VCRD Stories & News - Vermont Council on Rural Development

VCRD Announces 2024 Vermont Community Leadership Award Recipient

The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) announced the recipient of the Vermont Community Leadership Award at its 2024 Vermont ...

Bridport Community Invited to Share Ideas for the Future May 7th

On Tuesday, May 7, all members of the Bridport community are invited to come together for a free community dinner ...

Franklin Community Members Invited to Share Ideas for the Future – March 19th

On Tuesday, March 19 2024, all members of the Franklin Community are invited to come together for a free community ...

Job opening: VCRD Village Trust Initiative Director

The application deadline has passed, so we are no longer accepting applications. The Village Trust Initiative Director will help launch ...

Barre Up: Community Flood Recovery Discussions

Due to flooding again in 2024, Barre Up! is actively organizing volunteers and folks in need. Find the current status ...

Johnson Commentary: Community Visits

The mission of the Vermont Council on Rural Development is to “help Vermont citizens build prosperous and resilient communities through ...

VCRD Announces 2023 Vermont Community Leadership Award Recipient

The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) today announced the recipients of the Vermont Community Leadership Award, which will be ...

VCRD job opening: Community Engagement and Policy Associate

VCRD is seeking a dedicated, energetic and hardworking Community Engagement and Policy Associate to support VCRD community leadership and engagement ...

Shelburne Community Members Invited to Share Ideas for the Future July 27

On Thursday, July 27, all members of the Shelburne Community are invited to come together for a free community dinner ...

Johnson: the VCRD community visit process

The mission of the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is to “help Vermont citizens build prosperous and resilient communities ...

Northfield Community Plans for Action May 16

All members of the Northfield community are encouraged to attend the final phase of the Northfield: Our Common Future Community ...

Northfield Community Members Set Priority Tasks Forces & Seek Volunteers

Members of the Northfield community came together Tuesday, April 18 for the second step of the Northfield: Our Common Future ...

Northfield Community to Set Priorities for the Future

Northfield community members are encouraged to participate in the second phase of Northfield: Our Common Future Community Forums to set ...

Lowe Commentary: VCRD mission

Building a flourishing democracy requires many things of the citizens and residents of the United States. One of the most ...

Northfield Community Members Invited to Share Ideas for the Future March 21

On Tuesday, March 21, all members of the Northfield Community are invited to come together for a free community dinner ...

Putney Community Plans for Action January 17

All members of the Putney community are encouraged to attend the final phase of their Community Visit process, Our Future ...

Putney Community Members Set Priority Tasks Forces & Seek Volunteers

Members of the Putney community came together Monday, December 12 for the second step of the Our Future Putney community ...

Putney Community Plans to Set Priorities for the Future

Putney community members are encouraged to participate in the second phase of the Our Future Putney Community Forums to set ...

Putney Invites Community to Share Ideas for the Future

On Monday, November 14, all members of the Putney Community are invited to join their neighbors for a free community ...

Let’s Grow Concord Action Report Available Now

Residents of the Concord community are encouraged to review the newly released Let’s Grow Concord Action Report for a recap on the ...

Concord Community Plans for Action September 14

All members of the Concord community are encouraged to attend the final phase of their Community Visit process, Let’s Grow ...

Advocates for Londonderry community center take first major step

By Ethan Weinstein, as seen in VT Digger: https://vtdigger.org/2022/07/17/advocates-for-londonderry-community-center-take-first-major-step/ Excerpt: Enlisting the help of Norwich University students, the town of ...

Route 4 and outdoor recreation rise as Mendon priorities

MENDON — Making Route 4 better, and boosting outdoor recreation are the town’s top priorities coming out of two big ...

Wheelock Town Hall Accessibility Project is underway

Wheelock has hired a project team to help the town move toward its long-sought goal of allowing all citizens to ...

Poultney secures competitive planning grant

The town is among three communities to receive a state planning grant that’s only awarded to a few places every ...

Bellows Falls Rural Development visit, one year later

A year ago, Rockingham launched three citizen task forces eager to complete “actionable goals” by tackling areas of need identified ...

Mendon to go on the move

After being delayed for a year by the pandemic, the town is set to hold a pair of community-wide forums ...

Rockingham Looks to “Incremental Development” for Neighborhood Revitalization: BDCC Supports Rockingham’s Work with Local Development Experts

Restoring downtown buildings was identified as a top priority during last year’s Rockingham community visit, led by the Vermont Council ...

Local Community Group Working on Village Revitalization

Strike up a conversation with the locals at one of the general stores in West Burke and you’re bound to ...

