Local Support and Community Action Team Makes First Recommendations for
Economic and Social Recovery in Interim Report to Governor Phil Scott
Recovery seeks solutions for a more resilient and equitable Vermont
The Local Support and Community Action Team led by Paul Costello, Executive Director of Vermont Council on Rural Development, today released its interim report for economic and social recovery. The Action Team was convened in mid-April as part of the Economic Mitigation and Recovery Task Force and charged by Governor Scott with identifying and replicating regional and community recovery initiatives and gaps in recovery efforts to ensure equitable distribution of resources, especially in rural areas and underserved populations. The report emphasizes six initial recommendations, many already underway and part of the State's first phases of economic mitigation proposals.
The report emphasizes six preliminary recommendations for recovery:
- Ending family homelessness
- Activate Local Foods to Feed Vermonters
- Support Childcare and Youth Programming
- Support Restart Vermont Small Business Loan and Grant Program
- Implement a Statewide Buy Local Challenge
- Expand Broadband Internet and Mobile Telecommunications Infrastructure
Many of these preliminary recommendations are underway already and efforts are being made to grow and expand initiatives where possible. For example, a group of volunteers from the public and private sector are set to launch a restaurant pilot in Brattleboro modeled after the highly successful
ShiftMeals
program. Instead of FEMA MREs, restaurants will prepare nourishing meals each week for community members in need. If successful, the group will support expansion efforts across Vermont.
This report is the product of input from thousands of community leaders, state officials and individuals in every corner of Vermont. From the start, the Local Support and Community Action Team committed to learning from businesses, nonprofits, and community members making the process inclusive and open.
Next steps for the Action Team includes regional meetings to deepen understanding of varying needs across Vermont, support for downtowns and buy local efforts, workforce retention and recruitment to include an effort to encourage urban and suburban resettlement in Vermont and the establishment of metrics to begin to understand and measure recovery progress.
Governor Scott thanked the Action Team for its work and ongoing commitment to supporting local and statewide recovery efforts. "With this unprecedented public health crisis, which has caused tremendous economic harm as well, it's going to take all of us - at every level - rolling up our sleeves to help our communities recover. So, I greatly appreciate the quick, thorough work of this group to identify strategies to help us rebuild and position our communities to come out of the pandemic stronger than we were before," said Governor Phil Scott. "We will be looking closely at these recommendations and continue to partner with this task force, and the Legislature, to do all we can to help families, communities and businesses survive and thrive."
The full report can be found
here
. More information about the Economic Mitigation and Recovery Task Force can be found
here
.
The Local Support and Community Action Team
Action Team Lead: Paul Costello, Executive Director, Vermont Council on Rural Development
State Liaison: Josh Hanford, Commissioner, Department of Housing and Community Development
Oliver Olsen, Director, Workday, Londonderry
Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
Xusana Davis, Executive Director, Vermont Office of Racial Equity
Sarah Waring, Vice President, Vermont Community Foundation
Ed Vilandrie, Founder, Altman Vilandrie & Company, Co-Owner Kingdom Taproom, Peacham
Catherine Dimitruk, Executive Director, Northwest Vermont Regional Planning Commission
Nick Richardson, President, Vermont Land Trust
Lisa Sullivan, Owner, Bartleby's Bookstore, Wilmington
Dr. Jude Smith Rachele, CEO, Abundant Sun
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VLCT Updates to Open Meeting Law FAQ
The Vermont League of Cities and Towns cont
inues to update their information for municipal management during the COVID-19 state of emergency. The most recent update from last week addresses in person meetings:
If a public body absolutely must meet physically, it can do so while still holding the meeting as a remote only meeting under Act 92. In other words, the meeting would be noticed and otherwise run as a remote meeting from the public's perspective with the only difference being that the public body would physically gather. Note that those in physical attendance would still have to hear and be heard by all attendees. The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) still recommends meeting remotely as much as possible. If there must be a physical gathering, face coverings must be worn, so
cial distancing must be maintained, surfaces must be regularly sanitized, and all other VT Department of Health and CDC guidelines must be followed,
click here
for ACCD guidance.
Additionally, a last minute reminder. VLCT is holding an online webinar "
Open Meeting Law Compliance Amid COVID-19,"
June 3rd from 2-3 PM.
To register, click here.
The full VLCT FAQs on public me
etings can be found
here
.
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Governor Phil Scott has
signed an Executive Order
to form the Racial Equity Task Force as a component of a broader state effort to promote racial, ethnic and cultural equity, including in its response to COVID-19.
The Task Force will undertake three major projects including:
- Evaluating structures of support for racially diverse populations, including a focus on the racial disparities in health outcomes highlighted by COVID-19;
- Reviewing current state and federal law on hate speech and freedom of speech and considering changes to state law to clarify the path for prosecuting harassment, hate speech and other bias-motivated crimes; and
- Studying and presenting options to encourage Vermonters from diverse, marginalized or underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to run and serve in public office at all levels.
