Since 2021, southern Vermont has welcomed 350 new Americans, formed 3 new refugee offices, and engaged hundreds of volunteers and employers. Even with all of this activity, the region’s immigration systems are still developing, and rural communities face issues of scale and scarcity. 

Southern Vermont needs to build systems that support a thriving immigrant community, which in turn would help the broader region thrive as well. 

This project will develop a Community-Based Organization (CBO) to support the attraction, retention, inclusion, and success of new Americans in southern Vermont. This CBO will work to unite disparate entities, fill programmatic gaps, and lead effective partnerships--  all things that are common in regions where there are more established immigration pathways.