Rural Renewal through Resettlement

This partnership explores whether refugee resettlement accomplishments in Southern Vermont can serve as models for other communities across the country.

The Challenge

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An aging population and workforce shortages are impacting rural communities across the United States, with Vermont leading the way on some of these long-term trends.  In Southern Vermont, the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) is developing an innovative program to welcome new Vermonters to their rural region through establishing a new refugee resettlement site. 

The Proposed Solution

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This partnership includes Ethiopian Ccommunity Development Council of Vermont, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, the School for International Training, Pablo Bose (UVM professor of Geography), and many student interns and researchers. 

Together, this team is studying the unique approach to refugee resettlement in southern Vermont, with the dual purpose of supporting programmatic improvements in the region and serving as a model for rural refugee resettlement across the United States. 

Participants in the Rural Renewal through Resettlement project

In the News

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Read more about this project in the following news stories:

Brattleboro Reformer

VT Digger

Project Details

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Community Partners:

Ethiopian Community Development Council of Vermont

World Learning

Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation

UVM Partner:

UVM  Department of Geography and Geosciences

Amount:$250,000 (Partnership Grant)
Primary Region:

Bennington County, Windsor County, Windham County

Focus Areas:Policy & Governance