It will submit recommendations to the Governor on the first project by August 15 and preliminary recommendations on the second and third by December 15. The group will also provide guidance as needed by the Governor.
"This task force will contribute to advancing equity in Vermont, and yet it is only one piece of that effort," said Executive Director of Racial Equity Xusana Davis, who will chair the task force. "The group will shine further light on existing disparities, but it is up to individuals, institutions and local and state government to make it happen. This is such important work, and it is everyone's work."
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Stay Home, Stay Safe Q&A for Municipalities
Mondays, 2-3 PM
This
weekly Q&A webinar offers an opportunity for municipalities to ask questions and learn more about best practices, tools and resources to navigate these difficult times. Hosted by the VT League of Cities & Towns and the Agency of Commerce & Community Development.
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Vermont Economic Recovery Package
On May 20, Governor Scott outlined his proposal for a $400 million economic relief and recovery package using funds from the $1.25 billion Vermont received from the federal CARES Act. The proposal, which requires Legislative approval, would provide a wide variety of grants, loans and technical assistance to Vermont businesses, farmers, nonprofits and others. Read the full proposal here.
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2020 Municipal Planning Grants Announced
Do you have the information, tools and resources you need to make the place you call home better? Do you want to make your city or town more attractive, vibrant, and prosperous? Did you know that
Municipal Planning Grants have helped communities just like yours implement town plan recommendations and jump start initiatives to find wastewater solutions, update zoning regulations to increase local housing options, and develop strategic plans to diversify the local economy?
Towns may apply for up to $22,000 and joint applications from several municipalities (a consortium) may apply for up to $35,000. A wide range of municipal planning and implementation activities are eligible for funding.
Please review the Program Description for eligibility requirements.
Application Deadline: October 1, 2020 @ 6:00 p.m.
If you would like assistance preparing a grant application or advice about a project idea, please contact Emily Klofft at [email protected] or Greta Brunswick at [email protected]. Questions about the Municipal Planning Grants can also be directed to Jennifer Lavoie at [email protected]
v
or at 828-1948.
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Healthy Roots Collaborative Launches Online Farmer's Market & Other News
The Healthy Roots Collaborative has worked with the Northwest and Bay Farmers market to launch
healthyrootscollaborative.luluslocalfoods.com. This online purchasing platform provides customers with an easy way to pre-order from market vendors and pick up on market day. Markets were looking for a low cost way to allow market vendors to be in compliance with state guidance of operating a farmers' market during COVID-19 restrictions and the site was quickly launched to serve this need. Healthy Roots and the market partners see this as not just an answer for our current situation but an opportunity to capitalize on the growing trend of online food purchasing. Create and account and start shopping at our community farmer's markets!
Additionally, Healthy Roots has been responding to the increasing demand in charitable foods. Through the Gleaning program, Healthy Roots has been distributing 1,000 frozen, prepared meals a week as part of the Skinny Pancake's Shift Meal Program. The Vermont Foodbank called on Healthy Roots to support this distribution of meals across Franklin and Grand Isle County because of Healthy Roots has an established system that is well-positioned to respond to this effort. Meals are being stored at the Sheldon Food Shelf and distributed to nine charitable food organizations across the region. For more information about Healthy Roots programming contact Koi Boynton at NRPC
[email protected].
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Farmer to Family Food Box Program Distribution
The Vermont Foodbank, in partnership with the Abbey Group and the Vermont National Guard, is providing boxes
of chicken, produce, dairy products, and non-perishable food at distributions held throughout the state. Distributions are drive-through events at which you will be directed to pull up to a specific location and members of the Vermont National Guard will load food items into your vehicle. For a complete up-to-date list of distribution sites and times click here.
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Franklin-Grand Isle Resource Directory 2020
Want information about food, housing, childcare, recreation opportunities, financial help, or recovery? The Franklin-Grand Isle Resource Directory provides information on local resources for all these topics and more.
The Resource Directory is a project of the St. Albans Messenger.
To see the resource directory
click here.
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U.S. Decennial Census
Every ten years, the U.S. Constitution requires an enumeration of all perso
ns in the Un
ited States, commonly referred to as The Census. For the next ten years, the numbers produced in this effort will help determine how more than $675 billion will be distributed to states and localities annually through more than 65 federal programs. These programs include special education funding, school lunch programs, Meals on W
heels, fuel assistance, Medicare, housing rehabilitation, community economic development and revitalization block grants, early childhood education, cooperative extension offices, and more.
This year, people will have the option of responding online, on the telephone, or with a traditional, short-form written response. Look for your invitation to respond in the mail or at your door. It is critical that everyone participate and that all household members be included. Make sure that your community counts!
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Franklin County Stormwater Illustrative Guides
Franklin County Stormwater, the region's stormwater education and outreach collaborative, is moving forward with a series of illustrative quick guides to assist homeowners in evaluating their property for existing stormwater pathways and stormwater issue areas, as well as to educate about environmentally friendly solutions that can protect water quality and prevent property erosion. The homeowner guides will be available on the new Franklin County Stormwater website in August.
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