Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies

SeVEDS

Posted on by Posted in Minutes

SEVEDS Board Meeting Agenda

January 19, 2017, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, BDCC

 

Attendees: Adam Grinold, Bob Stevens, Patrick Moreland, Meg Streeter, Bill Colvin, Kristin Mehalick, Laura Sibilia, RT Brown, Konstantin von Krusenstiern, Martin, Candace Pearson, Josh Druke, Mary Ann Kristiansen, Avery Schwenk, Stephen Doston and Susan McMahon.

 

Welcome & Gathering – Bob Stevens

 

Action Items

  • Review and Approve 2016 CEDS Project List – Kristin Mehalick
    • February Press Event – TBD
    • Motion: Meg Streeter
    • Second: Konstantin von Krusenstiern
  • Review and Approve December 15, 2016 Board Meeting Minutes
    • Motion: Patrick Moreland
    • Second: Avery Schwenk
  • Review and Approve Peter Yost’s Formal Resignation
    • Motion: Patrick Moreland
    • Second: Meg Streeter

 

Updates

  • Staff Changes – Adam Grinold
    • Adam informed the board Kristin Mehalick will be transitioning to the Internship Coordinator position and Laura Sibilia will be taking on the responsibilities of SeVEDS. There will be a transition period while Laura is in the legislature. BDCC has also been able to bring on Jen Stromsten three days a week to develop a SeVEDS Sustainability model which focuses on the “mission supporters”. This idea for SeVEDS long term funding was developed at the June 2016 SeVEDS Board retreat.
  • 2017 -2018 SeVEDS Municipal Funding Requests – Kristin Mehalick
    • Kristin Mehalick informed the board the staff successfully petitioned in the towns of Westminster, Vernon, Newfane, Guilford and Marlboro. The SeVEDS funding request for 2017-2018 will be listed as an article in these towns. Rockingham and Dover include the request in their budget. Brattleboro has listed the SeVEDS funding request as a separate article at 2 dollars per person. The Town of Wilmington has confirmed the SeVEDS funding request for 2017-2018, which is from the town’s option tax fund.
  • EDA Update
    • Ecovation Hub – Laura Sibilia
      • Laura Sibilia provided the board with an update on the Ecovation Hub and a review of the successes coming from the project
      • Expanded partnership opportunities for businesses via networking & research conducted (Brattleboro Savings and Loan, Green River, BuildingGreen, Retreat Farm, Ironwood, S.I.T.)
      • Structure developed gives this region credible voice in statewide conversations on sustainability and climate change economy efforts
      • The significance of the ECOFire and Knowledge Consortium opportunities raise our profile for successfully implementing CEDs projects and utilizing federal funds.
      • Opportunity for our educational institutions to offer specific national market programming and training events by connecting with the knowledge consortium
      • Structure developed gives this region credible voice in statewide conversations on sustainability and climate change economy efforts
      • The significance of the ECOFire and Knowledge Consortium opportunities continue to raise our profile for successfully implementing CEDs projects and utilizing federal funds.
      • CDFI with national market development. New financial institution in the region with upwards of 70 professional positions.
      • International Training Center for
      • Resilient community planning, design, research and innovation
      • Domestic and international governments dealing with and planning for Climate Change impacts
      • Innovation in building science
    • Efforts Resulting from the Accelerator Feasibility Study – RT Brown
      • RT Brown provided the board with update on Instg8
      • Feasibility study has highlighted the need for types of programs being run through WCEDP
      • Particularly the need for “ignitors/idea generation activities”
      • INSTIG8 (emerging firm development programming) building regional interest & confidence supporting start-ups
      • An existing entrepreneurial network, previously not well connected, identified and is making connections (seeds)
      • More tools known and available for entrepreneurs and start-ups
      • 2017 INSTIG8 Calendar – over 75 events
      • Initial planning & definition of Rural Entrepreneur Innovation Network (REIN)
      • Able to leverage WCEDP personnel funding to extend and integrate both programs

 

