SVEP Webinar Series

Starting July 2017, the Southern Vermont Economy Project at BDCC began hosting a quick hit webinar series called “Knowledge Bites,” focused on providing introductory information about economic and community development tools, programs, and funding opportunities.

Upcoming Webinars

Past Webinars

Presentation Slides (with lots of links to follow for more information): Knowledge Bites_ Tools for Local Leadership

Board development checklist

From training for selectboard members and town moderators to legal help and HR advice, Vermont League of Cities and Towns is an invaluable resource for municipal staff, officials, and committee members. Learn more about the wealth of information and support available through VLCT and how you can access what you need to know.

Slides

Banding together with other towns can enable you to create a full-time position and a bigger salary pool, allowing you to more easily hire experienced, professional staff. Learn from the Town of Rockingham about their experience sharing a zoning administrator with other nearby municipalities.

We discuss the process for identifying possible towns to collaborate with and defining and structuring agreements (plus outside supports or resources for doing so), along with an overview of what has been working well so far and what challenges have arisen.

Londonderry and Rockingham shared their intermunicipal agreements for others’ reference:

Interlocal Agreement – Mountain Towns Recreation Director

Intermunicipal Agreement – Land Use and Planning Specialists

How can towns best welcome new residents and get them connected to the community?

Newcomers are vital to the vibrancy and economic well-being of our towns. There are many small adjustments that towns can make that will have a big impact on how welcome new residents feel – such as including a dedicated “Welcome” page on the town website and making it easy to sign up for the town newsletter.

Learn what other towns around the region are doing; talk with other town clerks, administrators, and community organizations; and get ideas for practical small steps your town can take to ensure newcomers feel welcome, are well-informed, and know how to get involved.

Key takeaways:

  • Having a “Welcome” page on the town website is the single most important thing  you can do — and it’s pretty simple to compile! (Check out our sample page.)
  • People who are new to Vermont often don’t know they can or should come by the town office.
  • Newcomers often want to volunteer and get involved in their communities. Welcoming them into the town hall, via a “standing invitation” flyer (editable template here) or an occasional new residents meet and greet, is a great way to find your next batch of committee members!

Slides

Town welcome webpage checklist

Town welcome practices checklist

Common Good Vermont is the only statewide program dedicated to uniting, strengthening, and advocating for Vermont’s nonprofit sector. Common Good Vermont serves as the “go-to” resource for nonprofits to share resources, gain skills, and build partnerships. Learn what they offer and how to use their resources to build your skills and get answers to your questions as a mission driven organization!

CGVT Introduction Brattleboro (Slides from the presentation with lots of useful links!)

The Preservation Trust of Vermont holds an annual series of retreats that are designed to help Vermont community projects learn in an environment full of supportive peers! learn about this year’s schedule (including some new topics!) and plan to attend one of these valuable trainings that will help your local project succeed.

To inquire about a scholarship to attend any program before Sept. 30, 2024, please reach out to Mstaloff@brattleborodevelopment.com. (Some terms and conditions apply.)

For more information about PTV’s offerings, contact jackson@ptvermont.org

The REDI Program from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board is a great source of assistance for community projects in need of a helping hand to increase their capacity! Learn what kind of projects qualify, what kind of assistance they provide, and what it looks like from the point of view of a REDI consultant.

Slides from Mariah Noth

We want our community buildings to be accessible to all, but retrofitting can be daunting – and expensive. Learn where to get help, and hear about clever solutions from around the state.

Slides from Peter Johnke, Vermont Center for Independent Living

Slides from Caitlin Corkins, Vermont Division for Historic Preservation

ADA checklist for self-evaluations

Katherine Sims, a consultant and legislator in Craftsbury VT, has over 15 years of experience in nonprofit development. She shares a down-to-earth, practical overview of board roles and responsibilities and best practices for recruitment and evaluation.

Slides from Katherine Sims

Other resources collected by BDCC

Meet Ken Linge from the Vermont bond agency and learn how they partner with Vermont communities to fund their projects.

