Northwest Regional Planning Commission Receives National Association of
Development Organizations
2016 Innovation Award
Photo: NADO Board President Jeffrey Kiely presents the
innovation award to Executive Director Catherine Dimitruk
Northwest Regional Planning Commission in St. Albans, VT has received a 2016 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Northern Vermont Economic Development District project.
Vermont's six northern counties are home to a long standing US Economic Development Association (EDA)-designated economic development district. The District was managed by a non-profit organization that went bankrupt and closed operations in 2009. Since that time, the three regional planning commissions and three regional development corporations within the District cooperated to keep the District functioning to ensure ongoing availability of federal economic development grants. Northwest Regional Planning Commission and the other organizations worked closely with EDA's District office in Philadelphia to build confidence in the groups' ability to manage the district. In 2014 Northwest Regional Planning Commission was invited to submit a planning grant to EDA to rebuild the District. The grant allowed the consortium partners to complete a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and establish a new Board to guide economic development in northern Vermont. That work was successfully completed by the consortium partners.
The new Northern Vermont Economic Development District has an engaged advisory board and is managed by a consortium of regional planning and development organizations across Vermont's northern six counties. Traditional economic development districts are overseen by a stand- alone nonprofit organization. By using a consortium approach, the six organizations maximize resources, eliminate duplication and are able to direct more federal funds toward strategic economic priorities in the district.
Partners in the effort include: Northwest Regional Planning Commission, Northeastern Vermont Development Association, Lamoille County Planning Commission, Lamoille Economic Development Corporation, Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation, Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation. Northern Community Investment Corporation also provided crucial support during the transition years.
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How are we doing as a Region?
NRPC Releases Indicator Report
Following adoption of the regional plan in 2015, NRPC worked to select key indicators for each of the areas of the Regional Plan. If the implementation program and the goals and policies in the Regional Plan are successful then we can expect measurable results. Based on our vision for the future we know whether the indicators should increase, decrease or stay level in the future. The indicators are not meant to be inclusive of all the goals, policies and actions in the Regional Plan. Instead the indicators are representative measures of successful implementation.
Several indicators measure the regional economy. Did you know that our educational attainment overall lags behind the Vermont and the U.S.? Despite that, the median income in each county is higher than Vermont and the U.S., a positive economic indicator. One priority in the regional plan is to support continued education and training with the aim of improving overall educational attainment and workforce readiness.
Future newsletter articles will highlight different indicators. The full draft of the Indicator report is available here. The Regional Plan is available
here.
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Act 174 "Determination" Standards Released by Department of Public Service
In November 2016, the Vermont Department of Public Service released standards that allow for municipalities to receive "substantial deference" instead of "due consideration" during Public Service Board proceedings. This change in state law is a result of the passage of Act 174 in 2016. This Act's intent is to plan for a renewable energy future in Vermont while providing Vermont municipalities with a greater voice before the Public Service Board. NRPC plans to amend the Northwest Regional Plan in early 2017 to meet the standards in Act 174.
NRPC will hold a training for municipal officials in early 2017. The training will focus on how municipalities can meet the standards in Act 174. Generally, municipalities will be required to amend their municipal plans to meet the standards in Act 174. NRPC will be providing all municipalities in the region with data to meet Act 174 before the end of April 2017. NRPC will also aid municipalities in ensuring that their municipal plans are in conformance with 2016 Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan and the Northwest Regional Energy Plan.
Meeting the municipal standards in Act 174 is optional. Municipalities are not required to amend their municipal plans.
The Act 174 standards for municipalities can be found
here
. For more information about Act 174, please see Department of Public Service
website
or contact Taylor Newton by
email
or at (802) 524-5958.
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Vermont Better Roads Grant Program Workshop
Tuesday January 31, 2017 from 11 am - 2 pm
Enosburg Emergency Services Building
83 Sampsonville Road, Enosburg Falls
This workshop provides updated information on the VT Better Roads Program and the grant application process. The programs goal is to promote the use of erosion control and maintenance techniques that save money while protecting and enhancing water quality. VTrans staff will be on hand to assist with filling out grant applications and answer questions.
