Economic development plan unveiled

WILMINGTON- The public is invited to a presentation of southern Vermont’s five-year economic plan on Monday, January 7.
This federally recognized Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy project is completed and the next step is to receive public comment. The 2019 plan created by Windham and Bennington county stakeholders is a long-term strategy to grow the Southern Vermont Economy Zone – a region facing significant economic challenges recognized by the Vermont Legislature in 2015. The 2019 Southern Vermont Zone CEDS will replace the 2014 Windham Region CEDS.
The 2018 Southern Vermont Economy Summit at Mount Snow in May served as a kick off for the overall project. Following this event a series of 15 public input sessions throughout Bennington and Windham counties took in information on assets, challenges, and projects needed, and a series of focus group discussions took place with stakeholders in sectors identified as having significant challenges or opportunities.
Join  in on January 7 at 4 pm in the meeting room at the Wilmington Town Offices. Planners will be reporting on what they have heard, what the data is, and what five-year goals the SeVEDS and Bennington Regional Economic Development Committee have recommended economic and community development strategies be crafted for. Regional projects to be included in the CEDS will be solicited beginning January 9. All presentations and previous input sessions can be seen at www.sovermontsummit.com. Comments can be submitted to lsibilia@bratleborodevelopment.com with the subject line “CEDS Public Comment.”