Slides from Ken Linge

Link to Slides

Link to Chat

Link to Video Series

Topic: Neighborhood revitalization in Oswego, NY- The driver of change is small matching grants to clusters of homeowners who want to collaboratively improve the exterior of their neighborhood. Read more in our blog post!

Presenter: Paul Stewart, Executive Director of Oswego Renaissance Association, an all volunteer organization which has spurred widespread neighborhood revitalization and investment.

 

Join SVEP and Tim Terway from the Vermont Center for Geographical Information to discuss frequently asked questions regarding how parcel data is maintained, what is being asked of towns, what it could mean for a shared upkeep workflow across towns, vendors, state, and downstream users. In addition, Terway will clarify where the resources are, how to access & use them, what parcel data are (and are not!)

Presenter: Tim Terway, VCGI

Presentation: VCGI Parcel Program Presentation

Presenters:

Alex Tranmer, Camoin 310

alexandra@camoinassociates.com

Donna Wotton, Ti-Alliance

donna@ticonderoga-alliance.org

Presentation: Sharing the Visio: Using Market Data to Guide Rural Economic Development PDF

Presenters:

Alix Jones, Bennington Museum, Co-President BAAC

Kate Cooper, MSK Engingeering, Co-President BAAC

Topic: Structured Problem Solving

Presenter: Jon Bates, Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center, jbates@vmec.org, 802-345-2062

Audience: People who manage people and people who manage processes

Download Presentation Here: KB_Problem Solving_Bates

SVEP 2.0 Archives

Windham Regional Commission and Bennington County Region Commission go through the application for the Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) energy assessments step by step to help you determine which assessment is right for your town and projects.

MERP Knowledge Bites Assessment Combined Slides

Chat and links for KB MERP Energy Assessments Webinar 7_19_2023

Link to Slides

Topic:  There are two programs designed to help communities with local projects. The first is Community Facilities Technical Assistance Program (CFTAP) at BDCC which helps local projects access small awards technical assistance and ultimately in some cases USDA Community Facilities awards or loans. The Second is the REDI program which can fund grantwriting support for projects in communities with fewer than 5000 residents.

Presenters: Maria Noth, VHCB & Regan Dobbins, BDCC

Presentation: KB 7_28 combined

Presenters:

  • Gretchen Havreluk, Economic Development Specialist, Town of Wilmington 
  • Scott Tucker, Town Manager, Town of Wilmington 
  • Patrick Moreland, Assistant Town Manager, Town of Brattleboro 
  • Forrest Holzapfel, Town Clerk, Town of Marlboro 

Long Term Impacts for Towns Presentation

  • Minicozzi video links
  • Reading list for Behavioral Economics
  • Thoughts from Minicozzi on the topic

Long Term Impacts for Towns Data and Infographics

  • Screen clips from Minicozzi’s presentation
  • Links to data
  • Discussion questions

Presenters:

  • Ann Kroll and Cindy Blondin, Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development

Contact:

  • Nathan Cleveland, VDHCD
  • Nathan.cleveland@vermont.gov
  • 802-585-5659

Links/Documents:


Funders:

  • Preservation Trust: Ben Doyle | ben@ptvermont.org | www.ptvermont.org
  • Community Capital of Vermont: Abbey Salomon | asalomon@communitycapitalvt.org | www.communitycapitalvt.org
  • Thomas Thompson Trust: Susan Monahan | smonahan@rackemann.com| https://thomasthompsontrust.org/index.html
  • Northern Borders Regional Commission: Rich Grogan | rgrogan@nbrc.gov | www.nbrc.gov
  • Vermont Natural Resource Council: Kate McCarthy | kmccarthy@vnrc.org | www.vnrc.org
  • Vermont Department of Economic Development: Kristie Farnham | Kristie.Farnham@vermont.gov | www.accd.vermont.gov/economic-development
  • USDA Rural Development: Jon Michael Muise | jon.muise@vt.usda.gov | www.rd.usda.gov
  • Vermont Community Foundation: Kevin Wiberg | kwiberg@vermontcf.org | www.vermontcf.org
  • VT Department of Housing and Community Development: Nathan Cleveland | nathan.cleveland@vermont.gov | www.accd.vermont.gov/community-development
  • Vermont Housing and Conservation Board: Liz Gleason | egleason@vhcb.org | www.vhcb.org
  • The Windham Foundation: Becky Bryant | becky.bryant@windham-foundation.org | www.windham-foundation.org

Presenters: Amy Rast and Laura Brown of RLS and Associates, Inc.