Substantive Discussions

  • Look Ahead to 2017 – Adam Grinold and Laura Sibilia
    • Development of a fundraising program – “mission supporters”
    • Beginning to look into reapplying for the Windham County CEDS and the potential to coordinate with Bennington on doing a joint CEDS
    • What projects do we participate with our neighbors, New Hampshire and Massachusetts
    • Different organizations take leads and sometimes we do things alone
    • Need to build a culture around a reginal team – need for cross pollination
    • What are other projects we should be working together on?
    • The accelerator feasibility study suggested that we need to act more regionally as Cheshire, Windham and Franklin County – act as a tri-state region and still build off the individual brands but the whole tri-state region can work together
    • Use artists to create neighborhoods across the Tri-State region that we become known for across the country – what it means to be from Keene or Brattleboro
    • SeVEDS has the ability to have these thoughtful and strategic conversations

 

Other Business / Announcements

  • Next SeVEDS Board Meeting, February 16th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at BDCC
  • Upcoming YP Events:
    • Saturday, March 4th, Young Professionals Gala

CEDS and FY ‘17 Board Priority Area Updates

  • General CEDS
    • Municipal Funding for FY 2017 – 2018
      • Towns we will be petitioning to be included on the warning: Brattleboro Westminster, Vernon, Marlboro, Newfane and Guildford
      • All petitions due to town offices on January 19, 2017 at 5:00 pm
    • CEDS Objective 1: Act Regionally
      • CEDS: New Projects/Project Updates – October 28th – December 16tth – Project

Review/Ranking period open

  • CEDS Press Event – February TBD
  • 31 Project Updates Submitted, 15 new projects submitted, Total: 46

 

  • CEDS Objective 2: Create an entrepreneurial environment and culture to enhance existing business and grow new business.
  • INSTIG8 activities for this fall range from networking events to a hack-a-thon, all of which help to support and cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.www.facebook.com/INSTIG8

 

  • CEDS Objective 3: Improve wage parity with the surrounding labor shed
  • Milestone 4 Event: Wednesday, November 30th at SIT/World Learning from 4:00 – 6:30 pm. Celebration of the work done over the last year and what’s to come now the cluster analysis is completed.
    • 30 projects/potential business opportunities coming out of the cluster analysis. Including: LEAN Retrofit, Resilience Advisory Tool, Rich Earth, Cross Laminated Timbers (CLT), Knowledge Center, Ed and Training Consortium, Green Gap, Green Bridge, and Eco FIRE.
    • Reference Materials: Action Team Meeting Notes: FIRE, Products & Services, and Knowledge Center
    • Reference Material: GB Cluster Analysis

 

 

  • CEDS Objective 4: Increase the size and quality of the workforce
  • Fast Tracks
    • Most recently, Twin Valley students went to The Hermitage Club, and BUHS students went to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and The Cotton Mill Complex
  • Cluster Roundtable Initiative
    • The BDCC was recently awarded $7,500 from the Vermont Department of Labor to continue this program through 2017
    • The next Roundtable meeting will be scheduled and announced in the coming weeks
  • Targeted Expertise Recruitment Taskforce
    • Meetings with NC continue as scheduled; we are currently in the process of learning more about their recruitment needs and current recruitment infrastructure
    • Video with Mondo Mediaworks is being developed
    • ‘Concierge’ services for new hires/potential applicants will be offered by So.VT Young Pro’s, including area tours, housing searches, and employment services for trailing spouses
  • Internship Program:
    • Investing in FY17 collateral, including physical and digital marketing.
    • 8 BMH Medical Assistant program (facilitated by BDCC) graduates successfully completed internships
    • 3 other students were placed in the last quarter

 

 

  • CEDS Objective 5: Retain and attract younger talent through engagement linkages, lifestyle amenities, and meaningful career opportunities
  • YP’s
    • Gala is set for March 4th
      • The Brattleboro Musuem and Arts Center has agreed to host and sponsor the event this year
      • Sponsorship solicitation will begin early next week
      • Music (Cadillac Envy) and Food (Hardy-Foard catering) has tentatively been reserved
    • January 12th is a Community Fundraising night at Fireworks in Brattleboro, and proceeds will go to SeVEDS-PLEASE ATTEND IF POSSIBLE
    • January 14th is Grafton After Hours, with skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, and snowbike riding at Grafton Ponds
    • February events will be Inclusivity and Equity speaker series at SIT
    • Membership Management platform and website redesign is planned to be rolled out at the Gala. The membership management platform will be used to collect more informative data about the young professionals that attend events, access BDCC/SeVEDS Services, and that might be interested in volunteering or donating to SeVEDS programs. The web page will be built off of the newly designed BDCC/SeVEDS Website.
    • We are developing a YP-oriented event/reception for the So.VT Economy Summit in May

 

   Send article as PDF