Updates from VCRD - September 2025

A Note from the Executive Director

As we prepare this newsletter, I’m struck by the realization that this marks my one-year anniversary as VCRD's Executive Director. It’s hard to believe how quickly time has passed. Over the past 12 months, the incredible VCRD team has accomplished so much, and I’ve had the privilege of learning, growing, and working alongside them every step of the way. This fall, we’re excited to launch a Community Visit in New Haven, welcome a new cohort of Village Trust Initiative (VTI) communities, award another round of Climate Catalyst Innovation Funds, and support the town of Plainfield as they identify key actions for recovery. These efforts reflect the heart of our mission — helping communities turn their ideas into action. It’s a true honor to partner with community leaders across Vermont as they pursue their visions for vibrant, resilient, and thriving communities. We hope you enjoy reading about the inspiring work in rural Vermont communities — they give me hope for Vermont’s future.



Denise Smith, Executive Director

6th Vermont Community Leadership Summit

On August 11, hundreds of community builders from across the state came together with over 95 presenters and panelists to engage with each other, make new connections, celebrate community successes, build leadership skills, talk through challenges facing communities, and think proactively about the future. Thanks to everyone who joined us! Visit the Summit website for links to the program, participant list, photos, speaker bios, resources from speakers, sponsors and more.

2025 Community Leadership Award Presented to Vermont’s Long Term Recovery Groups

VCRD’s Community Leadership Award celebrates Vermonters who exemplify dedication, integrity and honorable service to community and to rural Vermont, and who have had a transformational effect on their communities. We present the award to highlight the work of community members who epitomize the best spirit of local community service, and whose work has made their community a better place. 

At this year’s Leadership Summit, VCRD was honored to recognize and celebrate the Long Term Recovery Groups and the countless volunteers who stepped up to support their Vermont neighbors, friends, and families especially in the wake of the devastating floods of 2023 and 2024. These groups have been instrumental in uniting communities, sharing critical information, organizing volunteers, and securing resources and funding to meet the needs of those affected. See the congratulations video from Senator Peter Welch shown at the Summit. Please join us in thanking and congratulating: Barre Up, Community Resilience for the Waterbury Area (CReW), Helping Our People in Emergency Coalition(HOPE), Lamoille Area Recovery Network (LeARN), Montpelier Disaster Recovery Network (MoDRN), Mountain Town LTRG, Kingdom United Resilience and Recovery Effort (kuRRve), Rutland Regional Disaster Cooperative (RRDC), Upper Valley Strong, and Recovery After Floods Team (RAFT) for their tireless dedication and all they do for Vermonters across the state.

Applications Open for the Climate Catalysts Innovation Fund

The VCRD announces the opening of applications for the fifth round of the Climate Catalysts Innovation Fund. VCRD is dedicated to supporting local projects that are working toward reducing energy use, improving climate resiliency, and supporting communities working together in the face of a changing climate. VCRD launched the fund in 2021 to support creative and innovative climate/energy projects with a grant that would provide meaningful impact. Types of projects funded have included the purchase of e-bikes for loan at local libraries, solar power back-up storage for a community hub, community gardens, emergency preparedness kits, and more. Learn more and apply today! 

Highlights and Updates from Towns We've Recently Worked With

Staff from The Preservation Trust of Vermont, The Vermont Community Foundation, Vermont Council on Rural Development and partners recently toured several towns across the state that are taking part in the Village Trust Initiative (VTI). These communities are doing tremendous work with creativity and vision to revitalize buildings at the heart of their towns. Check out the photo album of the day’s tour. To learn more about VTI, including the timeline of the 2026 cohort, visit vtrural.org/village-trust.

In the wake of devastating floods in both 2023 and 2024, the Town of Plainfield invited VCRD to facilitate a process to bring together the full diversity of Plainfield residents, organizations, business owners and partners in an open, inclusive dialogue to build connections, and identify actions for recovery and future efforts. Plainfield Forward is part of VCRD’s Climate Economy Resilient Communities program which supports three to five communities each year working on local climate action solutions that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy use, increase climate resilience, and/or strengthen the local climate economy.

Through our Municipal Technical Assistance Program, VCRD has been working with the Town of Windham in a 2-step facilitation process that brought community members together to examine issues, decide top priorities, and develop action plans for the future of their town. The community has formed local task force groups that will work in the coming months to expand community events and skill exchanges, and expand housing opportunities. To learn more, visit What’s Possible, Windham?

The town of Sunderland completed its 3-part Community Visit this August with tremendous participation. Over 150 community members shared ideas in forums, a youth forum, and through online and in-person surveys; chose top priorities; and formed local task force groups that will work on creating and improving community spaces and increasing food access as well as expanding outdoor recreation trails and access. Alyssa Johnson, Community Visit Director, was interviewed by GNAT TV’s “The News Project: In Studio - Sunderland Shines Preview” to talk about the effort. Visit Sunderland Shines to learn more.

VCLN Workshop:

Reimagining Community Technical Assistance

September 30, 2025 | 11:30am - 1:00pm | Virtual

Register here

When Vermont communities need technical assistance on a local project, they often turn to many organizations for support with grant writing, project management, funding, and more. Figuring out where to start, how to navigate, and what resources match your needs can be a daunting task, especially for understaffed municipalities. Come to this audience-led discussion and contribute to the Vermont Evaluation of Rural Technical Assistance (VERTA), a statewide effort to improve the systems of technical assistance that your town might need. 

We will be joined by leadership from the UVM Center for Rural Studies, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and other partners participating in VERTA. Share your questions, thoughts and ideas about how towns can best receive support to implement their most important projects and initiatives.

To view past VCLN workshops, visit: vtrural.org/leadership-network/workshops/.

Plainfield Forward

Step 2 ~ Community Meeting Day

September 17 | 5:30-8:30pm

Plainfield community members will come together on September 17th for visioning, forum discussions, and prioritization. Grab free pizza, lemonade and dessert before discussing priorities that came out of the July 28th forums. The event will be live streamed by ORCA Media and there will be childcare and free transportation. 

Step 3 ~ Task Force Launch and Action Planning

October 16 | 5:30-8:30pm

In October, Plainfield community members will come back together for the final step in the process. Local task force groups, or revitalized existing groups, will build action plans, set the scope of their work, and meet with a visiting resource team to identify available resources and funding opportunities.

Visit https://bit.ly/PlainfieldForward to learn more.