Rockingham will use VNRC grant toward revitalizing buildings in Bellows Falls

The Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) has awarded a Small Grant for Smart Growth to the Town of Rockingham to ...

Manchester Riverwalk receives $2,500 grant to help complete bridge

The Manchester Riverwalk Association has received a $2,500 grant that will help the group build a bridge over the West ...

Covid19 Response and Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic took us all by surprise. When the public health crisis hit in early March 2020, community leaders ...

Pittsford Village Farm still growing behind the scenes amidst pandemic

Despite the pandemic slowing the world down, the Pittsford Village Farm has been plugging away on its redevelopment over the ...

Lamoille County impresses COVID recovery team

When it comes to navigating the ever-changing course of the pandemic and meeting the needs of vulnerable populations, Lamoille County’s ...

Federal program disburses $4.4 million among 14 Vermont communities

Fourteen Vermont communities will see $4.4 million distributed among them for a range of projects ranging, including the purchase of ...

Fried: Pandemic Threatens NEK Cultural Institutions: Future Dim If Shut-down Continues For A Year, Fried Says

Jody Fried, head of Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury, offered that grim assessment during a remote forum Thursday evening that ...

Rockingham Rural Development Task Force three-month check in

Last year, the Rockingham Selectboard invited the Vermont Council on Rural Development to come to Bellows Falls and hold community ...

Greensboro Free WiFi Goes Live!

In 2019, VCRD completed its Community Visit process in Greensboro. Improving broadband and cell service was one of the priorities ...

One Burke Receives Grants to Fund West Burke Revitalization Project

In 2017, VCRD completed its Community Visit process in Burke. The "One Burke" initiative was formed as part of the ...

Next steps, task forces determined at latest Let’s Take Action forum

Rockingham residents gathered at Bellows Falls Middle School last Thursday for the third Let’s Take Action forum with officials from ...

Council on Rural Development gives Rockingham task forces a start

On a suggestion by Development Director Gary Fox, the Rockingham Selectboard invited the Vermont Council on Rural Development to come ...

Let’s Take Action takes next step

Rockingham residents started to map a path Thursday toward their shared goals of reusing old buildings, creating a youth-led youth ...

Community Action Plan advances to next stage

As seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: https://www.reformer.com/stories/community-action-plan-advances-to-next-stage,596733 BELLOWS FALLS — The Vermont Council on Rural Development will hold its last ...

Video ~ Paul Costello on Across the Fence

Aired 2/4/20, as seen on WCAX Across the Fence: Fran Stoddard interviews Paul Costello about VCRD's Community Visit program and ...

Rupe: Poultney pride

For 26 years, I’ve called this glorious little town home — I was born and raised here, stayed in the ...

Council on Rural Development holds follow-up to community forums

On Wednesday, Jan. 8, the Vermont Council on Rural Development visited the town of Rockingham in a priority-setting meeting at ...

Youth Center emerges as top priority

By Susan Smallheer, as seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: https://www.reformer.com/stories/youth-center-emerges-as-top-priority,594301 BELLOWS FALLS — Rockingham community members have set their priorities: ...

Vermont town wrestles the cycle of revisiting the same challenges

By Kevin O'Connor as seen in vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/2020/01/09/vermont-town-wrestles-the-cycle-of-revisiting-the-same-challenges-%EF%BB%BF/ ROCKINGHAM — More than 100 residents buzzed as they worked to whittle down ...

‘Rockingham in Action’ priorities meeting is Wednesday

The second meeting of Rockingham In Action, the community visit by the Vermont Council on Rural Development will be this ...

Following the Entergy money

By Susan Smallheer, as seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: https://www.reformer.com/stories/following-the-entergy-money,593574 BRATTLEBORO — Where has that $10 million Entergy Nuclear money ...

Zulkoski: Farmers Almanac says, change is coming

By Robert Zulkoski & team, Social Entrepreneur, as seen in Vermont Business Magazine: https://vermontbiz.com/news/2019/december/22/zulkoski-farmers-almanac-says-change-coming “It’s been a long time coming. But ...

Costello: Poultney facing the challenge

The temptation with bad news, like that of the closing of Green Mountain College, is to sit on one’s hands, ...

Vernon nonprofit acquires historic house as potential community center: Governor Hunt House, Entergy’s last connection to town, deeded to Friends of Vernon Center, a group founded to help reimagine the town’s identity after the loss of Vermont Yankee

In 2016, VCRD held its community visit process in Vernon. Revitalizing the town and establishing a village center was one ...

