Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission

06/01/2026

Announcing the launch of the Municipal Energy Revolving Fund (MERF), a revolving loan fund providing 0% interest financing to projects of $100,000 - $250,000 that increase energy efficiency, reduce fossil fuel usage, and/or support renewable energy integration in municipally-owned buildings.

Go to trorc.org/programs/energy to learn more, with links to Guidance Document, FAQ and Application.

All municipalities are eligible to apply for MERF funding, but the first month of applications (5/28/26 - 6/30/26) will be reserved for municipalities that APPLIED FOR AND DID NOT RECEIVE a Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) Implementation Grant.

Starting on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the applications will open to all municipalities, regardless of prior funding.

Staff from the Department of Buildings & General Services’ Energy Office team will be available to answer questions about this opportunity.

For technical assistance, please reach out to Meghan at [email protected]

05/20/2026

Mount Ascutney, Rutland Regional, and Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Planning Commissions are offering a training series for municipal officials. Each training will provide high-level guidance on the essentials of land use, with a focus on planning, implementation, and regulations. This session’s focus is:

MUNICIPAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Understand how to put your town plan into action through practical strategies and tools.

Date & Time: Thursday, May 21, 2026 @ 6:00 PM

Host: Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC)
In-Person: 16 Evelyn Street, Rutland, VT 05701

Virtual: Teams
https://tinyurl.com/Essentials2Implement
Meeting ID: 273772 70876049 Passcode: wQ3F3Hr3

05/20/2026

TRORC Transportation Planner Rita Seto presented about the Planning and Implementation of Active Transportation Projects at the recent Walk / Bike Summit.

Applications for Vermont's federally funded Large Scale Bike Ped Grants and state-funded Small Scale Bike Ped Grants are due on June 12.

Reach out if your municipality would like assistance applying for this funding!

05/13/2026

TRORC and MARC are hosting a Municipal Roads Roundtable on June 11, 2026 from 10am to 2:30pm at Bethel Town Hall.

Registration is free and lunch is free.

This would be good training for Road Foremen and new Selectboard members to understand implementation and compliance with the Municipal Roads General Permit program.

One of the key pieces of the training this year is sizing of intermittent streams. This will help answer whether culvert replacements would require a stream alteration permit.

REGISTER via localroads.vermont.gov/workshops

04/29/2026

SELECTBOARD MEETUP! TOMORROW! 6-8PM
Royalton Academy
4182 VT-14, Royalton, VT 05068

04/29/2026

Permits got you down?
Well, give some feedback! Specific surveys for towns, permitees, etc.

In early 2026, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation launched a new initiative aimed at making its permitting processes work better for everyone.  The Department is seeking feedback from a variety of internal and external stakeholders through the process to: (1) understand their exp...

04/16/2026

The Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission is accepting nominations for the TRORC Volunteer of the Year Award!

TRORC seeks to recognize the phenomenal people who work to make our Region a healthy and
vibrant place to live, work and visit.

TRORC will present this award to one resident of our Region who has gone above and beyond in community planning service.

Eligible recipients include individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to planning:

• In their municipalities and volunteer committees
• For a specific project
• In an organization

Go to trorc.org/NominateVolunteerAward2026 to access the nomination form

Nominations are due by May 31, 2026 and the recipient will be invited to receive the award at the TRORC Annual Meeting on June 24, 2026

04/10/2026

Mount Ascutney, Rutland Regional, and Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Planning Commissions are offering a three-part training series for municipal
officials. Each training will provide high-level guidance on the essentials of land use, with a focus on planning, implementation, and regulations.

SERIES 1: MUNICIPAL PLANNING
Learn what planning is and what makes a strong, effective municipal plan.
Date & Time: Thursday, April 16, 2026 @ 6:00 PM
Host: Mount Ascutney Regional Commission (MARC)
In-Person: 38 Ascutney Park Road, Ascutney, VT 05030
Virtual: Zoom
tinyurl.com/Essentials1Planning
Meeting ID: 89148819297 Passcode: 473511

SERIES 2: PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Understand how to put your town plan into action through practical strategies and tools.
Date & Time: Thursday, May 21, 2026 @ 6:00 PM
Host: Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC)
In-Person: 16 Evelyn Street, Rutland, VT 05701
Virtual: Teams
https://tinyurl.com/Essentials2Implement
Meeting ID: 273772 70876049 Passcode: wQ3F3Hr3

SERIES 3: LAND USE REGULATIONS
Explore the fundamentals of land use regulations and how they guide community development.
Date & Time: Thursday, June 18, 2026 @ 6:00 PM
Host: Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC)
In-Person 128 King Farm Rd, Woodstock, VT 05091
Virtual: Zoom
tinyurl.com/Essentials3Regulations
Meeting ID: 87622484768 Passcode: 43541

04/01/2026

Do you know your local rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands? The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources wants your input to update the Middle Connecticut (Stevens, Wells, Waits and Ompompanoosuc Rivers) Basin Plan.

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is developing the 5-year update of the Middle Connecticut River (Basin 14) Tactical Basin Plan, a water quality and habitat management plan covering the Stevens, Wells, Waits, and Ompompanoosuc Rivers and other smaller streams from Barnet to Hartford. The plan identifies surface waters in need of restoration and protection, outlines a list of actions to achieve water quality goals, and identifies partners and funding to implement the actions.

Please take this 15-minute survey to share your knowledge and opinions relating to the health of the basin's rivers, ponds, and wetlands. Through your survey responses, the planning process benefits from a more complete picture of the basin’s conditions.

survey link: https://forms.office.com/g/yuhL53tZv3

For additional information, please see the Middle Connecticut River Basin (B14) Story Map and the 2020 Basin 14 Tactical Basin Plan.

Middle Connecticut River Basin (B14) Story Map: https://arcg.is/19qnmG3

2020 Basin 14 Tactical Basin Plan:https://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/documents/2020%20Basin%2014%20Tactical%20Basin%20PlanSigned.pdf

03/26/2026

TRORC Transportation Planner Rita brought the MUTCD and a traffic counter to Woodstock Elementary School earlier this week.

Their teacher shared that the 3-4 year old students in Pre-K are still talking about the "big book of road rules" and can't wait to see the traffic counter tubes out on streets:)