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 to set policy that improves opportunity in rural Georgia. Scroll to the end! ———————- By Maggie Lee, as seen in the SaportaReport: https://saportareport.com/georgia-and-other-states-have-rural-prosperity-on-their-minds-now-how-to-get-it-done/ The tale of town versus country is an old one. In metro…

Read article

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 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. By night and by weekend, the 45-year-old engineer rides herd on his four children’s many extracurricular activities in and around his, and their, native White River valley. And somehow, he hopes…

Read article

How a Vermont social network became a model for online communities

VCRD helped bring Front Porch Forum to every town in Vermont through our eVermont Community Broadband and Vermont Digital Economy projects. This article expands on the history of this unique social network designed to build bonds between neighbors and make communities more resilient. ——————- By Andrew Liptak, as seen in The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/24/18129437/front-porch-forum-vermont-social-network-listserv-local-online-community (click the…

Read article

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 if they hope to survive. Officials talk about bringing in broadband internet and cell phone coverage, and encouraging young families to move in. But as they try to avoid population decline and other problems, some…

Read article