About Us
Overview
A proud member of the National Rural Development Partnership, the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of the locally-defined progress of Vermont's rural communities. VCRD is a dynamic partnership of federal, state, local, non-profit and private partners. Actively non-partisan with an established reputation for community-based facilitation, VCRD is uniquely positioned to sponsor and coordinate collaborative efforts across governmental and organizational categories concerned with policy questions of rural import.
VCRD is moving forward as an organization. Since its inception in 1992, VCRD has built a profile of rural policy leadership that is grounded by work in local communities and extends to collaborative partnerships with the highest levels of state and federal programs.
Mission Statement
The Vermont Council on Rural Development helps Vermonters and Vermont communities develop their capacity to create a prosperous and sustainable future through coordination, collaboration, and the effective use of public and private resources.
Operating Principles
- The importance of individual and community self-sufficiency.
- The interdependency of communities.
- The value of building local capacity.
- Respect for locally made decisions.
- Respect for Vermont's unique culture.
- Respect for the individual and the nature of each community.
- Respect for the balance between economic stability and environmental integrity.
- The importance of effective participation in the global community of the 21st century.
