Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies

SeVEDS

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SEVEDS Board Meeting Minutes

 September 15, 2016, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, BDCC

Attendees: Bob Steves, Adam Grinold, Patrick Moreland, Avery Schwenk, Konstantin von Krusenstiern, Bill Colvin, Susan McMahon , Meg Streeter, Laura Sibilia , Ann Aandreosatos , Sunni Laporati, Stephen Dotson, Drew Richards, Kristin Mehalick and Mary Ann Kristiansen.

The Usual Business

  • Welcome and Gathering – Bob Stevens
    • Introduction to Mary Anne and a background on Hannah Grimes Center
  • Approve Minutes
    • Motion: Drew Richards
    • Second: Patrick Moreland
    • Approved by all

 

Substantive Discussions

  • RCDI – Adam Grinold
  • 2016 CEDS Project Submission Process – Adam Grinold and Kristin Mehalick
    • Kristin Mehalick reviewed the CEDS online process for submitting and updating project. This a new submission process this year and the scoring criteria has been specifically aligned with the questions asked of each project submission.
  • Ecovation Hub Video Presentation – Kristin Mehalick
  • Re-Organization of Executive Committee – Bob Stevens
    • Need someone to serve as Secretary to the board
    • Kristin to follow up and board members to bring names to her
  • Vote on Potential SeVEDS Board Members
    • Bethaney LaCalir, Chief of Staff at World Learning/SIT & Josh Druke, WW Building Supply
      • Motion: Meg Streeter
      • Second: Drew Richards
      • Approved by all
    • SeVEDS Leadership Award Nomination for BDCC Annual Meeting – Kristin Mehalick
      • Motion: Avery Schwenk
      • Second: Konstantin von Krusenstiern
      • Approved by all

 Follow-up on SeVEDS Sustainable Funding Work Group Meeting – Adam Grinold

    • Drew and Bill provided an overview of the sustainable funding group meeting
    • “Mission Members” for SeVEDS
    • Can we ask businesses that we work directly with for funding?
    • The basic premises is, if workforce is a problem and if people stand by it, they can help us meet those challenges
    • BCIC has a fundraising model where they ask businesses for support and funding
    • Which is the right organization to go through? BDCC and/or SeVEDS
    • People we are advocating for are the business that are in the area and should be participating towards SeVEDS in a variety of ways. Feedback loop that we are missing out on by not having these conversations with businesses
    • Let’s test the theory with having Laura going out and testing the mission support model. If successful, going to BDCC board for their investment support in personal
    • Are we selling the programs, the mission or a variety of programs? What is the program we offer the businesses?
    • Board member thoughts on this:
      • Time to begin the fundraising
      • Need to lump BDCC and SeVEDS together to paint a broad picture
      • Where does the money go?
        • The money would be used as overhead to tie these things together
        • They would fall under the unrestricted funds
      • The need is for SeVEDS – planning an implantation of the regional strategy as opposed to BDCC
      • Most of the genesis comes from the SeVEDS strategic plans
      • The money would be flexible funding
      • Nee to sell the fruits of both efforts and we are seeking general funds for seed funding
      • We’ve been successful for raising public funds and can make this successful with private funds
      • Short term goal of $20,000
      • At this point can we get the test fundraising going?
      • Essential that we get support from the private sector
      • There has been occasion with individual organizations and in that process when a project is being developed, there can be some sort of support
      • Ecovation Hub is also looking for sustainable funding – the cluster reaching out to foundations first and then maybe more strategically planning for the Ecovation Hub and SEVEDS funding
      • BDCC membership is where we may start with already engaged businesses
      • It would be important to get participation on some level first with some reasonable timeline commitment. Then broaden that base. Right now we need participation and flip the public/private upside down and it should be supported by the private sector. GSP is an exact example of this.
      • Approaching recipients who have received CEDS awards for funding
      • Great series of conversation and Laura would be an ideal person to work on those
      • Developing a strategy and cultivating them now – it may be two or three years before you ask them. SeVEDS may be in position to do that now.
      • We’ve talked about the need to develop sustainable funding in the private sector but have not had the resources to do so. The thought behind this is to test the model and then get funding for a fundraising position who will create the strategic plan.
      • Laura will be doing somewhat of a feasibility study
      • Just remember we are already doing a lot of cultivation and get more focused and work that list

