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Community Announcements
Vermont Green Up Day - Saturday, May 2nd
Volunteers make a big difference every year in helping to clean up litter in neighborhoods and along streets, roads, trails, and waterways. Green Up trash bags are available from Volunteer Town Coordinators. Find the location in your town Here. Pitch in to keep Vermont beautiful!
NVDA's (draft) Regional Plan Continues as a Work in Progress
NVDA's planning staff is working diligently to move the 2026 Regional Plan forward through the mandatory adoption process. For the past eight months our planners gathered feedback from widespread community outreach, conducted extensive data research, followed standards for mapping land uses, carefully prepared a thorough inventory of the region's mapping data, and worked to comply with statutory obligations. Every Planning Commission in the state must consider state regulatory changes to reflect statewide planning goals that coordinate state, regional and municipal land use in the counties and communities they serve.
When NVDA's Board of Directors signs off on the updated 2026 plan, it will be submitted to the Land Use Review Board (LURB) for review and final approval per statutory requirements by December 31, 2026.
The 2026 Regional Plan will continue to benefit communities throughout our region with -
- Tax Credits for business & property owners in designated Village Centers & Downtown areas.
- Benefits to help local governments with economic development.
- New housing goals to meet the community's building needs.
- Support for Working Lands & Natural Resources.
Want to learn more? Mark your calendar: Wednesday, May 13th, 6--7:00 pm
The public is invited to join Alex Weinhagen of the Land Use Review Board (LURB) and NVDA for a general discussion of Act 181, and LURB's review of the Regional Plan and the approval process. A brief Q&A session will follow. To register
Mobile Home Infill Program (MHIP) May 6th, St. Johnsbury Tour & Info Session
To help address housing affordability and development challenges intensified by recent flooding, the VT Housing Authority helped launch MHIP to fast-track lot improvement and home installation of new, high quality, affordably priced manufactured homes. Attend the free in-person home tours and information session May 6th. Tour several Mobile Home Infill locations in St. Johnsbury, Lyndon, Coventry, and Derby. Learn about program eligibility requirements and explore the homebuying process highlighting financial support. New homes range from $85,000-$110,000. Visit affordablehomes.vermont.gov. Community members, prospective homebuyers, employers, municipalities, service providers, developers, and funders are invited to attend. Register for May 6th Tours & Info Sessions Here
Save the Date: May 8th, Vermont 2026 Walk/Bike Summit
The Vermont Walk/Bike Summit, held every other year in a different region of the state, is an opportunity to connect with Vermont's active transportation community. In partnership with the VT Agency of Transportation, the Bennington County Regional Commission will host the statewide summit on Friday, May 8th. The event will take place at the Bennington Theater with classroom and mobile workshops throughout the day in downtown Bennington. Anyone interested in promoting bikeable and walkable communities (including bicycle and pedestrian advocates, planners, professionals, consultants, and enthusiasts) are welcome! https://vtwalkbikesummit.com/.
NVDA Webinar - Planning 101: What you need to know to get started!
Are you newly appointed to your town's Planning Commission? Are you tasked with updating your community plan...or working on a brand new plan? This webinar is for you if you feel like the moon, the stars, and all the planets have fallen on you! This live virtual training session will be held on Monday, May 11th @ 5:30 pm. We'll cover the basics:
- What is a Town Plan
- Why your community needs one
- How to use public engagement strategies in public hearings to keep boredom at bay!
Click HERE to register. There will be time for Q&A, and the session will be recorded and available on www.nvda.net.
Notice of Public Hearing - Municipal Town Plan for Maidstone
Tuesday, May 12th, 12:00 pm, Maidstone Town Hall, 508 VT Route 102. A copy of the Maidstone Town Plan may be viewed at www.nvda.net or at the Town Clerk's Office, open Mon & Thurs 9:00 am-3:00 pm. Anyone wishing to comment on the plan's compliance should attend the hearing. Written testimony and comment may be submitted in advance. In addition, the Town of Maidstone requests a determination from NVDA of energy compliance. The energy compliance hearing shall be held immediately following the regional approval hearing at approximately 12:30 pm. For more information, contact Alison Low, alow@nvda.net.
