VCRD Announces Vermont Community Leadership Award and Vermont Lifetime Leadership Award Recipients

The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) today announced the recipients of the Vermont Community Leadership Award and Vermont Lifetime Leadership Award. These awards will be presented at VCRD’s 2022 Vermont Community Leadership Summit on August 10 at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph. The VT Community Leadership Award is presented each year to celebrate…

VCRD in the News

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 Londonderry will explore the possibility of creating a community center on an undeveloped town property. Tentatively called the Tri-Mountain Commons, the space would include child care, meeting rooms and housing, according to proponents of the…

Vermont Working Lands

Working Lands Summer 2022 Update

The recently concluded Legislative Session was a busy one, resulting in major investments in housing, broadband, and many other areas. Thanks to the leadership of the Governor and Legislature, the base funding appropriation for working lands was nearly doubled to $1 million annually this year. These funds help support new jobs and investments in our…

Climate Economy Logo

Climate Catalysts Innovation Fund: Small Grants for Innovative Local Climate and Energy Projects

New round of applications are now open and available: APPLY HERE   The Vermont Council on Rural Development, in collaboration with local funders invites applications for small grants to support local innovators developing solutions that move Vermont closer to its climate and energy goals. The fund is initially capitalized with at least $20,000 and will be administered…

Paul Costello

VCRD Executive Director Paul Costello leaving post

As seen in Vermont Business Magazine: https://vermontbiz.com/news/2021/june/02/vcrd-executive-director-paul-costello-leaving-post After 21 years at the helm of the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), Paul Costello is stepping down from his role as Executive Director. Over these years Costello has engaged communities throughout the state to help them set priorities and connect to resources, led a dozen policy…