Southern Vermont “Get on Board” Program Seeks to Engage and Train Emerging Civic Leaders
Above: Shaftsbury Select Board member Martha Cornwell speaking at the Southern VT Economy Summit | Photo: Kelly Fletcher
Southern Vermont – In our small towns, even one additional informed, focused, and engaged community member can make a difference. But for new volunteers, getting involved with local projects and governing boards can seem intimidating.
The Southern Vermont “Get on Board” program, starting this fall, will equip participants with practical skills to become more effective and active in local civic life. From big-picture knowledge to finding mentors, participants will learn tips and techniques for navigating local government, fostering positive community dialogue, being an effective board member, ensuring equitable access to local government, and forming partnerships for action.
Four in-person sessions will provide a deep dive, and showcase towns across Southern Vermont. Three short remote sessions will continue the learning opportunities in between gatherings. Classes will feature panelists with deep experience in local government, scholars, and community organizations.
The program runs from October to early January and costs $150. Scholarships are available, along with multiple other accessibility accommodations, such as childcare stipends; and towns have the opportunity to sponsor participants as well. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis now through September 29.
Southern Vermont “Get on Board” is part of the Southern Vermont Economy Project (a program of Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation) and is funded in part by the Vermont Community Foundation and USDA Rural Community Development Initiative. For more information, please visit www.sovermontzone.com/get-on-board or contact Meg Staloff at BDCC at mstaloff@brattleborodevelopment.com or (802) 257-7731 x 222.
About the Southern Vermont Economy Project (SVEP)
The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation’s Southern Vermont Economy Project provides training and technical assistance to increase local capacity, skills, and resources in order to advance local projects critical to Southern Vermont achieving community, economic, and workforce development goals. SVEP is funded through the USDA Rural Community Development Initiative. For more information please visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com/svep.
About BDCC and SeVEDS
The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that serves as a catalyst for industrial and commercial growth throughout Southeastern Vermont, including Windham County and the towns of Readsboro, Searsburg, Winhall and Weston. BDCC serves as the State of Vermont’s certified Regional Development Corporation (RDC) for the greater Windham County area. BDCC is one of 12 RDCs throughout Vermont. This BDCC activity was made possible in part by a grant from the State of Vermont through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. For more information visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com.
Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) is an affiliate of BDCC that grew from a 2008 grassroots effort, initiated by BDCC, to understand and create long term strategies needed to reverse the economic decline of the Windham Region and plan for the economic impacts from the closure of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. In 2014, after multiple years of regional input, education and data gathering, SeVEDS received federal approval for the Windham Region’s federally recognized S.M.A.R.T. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). SeVEDS partnered with Bennington’s Regional Economic Development Group in 2018 to develop the 2019 Southern Vermont Zone CEDS. For more information visit www.seveds.com.
