Elevating Local Voices in the Northeast Kingdom
VT/NH Program Director, Mike Morin shares his reflections following his attendance at the NEK Day at the Statehouse.
On Thursday, January 22 around 90 individuals representing the interests of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom (NEK) traveled to Montpelier, Vermont to meet with elected officials at the Statehouse as part of the annual NEK Day at the Statehouse.
NEK Collaborative (NEKC), a non-partisan, regionally operating organization with a mission to improve the quality of life of all residents of the NEK through coordinated economic and community development, organized this convening of NEK residents, municipal staff, and non-profit leaders. In addition to acting as a regional convenor and advocate, the Collaborative serves as the community partner for USDA Rural Development to review and make recommendations on grants administered under the Rural Economic Area Partnership Zone Initiative (REAP).
The Center’s VT/NH Program Director, Mike Morin, serves on the NEKC board and participated in the day on behalf of the Center. His board participation offers opportunities to learn from and share information with a wide range of NEK stakeholders. Additionally, the NEKC’s community engagement work, led by interim-Executive Director Abby Long, elevates and helps NEK stakeholders learn from voices across the region. As in neighboring states, issues of attainable housing, flood and climate resilience, affordable health care access, and overall cost of living rank high among concerns voiced by those living and working in the NEK. NEK Day provided a platform for a network of engaged citizens to share their stories with state policy makers.
Much of the day focused on testimony to key committees within the Vermont House of Representatives, including Commerce and Economic Development, Human Services, General and Housing, Government Operations, and Education. Mike joined a panel speaking to the House Committee on General and Housing to share insights gained from his conversations with business and community leaders. He shared details about the Center’s middle-income housing investment model and the negative impact that a lack of attainable middle-income housing is having on small businesses and large institutions that are struggling to recruit and retain qualified employees.
In addition to delivering testimony, NEK Day participants met individually with state leaders and attended a large group conversation with Lt. Governor John Rogers. There was also an opportunity leading into the NEK Day press conference for members of the NEK Collaborative Board of Directors and interim-ED Abby Long to meet with Governor Phil Scott, thanks to coordination from Representative John Kascenska. During the press conference that followed, the audience of NEK Day attendees and members of the press heard from U.S. Senator Peter Welch, State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Lt. Gov. John Rogers, local representatives Mike Marcotte and Leanne Harple, and interim-ED Abby Long as they laid out the work being undertaken at the local and national level to support rural Vermonters, while speaking to the challenges and opportunities present in the NEK around public schools, housing, and business investment.
The people of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom brought authentic voices and grassroots spirit to the Statehouse for NEK Day. Their stories highlighted the issues facing rural residents and set the stage for future engagement with elected representatives. NEK Day embodied the action-oriented, people-centered approach of the NEK Collaborative, an approach the Center shares across our four-state region.
