Mad River Valley Planning District

29/12/2022

Rural Business Development Grants in Vermont

The Rural Business Development Grant Program (RBDG) is seeking applications by 2/28/22. This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses (small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue). Priorities for this year’s grant cycle: addressing climate change and environmental justice; advancing racial justice, place-based-equity and opportunity; and creating more and better market opportunities.

Applications may request up to $30,000.

There are two types of RBDG projects, Enterprise grants and Opportunity grants. A few examples of Enterprise grant uses include training and technical assistance, the acquisition and development of land, the capitalization of revolving loan funds, and feasibility studies. A few examples of Opportunity grant uses include community economic development, entrepreneur training, and long-term business strategic planning.

This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses.

27/12/2022

Fill | Clean Water Conversation: Agriculture, Climate Change and Water Quality

The next edition of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's (VT DEC) monthly lecture series takes place on 1/12/23, 12-12:45 PM: Agriculture, Climate Change, & Water Quality​​​. In this virtual lecture, guest lecturer Dr. Joshua Faulkner will discuss how climate change is impacting soil and water resources on farms and what management practices farms are implementing to mitigate the effects. He will also outline current research focused on characterizing nutrient fate and transport and innovative solutions for limiting water quality impacts from agriculture. Joshua Faulkner is a Research Assistant Professor with UVM Extension and also coordinates the Farming and Climate Change Program in the UVM Extension Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

As always, the lecture will be free and open to the public online via webinar (Microsoft Teams).

Date: January 12th, 2023 Time: 12:00 PM EST  In this virtual talk, Dr. Joshua Faulkner will discuss how climate change is impacting soil and water resources on farms and what management practices farms are implementing to mitigate the effects.  He will also outline current research focused on cha...

23/12/2022

Central Vermont’s 2023 Regional Project Priority List — CVEDC

Central Vermont’s 2023 Regional Project Priority List — CVEDC

Congratulations to our top regional projects, who will be working in 2023 to address needs in childcare, housing, education, and economic development in Central Vermont.

22/12/2022

The Mad River Valley Remembers Five Teens With Constellations of Holiday Lights

The Mad River Valley Remembers Five Teens With Constellations of Holiday Lights

As dusk settles over the Mad River Valley, a trail of twinkling lights appear. They flicker on everywhere along a 20-mile stretch of winding roads...

21/12/2022

MRVPD December 2022 Newsletter

MRVPD’s December 2022 newsletter is here!

Highlights include:
*MRV Housing Summit Recap
*MRVPD completed a survey on Short-Term Rentals
*Fare-free Mad Bus seasonal service has begun
*MRV Partners Meeting, 1/12/23
*And more!

The MRV Recreation District, MRV Planning District, Town of Warren, and a volunteer Dog Park Committee have been collaborating since the summer to develop a dog park at Warren's Brooks Field. The project is now in the crowdfunding phase - running from 11/15/22 - 1/15/23. The campaign is made poss...

06/12/2022

Photos from Mad River Valley's post

30/11/2022

The Three Peaks Medical Clinic has received IRS approval to operate as a 501(c)(3) organization and will open at Lincoln Peak on 12/16, operating on weekends and holidays throughout the season. The new not-for-profit clinic at Sugarbush replaces the former UVM orthopedic clinic, which chose not to continue due to the challenges they incurred financially from COVID. To date, the clinic has received sufficient funding to begin operation and to buy critical medical equipment, including an X-Ray machine. Their plan is not to charge for the physician's services and only bill patients for services such as X-Rays or supplies. The Three Peaks Medical Clinic will operate totally independently of Sugarbush, with the resort donating the clinic space which had previously been leased to UVM.

31/10/2022

Free Thanksgiving Meal!

If you are an individual or family in need, or know of a family in need, please ask them to contact one of the resources below to request a Thanksgiving Basket. All we need is a name, address, and the number of people in the household (to provide enough food). This is completely free to recipients and their families.

• On-line Google form: bit.ly/getMRVturkey
• Valley schools (see the school nurse for information)
• Mad River Valley Community Pantry (sign up form)
• Local churches (speak to the pastor)
• MRV Community Fund: email [email protected]

Each basket contains all the ingredients needed for a Thanksgiving meal: turkey, veggies, bread, fruit, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and, of course pie. In 2021, we collectively helped 80 families and over 300 people. Recipients can pick up their Turkey Baskets on Tuesday, November 22th at the Waitsfield United Church, or the basket can be delivered to a house/apartment. Just let us know.

