Faith Brown Named Interim Executive Director

The Smart Growth Vermont Board of Directors has named Faith Brown of Underhill, Vermont, as Interim Executive Director. Noelle MacKay, who held the position for five years, accepted the post of Commissioner of Economic, Development and Community Affairs in the Shumlin administration.

“I'm delighted that Faith has agreed to be our interim Director,” said Board Chair Robin Scheu. “Her background as chief financial officer and interim CEO at Vermont Community Foundation makes her an ideal choice to head our organization through this period of transition."

“Faith is highly respected in Vermont’s philanthropic community as well,” added Founder John Ewing. “We are confident that she will not only lead us through our transition but help us define the next generation for our organization.”

“Noelle’s appointment as commissioner is a huge tribute to Noelle and to the need to incorporate smart growth principles in building Vermont’s future,” said Faith. “It not only acknowledges the quality of the work and staff at Smart Growth Vermont, but speaks to the critical nature of this work in the future. I’m honored to lend a hand at Smart Growth Vermont as we determine how best to approach this new era in Vermont.”

In her ten year tenure as the Vermont Community Foundation’s Vice President for Finance and Operations, she redesigned the investment strategy at the Foundation, reorganized staff in response to a three-fold increase in the endowment, and supported the board transition to the policy governance model. She also served as Director of Planning and Program Evaluation for the Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties.

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Help Put Us Over the Top

Photo credit Paul Moody

Thanks to many increased and new gifts during the holiday season, we’re close to meeting our Membership Challenge well ahead of our absolute deadline of March 31, the end of our fiscal year. So far, we’ve raised over $14,000! Please join our new and returning members with your investment in our work today. We’ll put each dollar right to work at the community and state level ensuring that land use decisions help create a strong Vermont.  Invest now!

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Fall/Winter Newsletter in Your In-box

We've mailed our Fall/Winter newsletter to our current donors. This issue includes photos from our Art Gibb event in September as well as information about our community work, additions to our Toolbox and a guest view about growing your own energy! To make sure you don't miss out on this resource, we're including a link to the PDF version on our website for our e-news subscribers.

If you get the newsletter in the mail and prefer the online version, let us know. This helps us put more of your membership investment directly to work in the community. Really like the look and feel of newsletters in print? Become a member!

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Transition Town Vermont, 350.org and the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network present, "Vermont Climate Action Day," Thursday, February 3, in Montpelier. This all day event, starting at 9:30 am, will include a rally with special guest speakers, a climate community strategy session, and musical entertainment.

For more information, visit, www.vtclimateday.org.

Also, be sure to check out our calendar of events for more.

Wind Project Proposed on Vermont Forest Land

Deerfield Wind, LLC, a Portland, Oregon Company, has proposed to install up to thirty wind turbines on National Forest land near Readsboro, VT. The Forest Service is in the process of reviewing the proposal, which, if approved would produce enough electricity to power 14,000 to 16,000 homes. Read more.

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Newport City Becomes First in Vermont to Adopt Form-Based Code

In just eight months, thanks to a dedicated partnership between city officials and community organizations, Newport City has formally adopted Form-based code into their zoning bylaws. “Form-based code is a three-pronged approach to zoning,” stated Paul Dreher, Newport City Zoning Administrator. “It benefits the
city with increased tax base, business benefits from expedited predictable permitting and it benefits the community with better public realm.” 

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Walkable Neighborhoods Increase Quality of Life

According to a new report from the University of New Hampshire, people who live in walkable neighborhoods enjoy a high quality of life through improved health, socialization and economic conditions. The report, "Examining Walkability and Social Capital as Indicators of Quality of Life at the Municipal and Neighborhood
Scales," is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Applied Reseacrh in Quality of Life. Read more.

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Improve your Neighborhood with Seven Easy Steps

If you haven't set a New Year's resolution, consider making imrpovements in your neighborhood. Grist Magazine offers readers seven easy ways to make your neighoborhood a better place to live. Learn how!

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