Public Survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VTRt30

Resources:

Improving Transportation in the VT Route 30 Corridor; Brattleboro to Winhall, Vermont:   https://vtrans.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=2891b60e823d4706bb9abe9f20ecbdd7

VT Route 30 Corridor Management Plan (2018): VT Route 30 Corridor Management Plan (vermont.gov)

Website for VTrans Public Transit (includes projects and program information): https://vtrans.vermont.gov/public-transit

Website for the LRTP: https://vtrans.vermont.gov/planning/long-range-plan

Vermont Long Range Transportation Plan (2040): https://vtrans.vermont.gov/sites/aot/files/planning/documents/planning/2040_LRTP_%20Final.pdf

LRTP Public Opinion Survey (includes commuter and public transit data):

https://vtrans.vermont.gov/sites/aot/files/planning/documents/planning/VTrans%20LRTP%20Survey%20Report%20Final%202016.pdf

VTrans Documents on Public Transit: https://vtrans.vermont.gov/docs#public%20transit

 

Presentation: 

ARPA Presentation KB 083121

Contact:

Katie Buckley, VLCT

arpa@vlct.org or kbuckley@vlct.org 

Resources:

Bylaw Modernization Grant: https://accd.vermont.gov/content/bylaw-modernization-grants 

Revenue Replacement Calculator:  GFOA-Rev-Calculator 

2022 CEDS Projects Knowledge Bites Presentation

Submission Forms (PDF): Please submit projects through the online form. These PDFs are just to help you put your submission together

EmailMe Form – Southern Vermont CEDS New Project Submission Form

EmailMe Form – Southern Vermont CEDS Project Update Form

Topic:  How to submit your project to the Southern Vermont Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The CEDS is an action plan for growing the economy developed using a federally prescribed regional public process. Each year the CEDS is updated with “CEDS Projects” submissions  which highlight projects, programs and activities that address the region’s greatest needs and enhance the region’s competitiveness.  

Presenters: Join Sarah Lang (BDCC) and Jonathan Cooper (BCRC)

Presentation: 2020 CEDS Projects Knowledge Bites Presentation

SVEP 1.0 Archives

Topic: Understanding Labor Market Information Data and Resources

Presenter: Kevin Stapelton, Vermont Department of Labor, kevin.stapleton@vermont.gov,  802-828-3868

Audience: Economic development professionals, grant writers, researchers and anyone who frequently uses data from sources such as Census or the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Download Power Point Here: KB1 Stapleton VTDOL

Topic: USDA Rural Development programs overview, in depth on housing or audience choice

Presenter: Jon-Michael Muise, USDA Rural Development VT/NH Office, jon.muise@vt.usda.gov, 802-689-3026

Audience: municipalities, nonprofits, businesses, regional agencies, private entities

Download Power Point Here: Vermont USDA Rural Development Vermont Overview

Topic: Windham County Economic Development Program, RFP submission

Presenter: RT Brown, BDCC, rbrown@brattleborodevelopment.com, 802-257-7731

Audience: Non-profit organizations

Download Power Point: 2017 WCEDP RFP Webinar

Resource Link: http://accd.vermont.gov/economic-development/funding-incentives/windham-county

Topic: Southern Vermont Internships Program: BDCC & Six College Collaborative Internship Program and the BCRC Internship Program

Presenter: Kristin Brooks, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, kbrooks@brattleborodevelopment.com, 802-257-7731

Michelle Marrocco, Bennington County Regional Commission

Audience: Business owners in Bennington and Windham counties, college students/recent grads

 

Download Power Point: BDCC & Six College Collaborative Internship Program – SVEP Presentation 8.2017

 

Topic: Engaging your state delegation

Presenters: Senator Jeanette White (D-Windham), jwhite@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Brian Keefe (R- Bennington), bkeefevt@gmail.com