Lunch provided by the Northwest Regional Planning Commission
Who Should Attend: Road Foreman, Town Clerks, Town Managers/Administrators, and/or Selectboard members
Instructors: Linda Blasch, Alan May and Rachel Beauregard from the VTrans Municipal Assistance Bureau
Please RSVP to Bethany Remmers, Northwest Regional Planning Commission (802) 524-5958 or by email. In case of inclement weather, a workshop cancellation notice will be posted at our website or you can call (802) 524-5958 to confirm. The snow date for this workshop will be February 2, 2017.
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The Vermont DEC Municipal Roads General Permit (MRGP) Brown Bag Presentation
Jim Ryan, the MRGP Program Coordinator for VT DEC's Watershed Management Division, will be holding a Brown Bag presentation on the forthcoming MRGP. Here's a link for information about the brown bag series
.
RSVP and live stream links are found in the first section of the pdf.
As a reminder, this general permit is intended to achieve significant reductions in stormwater-related erosion from municipal roads, both paved and unpaved. Municipalities are required by statute to implement a customized, multi-year plan to stabilize their road drainage system. The plan will include bringing road drainage systems up to basic maintenance standards, and additional corrective measure to reduce erosion as necessary to meet a TMDL or other water quality restoration effort. The permit is required by H.35/Act 64, the Vermont Clean Water Act, and the Lake Champlain Phase I TMDL.
The development of the MRGP was one of several new Vermont Clean Water Act (Act 64) requirements.
Towns will begin applying for MRGP coverage in the summer of 2018. The presentation will include a discussion of the new draft MRGP Framework document, the latest MRGP practice standards and implementation triggers, MRGP timelines, road erosion inventory, the implementation plan and schedules spreadsheet template, and semi-annual compliance reporting. Jim will also provide information of resources available to assist municipalities such as trainings, workshops, grant funding, and technical assistance.
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Congratulations to the Highgate Arena for its continued success serving the region as noted during a recent visit from Congressman Peter Welch! NRPC provided funds from the Healthy People Strong Communities mini-grant program to help purchase a dehumidification system for the arena.
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Telecommunications Facilities in Public ROW
 In recent weeks, several communities in Chittenden County have received applications for "highway access" or "curb cut" permits for tall telecommunications towers that are proposed to be located in the public right-of-way. The proposed telecommunications tower have all been in excess of 100 feet tall, yet the companies that have submitted applications have not been clear about the height or size of the towers in their applications. According to planners in Chittenden County, the companies proposing these towers believe that they do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Board (30 V.S.A. 248a), Act 250, or local zoning regulation. This is generally inaccurate information. These companies have also asserted that they have the same rights as public utilities under state law. This claim also appears to be inaccurate and NRPC intends to work with partners around the state to determine its validity.
In addition to raising legal concerns, some towers have been proposed directly over existing water and waterwater infrastructure and immediately adjacent to above ground telephone poles with no regard to engineering best practices. In at least once instance, the company applying for a tower has offered the municipality money in order to lease land in the public right-of-way to accommodate the tower.
If your community Highway Foreman or Selectboard receives an application for this type of facility, it is highly recommended that the community seek assistance from your municipal attorney, the Act 250 District Coordinator, and/or the regional planning xommission before taking action on the application. This is not an issue that the Northwest Region has experienced in the past and it is advisable to act with caution so that more can be learned about to properly regulate these facilities and ensure that they are sited in appropriate locations in the region. For more information, contact Taylor Newton by
email or at (802) 524-5958.
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Policy/Project Review Meeting
Cancelled
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TAC Meeting
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: WIB Training Center, Swanton
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NRPC Board Meeting
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: NMC, Conference Room #1
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For updates on the NRPC calendar click
here.
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