Rutland Herald | August 1,2012
The city of Rutland has a proud history of economic innovation and cultural creativity — and has a tremendous leadership team of volunteers who are advancing that tradition today.
The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) announced this week that the Vermont Community Leadership Award for 2012 will be presented to the volunteers of the Rutland Creative Economy at the Merchants Row stage of Friday Night Live at 6 p.m. this Friday.
The award is given each year to an individual or group in recognition of “dedication, integrity, and honorable service to community and to Vermont.”
It was easy to choose the volunteers of the Rutland Creative Economy for the award this year.
Since the inception of the Rutland Creative Economy movement six years ago, more than 400 Rutlanders have contributed their ideas and energy to advance projects designed to make Rutland a more dynamic, exciting, and fun place to live and work.
The premise behind the idea of the creative economy is that the jobs of the future will locate — or be developed by entrepreneurs — in places where culture and ideas flourish, and where entrepreneurs and innovators want to live. Part of the global competition of our time is to build such centers. In Vermont, where we worry about the loss of youth, we need to build communities where creative young people want to be and where they can develop and engage all their talents.
It is exciting to see so many wonderful efforts advancing the cultural vitality, commerce and the economic development in Rutland City. The Vermont Council on Rural Development commends all the volunteers who are leading these efforts to advance Rutland’s Creative Economy.
Even the short list of their contributions is impressive:
Building Friday Night Live! It’s the biggest party in Rutland County.
Supporting the expansion of the Farmers’ Market.
Redesigning downtown places — especially contributing ideas for Evelyn Street
Revitalizing and redeveloping the Center Street Alley.
Planning and developing the bike and walking path through the heart of the city.
Developing a dog park.
Developing “Sustainable Rutland,” raising money for environmental projects, distributing reusable canvas bags, holding Trash 2 Art, setting up downtown recycling, leading localvore efforts, advancing energy efficiency and sustainability in Rutland.
Producing successful Art Hops.
Opening the Wonderfeet Children’s Museum — a museum without walls, so far. More…(Paywall)
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