A way for towns to engage and bring together their residents, set common goals and directions in a neutral and facilitated structure, and access resources that will help them take action on those goals.
Through the Albany Together process, Albany community members came together to identify and prioritize goals, foster local leadership, connect to resources and develop and realize achievable action plans. Through 3 public meetings, community members chose two community priorities for action, and signed up for task force groups to move them forward. The new task force…
On Tuesday, March 19 2024, all members of the Franklin Community are invited to come together for a free community dinner and the opportunity to be an active participant in developing new ideas for the future of Franklin. This event is the first step of the “Franklin Community Voices” process – a three-part series of…
Through the Shelburne Forward Together process, Shelburne community members came together to identify and prioritize goals, foster local leadership, connect to resources and develop and realize achievable action plans. Through 3 public meetings, community members chose three community priorities for action, and signed up for task force groups to move them forward. The new task…
In the wake of the July 2023 flooding event, the newly formed Barre Up (Long-Term Flood Recovery Committee) and the City of Barre invited VCRD to facilitate a process to bring the full diversity of the Barre community together to listen to each other, share experiences, and think together about what comes next for flood…
The application deadline has passed, so we are no longer accepting applications. The Village Trust Initiative Director will help launch and lead VCRD’s work on the new Village Trust Initiative, a partnership between the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), Preservation Trust of Vermont (PTV), and the Vermont Community Foundation. The Village Trust Initiative will…
In the wake of flooding events this summer, members of the Barre community came together on September 13th and October 18th to connect with fellow residents, listen, share, and form thoughts about ideas and next steps for the future of Barre. The goal of this effort was to bring together the full diversity of Barre…
The mission of the Vermont Council on Rural Development is to “help Vermont citizens build prosperous and resilient communities through democratic engagement, marshaling resources, and collective action.” VCRD’s long-standing Community Visit program is core to this mission. Many times, communities create a long list of critical actions for the future, but the length of the…
The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) today announced the recipients of the Vermont Community Leadership Award, which will be presented at VCRD’s 2023 Vermont Community Leadership Summit on August 15 at the Vermont State University Randolph Campus. The Vermont Community Leadership Award is presented each year to celebrate Vermonters who exemplify “dedication, integrity and…
VCRD is seeking a dedicated, energetic and hardworking Community Engagement and Policy Associate to support VCRD community leadership and engagement efforts, and rural policy initiatives. The Associate must be a team player with excellent communications skills, an eagerness to learn, and a strong sense of mission in service to rural Vermont communities. We’re looking for…
On Thursday, July 27, all members of the Shelburne Community are invited to come together for a free community dinner and the opportunity to be an active participant in developing new ideas for the future of Shelburne. This event is the first step of the “Shelburne Forward Together” process – a three-part series of facilitated…