At the request of Governor Shumlin, the Governors’ Institute on Community Design (GICD) came to Vermont in December to support the State’s efforts to recover from Tropical Storm Irene and prepare for a more resilient future. 

The Shumlin Administration recognized the need to recover and rebuild in a way that creates more disaster-resistant communities and a more resilient economy. The Governor’s Institute on Community Design®, (www.govinstitute.org) brought experts to Vermont to advise stakeholders of the lessons learned in disaster recovery efforts in other states.

The Governors’ Institute on Community Design advises governors and state leaders as they strive to guide growth and development in their states. The Institute connects leading practitioners and academicians in the fields of government, design, development, and regional economics to support each state’s executive team to make informed choices as they shape the future of their states. 

On December 12th and 13th, 2011, after extensive interviews and research, GICD’s staff engaged a distinguished panel of experts to share their experience and discuss Vermont’s specific needs. This panel included former Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening, one of the founders of GICD; the former lieutenant governor of Iowa Patty Judge; and planning consultants Gavin Smith and Jeff Eichenfield (link to bios). The two day session provided state agency leaders an opportunity to come together and discuss how best to work together and learn from the experiences of other states. On the second day, attendees also included other participants who were active in response and recovery efforts (link to agenda).