July 15, 2026
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Denise Smith Commentary: Why Belonging, Leadership, and Civic Trust Matter More Than Ever
Vermont Council on Rural Development
Helping Vermonters and Vermont communities develop.
- HOME
- ABOUT US
- About VCRDLearn more about VCRD, a nonprofit dedicated to the support of the locally-defined progress of Vermont’s rural communities.
- Meet Our TeamLearn more about the team and how to connect.
- Video LibraryFrom VCRD’s YouTube feed.
- AwardsCelebrating Vermonters who exemplify dedication, integrity and honorable service to community and to rural Vermont, and who have had a transformational effect on their communities.
- Past InitiativesAn archive of some past VCRD projects and initiatives including the Vermont Digital Economy Project, e-Vermont, and more. Resources remain available for communities throughout Vermont.
- OUR WORK
- Community VisitsA way for towns to engage community members in common goal-setting and access resources to help them take action on those goals.
- Climate Economy InitativeDesigned to help communities and leaders build and implement priority actions that increase economic vitality and affordability in a time of climate change.
- PolicyWe convene Policy Councils around issues important to rural Vermont to identify concrete statewide recommendations for action.
- Vermont PropositionA set of transformational goals designed to optimize the best of Vermont at mid-century — for our economy, environment, communities, and people.
- Vermont Community Leadership NetworkConnecting and supporting local leaders – with or without an official position – as they build local projects, organizations, and systems that serve their communities and Vermont’s urgent and long-term needs.
- Village Trust InitiativeExpertise and funding to help 20 small towns create or bolster a local community trust organization and take on a transformational revitalization project in the village.
- MTAP ServicesFree facilitation and technical support services to help towns prioritize projects and connect to support for grant-writing, permit applications, regulatory compliance, and more.
- Working Communities ChallengeAdvancing local collaborative efforts that build strong, healthy economies and communities in Vermont’s rural towns and regions, by supporting teams of leaders as they tackle complex challenges.
- Vermont Working Lands InitiativeSupporting the farm, forest, and value-adding businesses that are at the foundation of the working landscape that benefits all Vermonters.
- SummitsAnnual summits convene Vermonters for cooperative goal-setting around key rural priorities and help leaders build skills, share opportunities, network, and learn.
- REPORTS & RESOURCES
- SUPPORT US
- CONTACT
- HOME
- ABOUT US
- About VCRDLearn more about VCRD, a nonprofit dedicated to the support of the locally-defined progress of Vermont’s rural communities.
- Meet Our TeamLearn more about the team and how to connect.
- Video LibraryFrom VCRD’s YouTube feed.
- AwardsCelebrating Vermonters who exemplify dedication, integrity and honorable service to community and to rural Vermont, and who have had a transformational effect on their communities.
- Past InitiativesAn archive of some past VCRD projects and initiatives including the Vermont Digital Economy Project, e-Vermont, and more. Resources remain available for communities throughout Vermont.
- OUR WORK
- Community VisitsA way for towns to engage community members in common goal-setting and access resources to help them take action on those goals.
- Climate Economy InitativeDesigned to help communities and leaders build and implement priority actions that increase economic vitality and affordability in a time of climate change.
- PolicyWe convene Policy Councils around issues important to rural Vermont to identify concrete statewide recommendations for action.
- Vermont PropositionA set of transformational goals designed to optimize the best of Vermont at mid-century — for our economy, environment, communities, and people.
- Vermont Community Leadership NetworkConnecting and supporting local leaders – with or without an official position – as they build local projects, organizations, and systems that serve their communities and Vermont’s urgent and long-term needs.
- Village Trust InitiativeExpertise and funding to help 20 small towns create or bolster a local community trust organization and take on a transformational revitalization project in the village.
- MTAP ServicesFree facilitation and technical support services to help towns prioritize projects and connect to support for grant-writing, permit applications, regulatory compliance, and more.
- Working Communities ChallengeAdvancing local collaborative efforts that build strong, healthy economies and communities in Vermont’s rural towns and regions, by supporting teams of leaders as they tackle complex challenges.
- Vermont Working Lands InitiativeSupporting the farm, forest, and value-adding businesses that are at the foundation of the working landscape that benefits all Vermonters.
- SummitsAnnual summits convene Vermonters for cooperative goal-setting around key rural priorities and help leaders build skills, share opportunities, network, and learn.
- REPORTS & RESOURCES
- SUPPORT US
- CONTACT
