Author Archives: laurasibilia
July 2014 minutes
Southeastern Vermont economic development action plan accepted by US Economic Development Administration
For Immediate Release: July 29th, 2014
for more info contact Laura Sibilia, Director of Economic Development BDCC at lsibilia@brattleborodevelopment.com
Southeastern Vermont economic development action plan accepted by US Economic Development Administration
Meeting for CEDS project submitters and projects seeking VY funding August 14th
WINDHAM COUNTY, VT – On Friday July 25th, the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) was notified that the region’s 2014-2019 S.M.A.R.T. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy has been accepted by the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA).
BDCC, on behalf of its affiliate the Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) and the Windham Region CEDS committee, received a planning grant in 2012 to develop the first ever regionally focused 27 town economic development strategy. The region’s request to EDA to be allowed to develop the CEDS cited a twenty year economic decline, the immense economic wounds from flooding in 2011 and the impending (but at the time announced) closure of the Vermont Yankee power plant.
Working with CEDS consultants from ViTAL Economy, SeVEDS embarked on a yearlong public input and data driven research initiative, culminating in an action plan for supporting growth in the region’s economy and mitigating the impacts of the VY closure. The final assembly of the region plan included 52 projects from the public and private sector and regional non-profits which were submitted for inclusion in the CEDS. These projects were ranked according to likelihood to help achieve the region’s goals and strategies for growing the economy, by an independent panel of private sector, education and nonprofit CEOs. The project list is updated every year to reflect in progress, completed and new project.
One of the oft cited reasons by SeVEDS for undertaking CEDS development is that the regions projects are able to score higher on applications for federal funding due to the presence of the CEDS. In the letter informing the region of the CEDS acceptance, the EDA Philadelphia Region office highlighted that rationale.
“The priorities and focuses outlined within your CEDS document will help form the foundation of how EDA reviews applications for Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs from your region. We greatly appreciate the work of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation Board and CEDS Committee to develop this innovative, regionally-driven economic development strategy. EDA looks forward to continuing to work with you to help support the goals and priorities outlined in your recently submitted CEDS.”
SeVEDS has recently extended its contract with ViTAL Economy to develop implementation and funding schedules for the CEDS and has announced an open submissions period through September 30th for updating and submitting new projects for inclusion in the CEDS http://seveds.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CEDS-projects-announcement-20144.docx
A regional public discussion and question and answer session regarding the process of implementing a regional CEDS as well as development and funding of CEDS projects has been scheduled for Thursday August 14th from 6:30 – 8:00 pm at the River Garden in downtown Brattleboro.
BDCC and SeVEDS representatives as well as Frank Knott from Vital Economy will be facilitating the discussion. This will be an informative meeting for those entities who will be updating existing or submitting new CEDS projects as well as those considering applying for VY economic development funding which requires projects address one of the goals or objectives the region established for the CEDS. Please RSVP to ensure adequate space http://www.eventbrite.com/rss/user_list_events/45872168065
View the 2014 – 2019 Windham Region S.M.A.R.T. CEDS at http://seveds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/FINALCEDSReport.2013.pdf
More information on the CEDS project selection process can be found at http://seveds.com/ceds-projects/
June 2014 minutes
SeVEDS asks for representation in VY fund distribution process, begins 5 year implementation and finance planning for CEDS
For Immediate Release: June 20, 2014
More Information – Jenna Pugliese, SeVEDS Board Chair jpugliese@intrawest.com or Laura Sibilia, Director of Economic Development BDCC 1-802-257-7731 ext 217
SeVEDS asks for representation in VY fund distribution process, begins 5
year implementation and finance planning for CEDS
WINDHAM REGION – On Thursday, the Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies Board passed a resolution asking the State of Vermont to recognize the process created by the Windham County Regional CEDS document for implementation of Vermont Yankee Economic Development funds, and asking for representation in determining the use of these funds before a Notice of Funding Availability is released.
