Creative Communities Program

Information and Application

The Creative Communities Program builds from the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s ongoing work with both the creative economy and facilitating public discussion around important issues in Vermont communities. It applies creative economy principles to the process of strategic planning. The partners we work with set their own goals for how the creative economy might take shape in their community. We guide the process by asking questions based on key aspects of Vermont’s creative economy:

»The Importance of Place: When we talk about place, we include the natural, physical and social environments that form the foundation for creative economy work. Is one’s community a place where people will choose to work, live, and participate as active citizens? Is there a healthy mix of culture and commerce? Is there a strong community identity that distinguishes it from other places?

» Partners in Creative Economic Development: The 2004 Advancing Vermont’s Creative Economy report began to outline the breadth of businesses, individuals, and organizations that contribute to a strong economy. These contributors include groups that have not traditionally been thought of as business partners, such as arts, heritage, place-based, and other (usually) not-for-profit organizations. These are core partners in economic development discussions.

» Creative Assets: Businesses in every field generate a competitive advantage from new ideas and unique skills, and these are one type of creative asset. We also look at how to leverage cultural assets to generate income for a region while forming a community environment that inspires new ideas and encourages people to explore diverse skills. How do we ensure that all types of creative assets are utilized fully in our economy? How do we sustain or renew these resources?

The Creative Communities Program uses questions like those above to complement traditional economic planning and develop action steps that advance the creative economy goals of participating communities.

To learn more about the specific components of the Creative Communities Program and how to apply to be one of the towns we work with, please see the Spring 2006 Application (PDF Format) or contact Program Director Helen Labun Jordan at (802) 223-3793, or ccp@sover.net.