitality, advancing community projects, and more. Whether you’re a longtime local leader or someone just starting to get involved, you’ll find space to learn, share, and gather ideas you can bring home to your community. All people who care about their town and the future of our state are encouraged to attend. Registration opens in mid-August. vtrural.org/summit.
We are still seeking Summit sponsors. Sponsors will be acknowledged in Summit materials and in our revised Community in Action Leadership Guide which will be available at the Summit. Find out more about the Sponsorship Opportunities or reach out to [email protected] for more information.
VCRD serves as an advisor or partner to various organizations and has offered to share these opportunities.
Symposium on the Future of Vermont’s Campuses Report
Vermont has lost a number of colleges in recent years, many in rural communities already facing economic strain, housing challenges, and the impact of recent flooding. What happens next to these campuses is a matter of regional vitality, economic resilience, and community sustainability. On May 13, 2026, the Creative Campus at Goddard hosted the Symposium on the Future of Vermont’s Campuses at their campus in Plainfield. Statewide leaders, campus stewards, funders, and community partners came together to explore how Vermont can intentionally shape the next chapter of its campuses and the role they can play in our communities. As a partner in the Symposium, the Vermont Council on Rural Development pulled the report together reflecting the day’s proceedings. The report is intended to support ongoing conversation, collaboration, and action around the future of Vermont’s campuses and rural communities. Read the report here.
Extreme Heat & Health: Strategies for Prevention and Action Training
The Vermont Public Health Association is piloting an Extreme Heat training course created by the American Public Health Association and Climate for Health. All are welcome to attend this free, four-hour, in-person or virtual session on July 22nd from noon-4:15pm in South Burlington to help community members talk about extreme heat in ways that inspire action and explore how communities can better protect their health together. Learn more and register here.
For All of Us: Shaping an Economy for Wellbeing
Join the Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont for this free, half-day workshop and dialogue at Fable Farm in Barnard. The event – For All of Us: Shaping an Economy for Wellbeing – will be held August 13th from 1-5pm in and around the big barn with snacks and beverages, facilitated dialogue, and workshop presentations.
In the 2026 Vermonter Poll administered by the VT Center for Rural Studies, 67% of respondents strongly agreed that “Vermont’s economic focus should prioritize the health and wellbeing of people, communities, and nature, rather than focusing mainly on maximizing profits and individual wealth accumulation.” Event participants will explore the assumptions and goals underpinning our current economic system, reimagine what the purpose of our economy really is, and consider what it might look like to cultivate a “wellbeing economy” in Vermont.
RSVP here to reserve a ticket. All are welcome!
After the workshop, stay for Fable Farm’s weekly Feast & Field live music and food event starting at 5:30pm which brings neighbors together across the Upper Valley and beyond.
Vermont Council on Rural Development
9 Bailey Ave., PO Box 1384 Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 223-6091 | https://www.vtrural.org
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