 

  • SeVEDS 2017 – 2018 Town Funding Requests– Kristin Mehalick & Adam Grinold
    • SeVEDS Board reviewed the town funding amount requests that will soon be sent to towns in the Windham region.
    • Last year we raised $76,492 in municipal support
    • Need to get broader participation and a need to develop a strategy
    • Need for cultivating a network for Town Meeting
  • Nuclear Event on October 14th featuring lessons learned
    • BDCC along with Windham Regional Commission, Southwest Region Planning Commission and Franklin Regional Council of Governments partnered to write a lessons learned on the closure of VY. This was part of the scope of work outlines in the EDA grant. The event will be taking place on Friday, October 14th beginning at 2:00 pm at the Brooks House.

 

Other Business / Announcements

  • Next SeVEDS Board Meeting, Thursday, September 15th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at BDCC
  • BDCC Semi-Annual Meeting, Thursday, October 27th from 4:00 – 6:00 pm, Location TBD
  • Attended Selectboard Meetings:
    • Dover on June 21st
    • Putney on July 27th
    • Londonderry on August 15th
    • Wilmington on August 17th
    • Thursday, August 25th at 5:30 pm Town of Marlboro
  • Upcoming Selectboard Visits:
    • Monday, September 19th at 6:30 pm Town of Vernon
    • Tuesday, September 20th at 6:30 pm Town of Rockingham
    • Tuesday, September 20th at 6:15 pm T

 

 

CEDS and FY ‘16 Board Priority Area Updates

  • General CEDS
    • CEDS Objective 1: Act Regionally
      • CEDS: New Projects/Project Updates – Open for submission beginning of

September

 

  • 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.facebook.com/INSTIG8
    • Idea Jam – Bellows Falls, 9/29
    • Idea Jam – Londonderry, 10/13
    • Idea Jam – Wilmington/Dover
    • Startup Weekend
    • Hack-a-thon focused on GEIH
    • Quickbooks Workshop
    • Leadership for entrepreneurs workshops
    • Mentorship opportunities
    • Financing for Entrepreneurs
    • Resurrection of the Business Plan Competition

 

  • CEDS Objective 3: Improve wage parity with the surrounding labor shed
    • Board 2016 Priority: Green Building, Healthcare, Tech Driven Precision Manufacturing
      • Green Economy Innovation Hub (GEIH)
        • Action Team meetings are taking place over the next several months to develop business opportunity plans
        • Stratton Magazine Article on GEIH and is set to be published in the fall issue
        • BDCC/SeVEDS Featured in September issue of Monadnock Business Journal magazine – GEIH will be featured
        • Renaming efforts currently underway
        • Milestone 3 Event: October 18th from 3:30 – 6:00 pm
      • 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

Board 2016 Priority: Workforce Development and Internship Program

    • Internship Program
      • Recently hired Devin Green for Internship Coordinator
      • Submitted FY2017 Internship Grant 9/2
      • Two Interns  in the process
  • Fast Tracks to Success
    • Confirmed schedule for Twin Valley through December
    • Awaiting responses from other teachers
  • BDCC Roundtable
    • Technology Roundtable planned: September 22nd
  • Diverse Workforce Development & Recruitment Efforts
    • BDCC/SeVEDS is partnering with The Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity
  • Other
    • Application for $20,000 to Vermont Community Foundation was submitted 7/1

to support Windham Region Workforce Center of Excellence

  • CEDS Objective 5: Retain and attract younger talent through engagement linkages, lifestyle amenities, and meaningful career opportunities
    • Developing Membership & Engagement Survey for 2017
    • Recruitment of new Steering Committee Members
    • Upcoming Young Professional Events
  • Wine & Soup Stroll- Wilmington, Sept. 16th
  • Green Drinks with SOVTYP’s- Sept. 29th

 

 

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