Sustainable Woodstock’s EDAG is working with other community members to turn the undeveloped East End into a community park.
Many town and village merchants, like Jeff Kahn from The Unicorn, joined Local First.
The mission of the Economic Development Action Group is to help transform the Woodstock area into a thriving, green community with a diverse sustainable economy where people want to live, work and play.
EDAG’s goals include creating more profitable, sustainable businesses; local employment at living wages; a more diverse population & workforce; improved physical infrastructure & land use; affordable housing; and art, cultural & recreational opportunities. (Here’s a copy of the EDAG’s strategic plan.)
To become involved in EDAG activities, contact Jill Davies.
The Economic Development Action Group has championed multiple initiatives, many of which are now are functioning independently. They include:
Ambassadors Circle
A joint effort of the Economic Development Commission, the Economic Development Action Group and the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce; the Ambassadors Circle will build on the welcoming package provided by the Chamber of Commerce and provide personal connections to new businesses and residents.
Woodstock Economic Development Commission
The Economic Development Action Group drafted a town economic development plan and proposed the formation of a Woodstock Economic Development Commission. With broad support for this proposal, the Woodstock Village Trustees and the Town Select Board appointed a diverse group of residents to serve on the Economic Development Commission in December 2009. Sustainable Woodstock’s Economic Development Action Group will continue to work in cooperation with this council on current and new projects.
Local First Alliance
The Local First Alliance is a coalition of independent businesses, nonprofits, farms, community leaders and citizens committed to thinking local first. Members encourage people and businesses to buy local, give local, and minimize what can’t easily be localized, especially energy use and the generation of waste, in order to build stronger, more self-reliant community economies.
Sustainable Woodstock’s Economic Development Action Group collaborated with Vital Communities to implement the Local First campaign in Woodstock. Forty-two businesses are now members of the campaign. This group produced and distributed the colorful posters that hang in business windows all over town and throughout the Upper Valley.
To sign up or become a member of Local First in Woodstock, contact Sally Miller.
East End
Our East End Action Group presented its plans for a waterfront park to the leadership of many community groups, seeking their input and endorsement. Now, they are working with vested parties to find a way to relocate the snow dump to another convenient location. This move will open the way to build the park and for private development in the East End, which will broaden our community tax base. The EEAG plans to hold community forums to get input from local residents. A conceptual plan for the park received an honorable mention award from the Vermont Association of Landscape Architects.
Here’s a brief summary and Q&A about the park. To sign up to volunteer or become a member, contact Sally Miller.
Food
We support many local projects related to food. This June, for the third time we will participate in the annual Trek to Taste, a day-long event sponsored by the Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Park. We also promote local and statewide food and farm initiatives, such as our local Woodstock Winter Farmers’ Market and the statewide Farm-to-Plate program. We compiled and published a guide to local growers and producers.
If you want to get involved in any of these initiatives, or have ideas about food-related projects and activities that we can support, contact Sally Miller.
