Climate-Focused Community Engagement and Pilot Implementation

The contract seeks to implement a pilot program in an economically disadvantaged community in Vermont aimed at testing and improving a drought mitigation planning template through direct community engagement. The initiative will involve organizing outreach activities, facilitating workshops with local residents and stakeholders, collecting environmental and socioeconomic data, and integrating feedback to refine the template into a more effective, culturally responsive tool. The goal is to build local capacity for drought preparedness while ensuring the planning framework is adaptable to the unique needs of underserved populations. This subcontract, issued by the Vermont Department of Economic Development, is open for bidding with a deadline of August 21, 2026, and falls under the NAICS code 611710, which relates to other schools and instruction. The project requires a deep partnership with the selected community, emphasizing participatory methods and sustainable outcomes. While specific location details are not provided, the emphasis is on serving a region facing economic hardship and heightened vulnerability to climate-related stressors. The success of the pilot will depend on meaningful collaboration, data-driven adjustments, and the creation of a replicable model for other at-risk communities in Vermont and beyond.