The Regional Priority Project (RPP) list is a statewide list created by Vermont Department of Economic Development (DED) with annual submission compiled by each of Vermont’s 12 Regional Development Corporations (RDCs). The RPP process highlights the top economic and community development projects in our region that are best positioned to attract state and federal funding. These projects are compiled annually into a regional list, and the top ten are submitted to the State of Vermont to inform public investment decisions.

DED provides a standardized scoring rubric to all 12 Regional Development Corporations (RDCs) to support statewide consistency in evaluating and prioritizing economic development projects. This framework ensures that projects submitted from across Vermont can be meaningfully compared and aligned for federal funding and advocacy efforts. Projects must be well developed, with clear timelines, funding strategies, and demonstrated readiness to score competitively. Early-stage concepts or undeveloped ideas are unlikely to rank highly without significant progress toward implementation.

Regional Priority Projects are implementation-ready initiatives that are prioritized for competitive state and federal funding, including potential support from agencies such as the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). These projects demonstrate clear regional benefit, strong partnerships, and advanced planning readiness. Securing RPP status strengthens your project’s visibility and competitiveness for grant opportunities aligned with Southern Vermont’s strategic economic goals. However, NBRC has its own scoring criteria, Regional Priority Project submissions can score well on the RPP process and not be competitive in NBRC scoring (pg. 82).  For projects focused on NBRC funding, we recommend fully reviewing NBRC scoring criteria.

Regional Priority Projects must also express their alignment with regional economic development goals. In the Southern Vermont Economic Development Zone (Bennington and Windham Counties) these are expressed in the SoVermont Zone Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Projects submitting for RPP list consideration will also be included in the yearly CEDS update.

BDCC and Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC) strongly encourage submission of eligible RPPs from municipalities, nonprofits, education institutions, and private businesses committed to driving economic resilience and innovation across Southern Vermont.

How to Submit RPP

Portal opened Monday, July 21, 2025

Step 1: Initial Project Submission

• Due: September 5, 2025
• CEDS portion of form

Step 2: RPP-Specific Documentation

• Due: September 19, 2025
• Required:
  • A detailed project budget
  • Sources and uses of funds
  • Job creation/retention projections
• Optional but strongly recommended to strengthen your application:
  • Site control documentation (if applicable)
  • Engineering and design plans (if applicable)
  • Permitting status (if applicable)
  • Letters of commitment from funders/lenders
  • Project principal’s experience and track record

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