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.
Rockingham residents gathered at Bellows Falls Middle School last Thursday for the third Let’s Take Action forum with officials from the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) to design three task force blueprints focused on long-term improvements for the township.
On a suggestion by Development Director Gary Fox, the Rockingham Selectboard invited the Vermont Council on Rural Development to come to Bellows Falls and hold community meetings for a process called “Let’s Take Action Rockingham.”
Rockingham residents started to map a path Thursday toward their shared goals of reusing old buildings, creating a youth-led youth center and making a concerted push toward energy conservation.
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 community meeting in the Let’s Take Action Rockingham Community Visit process, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Bellows Falls Middle School. All residents of the town are welcome to help line…
Aired 2/4/20, as seen on WCAX Across the Fence: Fran Stoddard interviews Paul Costello about VCRD’s Community Visit program and other community-based work.
For 26 years, I’ve called this glorious little town home — I was born and raised here, stayed in the area throughout college, and bought my first home right in the village where I reside today. For 26 years, I’ve loved this town, but this past week, I fell in love with it all over again.
In March 2019, over 200 Poultney residents came together to discuss the impacts on the town associated with the closing of Green Mountain College, and to consider what community residents could do to address the challenges facing Poultney and revitalize the town and village of Poultney. As a result of this “Poultney Comes Together” process,…
On Wednesday, Jan. 8, the Vermont Council on Rural Development visited the town of Rockingham in a priority-setting meeting at the Bellows Falls Opera House to continue the process that began Dec. 4, 2019 with its well-attended community forums.
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: they want to build a youth center, establish a climate and energy task force, and redevelop Bellows Falls buildings. At a well-attended public meeting Wednesday evening, the second in the “Let’s Take Action” community planning…
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 two-dozen possibilities into three plans for action: Should the town improve internet and cellphone service? Recruit new residents? Expand an alphabet of opportunities, starting with arts, bike lanes and child care? A local who recalled…