What’s the future for Rockingham? With help from the Council on Rural Development, townspeople share ideas for strengthening their community

By Layla Burke Hastings, as seen in The Commons: http://www.commonsnews.org/site/sitenext/story.php?articleno=31565 BELLOWS FALLS—Echoes of solidarity and a desire for a unified ...

Council on Rural Development holds community forums in Rockingham

BY BILL LOCKWOOD, as seen in The Shopper: https://vermontjournal.com/news/council-on-rural-development-holds-community-forums-in-rockingham/ BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – On the evening of Dec. 4, a large, ...

Lack of public wastewater systems inhibits rural development

When talk turns to obstacles holding back rural Vermont, the lack of high-speed internet is often cited. The last gubernatorial ...

Rockingham future forum echoes statewide challenges

The community conversation was billed as “Attracting and Retaining Young People.” But the older resident in work jeans and boots ...

Loyalty, pride cited as Rockingham assets

By Susan Smallheer, as seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: https://www.reformer.com/stories/loyalty-pride-cited-as-rockingham-assets,591832?fbclid=IwAR2C0V9RF_mYYRcao7hclDhvjo8VTcoLsq7HNzp6hIYXLTC22xduwBwVbHI BELLOWS FALLS — Hometown pride is palpable in Bellows Falls ...

Brainstorming about Rockingham’s future

The Vermont Council on Rural Development is bringing its "Let's Take Action" program to Rockingham that will help townspeople set ...

Let’s Take Action: Rockingham community forums

As seen in vtdigger.org: https://vtdigger.org/press_release/lets-take-action-rockingham-community-forums Community Process to Set Direction for the future of Rockingham On December 4th, all members ...

Group forming to promote White Rocks area

In 2018, Wallingford participated in our Community Visit Program. Through the process, a task force group was formed to "Build ...

Select Board supports land sale in 4-1 vote

Several hundred people turned out last year for forums held by the Vermont Council on Rural Development and the list ...

Montgomery board eyes police services contract with Franklin sheriff

In 2018, VCRD brought its Community Visit program to Montgomery. Residents prioritized "improving traffic flow and pedestrian safety" as key ...

Four Towns Make Plans For a Vibrant Future: Choose Priorities For Ongoing Projects

By Jo Levasseur, as seen in the Randolph Herald: https://www.ourherald.com/articles/four-towns-make-plans-for-a-vibrant-future/ At the most recent “Our Four- Town Future” gathering, residents ...

Community Events Are Serious Fun And Economic Drivers: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun In Island Pond This Weekend

In 2017, VCRD brought its Community Visit process to Brighton/Island Pond where residents identified a number of action ideas for ...

Woodstock looks ahead with launch of ‘Our Woodstock, Our Future’

As seen in vtdigger: https://vtdigger.org/2019/05/22/woodstock-looks-ahead-launch-woodstock-future/ Woodstock, VT— What do you love about Woodstock? What do you want for its future? ...

Group plans Wallingford Day revival

Eighteen Vermont working lands businesses and service providers were recognized today at an event celebrating the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative ...

The USDA Loaned Millions to Five Vermont Colleges. Two Are Closing.

Paul Costello, executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, said colleges bring multiple benefits to rural areas, and ...

‘Our 4-Town Future’ Prepares for Next Step: Project Seeks to Combine Efforts

The towns of Royalton, Sharon, Strafford and Tunbridge are working together with the Vermont Council of Rural Development (VCRD) to ...

Four Vt. towns set priorities for economic development, housing, conservation

By DANIELA VIDAL ALLEE, as seen in the Valley News: https://www.vnews.com/4-Towns-Meeting-25098296 TUNBRIDGE — A group of residents from four White ...

GMC’s Impending Closure Prompts Poultney Residents To Propose New Uses For Campus

By Nina Keck, as seen and heard on Vermont Public Radio: https://www.vpr.org/post/gmcs-impending-closure-prompts-poultney-residents-propose-new-uses-campus#stream/0 There's still no decision on what will happen ...

GMC announces receipt of proposals

By Kate Barcellos, as seen in the Rutland Herald: https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/local/gmc-announces-receipt-of-proposals/article_f9e17f25-229a-52e2-9bfc-32a43cec8d75.html POULTNEY — Hundreds of staff members, students, community members and ...

After Stopping NewVistas Development, 4 Upper Valley Towns Discuss Their Future

VCRD is working with the 4-Town region of Royalton, Sharon, Strafford and Tunbridge through our Community Visit process to help ...

