Bennington County Regional Commission

04/07/2026

Love watching the weather? Want to share what you see?

US National Weather Service Albany NY is offering a Skywarn Spring Weather Spotter Training in Bennington on May 2nd.

Get trained in how to provide timely and accurate reports of impactful weather to NWS.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSeDWxDjdoSwjo.../viewform

04/01/2026

We are just over a month away from the 2026 VT Walk/Bike Summit on May 8th in downtown Bennington! Registration is now open at https://tinyurl.com/2026walkbikesummit. We also want to thank our generous sponsors, without which this event wouldn't be possible! See the complete list on the summit website.

Let's pedal and stroll through the 2026 Vermont Walk/Bike Summit together!

03/30/2026

Southern VT Municipal Leaders Network: Building Community Through (Better) Public Engagement

The Municipal Leaders Network is an ongoing series that is designed to set Southern Vermont’s town leaders up for success in supporting community and economic development in their towns. Topics are based on a survey of the issues that are top of mind for our local leaders.

In the face of changes that are often beyond local control, and in a time of increased political division, how can Southern Vermont’s municipal leaders help their community have conversations that find common ground, build unity, and provide a clear(er) direction forward for decision makers?

In this session we’ll hear from a panel of current community leaders, as well as experts, who will share best practices, lessons learned, and case studies that demonstrate public engagement that led to positive community outcomes. Breakouts will help you brainstorm ideas for engagement processes you can use to unite, rather than divide, your community around important issues, and build support for needed projects.

Register here: https://brattleborodevelopment.com/event/mln-building-community/

03/25/2026

US National Weather Service Albany NY is offering a Skywarn Spring Weather Spotter Training in Bennington on May 2nd.

Get trained in how to provide timely and accurate reports of impactful weather to NWS.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDWxDjdoSwjo55Vq4AV4Ur36oFt6hx3ETNnk_yA8_yVavD0A/viewform

03/24/2026

Have you ever wanted an easier way to get to know your neighbors? When a street closes to cars and opens to people - even for a few hours - kids play, neighbors connect, and the whole block feels different.

That's why Local Motion is launching the Streets as Places micro-grant program, offering up to $500 and hands-on support for neighborhood gatherings. Learn more about the program and how to apply at https://www.localmotion.org/streets_as_places

03/17/2026

Registration is now open for the 2026 Vermont Walk/Bike Summit! Please visit https://tinyurl.com/2026walkbikesummit

03/11/2026

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
Bennington Bridge 6

Please join VTrans this evening for an in-person public information meeting about the upcoming Bennington Bridge #6 Replacement Project over the Walloomsac River. The project team will share an overview of the construction planned to begin this spring and answer questions from the public.

WHEN: Tonight, Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 5:30 PM

WHERE: Bennington Fire House, 130 River St, Bennington, VT 05201

Project Fact Sheet:

Project Fact Sheets

02/27/2026

Power up your outdoor economy

Join the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) on Friday, March 13 to learn about the Vermont CORE Toolkit. Get to know the tools that support planning, partnerships, data collection and communicating economic impact. Funded through the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, the toolkit is meant to help you assess and grow your local outdoor recreation economy!

Visit the toolkit website to register for the webinar and receive login information: https://fpr.vermont.gov/vermont-core-toolkit

02/24/2026

Register for the Vermont Capital Planning Forum: https://www.cognitoforms.com/VTBondBank1/VermontBondBankUVMLeahyInstitute5thAnnualCapitalPlanningForumRegistration

02/23/2026

The Flood Safety Act and Beyond: Statewide and Local Efforts to Address Flooding in Southwest VT

Join Bennington County Regional Commission, Batten
Kill Watershed Alliance, Trout Unlimited, The Nature
Conservancy, and Lake Champlain Sea Grant for a
virtual conversation to hear about actions the state
and local organizations are taking to reduce flood risk
and protect our communities. All community members
are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Register here: bit.ly/fsa-southwest

02/12/2026

The Science and Technology Research Seed Grant(STaRS) is now accepting proposals from Vermont-based researchers, educators, non-profits and businesses.
NSF STRIVE's deadline is April 15, for up to $15,000 in reimbursement seed funding to support early-stage research aligned with Vermont’s STEM economy.
We want innovative proposals that generate preliminary data, strengthen future external funding proposals, and train the next generation of Vermont researchers.
Visit www.strivevt.org to view rfp and apply

02/06/2026

Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Activated For Saturday and Sunday Nights

Bennington County’s emergency cold weather shelter program activation has been activated for Saturday and Sunday nights to ensure that individuals and families experiencing homelessness have access to safe, warm overnight accommodations during dangerous temperatures.

An Emergency Cold Weather Shelter will be activated in Bennington County at the Episcopal Church located at 200 Pleasant Street, Bennington, Vermont, Saturday and Sunday nights (February 7 - 8). The shelter can accommodate up to 35 guests (Including families and unaccompanied homeless youth) and is available on a first come, first served basis.

People may come to the Shelter starting at 6:30 pm. Guests MUST arrive prior to 9:30 pm. Arrivals after 9:30 pm are not allowed except when accompanied by emergency personnel such as police or rescue squad. The shelter closes at 7 am for the day.

Upon entry, a brief intake will be conducted by shelter staff, including check-in and safety procedures. During this time, staff are also able to offer soft referrals to partnering agencies and programs, helping guests connect with available community resources and support services.

The Emergency Cold Weather Shelter provides:
● Safe, staffed overnight accommodations
● Warmth, cots, and access to restroom facilities
● Inclusive access for individuals, families, and unaccompanied youth
● Supportive service referrals through local partners

All unsheltered individuals, families, and youth experiencing homelessness in Bennington County are welcome to come. No referral is required. Currently the shelter is only scheduled to be open Saturday and Sunday nights (February 7-8, 2026), 6:30 pm to 7:00 am the next morning.

No special transportation is scheduled for this shelter activation; guests are advised to take public transportation if needed or to arrange travel with family or friends to the Episcopal Church at 200 Pleasant Street in Bennington.

For more information on shelter operations or assistance accessing the shelter, community members may reach out to: Roxanne Carelli, Executive Director of Operational Development and Shelter Services: (838) 218-6975
[email protected]