31/10/2022

Hello Waitsfield and Fayston Residents,

Things are coming together for Trick or Treating on the Loop Rd. Here are some things you need to know:

1. Parking- Waitsfield Telecom (one of their lots is closed, don’t park on the grass), Waitsfield School, Village Grocery, behind the Waitsfield United Church

2. The Sugarbush jitneys are back! They will pick up at the Medical Center end of the road, on the road and will drop off on the Kenyons end. It is a mile walk end to end.

3. The road is closed to traffic from 5:00-7:00. Trick or Treating ends at 7:00.

4. The pumpkins will remain lit for anyone who wants to walk the road afterwards.

5. Anyone wanting to donate a carved pumpkin with a candle can drop it off anywhere along the road before 4:00 on Monday.

We look forward to seeing you all! Valley residents please share this post.

28/10/2022

Did you attend the MRV housing summit a couple weeks ago and say “wow that book that the keynote speaker mentioned sounds fascinating!”? Well the library has now added Paul Searl’s “Repeopling Vermont: The Paradox of Development in the Twentieth Century” to our collection of Vermont books.
Image: photo of book in front of book shelves labeled Vermont History. Book is Paul Searl’s Repeopling Vermont: The Paradox of Development in the Twentieth Century.

05/10/2022

Today's the last day to take the MRV Short-Term Rental Survey! https://bit.ly/MRV-STR-SURVEY

Have you taken the MRV Short-Term Rental Survey yet?

The survey is the first part of a community engagement process to better understand the potential benefits & concerns associated with short-term rentals.

You can take the survey until October 5!
https://bit.ly/MRV-STR-SURVEY

20/09/2022

MRVPD September 2022 Newsletter

Check out the latest updates from the MRVPD in our September newsletter!

This fall, the MRVPD is engaged in a process of better understanding the potential benefits, concerns, and action steps associated with Short-Term Rentals. The MRV Short-Term Rental Survey is the first step in that process.

15/09/2022

Attention Waitsfield Residents: The Waitsfield ARPA Committee's Project Idea Survey is open for one more week (until 9/21). Share your ideas on the best use of the municipality's ARPA funding to accomplish the goals of supporting pandemic recovery, maintaining vital public services, and making investments in the community in support of long-term growth and opportunity for years to come.

13/09/2022

stewardMRV volunteers are cleaning up the Mad River Valley

stewardMRV volunteers are cleaning up the Mad River Valley

After two years, the program is a "huge success" in cleaning up trailheads and swimming holes.

06/09/2022

Have you taken the MRV Short-Term Rental Survey yet?

The survey is the first part of a community engagement process to better understand the potential benefits & concerns associated with short-term rentals.

You can take the survey until October 5!
https://bit.ly/MRV-STR-SURVEY

02/09/2022

A ‘Library of Things’ from the local libraries

Our libraries have HappyLights, amphibian crossing kits, GoPros, pop-up tents, and lawn games to lend? Oh yes, and so much more. Big kudos to the Joslin Memorial Library, Warren Public Library Vermont, and Moretown Memorial Library!

Local libraries are stocking games, computers and lights as well as books.

30/08/2022

2022 MRV Community Wellbeing Survey Results are Live! – Mad River Valley Planning District

The results of the 2022 MRV Wellbeing Survey are live! Check them out below and thanks to everyone who took this year's survey!

Posted on August 17, 2022, Edited August 17, 2022 by Amy Tomasso 2022 MRV Community Wellbeing Survey Results are Live! The 2022 MRV Community Wellbeing Survey results are in! Check out the final report here. This report, and other important local data, lives on the MRV Community Dashboard. So what.....

26/08/2022

Here's a sneak peek at the next new path section coming this fall! Stay tuned for more details and a grand opening in the coming weeks 😍

23/08/2022

VCRD is now accepting applications for the 2022 Climate Catalyst Innovation Fund!

Learn more & apply ⤵️
https://www.vtrural.org/about/news/20220816

17/08/2022

stewardMRV - Stewarding the MRV's Outdoor Recreational Access Points

stewardMRV - Stewarding the MRV's Outdoor Recreational Access Points

The stewardMRV initiative is transforming the way our community takes care of the Mad River Valley's outdoor recreation access points. Usage at many of the M...

02/08/2022

Both the Town of Warren and the Town of Waitsfield were awarded funds from this program focused on increasing village pedestrian safety.

