The Vermont Working Lands Coalition members are united in support of the farm, forest, and value-adding businesses that are at the foundation of the working landscape that benefits all Vermonters. The Coalition represents the Vermont Working Landscape Partnership made up of nearly 1,000 individuals and organizations who together supported legislation to build the Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) structure and its appropriation. The Coalition formalizes a leadership structure for the Partnership and unites leading organizations for the promotional work ahead.
2023 Vermont Working Lands Coalition Platform
The Working Landscape Coalition stands together in committed support for investment through the Working Lands Enterprise Fund and encourages legislators to prioritize funding for WLEF in the FY’24 State Budget. Review the Coalition’s 2023 Legislative Platform.
WLEF funds are crucial leveraged investments for the renaissance of Vermont’s working lands economy. In addition to promoting the WLEF budget, the Coalition shares its success stories, encourages applications, and helps to leverage assistance to the key businesses advanced through this initiative.
The thousand-member Working Landscape Partnership, which the Coalition represents and leads, also supports a strong Current Use program that provides fair and predictable taxation for enterprise lands and continued conservation investments through VHCB, especially for farm and forest lands. These long-term policies and investments are essential, but not sufficient, for the sustained growth of Vermont’s working lands economy.
Members of the Coalition include:
- Jill Arace, Vermont Association of Conservation Districts
- Charlie Baker, Vermont Association of Planning and Development Agencies
- Will Belongia, Vermont Community Loan Fund
- Megan Camp, Shelburne Farms
- Brian Lowe, Vermont Council on Rural Development
- Ben Doyle, Preservation Trust of Vermont
- Rose Gomez, Cabot Creamery Cooperative
- Ellen Kahler, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
- Grace Oedel and Maddie Kempner, NOFA Vermont
- Jon Ramsey, Center for an Agricultural Economy
- Nick Richardson, Vermont Land Trust
- Joe Tisbert, Vermont Farm Bureau
- Brian Shupe, Vermont Natural Resources Council
- David Simmons, Woodstock Foundation
- Katherine Forrer, Vermont Woodlands Association and Vermont Wood Works Council
To contact the Vermont Working Lands Coalition, reach out to VCRD Executive Director, Brian Lowe at 802-223‐6091 or [email protected]