Photo Credit: Brattleboro Reformer, Pictured: Zak Hale and State Treasurer Mike Pieciak at Benn High
Every year, communities, nonprofits, businesses and other partners across Southern Vermont are working on projects that strengthen downtowns and villages, create housing, improve infrastructure, support businesses and workers, and make the region more resilient.
Some are large. Some are small. Some are ready for construction. Others are still building the partnerships and funding needed to move forward. If you are working on one of those projects, we want to know about it.
BDCC and the Bennington County Regional Commission are accepting projects for the annual update of the 2024–2029 Southern Vermont Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and for consideration as Regional Priority Projects (RPPs).
Over the past decade, dozens of projects identified through the Southern Vermont CEDS have secured funding, moved into implementation and been completed. Here are three examples.
Benn High
The historic former Bennington High School has appeared in the CEDS as a priority project. The long-vacant 100,000-square-foot building is being transformed into a community anchor with housing, childcare, recreation, senior services and educational programming. The project recently reached a major milestone with the financial closing of a $40.2 million redevelopment package.
Tri-Park
In Brattleboro, Tri-Park Cooperative Housing Corporation developed a master plan focused on reducing flood risk for residents of Vermont’s largest manufactured housing cooperative. Projects identified through that planning continued to appear in the CEDS as Tri-Park moved toward implementation and assembled funding. It is a good example of a project beginning with planning and developing into a wider implementation effort.
Wilder Memorial Library
In Weston, Wilder Memorial Library undertook a project to restore its historic building and expand accessible space for community programs, meetings and library services. The project secured a $650,000 grant, and the newly renovated and expanded library celebrated its grand opening on August 8. In a community of roughly 600 residents, it shows that CEDS projects can also be smaller, locally significant investments.
What Project Is Your Community Working On?
Housing. Childcare. Water and wastewater. Downtown and village revitalization. Transportation. Business development. Community facilities. Workforce development. Climate resilience. Arts and culture. Outdoor recreation. Food systems.
Projects do not need every detail or every dollar in place, but they do need someone actively leading their development. Submissions should come from the organization, municipality, business or other partner responsible for moving the project forward, and can not be an idea for someone else to pursue.
Complete projects submitted by Friday, September 18, 2026 will be included in the annual CEDS update. Projects further along can also complete the RPP questions. Ten advanced projects will be selected as RPPs, highlighted in the CEDS update and communicated to state and federal funding partners.
Working on a project? We encourage you to submit it here: https://www.sovermontzone.com/ceds-rpp-project-submission