The SeVEDS board also authorized the next stage of implementing the regions S.M.A.R.T. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The board approved extending its contract with ViTAL Economy, Inc. to develop the integrated multi-year rollout and budget plan for the S.M.A.R.T. CEDS and the VY Recovery action plans described in the plan. Implementation strategies will be developed using
SeVEDS Chairwoman Jenna Pugliese said her board is eager to work with ViTAL Economy on this next step in the region’s economic recovery.
“The road ahead of us is long and the investment needed will be in the hundreds of millions, so we need to keep systematically moving forward on implementing this plan with our regional, state and federal partners. ViTAL Economy is the national leader in CEDS development and we are pleased to be working with them on this next phase.”
Regarding the request to participate in the determination of how VY funds are distributed, Pugliese said, “The board took this action on behalf of the hundreds of people in the region who have volunteered time, raised funds and solicited or provided input to carefully craft a regional plan that responds to the economic situation in the Windham Region; on behalf of the region’s businesses and education institutions that have been making plans based on those carefully developed strategies and on behalf of the regions municipalities and voters who have voted to support development and execution of this plan.
“Despite the good efforts of the state agencies to develop a plan to put these funds to best use, we are hearing confusion and concern from the region’s businesses, residents and towns,” explained Pugliese. “They are asking us, ‘Didn’t we already create the plan?’ There is a growing sense that the well-intended efforts of the agency are actually unintentionally undermining the region’s years of work to grow the regional economy and deal with the significant economic impacts of the VY shutdown.”
Pugliese acknowledged the work of the state to ensure a transparent process that included creative thoughts on how to best spend the limited resources, but says this short window duplication of a process already undergone in the region is not likely to be as comprehensive in community input.
“The community engagement process we used to develop the regional CEDS was so inclusive that the federal agency regulating development these types of plans is using it as a best practices model for community inclusion and engagement at the national level.”
The Windham Region CEDs can be found out at: www.SeVEDS.com
The board resolution can be found at: http://seveds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/resolution062014.pdf
May 2014 Minutes
Windham Region CEDS Project and Review Schedule
For more information contact: Laura Sibilia, Director of Economic Development BDCC, 257-7731 ext 217 or at lsibilia@brattleborodevelopment.com
For Immediate Release:
Windham Region CEDS Project and Review Schedule
Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) Windham Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) Committee have released an annual schedule for existing and new projects that wish to be ranked according to the SeVEDS goals and included in the Windham Regions 2015 S.M.A.R.T CEDS.
A CEDS is a federally recognized regional plan designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy. A CEDS must be the result of an ongoing economic development planning process, developed with broad-based and diverse public and private sector participation, and must include a section listing all suggested projects. A CEDS also contains a section identifying and prioritizing vital projects, programs and activities that address the region’s greatest needs or that will best enhance the region’s competitiveness. Progress on the goals and projects will be updated annually.
The Windham Region 2014 S.M.A.R.T CEDS was completed on December 6th and finalized for submission to EDA in March 2014. The CEDS metrics and projects will be updated annually, and the entire process will be repeated every 5 years.
The following is the annual schedule for updating 2014 CEDS projects, as well as for new project submissions for the 2015 S.M.A.R.T CEDS. All projects included in the 2014 S.M.A.R.T CEDS must provide an update to be included in the 2015 S.M.A.R.T CEDS
1st Quarter January-March
- Conduct an After Action Review with CEDS Project Committee
- Confirm Project Committee
- Publicize New Projects and Updates
2nd Quarter April – June
- Announce new projects schedule
3rd Quarter July – Sept
- Open for new project submissions July 1
- Last day for existing project updates or new project submissions September 30
4th Quarter Oct – Dec
- Project Committee meets to review and rank updated and new project submissions
- SeVEDS CEDS Committee adopts Project Committee recommendations by December 31
About SeVEDS – SeVEDS is a grassroots organization that formed in 2008 and exists to reverse the economic decline of the Windham Region. SeVEDS is affiliated with the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation. SeVEDS is a regional organization that has partnered with the 27 town Windham Region’s private sector, non-profits and public sector to complete the first ever S.M.A.R.T. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Southeastern Vermont in December of 2013. For more information on SeVEDS, visit www.seveds.com.
S.M.A.R.T. CEDS Copyright © 2014 ViTAL Economy, Inc. All Rights Reserved