TO: Brattleboro, Rockingham, Wilmington, Newfane, Dover, Marlboro and Vernon Selectboards

TO: Brattleboro, Rockingham, Wilmington, Newfane, Dover, Marlboro and Vernon Selectboards

FROM: Laura Sibilia, Economic Development Project Director for BDCC on behalf of Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) or 257-7731 ext. 217

SUBJECT: SeVEDS FY 13 support requests also net Brattleboro challenge grant success

DATE: July 11, 2013

In May of last year the Brattleboro Selectboard heard from SeVEDS regarding their upcoming work and request for funding to support work in FY 13, and in particular workforce development efforts.

The Brattleboro selectman agreed to contribute $50,000 from Brattleboro’s CDBG program funds to support SeVEDS if SeVEDS could raise a matching $50,000 from other municipalities in the Windham Region. Because the Brattleboro board saw the urgency in the actions SeVEDS was undertaking, they agreed to fund $25,000 in advance of us raising the matching $50,000 from other Windham region municipalities.

SeVEDS made a support request to every municipality in the Windham Region, as well as requesting an opportunity to come and answer questions about SeVEDS work. Most towns do not have CDBG program funds like Brattleboro, and so had to either include support in their regular municipal budget or as a separate item at town meeting. The amount we requested was $3 per person based on population reported in 2010 census.

We have raised just under 56K in municipal funds from the following towns: Rockingham, Wilmington, Vernon, Newfane, Dover, and Marlboro. The Brattleboro funding challenge has been met. Rockingham and Wilmington, like Brattleboro, both made SeVEDS support contributions in FY 13 via either CDBG program income or economic development funds that existed in their budget. And then both towns appropriated support in FY 14 via Town Meeting vote along with Vernon, Dover, Marlboro, and Newfane.

SeVEDS board and staff members were invited to attend meetings with selectboards in thirteen towns:Rockingham, Putney, Vernon, Guilford, Wilmington, Dummerston, Londonderry, Newfane, Whitingham, Dover, Marlboro, Jamaica and Halifax. This was a tremendous experience for us, and a great opportunity for towns to learn more about the regional economic development efforts. By and large we found enthusiasm and support in almost every town we went to – our single stumbling block was the petitioning process required to get on some Town Meeting warnings.

Due to FY 13 funding from Brattleboro, Rockingham and Wilmington, we were able to hire a full time Workforce Development Coordinator for the Windham Region, Pat Moulton Powden. Pat will replace Jeff Lewis as Executive Director at BDCC upon his retirement at the end of this year. SeVEDS will rehire for the Workforce Development Coordinator position at that time, with the funding voted at Town Meetings. SeVEDS has been working throughout the region with ViTAL Economy, consultants hired to create a federally recognized Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Progress on this process can be monitored at The CEDS is due to be presented at a public meeting the evening of Thursday October 24th at a location TBA.

Projects that are needed to grow the regional economy are an important part of the final CEDS document and were discussed at the June regional CEDS meetings held in Bellows Falls, Wilmington, Londonderry and Brattleboro. The presentations from those regional meetings are available at . Your town is encouraged to consider submitting municipal projects that are related to economic growth in your town. The deadline for this year’s submissions is August 9th, and submissions will be accepted annually for consideration. The submission process is relatively simple and I am available to answer any questions or review projects. Attached to this memo are documents relating to submitting CEDS projects and the SeVEDS FY 13 municipal support spreadsheet.

Request for Projects
Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS)

CEDS Project Solicitation
June 2013

1. Project Overview: Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) is seeking project proposals for inclusion in the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), as required by the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA). Information on the required component of a CEDS can be found

1. Proposal Contents: The proposal must identify the applicant and include a detailed description of the project; establish that the applicant has the authority, capacity and the wherewithal to successfully implement the project; establish the likely outcome of the project and establish how that outcome is consistent with the goals and strategies of SeVEDS. For a complete description of submission requirements, go to

1. Applicants: Any private or public entity or consortium of entities can submit a project for consideration. Applications will only be accepted from the entity(s) directly implementing the project.

1. Proposal Instructions: Proposals are due no later than August 9 at 5:00 pm. Proposalsmust be received at: SeVEDS, 76 Cotton Mill Hill,Brattleboro, VT05301. A minimum of (5) paper and one (1) digital copy are to be submitted.

1. Contact Information: All inquiries, questions and clarifications must be directed to Laura Sibilia at 802-257-7731 or .

1. SeVEDS Regional Economic Development Goals & Strategies: Visit review a list of regional economic development goals and strategies.

Town / Pop / FY 14 requested support / Requested to present selectmen / Invited to present to Selectman / Petition needed / Added to Town Meeting Warning
Rockingham / 5282 / $15,000.00 / x / x / x / $15,000.00
Putney / 2702 / $8,106.00 / x / x / x
Vernon / 2206 / $6,600.00 / x / x / x / $6,600.00
Guilford / 2121 / $6,300.00 / x / x / x
Wilmington / 1876 / $5,628.00 / x / x / x / $5,628.00
Dummerston / 1864 / $5,592.00 / x / x
Londonderry / 1769 / $5,300.00 / x / x / x
Newfane / 1726 / $5,178.00 / x / x / x / $5,178.00
Whitingham / 1357 / $4,071.00 / x / x / x
Dover / 1124 / $3,372.00 / x / x / x / $3,372.00
Marlboro / 1078 / $3,234.00 / x / x / x / x / $3,234.00
Jamaica / 1035 / $3,000.00 / x / x / x
Halifax / 728 / $2,184.00 / x / x / x
$39,012.00
plus FY 13 contributions 15K from Rockingham &2K from Wilmington / $17,000.00
Brattleboro 50K challenge met / Total / $56,012.00
Westminster / 3178 / x
Townshend / 1232 / x
Wardsboro / 900 / x
Winhall / 769 / x
Readsboro / 763 / x
Grafton / 679 / x
Weston / 566 / x
Brookline / 530 / x
Athens / 442 / x
Windham / 419 / x
Stratton / 216 / x
Searsburg / 109 / x
Somerset / 3 / x

CEDS Projects

The role of projects in a CEDS

What is a CEDS?