Audience: Residents of Bennington and Windham Counties

Topic: Utilizing the Vermont Downtown/Village Designation Program to leverage funding and benefits

Presenter: Gary Holloway, Downtown Program Coordinator, Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, gary.holloway@vermont.gov, 802-828-3220

Audience: Municipalities who are interested in applying for the downtown/village designation and municipalities who already have designated downtowns/villages

 

Topic: Vermont Small Business Development Center

Presenters: Deb Boudrieau, VTSBDC, dboudrieau@vtsbdc.org, 802-257-7731 Ext 218

Steve Paddock, VTSBDC, SPaddock@vtsbdc.org, 802-257-7731 Ext 218

Audience: Vermont resident that is looking to start a small business

Power Point: BMC & FIN Knowledge Bites 10.4.17

Topic: Easing Pain Points for Growing Organizations

Presenter: Emily Blistein, Marlboro Center for New Leadership, eblistein@gradschool.marlboro.edu

Audience: Nonprofit and mission driven organizations that are at a crossroads and need to know what action to take to move forward. For example: what do do when your founder is ready to retire? How do you engage a board that doesn’t want to help fundraise? You’ve heard about B-Corps, but how does your mission driven business get certified?

Presentation: CNLforBDCCOct2017

Topic: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy project submission

Presenter: Laura Sibilia, BDCC, lsibilia@brattleborodevelopment.com, 802-275-7731

Audience: Anyone interested in submitting or updating a project to the region’s CEDS

Presentation: 11.7.2017 – CEDS Knowledge Bites Presentation

Topic: Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program

Presenter: Fred Kenney, Executive Director, Vermont Economic Progress Council

Contact: Casey Mock, VEPC Executive Director, casey.mock@vermont.gov, 802-798-2221

Audience: Businesses contemplating investment in new payroll and capital in Vermont to by starting a new business, expanding an existing business, or relocating or expanding a business into Vermont.

Power Point: VEGI PPT 2017

Topic: Workforce Development Grants with the Vermont Training Program

Presenter: John Young, VTP, john.young@vermont.gov, 802-355-2725

Audience: Employers

Topic: Windham Region Brownfields Reuse Initiative (WRBRI) and ACCD Brownfield Revitalization Fund

Presenter: Susan McMahon, Windham Regional Commission,  susan@windhamregional.org,  802-257-4547

Brett Long, ACCD, Brett.Long@vermont.gov,  802-461-9353

Audience:  Municipalities, nonprofits, businesses, regional agencies, private entities who have a brownfield site or are interested in a brownfield site and how to remediate it

Topic: Town Officers Education Conference (TOEC)

Presenter: Briset Flores, UVM Extension, Briset.Flores@uvm.edu

Audience: Municipal Leaders, Local government

Download PowerPoint here: BDC Webinar Presentation 1.9.18 Briset & Leslie

Topic: The Consumer Assistance Program, a small business initiative through the VT Office of the Attorney General

Presenter: Whytnee Bush, Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program

Contact: Lauren Jandl, AGO.smallbusiness@vermont.gov,  802-489-7155

Audience: Small businesses

 

Topic: ThinkVermont.com

Audience: Business owners, municipal staff/leaders, general public

Presenter: Elaine Haney Sopchak, VT Agency of Commerce & Community Development

 

Topic: Marketing opportunities for Vermont’s tourism businesses

Audience: Hospitality, tourism and consumer goods businesses and organizations interested in reaching Vermont’s visitors

Presenter: Hilary DelRoss, Heritage & Recreation Specialist, Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing

Topic: Talent Pipeline Management

Presenter: Alex Beck, Workforce Center of Excellence at the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation

Audience: Both employers and educators

TPM Overview with Construction Example

Talent Pipeline Management Video

Topic: Targeted Expertise Recruitment and Retention program at BDCC

Audience:  Workforce professionals, businesses, realtors, Employers who are looking for a targeted way to draw in workforce to the area

Presenter: Jen Stromsten, Director of Programs, BDCC

Power Point: TER REPORT PPT SVEP Webinar April 2018

Topic: INSTIG8 program at BDCC and upcoming workshops and events

Audience: Entrepreneurs, small business owners

Presenter: RT Brown, Head Instigator, BDCC

Topic: Utilizing your local community access TV station

Audience: Any one in the Windham Region who is interested in learning more about utilizing BCTV and FACT TV

Presenter: Cor Trowbrige (Brattleboro Community TV) and Alex Stradling (Falls Area Community TV)

Presentation: Webinar – WC Community Media

Topic: The Building Communities Grant Program through the Department of Buildings and General Services

(Grant application deadline is July 31st!)