Poultney grapples with GMC closure

By Julia Purdy, as seen in the Mountain Times: http://mountaintimes.info/poultney-grapples-gmc-closure/ Poultney is at a crossroads with the impending shuttering of ...

Towns Plot Path Ahead: “Our 4-Town Future” Kicks Off in SoRo

BY ZOË NEWMARCO as seen in the Randolph Herald: https://www.ourherald.com/articles/towns-plot-path-ahead/ More than 100 people crowded into the gym at the ...

Depot Square Remake To Feature 38 Affordable Units

In 2015, VCRD brought its Community Visit process to St. Johnsbury where residents identified a number of action ideas for ...

‘NewVistas’ Towns To Host Vermont Council on Rural Development

BY ZOË NEWMARCO, as seen in the Randolph Herald: https://www.ourherald.com/articles/newvistas-towns-to-host-vermont-council-on-rural-development/ On February 21, the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), ...

Sterling College Receives Grant and Matching Challenge for Peter Alfond Wellness Center

VCRD held a Craftsbury Community Visit process in 2015. The article below shows how Sterling College built on the opportunities ...

Georgia — and other states — have rural prosperity on their minds. Now how to get it done?

Paul Costello, VCRD Executive Director, was interviewed by this Georgia newspaper about what is working in Vermont as Georgia looks ...

Communities that rallied against NewVistas continue dialogue about growth

By DAVID CORRIVEAU as seen in the Valley News: https://www.vnews.com/Seeking-Common-Ground-After-New-Vistas-Fight-23172366 SOUTH ROYALTON — By day, Rob McShinsky oversees information-technology systems ...

Rural Towns Fixing Up Historic Buildings To Strengthen Community Ties

By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN as seen on Vermont Public Radio: http://digital.vpr.net/post/rural-towns-fixing-historic-buildings-strengthen-community-ties#stream/0 Much has been written about what Vermont’s small rural towns need ...

Grange Hall to reclaim role in Guilford activities

By Bob Audette, as seen in the Brattleboro Reformer: https://www.reformer.com/stories/grange-hall-to-reclaim-role-in-guilford-activities,559930 GUILFORD — In 2013, the Vermont Council on Rural Development ...

The Lamberts ‘Building on good things’

VCRD awarded Hank and Molly Lambert its "Community Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award" in September 2018. Together, they are a force ...

Can Four Upper Valley Towns Plan a Future Together?

In early 2019, VCRD is bringing its Community Visit process to the 4 town region of Tunbridge, Strafford, Royalton and ...

Montgomery builds its ‘bones’: Initiative hones in on infrastructure needs

By Mike Frett, as seen in the St. Albans Messenger: https://www.samessenger.com/montgomery-builds-its-bones-initiative-hones-in-on-infrastructure-needs/ MONTGOMERY – A community initiative dubbed Montgomery Thrives entered ...

Do North Coworking Opens In Bag Balm Building

In 2017, VCRD brought our Community Visit process to Lyndon where residents identified a number of opportunities for future progress ...

Montgomery Thrives: Infrastructure, broadband emerge as priorities

As seen in the St. Albans Messenger: https://www.samessenger.com/montgomery-thrives-infrastructure-broadband-emerge-as-priorities/?fbclid=IwAR35itY7UPZ8tEC60K5PHtzn92uWFZufwO81YuuI4pE4kf5FenPLv2vdxgs MONTGOMERY – Working with the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s (VCRD) Community Visit ...

Grant Received For Burke Infrastructure Project

By Amy Ash Nixon, as seen in the Caledonian Record: https://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/local/grant-received-for-burke-infrastructure-project/article_43785238-68bc-5260-a62b-b8b50b4ebfb6.html BURKE — Hoped-for infrastructure improvements to East and West ...

Steve Costello Commentary: Rutland’s growing sense of pride

By Steve Costello, as seen in the Rutland Herald: https://www.rutlandherald.com/opinion/commentary/rutland-s-growing-sense-of-pride/article_891a9956-b057-5838-bdac-50108c82cc14.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share Your Sept. 27 editorial and this week’s Vermont Council on ...

Wallingford woman wants to bring Odd Fellows building back to life

By Keith Whitcomb Jr. as seen in the Rutland Herald: https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/local/wallingford-woman-wants-to-bring-odd-fellows-building-back-to/article_4d2fd0e4-c939-575b-ac51-0106c6a1963d.html WALLINGFORD — A local woman wants to return the ...