AARP Vermont - Burlington Livable Community Program
Under contract to AARP-Vermont, the Snelling Center is conducting policy research and organizing public involvement in a long-term effort to make Burlington one of America’s most livable communities for people of all ages. The effort seeks to create an explicit vision for how Burlington will meet the needs of its aging population and make the city a truly livable community for all its residents. The process is focused on three elements: mobility, housing, and community engagement.

 Agency of Transportation Long Range Plan
The purpose of this project is to update the Long Range Transportation Plan for the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans). The update will incorporate on-going planning work at the state and regional levels, satisfy the requirements of federal legislation, use innovative planning techniques, and be developed as a business plan. The final outcome will be the Vermont Long Range Transportation Business Plan (LRTBP). The Snelling Center is working under contract to Resource Systems Group, Inc. of White River Jct., which is the main contractor for the planning process.


Chess Club program
The "Chess Club" model was designed by the Snelling Center for small groups of people to help each other work safely and confidentially through major life and career changes over a 1-5 year time horizon. The Chess Club has been used in Vermont and also by the Mid-Career MPA program at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.


Commission on the Future of Economic Development (CFED)
The Snelling Center is providing executive support services to the Commission on the Future of Economic Development.

CFED is a legislatively designated commission with the task of conducting strategic planning on economic development in Vermont. Each commission's five year plan shall identify the long term goals for Vermont economic development and job retention in light of the local and global economic climate and for increasing the wellbeing of Vermonters and their communities. The plan shall identify prioritized criteria by which to evaluate legislative proposals for economic development programs in the coming five years which will best serve the goals of the five year plan. It shall include the development of a meaningful benchmark process that sets economic development goals appropriate for Vermont and measures the state's position relative to those goals.

Constitutional Amendment Project
In 2007, the Vermont Legislature will again face the questions: ‘Should the Governor’s term be two years or four years? What about other statewide offices such as Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Auditor, Secretary of State and Attorney General? What about state senators and representatives? If there are longer terms, should term limits be considered? Our project will stimulate voters to engage in a serious inquiry of whether two-year or four-year terms of office are in the best interest of Vermont. Voters will be encouraged to take advantage of research, forums, presentations, and other tools. Informed public opinion and a thorough and visible public discussion will be the basis on which the Legislature will make its decision in the 2007 – 2008 biennium.


New Legislator Orientation
The Snelling Center works with staff of the Vermont legislature to deliver an orientation session for newly elected legislators. Newly elected legislators learn about their role as legislators, what resources are available, and what is expected. It is a unique opportunity to work with legislative staff and leadership, and hear from retired members of the legislature and members of the other branches of government. The orientation serves as a key tool in maintaining an effective citizen legislature.


Transportation Priorities and Finance Options in Vermont
There is no dispute that Vermont’s roads, culverts, and bridges are suffering rapid, net deterioration, and that our rail and public transportation assets need attention. Vermont’s legislative and administration leaders express that restoring existing infrastructure is a top priority. Still, according to VTrans, maintaining the current average bridge condition will require at least $55 million per year in addition to the $57 million we currently spend. Vermont’s legislative and administration leaders share a philosophy that maintaining our current transportation assets is of the highest priority; however there is not yet a shared programmatic strategy to take the state forward. Since we can’t do everything, Vermonters will need to decide the principles of how any additional monies should be spent, and how possibly to reallocate monies that exist. The Snelling Center proposes to research and provide a clear statement of the transportation infrastructure situation and its projected future under a “business as usual” scenario, research and present possible financing options or combinations of options to sustain or strategically increase funding for infrastructure improvement, engage the public in the strategic choices described above: to distill principles, rank priorities, and consider funding alternatives.

Vermont Leadership Institute
Since 1995, the Vermont Leadership Institute has been the state's premier leadership development program. VLI prepares Vermonters to affect positive change from a powerful place of self-awareness and with a deep understanding of the issues facing Vermont.