An exciting vision for sustainable economic growth is emerging in the tri-state region of Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts – focused on Windham County (VT), Cheshire County (NH), and Franklin County (MA) – to promote employment in the fields of green building and resilient design.
 
The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) and Southeast Vermont Economic Development Strategy (SEVEDS) has led an investigation to assess existing assets that could fuel this type of economic development.  In New Hampshire, BDCC has engaged the Southwest Region Planning Commission, the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Antioch University New England, Keene State College, and several local businesses in an effort to assess the prospects for building a hub of sustainability and resilience that will serve as a model for other rural communities nationally and internationally.
 
The Ecovation Hub initiative has developed an integrated approach to spurring growth of green economy industries, rather than focusing on a single segment. robust economic development in this sector.
 
Frank Knott, who has led the assessment phase of this initiative for the past year, will lead our discussion with an overview of the assets that make our region a potential leader in this form of economic development.