On January 28, 2020, over 150 enthusiastic NEKers gathered at the statehouse to celebrate regional successes and discuss how Vermont legislature can better support the progress toward community vitality in the Northeast Kingdom.
Our region has made huge strides this year in marketing, community vibrancy, workforce development, broadband, and leadership. Our established and up-and-coming leaders continue their collaborative efforts to positively impact economic development in our communities.
In short: Our future is bright.
...we’re doing really good work to try to solve some of these challenges,” said the CEO of St. Johnsbury’s Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. “And we just need help.”
The annual event, now in its second year, was organized by the Collaborative to spotlight the projects, young and established, that are bringing a new economic vitality to the state's most rural region. Projects like broadband infrastructure, community hubs, leadership development initiatives, and outdoor rec trail expansion. The goal is to encourage legislation that will empower and funnel needed resources toward these projects.
In particular, we highlighted three main priorities for the Kingdom right now:
Northern Vermont University: It plays an essential role in training the next generation of NEK citizens and workers, and its joined campuses in Lyndon and Johnson are major employers. The state of Vermont has underfunded the Vermont State College System for decades, with state support ranking at or near the bottom of the 50 U.S. states. We strongly support the push to restore historic levels of public support.
Infrastructure: The region needs investment in the other kinds of infrastructure needed to support a thriving workforce, including affordable housing, high-speed internet access and public transportation.
Working Lands & Downtowns: Working lands are the essence of the NEK, driving the economy through agriculture, forestry and recreation. As the legislature considers reforms to Act 250, we support common-sense regulation that balances environmental protection and support for working lands and vibrant downtowns.
Twenty-five speakers testified before eight legislative committees throughout the day.
Jessie and Katie sedore, owners of new businesses Whetstone Wellness and the Craftsbury Farmhouse, spoke of the numerous roadblocks they faced caused by Act 250. They would like legislators to consider revising the regulations to better support local economic development. Other new business owners echoed the sisters' sentiment, calling for a more balanced approach to conservation.
Another hot topic: broadband internet. It's availability, or lack thereof, deters would-be residents of the region. It doesn't matter how charming and beautiful the region if people can't connect to the internet reliably. It's a necessity.
“If we don’t solve that high-speed internet problem,” said Shawn Tester, CEO of NVRH, “it’s like an anchor dragging us down.”
Recent legislation has carved a path to help rural regions build and maintain their own broadband infrastructure. The first step is forming a Communications Union District made up of towns who vote to become members.
The NEKC is a driving force for educating residents and encouraging them to vote YES for NEK Community Broadband, our region's proposed CUD, on town meeting day.
The event wrapped up with a pie social for networking and further discussion of the region's greatest successes and most pressing obstacles.
Ultimately, NEK Day was and will continue to be about coming together across sectors to work with legislators on solutions for current and prospective residents and businesses. This model we're developing for impacting change is adoptable in rural communities across the state, even nationwide. Katherine Sims, the Collaborative's director and organizer of NEK Day says it well:
We’re proud of our work. But we aren’t done yet. We know that we are all better off when everyone has a seat at the table and when everyone is pitching in to bring our vision to life."
katherine sims, director, northeast kingdom collaborative
