The Vermont Council on Rural Development released a report with the results of the first round of the Climate Catalysts Innovation Fund. VLITE provided seed funding of $15,000, through VCRD, with the idea of providing opportunities to town energy committees and other local groups to test out ideas around energy and environment, help neighbors, and make change in their communities. The initial seed money from VLITE grew to $40,000 with help from VSECU and the Vermont Community Foundation. Eighteen communities undertook projects ranging from window insert building to nutrient recycling.
This year VLITE provided another round of $15,000 for the Innovation Fund as part of VCRD’s Climate Economy Program, and once again the grant pool grew – this time to $83,000 – helping dozens of local projects around the state to happen.