Southern Vermont expanding capacity with virtual connections, SVEP program linking Brattleboro to Bennington and Rockingham
| Brattleboro, VT – Ted Brady, the Deputy Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, appears larger than life on newly installed virtual conferencing equipment in Brattleboro, Bennington, and Rockingham. This equipment, funded through the Southern Vermont Economy Project and USDA Rural Development, is enabling regional organizations and local government to access outside resources and connect with one another using technology.
In the meeting held on February 2nd, 2018, participants joined virtually from Brattleboro, Bennington, Rockingham, and Montpelier. Collectively, 7 hours of driving time was saved by using this new equipment, avoiding any harrowing wintery conditions which has contributed to low attendance at regional meetings in the past.
“We are known to be rugged here in Vermont, but there are some days that the weather just wins the reasonableness or safety debate. Moreover, there’s also the ability to include participants in a more meaningful way that’s just made easier using this technology. Having this hardware in three corners of the region is a fantastic way to increase our communication capacity and deepen our relationships with key partners and constituents,” states RT Brown, Head INSTIG8er at the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation.
“The new virtual conferencing equipment has been incredibly beneficial in helping to ensure that the BCRC and our partners can engage meetings and discussions that we would otherwise miss out on because of the distances involved. Of course, the savings in both time and money help support the efficiency and effectiveness of our programs as well,” comments Jim Sullivan, Executive Director of the Bennington County Regional Commission.
This technology will be a key added capacity for the development of the 2019 Southern Vermont Economic Development Zone CEDS. Ultimately, this equipment is a part of the larger work done by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation to increase regional capacity and grow the regional economy.
About the Southern Vermont Economy Project The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation’s Southern Vermont Economy Project (SVEP) works to stabilize, improve and expand the rural economic and workforce development network in Southern Vermont. Its goal is to increase capacity and collaboration of its partnering organizations and beyond. SVEP is funded by the USDA Rural Community Development Initiative. Our partners are Bellows Falls Area Development Corporation, Rockingham Arts and Museum Project, Great Falls Regional Chamber of Commerce, Windham Regional Commission, Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategy, Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce, Strolling of the Heifers, Readsboro Hometown Redevelopment Inc., Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, Bennington County Regional Commission, Bennington County Industrial Corporation, Town of Bennington, and the Bennington Downtown Alliance.
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| Contact:
Sarah Lang, SVEP Manager Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (802) 257-7731 x222 slang@brattleborodevelopment.com www.brattleborodevelopment.com |
