NEK Recovery Plan

The devastating effects of the COVID-19 crisis have illuminated the Northeast Kingdom’s most pressing issues. With increased community engagement and funding, we can seize this opportunity to manifest our shared vision for a vibrant, thriving Northeast Kingdom.

As the lead convener for our region, we at the NEK Collaborative have partnered with key thought leadership in the region to articulate this series of immediate strategies for community and economic recovery.

Through extensive expert interviews, we’ve outlined the most feasible and impactful action steps to accelerate the recovery of the Northeast Kingdom in five priority areas:

1. Broadband: Ensure affordable, high-speed internet for all NEK residents.

2. Housing: Meet all NEK residents’ housing needs.

3. Education: Reimagine a high-quality, sustainable birth to career educational system.

4. Business Support: Organize and promote structured business support for long-term recovery.

5. Cultural & Civic Infrastructure: Reinvigorate the cultural and civic infrastructure of the NEK.

The following steps are just the beginning. With our eye on long-term systemic change, we propose these short-term projects as a springboard for continued action.

Broadband

1. Install fixed wireless projects as short-term solutions to be completed in 2020. Partner: NEK Community Broadband CUD

2. Maintain subsidies for internet service & device purchase for low-income Vermonters. Partner: Vermont Rural Education Collaborative

3. Fully fund build-out of a regions-wide last mile high-speed broadband network through a combination of federal and state grants, loans, private investment and bonding. Partner: NEK Community Broadband CUD

Housing

1. Designate and/or build permanent, year-round supportive housing to address those struggling with chronic homelessness. Partner: RuralEdge

2. Expand integrated mental, physical health, and social supports that can stabilize families and prevent future homelessness. Partner: Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA)

3. Initiate time-limited rental/mortgage assistance program for households earning up to 80% of median income. Partner: RuralEdge

Education

1. Increase Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP) reimbursement rates for early childcare programs to reflect the increased cost of providing care during this time. Partner: Vermont legislature

2. Conduct a community child care needs assessment to identify new/emerging child care challenges and develop solutions. Partner: Building Bright Futures

3. Bring state appropriation for the Vermont State College system up to $30 Million to be in line with other New England states. Partner: Vermont legislature

Business Support

1. Provide direct financial assistance to small businesses for fixed cost expenses (rent, mortgage payments, utilities, inventory, and other essential operating expenses).
   Partner: Vermont legislature and Vermont Community Foundation

2. Assign NEK Recovery Guides who would provide technical assistance, business and financial planning, grant and loan writing support, and business support to help businesses successfully re-emerge from the crisis. Partner: NEK Small Business Technical Assistance Network

3. Fund shovel-ready municipal capital projects to restart jobs & construction. Partner: Individual municipal partners

Cultural & Civic Infrastructure

1. Provide bridge overhead funding for 12--18 months for arts and cultural institutions that are unable to reopen yet. Partner: Catamount Arts (NEK Zone Agent for VT Creative Network)

2. Develop best practices guide and coaching to help towns develop recovery plans. Partner: Northeast Kingdom Collaborative

3. Provide public funding to put artists and creative economy back to work. Partner: Catamount Arts (NEK Zone Agent for VT Creative Network)

These recommendations are interdependent and will have the greatest impact when implemented together.

We invite partners, legislators, funders and all community members to join us in this work, the results of which will be a healthier, happier region for everyone. We’re calling for a commitment to authentic partnership and efficient coordination to ensure these plans are noticed, funded and carried out. 

Through ongoing revision and reflection, this strategic action plan will serve as a model for affecting systemic change to solve our region’s most pressing obstacles. 

View Pull Plan →

NEK Collaborative Board of Directors

• Kathy Austin, President and CEO, Community National Bank

• Dr. Elaine Collins, President, Northern Vermont University

• Nick D'Agostino, Executive Director, Rural Community Transit

• Jon Freeman, President, Northern Community Investment Corp.

• Jody Fried, Executive Director, Catamount Arts

• Jeanne Gervais, President, Island Pond Chamber of Commerce

• Joe Kasprzak, Ast. Town Manager, Town of St. Johnsbury

• Jim Kisch, President and CEO, Passumpsic Bank

• Julie Laforce, Owner; Dir. of Organizational Dev., Built by Newport

• Abby Long, Executive Director, Kingdom Trails

• Tom Lovett, Headmaster, St. Johnsbury Academy

• Patrick Shattuck, CEO, RuralEdge

• David Snedeker, Executive Director, Northeastern Vermont Development Assoc.

• Shawn Tester, CEO, Northern Vermont Regional Hospital

• Steve Wright, President and General Manager, Jay Peak Resort

• NEK Collaborative Advisory Members

• Suzanne Legare Belcher, Field Service Director, VT Agency of Human Services

• Ben Doyle, Ast. State Director VT/NH, USDA Rural Development

• Tim Tierney, Director of Business Recruitment, VT Agency of Commerce

• Sarah Waring, Vice President for Grants and Community Investments, VT Community Foundation

The Northeast Kingdom Collaborative (NEKC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a vibrant, thriving Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. For more than 20 years, the NEKC has been working to improve the quality of life for all residents of the NEK through coordinated economic and community development. We do this by (1) building a common vision for the region through community convenings (2) supporting collaboration to achieve collective action on shared goals and (3) connecting people and projects to resources.

Thank you!

Thank you to the following industry experts who contributed their feedback and advice: 

• Suzanne Legare Blecher, Field Services Director, Vermont Agency of Human Services

• John Castle, Superintendent, North Country Supervisory Union

• Amanda Cochrane, Executive Directory, Umbrella

• Amy Cunningham, Deputy Director, Vermont Arts Council

• Catherine Cusack, Executive Director, Green Mountain Farm-to-School

• Xusana Davis, Executive Director of Racial Equity, State of Vermont

• Meg Burmeister, Executive Director, NEK Council on Aging

• Rob Fish, Rural Broadband Technical Assistance Specialist, Vermont Department of Public Service

• Leah Hollenberger, Development and External Relations Officer, Northern Vermont University

• Heidi Krantz, Small Business Advisor, VT Small Business Development Center

• Ann Lawless, HEAT Squad Northeast Kingdom Outreach Coordinator, Neighborworks of Western Vermont

• Chelsea Bardot Lewis, Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Vermont Community Foundation

• Margaret Maclean, Executive Director, Vermont Rural Education Collaborative

• Janet McLauglin, Chief Operating Officer, Let’s Grow Kids

• Linda Michniewicz, Caledonia, Essex and Orleans Area Regional Coordinator, Building Bright Futures

• Sha’an Mouliert, Racial Equity trainer

• NEK Community Broadband Communication Union District including Evan Carlson, Kristen Fountain, and Nicolas Anzalone

• Jenna O’Farrell, Executive Director, NEKCA

• Grace Oedel, Executive Director, NOFA-VT

• Monique Priestley, Space on Main

• Jon Ramsey, Executive Director, Center for an Agricultural Economy

• Brian Ricca, Superintendent, St. Johnsbury School District

• Rebecca Sanborn, Community Workshop

• Joe Short, Vice President, Northern Forest Center

• Vermont Council on Rural Development including Jenna Koloski, Jon Copans, & Nick Kramer