ISLAND POND, VT – November 10, 2026 – More than 230 people registered for the 2026 NEK Together Conference on November 4, bringing together Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom (NEK) for a day of connection, learning, and regional priority setting.
Hosted by the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative, the annual conference is the region’s premier convening dedicated to strengthening collaboration among municipalities, businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, state agencies, federal partners, Legislators, and NEK community members and leaders. With sessions taking place throughout downtown Island Pond, the day celebrated successes, shared ideas, and explored opportunities to build a stronger, more vibrant Northeast Kingdom.
The morning program opened with a welcome speech from Michael Strait, Brighton Town Manager. Strait shared that the Island Pond community embodies the NEK Together theme. He talked about how Island Pond initiatives have succeeded “because we did the work together. Businesses learned to build upon one another’s strengths and help offset one another’s weaknesses. We understood that if each of us tried to go it alone, we would fail. There is strength in coming together.”
The session also included an Essex County panel, moderated by Concord resident Cynthia Stuart of Stuart Consulting. The panel consisted of Essex County community members and leaders of Essex County projects representing each of the vital sectors that uplift the region: forestry, maple, healthcare and human services, broadband, transportation, and more. Abby Long, Executive Director of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative and organizer of the event said, “I don’t want the Kingdom to be defined by what it lacks, but rather celebrated for its strengths, assets, and potential.”
Participants also heard from Michael Moser, Research Operations Director at the UVM Center for Rural Studies and Coordinator of Vermont’s Census State Data Center, and Serena Buono of the Vermont Data Collaborative and UVM Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships. Their presentations explored the NEK's unique rural characteristics, including its geography, population, and income levels. Long shared, “It’s important that we ground ourselves in data. Data is a tool and should be used alongside stories of lived experiences. It gives us leverage when applying for grants and loans, making the case to donors, planning infrastructure, and coordinating regional investments. It helps us move beyond simply saying what we need to demonstrating why.”
The discussion also introduced the NEK Collaborative's upcoming NEK Vitality Project, a decision-support tool designed to help the region better understand how its priorities are interconnected. The project will help regional partners explore how different investments may shape the NEK's future and explore where resources could have the greatest impact.
Throughout the day, participants attended breakout sessions intentionally related to the region’s current priorities, including housing, healthcare, climate resilience, rural education, business innovation, working lands, and outdoor recreation.
A highlight of the gathering was a Thanksgiving lunch prepared by local chef Ali Vallieres and hosted by the Brighton American Legion. Bringing participants together around a shared meal reflected the spirit of the conference and the importance of creating space for connections.
NEK Regional Priorities Emerge from Consensus
At the heart of NEK Together is the opportunity for community members to determine the issues that deserve greater attention, communication, and coordinated action.
The Northeast Kingdom holds a unique federal designation as a Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zone, one of only five in the nation. Established by the federal government to support citizen-led rural revitalization, the designation recognizes the challenges facing rural communities while creating opportunities to help direct extra and priority funding toward locally identified needs.
The Northeast Kingdom Collaborative holds the region's REAP Zone agreement with USDA Rural Development and serves as the region's neutral convener, gathering input and communicating regional priorities to USDA and decision-makers at all levels.
Following lunch, conference participants took part in a consensus activity facilitated by Abby Long to identify the NEK's regional priorities for the coming year. Four priorities emerged from the discussion: Access to Healthcare, Housing, Education, and Workforce Development, with Climate Resilience suggested as a lens to view all work through.
Importantly, USDA Rural Development representatives, including Director Peter Silva, from the Vermont/ New Hampshire office joined the conference, providing an opportunity for direct conversation with regional stakeholders, hearing firsthand about the NEK's priorities. Silva spoke directly to the crowd, sharing the important role USDA programs play in supporting the region and announcing his office will be hiring more staff to do so.
The NEK Collaborative recognizes that not all were able to attend the conference, therefore invites all Northeast Kingdom community members who were unable to participate to share their input through a regional priority survey at www.nekcollaborative.org/nektogether. Community feedback will help ensure the priorities reflect a broad range of voices and experiences across the region.
“We then take those priorities, chosen by the Kingdom, and communicate to not only USDA, but all levels of decision makers.” Long said. “What are our needs? Where should funds and resources be directed? It is set up as a citizen led process because we are the ones who know our region best. That is Powerful!”
This input will shape the agenda for NEK Day at the Statehouse on January 28, 2027, when community members from across the Kingdom will come together in Montpelier to share regional priorities and engage directly with legislators and state decision-makers.
The success of NEK Together was made possible through the generosity of numerous supporters, partners, and volunteers. The NEK Collaborative extends its gratitude to the Brighton Selectboard, Roadcrew, Library, Firestation and community for welcoming the conference to Island Pond as well as the newly formed NEK Together Conference committee. Conference supporters included USDA Rural Development, Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA), Vermont Council on Rural Development, Passumpsic Bank, Community National Bank, Vermont Community Foundation, Northern Counties Healthcare, NEK Broadband, the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund, Northeast Vermont Prevention Consortium, Vermont Creative Network, Catamount Arts, Sunrise Manor, Three Branches Cafe, Jasper Hill Farm, and Cabot Creamery.
For more information about the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative, its regional priorities, and opportunities, visit www.nekcollaborative.org.
Watch the full opening session on Kingdom Access TV: https://katv.org/vod/other/2026/nektogether2026/