CEDS are designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy. The CEDS should analyze the regional economy and serve as a guide for establishing regional goals and objectives, developing and implementing a regional plan of action, and identifying investment priorities and funding sources. In addition, many federal and state granting programs are looking to a regional CEDS when making funding decisions.

What role do projects play in the CEDS?

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 and the projected numbers of jobs created. The CEDS will also contain 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.

What is the value to my project being included in the Windham Region CEDS?

The CEDS is a regional plan for growth of the economy created using a regional public approach. It is helpful for the rest of the region as well as potential new businesses to understand what we as a region are trying to accomplish. Inclusion of your project in the CEDS indicates it is aligned with regional goals for growth. Identification of your project as a vital project indicates the project is of the highest priority and expected to have the greatest impacts on achieving the regional goals.

While inclusion of your project in no way guarantees funding of any sort, many federal agencies look more favorably upon projects which have the kind of broad support inclusion in a region CEDS indicates. EDA often requires a CEDS be in place for a region in order for a project grant application to be considered.

Will every project submitted be identified in the CEDS?

Yes, the EDA requires that all projects submitted should be acknowledged in the CEDS. Every project has some merit, and the CEDS will be home to a great diversity of potential public and private development initiatives. However, certain projects will be identified and selected as vital projects, and they will be prioritized into a short list of no more than ten. The purpose of this prioritized list is to publically acknowledge the top five to ten actions that will result in the most significant progress towards the region’s economic development goals.

How will vital projects be identified and prioritized?

The overarching purpose in identifying vital projects is to publically acknowledge the top five to ten actions our community can support that will make demonstrable progress towards our regional economic development goals. SeVEDS has an established set of measurable goals with objectives and a clear set of strategies. Projects consistent with these objectives and strategies and can demonstrate a compelling argument for their relationship to the goals will obviously garner a great deal of support.

A scoring chart has been developed by SeVEDS that that will be put to use by the project selection committee. Each proposal will be reviewed and assigned a series of points in an effort to aid the committee with the prioritization. The scoring document can be found linked at the top of the page “CEDS Project Review Sheet July12013″.

The project selection committee, is that all SeVEDS?

No, the project selection committee is asmall group of 5 individuals that represent the region and are firmly established in their field of expertise and were chosen by SeVEDS because they are seen as fair, impartial and practical. This committee consists of Sky Foulkes, OrlyMunzing, Jill Zachery, Peter Eden, Tommy Harmon

Examples of CEDS and types of projects

State of Alabama
Two Rivers Ottuquechee Vermont

Are you considering submitting a project for inclusion in the CEDS?

Who can submit projects for inclusion into the CEDS?

Any private or public entity or consortium of entities can submit a project for consideration.

When are projects proposals due?

Proposals are due no later than August 9 at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be received at: SeVEDS, 76 Cotton Mill Hill, Brattleboro, VT 05301. A minimum of (5) paper and one (1) digital copy are to be submitted.

Are there any required elements for a submission?

Simply put, projects submitted for inclusion into the CEDS will provide a compelling narrative. The CEDS project review committee will have one opportunity to review the submission, and so you will be responsible for explaining how your project is consistent with SeVEDS regional economic development objectives and strategies and why your project is this regions nest bet to make s significant improvement against the regional economic development goals.

It is understood that all projects are different and that not every element spelled out below will apply to every project. But at a minimum all projects should:

1. Identify the applicant
2. Provide a detailed description of the project.
The more specific the better. If certain key details are unknown at this time, try and identify when the information will be known. Is there a timetable for implementation? If so, how was that determined? This is your chance to tell the region, the purpose of your project, who will benefit, how they will benefit, and if possible, how that benefit be measured.

3. Establish that you have the authority to accomplish what you are proposing.
By having the authority, here we mean, is this legitimately your project? For example, if you are proposing a redevelopment or repurposing of an existing structure, it will be important to demonstrate that the property owner has given their support. If, for example, your project will require permits to proceed, do you have them in place? Is there a plan to obtain them? Is it reasonable to assume that the project is in fact permissible? The fewer loose ends you leave, the more your project will be considered viable.

4. Do you have the capacity to implement this project?
Have you implemented projects of similar size or scope in the past? If so, detailing your experience may go a long way towards establishing that you can accomplish your project goals. If specific technical talents are required, do you have those talents? Have you contracted for that service?However possible, document that you have what it takes to be successful.

5. Do you have the wherewithal to implement the project?
Simply put, do you have the resources necessary to implement the project? If not, what is your plan? If possible, provide detailed sources and use budget. Whenever possible, supply documentation of any committed funds.

6. What is the likely outcome of this project?
Why this project should be considered vital to the future of our regional economy. The ability to document new employment positions, especially those with wages above NNE average, would be make a really strong case.

7. Is the proposal consistent with SeVEDS established strategies? Does it satisfy an objective? How will this project help the Windham Region to meet its economic development goals?
Have a look at the work SeVEDS has done to establish a regional plan for our economic future. Describe how your project fits in with this effort.

If I have more questions, who can I call? All inquiries, questions and clarifications must be directed to Laura Sibilia at 802-257-7731 or