BDCC’s Southern VT Economy Project Sponsors Upcoming Events

Above: Former Brookline Select Board Chair Dot Maggio speaking as part of a local leaders panel at the 2023 session of SoVT Get on Board

Southern VT: The Southern VT Economy Project (SVEP), based out of Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, invites current and aspiring community leaders to attend two upcoming programs that will help them learn skills, build their networks, and connect to resources.

On Thursday August 28 from 8:30-12, current municipal leaders (both elected and appointed, as well as Town staff) are invited to attend a Town Building Symposium as part of SVEP’s Municipal Leaders Network. This event will take place at the Wardsboro Town Hall at 71 Main Street in Wardsboro, and is free of charge. 

The Town Building Symposium was created in response to a survey of Southern Vermont towns done earlier this year, which indicated that the current and future upkeep and optimal use of town buildings is on the minds of our local municipal leaders. 

This half-day event will be an interactive and resource-heavy gathering, centered on ways that  town officials can ensure that public investment in municipally owned buildings best delivers value and benefit to communities. Topics under discussion include: resources for budgeting and long term capital planning, planning for energy efficiency and accessibility upgrades, and the town role in optimizing community use of buildings (including adaptive reuse). Expert presenters are being confirmed, including representatives from Efficiency Vermont, Vermont League of Cities and Towns, Preservation Trust of VT, Windham Regional Planning Commission, Bennington County Regional Commission, and more. Find out more and register to attend at the SVEP program page on the BDCC Website: https://brattleborodevelopment.com/svep/

Starting September 20th, SVEP will also lead a cohort of prospective local leaders through the second iteration of the ‘SoVT Get on Board’ program. SoVT Get on Board is designed to introduce participants to the many ways that residents drive community and economic development projects in their Vermont towns, and to help connect them to a role in their community. 

The program spans 4 sessions on Saturdays September 20, October 4, October 25th and November 8th. Sessions will be in-person, in locations across Southern VT.

Get on Board is a comprehensive primer on effective local leadership. The four classes center around best practices for community-led projects, the role of municipal government, and the ins and outs of non-profit boards. Participants engage in in-depth discussions about how to ensure coordination, collaboration, and inclusivity in community processes. By fostering connections among the participants, with current local leaders and expert presenters, as well as facilitating connections to local projects in the attendees’ communities, the program is designed to create a supported pipeline of new local leadership across the region. 

The fee for SoVT Get on Board is $200, and includes all class materials as well as breakfast and lunch at each session (sourced from local restaurants). 

Towns and local organizations are welcomed as sponsors for attendees, and scholarships are available to allow participation regardless of ability to pay. More information and a link to register (including requesting tuition assistance) can be found at: https://www.sovermontzone.com/get-on-board or by emailing program manager Meg Staloff at mstaloff@brattleborodevelopment.com. 

About the Southern Vermont Economy Project (SVEP)

Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation’s Southern Vermont Economy Project provides training and technical assistance to increase local capacity, skills, and resources in the Southern Vermont Economic Development Zone (encompassing Bennington and Windham counties, and the town of Weston) in order to advance local projects critical to Southern Vermont achieving regional community, economic, and workforce development goals. SVEP is funded in part through the USDA Rural Community Development Initiative. For more information please visit: https://brattleborodevelopment.com/svep/