New funding aimed to support revitalization efforts while improving pedestrian and bike safety in downtowns and village centers. Projects range from repairs to a train station and connecting rail-trails for multiuse recreation to replacing traffic and pedestrian signals.
http://ow.ly/bWUg50K7z8F

02/08/2022

Photos from Friends of the Mad River's post

26/07/2022

25/07/2022

Trail Mix: Amplifying trail benefits via downtown hubs

Trail Mix: Amplifying trail benefits via downtown hubs

Trails are a big draw for people to an area for visiting and moving.

15/07/2022

Congrats Friends of the Mad River on a super successful first climate chat!

13/07/2022

Photos from Vermont Agency of Transportation's post

20/06/2022

Timeline photos

E-bike study coming to Hinesburg Town Forest!

PeopleForBikes, in partnership with Fellowship of the Wheel, UVM Center for Rural Studies and the Hinesburg Town Forest Committee, will conduct a pilot study during the summer of 2022 to better understand the impacts of allowing Class 1 pedal-assist Electric Mountain Bikes (eMTBs) on trail networks in Vermont. For the months of July and August, all trails identified as multi-use in the Hinesburg Town Forest, acceptable for mountain bikes, will include access for Class 1 pedal-assist eMTBs. Intercept surveys and demo days will be scheduled to gather data regarding perceived impact on physical trail conditions, diversity and inclusion implications, and potential social impacts related to the introduction of Class 1 eMTBs on non motorized, multi-use trails.

Fill out this pre-implementation survey from the UVM Center for Rural Studies and PeopleForBikes to contribute to public perceptions of Class 1 Electric Mountain Bikes (eMTBs) on mountain bike trails in Vermont. This survey is completely anonymous and should take 5 minutes to complete:

https://qualtrics.uvm.edu/jfe/form/SV_cCHljLVpYg6Wtvw

Fellowship of the Wheel
📸 and SKIRACK

17/06/2022

MRVPD June 2022 Newsletter

Check out all the recent updates at the Planning District in our quarterly newsletter!

Better Places Grant | VT ACCD  The Better Places program provides “placemaking” grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 that improve the vitality of state designated downtowns, village centers, new town centers, or neighborhood development areas. There is no application deadline as this is a ...

17/06/2022

The sidewalks are alive in Waitsfield, thanks to Village Grocery, Canteen Creemee Company, & Three Mountain Cafe for this year’s sidewalk chalk contest.

15/06/2022

Raising Homes: It Takes a Village to Grow Housing. How Vermont Towns Are Trying to Make It Happen

Check out some innovative approaches to housing happening in the MRV, featured in today's Seven Days!

As he travels Vermont, Tyler Maas sees a possible remedy to the housing crisis hiding in plain sight. It is the accessory dwelling unit, or...

15/06/2022

Irasville’s Green Tunnel.
Mad River Path

07/06/2022

This weekend!

Vermont Days! Saturday June 11 - 12. The weekend celebration includes free entrance to and Vermont State Historic Sites, Free Fishing Day on June 11, family-friendly events, and bus service between Rutland to Bomoseen State Park. Learn more 🐟: http://ow.ly/OSBr50JpbE4

07/06/2022

Great event happening in one of our neighboring communities, thanks to The Gear House, APEX Trailworks, & Russell Forestry Services.

Come to the shop at 6:30pm tomorrow (Wednesday)! APEX Trailworks is hosting a responsible trail building / usage workshop with local forester Carl Russell 🌲

03/06/2022

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE + CLIMATE ACTION in New England; A Virtual Summit

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE + CLIMATE ACTION in New England; A Virtual Summit | 6/13, 11-2 | Free

Join us in a virtual, regional summit to discuss climate action through landscape architecture in New England.

31/05/2022

Take the MRV Community Wellbeing Survey and enter to win a gift card to some favorite Valley businesses: Mad River Taste, Sugarbush Resort, Alpine Options, Hyde Away Inn, and Art In the Village!

Deadline is 6/7/22--take the survey today at bit.ly/2022-MRV-Wellbeing

27/05/2022

Bear With Us! with Susan Morse

Spring has sprung, and our local black bears are out! Here's a link to "Bear With Us!," which originally aired on 5/10/22 in collaboration with the Mad River Valley Bear Initiative, Keeping Track, and the Northeast Wilderness Trust.

Learn more about Northeast Wilderness Trust at www.newildernesstrust.org"Bear With Us!" was presented in collaboration with the Mad River Valley Bear Initiat...

26/05/2022

Photos from Green Mountain Access's post