TRORC Executive Director Peter Gregory (left) and Regional Planner Meghan Asbury (right) accept an Impact Award from NADO President Scott Koons (middle) at the 2019 NADO Annual Training Conference in Reno, NV.

(Woodstock, VT)— The Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) is a recipient of a 2019 National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Impact Award for its work in supporting the economic prosperity and interdisciplinary connections for the creative sector in the east central Vermont region. The NADO Impact Awards program honors organizations for their creative approaches to advancing regional community and economic development and improved quality of life.  This project has made a significant impact on our region and demonstrates the diversity of services and program delivery provided by TRORC.

TRORC has been actively working to boost the region’s creative sector since 2016 when the organization pioneered an economic impact study on the creative economy of region, which accounts for nearly 9% of the region’s total employment. Through multiple funding sources, and alongside a variety of partners, TRORC has been successful in organizing a steering committee representing the region’s zone of the Vermont Creative Network (a program of the Vermont Arts Council). This steering committee, called 3CVT (Cornerstone Creative Community) was formed in 2016 and became active with projects in 2017. In 2017, 3CVT hosted its first community event. Since then, 3CVT has hosted six of these events throughout the region. The events serve multiple purposes: networking, informational presentations from local artists and state agencies, and an opportunity for creatives to participate in guided discussions and provide input on how the 3CVT committee can provide the most impactful services and resources as work continues in the future. Project partners include the Vermont Arts Council and its Vermont Creative Network Program; the Cornerstone Creative Community (3CVT) Volunteer Steering Committee; and local artists, artisans, and entrepreneurs who live and work within the 3CVT Zone of east central Vermont.

Award-winning projects were honored during NADO’s 2019 Annual Training Conference, held October 19-22 in Reno, NV.  The 2019 class of award recipients consists of 100 projects from 66 organizations spanning 24 states.  These projects are presented in an interactive “Story Map” developed by NADO and CivicLens that includes project summaries and partners.  The Story Map is available online at:  https://www.nado.org/impactawards/.     

“The Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards program is an opportunity each year for NADO to publicly recognize the important services that regional development organizations deliver to their local communities,” said 2018-2019 NADO President Scott Koons, executive director of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council, located in Gainesville.  “The projects awarded have made significant impacts on their regions and demonstrate the diversity of programs and resources provided by regional development organizations across the country.” 

TRORC provides professional planning, mapping, facilitation, grant writing, and project management services for its thirty member towns in east-central Vermont.

For more information, contact Meghan Asbury at 802-457-3188 or via email at [email protected]