Vital Communities Inc

General program: our general program work ensures that all aspects of our program cycle are maximized to meet the biggest challenges facing our region. This includes all of the work that happens before a project is funded: building relationships through participation in formal and informal networks across the region, deep listening and actively seeking out voices of those who may not already be represented, challenging our assumptions to better understand issues facing our communities, and co-creating solutions with partners. It also includes collaboration among staff working on different projects to identify synergies and share best practices. And finally, it entails post-project assessment to determine whether the project can be spun off to another organization, scaled up, adapted and replicated, or simply ended.

Civic engagement and leadership: we support upper valley community members who want to understand our region and its emerging challenges so that they can be inclusive and effective leaders. Projects include managing our year-long training program, leadership upper valley, and its alumni network, as well as coordinating the upper valley equity exchange of nonprofits working on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Economy - we support upper valley communities in developing a resilient, self-reliant, and environmentally sustainable regional economy that serves all. Projects include hosting the local crowd upper valley, a community-based crowdfunding platform for local entrepreneurs, and supporting the local first business network with online listings and seasonal campaigns.

Transportation - we support upper valley communities' efforts to create a safe, reliable, and multimodal transportation system that is affordable, increases community resilience, and minimizes climate impact. Projects include convening the upper valley transportation management association, as well as the statewide, climate-focused vermont transportation efficiency network. We also piloted an e-bike subsidy project for low- and moderate-income residents, facilitated employer-based e-bike library or bikeshare programs, hosted the upper valley e-bike lending library, and promoted walk, bike, ride campaigns.

Fiscal sponsorships- financial activity of fiscally sponsored project, aggregated for financial statement purposes. Projects include:for 2024: wrlc - effective june 2022, white river land collaborative, llc (wrlc), a vermont limited liability company, was transferred to the organization. Wrlc is a farmer-led, community driven project that aims to provide young farmers affordable land and housing, offer other support to the region's farmers and economy, generate green power, and provide community space.

Workforce housing - we support upper valley planners, developers, employers, municipal leaders, property owners, and community groups so that they can work together to create more places to live. Projects include hosting public housing breakfasts and roundtables that address housing solutions and promote action plans, organizing a multi-sector housing advisory committee, counting new homes annually in the upper valley and using the report to inform solutions, facilitating the upper valley housing fund, a $10 million project of the corporate council, and engaging upper valley communities to examine and reform zoning and land use regulations.

Communications - with a commitment to equity for all, we promote the vision of a thriving and interconnected region. Projects include promoting vc programs through newsletters, our website, and social media; managing 35 public email community discussion lists for community-focused news and exchanges; and collaborating with area chambers on upper valley adventure trails' thematic tour itineraries.

Energy - we support upper valley communities to realize the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050. Projects include engaging in grassroots efforts to equitably alleviate the energy burden for mobile home residents, and assisting ~40 town energy committees with surveys, showcases, and roundtables.