BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Selectboard unanimously approved $36,147 for the Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategy (SeVEDS) at its Jan. 21 meeting.
SeVEDS is part of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, which is focused on improving economic conditions in Windham County, which has experienced lower wages and slower economic growth over the past two decades compared to neighboring counties.
According to Selectboard Chair David Gartenstein, the money would come from the interest generated by the town's grant program.
SeVEDS representatives Laura Sibilia and Patricia Moulton Powden appeared before the board on Jan. 21, saying that the organization has made similar requests of 13 other Windham County towns. Of those, 12 have agreed to put the funding request for approval on their town meeting agendas, she said.
This is the second year that SeVEDS has asked municipalities to help fund SeVEDS' economic development strategies.
SeVEDS is requesting the equivalent of $3 per person based on each town's population, said Sibilia. The money would support SeVEDS' operating costs, such as funding its workforce development coordinator position.
“People want results immediately,” said Sibilia, “but economic development projects move slowly.”