Planning Efforts
| REAP Benefits
Members:
The Northeast Kingdom Enterprise Collaborative was formed in 1996 to find ways
to collaborate on economic development and community development issues in Orleans,
Essex and Caledonia Counties of Vermont, an area known as the Northeast Kingdom.
Members include regional development organizations, educators, social service
and employment agencies, local government officials, business people, nonprofit
organizations, health care providers and conservation organizations.
Mission Statement:
The Northeast Kingdom Enterprise Collaborative is committed to the economic
and social well being of the Northeast Kingdom and the highest possible quality
of life for its people and communities.
Financial Support:
Support for the Collaborative has been provided by the Snelling Center for Government
through grants from the Ford Foundation and subsequently the United States Department
of Agriculture--Rural Development. The Snelling Center gratefully acknowledges
the assistance of United States Senator Patrick Leahy's office in securing funding
from the USDA.
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| Financial Support | Planning Efforts
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The Collaborative's Planning Efforts:
1) Vision: The Collaborative hosted a region wide visioning conference in March
of 1999 to enable residents to articulate what economic and community development
in the Northeast Kingdom should be like twenty years from now. (See the Visioning
Report - requires the Adobe
Acrobat Reader.)
2) REAP Strategic Plan. In November of 1999, United States Senator Patrick
Leahy's office identified an opportunity within USDA--Rural Development to have
the Northeast Kingdom apply for Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) designation.
REAP designation requires creation of a comprehensive, long term economic and
community development plan. In return, designated REAP areas receive special
access to Rural Development and other federal funding opportunities. At a meeting
in December, 1999, the Northeast Kingdom Enterprise Collaborative decided to
pursue REAP designation. To do so, the Collaborative committed to developing
a comprehensive, long term economic and community development plan, to be submitted
to Rural Development by May 15, 2000. To guide the plan, Task Force committees
were formed to look at Economic Development, Education, Healthcare, Housing,
Transportation, Recreation, Parks and Conservation, Community Leadership, and
Arts and Culture.
3) Public input. To adequately obtain public input on the plan, three public
forums were held the last week of March, 2000.
Newport. Vermont State Office Building. Monday, March 27. 7-9 PM
Lyndonville. Burke Mt. Room, Lyndon State College. Wednesday, March
29. 7-9PM.
Island Pond. Brighton Elementary School. Thursday. March 30. 7-9 PM
Additionally, Northeast Kingdom Community Action, working with Lyndon State
College, mailed a comprehensive survey to 750 low income residents in the Northeast
Kingdom to ascertain their views on the region's economic and community development
needs. A focus forum for senior citizens was held at the Lyndonville meal site
on April 12.
On November 9, 2000, Senator Patrick Leahy informed the Collaborative that
its REAP designation has been approved.
Top | Members | Mission
| Financial Support | Planning Efforts
| REAP Benefits
Benefits of the REAP Plan:
REAP designation gives the Northeast Kingdom special access to USDA Rural Development
programs for Business and Industry Loan Guarantees; Business Intermediary Loan
Funds; Rural Business Enterprise Grants; Grants, Loans, and Loan Guarantees
for Community Facilities; Rural Waste Water Treatment Grants and Loans; Rural
Rental Housing Loans, and Rural Housing Rehabilitation. REAP designation also
gives special preference for federal Enterprise Community and Empowerment Zone
programs.
The REAP planning process also marks the first time all three counties of the
Northeast Kingdom are talking together specifically about economic development.
The plan will be comprehensive, integrated and holistic in scope. The members
of the Collaborative believe that the goal of enhancing our communities is reachable.
When these groups share ideas and focus on common goals, their synergy helps
maximize all their resources. The Enterprise Collaborative is also conducting
extensive outreach to municipalities, businesses and our low income populations.
It is important to note the REAP plan is being developed by people who live
and work in the Northeast Kingdom. We best know our unique challenges and the
unique assets we have to meet those challenges. The plan will build our capacity
to work together and jointly commit our resources to make good things happen.
The plan will also help maintain the parts of our culture and environment that
we care so much about.
Top | Members | Mission
| Financial Support | Planning Efforts
| REAP Benefits