St J Bike to Work Day - Friday, May 15th
Enjoy a morning ride and grab FREE breakfast at the St. J Welcome Center! If you live along the Rt 2 corridor, try Bike to Bus! Bike to one of the US 2 Commuter bus stops or Park & Rides and load your bike on the bus to the Welcome Center for breakfast! The event is sponsored by RCT, Northern Counties Health Care, and Ticket to Ride, a new regional bicycle advocacy group.
NEK Legislative Breakfasts
The NEK Chamber of Commerce in St. Johnsbury and the North Country Chamber of Commerce in Newport, present a Legislative Breakfast each month. Business leaders, local officials and residents come together with NEK legislative representatives to discuss issues shaping Vermont and the region. It's a forum for respectful dialogue, civic engagement, and building stronger relationships between government and community. Coffee and refreshments are available. All are welcome. Upcoming Breakfast dates:
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St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, 8:00-9:00 am, May 18th
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Eastside Restaurant, Newport, 7:30-8:45 am, May 11th (The Newport events are in-person and on Zoom) Contact Daniel Pellerin for information vice-president@vtnorthcountry.org
CHIP in VT Office Hours
The Vermont Community Housing Infrastructure Program (CHIP) is a statewide tax increment financing tool designed to help communities unlock housing opportunities by investing in critical public infrastructure. Office hours are offered to help municipalities learn more about requirements and opportunities for actionable steps to move forward. CHIP Guidelines The program launched in January. Drop in online, ask questions and learn more. May 11th, 1:00-2:00 pm Register. The next dates are June 9th and July 14th.
Barn Preservation Grant Awarded to Scotch Burn Farm in Ryegate
The VT Division for Historic Preservation awarded 2026 Barn Preservation grants to twenty barn projects across Vermont to support building restoration rehabilitation. The Scotch Burn Farm, an agricultural landmark in Ryegate, specializes in sustainable farming practices. The farm's origins trace back to 1774, the same year the town of Ryegate was settled. Congratulations from NVDA for keeping Vermont's farming history alive!
Save the Date: June 4 & 5 in St. Albans
Vermont's 2026 Downtown & Historic Preservation Conference will be held on June 4th in St. Albans. The 2026 Creative Sector Convening will run concurrently on June 5th. Learn more and register for one or both of these signature events! Here
Business Announcements
Spring Job Fest: May 8th, Fenton Chester Arena, Lyndon, 10:00 am- 2:00 pm
The free job fair is sponsored by NE Kingdom Workforce Partners, VT Dept of Labor, and Lyndon Institute. For more information call St. Johnsbury DOL office (802) 748-3177.
Become an EV Charging Site Host
The VT Agency of Transportation plans to issue a second Request for Proposals to expand the statewide network of public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Federal funding will be awarded to pre-qualified providers to install EV charging equipment at locations that meet specific criteria. Find out the benefits for property owners who may be interested in becoming a "site host" at their location. Visit EV Site Host Overview and take the survey!
NEK Regional Employer Survey
Local employers are invited to provide input in a survey to help the Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs at Lyndon Institute and St. Johnsbury Academy. The purpose of the Local Needs Assessment Survey is to help collect information from local employers to assess how well the CTE programming and student outcomes align with workforce needs in the region.
Dam Owner Academy - Free Self-paced Training
Two free training options from the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) are oriented toward private and municipal dam owners. The self-paced courses for non-engineers can be completed at your convenience over time. Learn more
Vermont Tariff Resources & Task Force Website
The Agency of Commerce & Community Development has compiled key resources to help Vermont businesses respond to evolving tariff-related challenges on the federal level, evaluate potential impact, and focus on solutions. Vermont Tariff Resource Page.
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