The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), a program of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, helps rural communities access the funding they need for community and business development.
About REDI
- REDI provides grant writing assistance to rural communities and working lands businesses interested in applying for federal funds and other funding sources when applicable.
- Funds can be used to hire a grant writer, complete a necessary step to make a grant application more competitive (such as a business plan or engineering), and in some cases to help make a fundraising plan for a project.
REDI Focus Areas:
- Working lands projects (such as dairy processing, value-added food enterprises, and forest products sector)
- Community-based economic development (such as historic preservation, community infrastructure, and downtown revitalization)
- Outdoor recreation projects (trails, public recreation areas, connectivity to downtown/village center)
- Projects focused on implementation/ seeking federal grants
Eligibility
Eligible clients include municipalities, non-profits, community organizations, and working lands businesses that are based in communities of 5,000 people or less.
Eligible Projects
- Must advance one of REDI’s core focus areas:
community-based economic development, outdoor recreation, and working lands sector development. Housing projects are not currently a focus area for REDI, though please reach out to VHCB’s Housing Program and your local Homeownership Center to discuss housing projects. - Projects must demonstrate readiness, community buy-in, and projects should leverage applicable resources. REDI is a fit for projects that have a leadership team and are prepared to seek and manage significant funding sources (~$50k-$1M)
- REDI is intended to complement and support the assistance provided by Vermont’s Regional Development Corporations and Regional Planning Commissions
Learn more about the REDI program:
REDI Program Summary
Assistance/Services Available:
- Fundraising mapping/ funding identification
- Grant writing consulting (review, editing, drafting, etc.)
- Technical assistance critical to federal grant application (ex: feasibility study, architectural renderings, archeological assessment, mapping, business plan, etc.)
- Grant award management/reporting (short-term)
- REDI staff can identify a consultant for a client from a network of qualified professionals or accept referrals
- Cost Share: It may be appropriate for a client to contribute to the cost of services based on project, impact, client location, scale of business, or other factors.
Interested in discussing REDI funding for your project?
Submit a REDI Inquiry Form
Where to Seek Support for your Project:
REDI Consultant Request for Qualifications:
Interested in providing services to support community-based economic development projects in Vermont?
Visit our Request for Qualifications page!
The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