Audience: Town leaders and employees

Presenter: Judy Bruneau, Grand Administrator

Topic: Utilizing your local community access TV station

Audience: Any one in the Bennington Region who is interested in learning more about utilizing CAT TV and GNAT

Presenter: Mike Cutler (Catamount Access TV) and Andrew McKeever/Tammie Reilly (Greater Northshire Access TV)

Download Presentation Here: Community Media

Topic: The Vermont Planning Advance Program

Audience: Villages without public water or sewer

Presenter: Lynnette Claudon, Planning Advance Lead

Presentation: Intro_villageWWsolutions-Economic Development-081418

 

Topic: Act 185 Clean Water Revolving Fund

Presenter: Terisa Thomas, SRF Program Manager

Terisa.Thomas@vermont.gov , 802-249-2413

Audience: Municipalities, select boards

Presentation: KB27_Clean Water Fund Presentation

Topic: Vermont Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Grant Program

Presenter: Gary Holloway, VT DHCD

Powerpoint: EVSE Grant Presentation

Topic: 2019 Southern Vermont Zone CEDS Project Submissions

Presenter: Laura Sibilia and Sarah Lang, BDCC

Powerpoint: 1.14.19- CEDS Knowledge Bites Presentation

Topic: “Future-Ready” Economic Development Organizations (Lessons learned from the IEDC Webinar Series)

Presenter: Jonathan Cooper, Bennington County Regional Commission/Bennington County Industrial Commission

PowerPoint: Cooper_Knowledge Bites IEDC

Topic: Registering on SAM.gov and acquiring a DUNS number for your organization

Presenter: Bobbi Kilburn, BDCC

bkilburn@brattleborodevelopment.com

Presentation:04.19 BDCC DUNS _ SAM

Topic: Mobile Wireless Drive Test by the VT Department of Public Service

Presenter: Corey Chase, VT DPS , Corey.Chase@vermont.gov

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RUNNING A MORE IN DEPTH TEST IN YOUR TOWN, CONTACT COREY CHASE

Links referenced in webinar: https://publicservice.vermont.gov/content/mobile-wireless-drive-test

Topic: Community Facility Technical Assistance Program

Presenter: RT Brown, BDCC

CF Tech Assist Webinar

Topic: Communication Union District formation

Presenter: Rep. Laura Sibilia, Paul Giuliani (an attorney specializing in municipal law and CUD formation), and Carole Monroe of ValleyNet

Audience: Towns interested in learning more about CUDs

Contacts:

Director of Regional Strategies at BDCC
State RepresentativeCarole Monroecarole.monroe@valley.net 
ValleyNet
J. Paul Giuliani, Attorney at Law
PRIMMER PIPER EGGLESTON & CRAMER PC
Tel: 802 223 2102
pgiuliani@primmer.com
Department of Public Service
802-522-2617
Links:

 

Attachments:

30 VSA Ch.82 (4090177_1)

ECFiber Facts

Footnotes:

[1]

1)     Increase our Population: Attract more people to live in Southern Vermont, to participate in the community, the workforce, and support the business and civic environment.
2)     Improve our Physical Infrastructure: Make the critical infrastructure improvements so that Southern Vermont is resident and business ready.
3)     Enhance our Social Infrastructure: Improve quality of life and stability for residents.
4)     Expand our Business Infrastructure: Create an environment that will encourage more jobs and opportunities in Southern Vermont.
5)     Develop our Economic Development Capacity: Enhance the ability for economic development professionals and partners to play a role in implementation.

 

[2]

Developing/Sustaining Collaborations, Legal, Communications/Marketing/Social Media, Finance, Fundraising, Leadership, Organizational Development, Project Coordination, and Strategic Planning