Vermont covers 9,250 square miles, with a 2012 estimated population of 626,011 people – with 412,310 people living in rural Vermont (USDA-ERS). Montpelier is the state capital. The state’s largest cities are Burlington, Essex and Colchester. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 95.5% of the state’s population is white, 1.1% is Black/African-American, 1.4% is Asian, and 1.6% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2011).
The state has 8 hospitals identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (March 2013). There are 15 Rural Health Clinics in Vermont (Kaiser, 2012); 8 Federally Qualified Health Centers providing services at 39 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2010). 9.0% of Vermont residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2011).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for Vermont residents in 2011 was $41,571, although rural per-capita income lagged at $40,400. Estimates from 2011 indicate a poverty rate of 12.4% exists in rural Vermont, compared to 10.7% in urban areas of the state. 2011 ACS data reports that 9.6% of the rural population has not completed high school, compared to 7.7% of urban populations. The unemployment rate in rural Vermont is 6.0% and the rate is 4.8% in urban Vermont (USDA-ERS, 2011).
For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.
Data Sources
U.S. Census Bureau:
State & County QuickFacts;
USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets;
Kaiser Family
Foundation State Health Facts;
Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
Organizations
Bi-State Primary Care Association (BSPCA)
State/regional organization
Works to foster the delivery of primary health care services to medically underserved and geographically, culturally, and linguistically isolated persons in the states of New Hampshire and Vermont.
Center for Rural Emergency Services and Trauma (CREST)
State/regional organization
Works to improve rural emergency services and trauma care in rural communities in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and surrounding areas.
Center for Rural Studies (CRS)
Academic/Research
Nonprofit, fee-for-service research organization that addresses social, economic, and resource-based problems of rural people and communities. Located at the University of Vermont.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Vermont
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, New England Region (NN/LM-NER)
State/regional organization
Supports collaboration among 16 regional libraries and over 500 library and information centers in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD)
State/regional organization
One of four regional rural development centers in the nation. Focuses on rural issues including community and economic development, food systems, natural resources, and entrepreneurship. Serves a 12 state area in the Northeast region which includes CT, DE, MA, NJ, NY, RI, PA, WV, NH, ME, MD, VT.
NorthEast Telehealth Resource Center
State/regional organization
One of the telehealth resource centers funded by the federal Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. Assists health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations. Includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.
Resources for Communities and People Solutions
State/regional organization
Works with communities of all sizes to address a broad range of needs.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Vermont (HUD)
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
USDA Rural Development State Offices: Vermont and New Hampshire
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
Vermont Agency of Human Services
State government
The goal of the Agency of Human Services is to improve the conditions of and well-being of Vermonters today and tomorrow and protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Vermont Agency of Human Services: Community Action Agencies
State/regional organization
Contains a list of the Vermont Community Action Agencies.
Vermont Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
State/regional organization
Works to promote rural health educational opportunities and address health care workforce challenges through community-based initiatives.
Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS)
State/regional organization
Works to advocate for, lead, and serve our members in their efforts to develop, and sustain, high quality health services for Vermonters.
Vermont Department of Health (VDH)
State government
Works to improve the health of Vermont residents.
Vermont Department of Health: Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
State government
Works to reduce and eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities through partnership, education, and advocacy.
Vermont Family Network
Nonprofit/Foundation
Promotes better health, education and well-being for all children and families in Vermont, with a focus on children and young adults with special needs.
Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)
State/regional organization
Vermont State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.
Vermont Office of Child Support
State government
Works to help Vermont's children. Each year the Office of Child Support collects many millions of dollars in child support for Vermont's families.
Vermont Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
State government
Provides planning, technical assistance and resources to improve access to health services throughout Vermont. A division of the Vermont Department of Health.
Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program (VRRP)
State/regional organization
A field office of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants that helps refugees and immigrants gain personal independence and economic self-sufficiency, become contributing members of their new communities, and able participants in all aspects of American life.
Tools
ERS State Fact Sheet: Vermont
Website
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Vermont
Website
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM New England Region: Vermont Resources
Website
Overview of the state and provides links to state agencies, health associations, and other resources for residents of Vermont.
Northern New England AgrAbility Project
Website
Is committed to supporting farm families affected by a disability to be productive and successful in agriculture.
Vermont Directory of Foundations
Website
Free, searchable database of Vermont foundations. Searchable by a variety of factors including grantmaker name, city, field of interest, and type of support.
Vermont Health Centers Data
Website
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
Vermont KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Website
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Vermont QuickFacts
Website
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Vermont State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
See also: State-by-State Resources: Tools Funding
Claneil Foundation Special Project Fund
Provides seed funding to emerging nonprofits, or to new projects of established organizations in the areas of education; environment; health and human services; and hunger and nutrition.
Entergy Micro Grants
Provides grants for projects that effectively impact arts and culture; community improvement/enrichment; education and literacy; the environment; or healthy families.
Gannett Foundation Community Action Grants
Supports local organizations with funding priority given to programs that focus on education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation, and cultural enrichment.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine New England Region Funding
Provides funding for National Network of Libraries members located in the New England region to assist them in conducting outreach and technology projects.
Nonprofit Training Resource Fund
Grants to organizations for employees to attend approved classes and courses that will enhance their job performance.
Inactive Funding
Inactive Funding Opportunities -
Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.
Documents, Reports and Other Publications
Aiming Higher for Health System Performance: A Profile of Seven States That Perform Well on the Commonwealth Fund’s 2009 State Scorecard
Author(s): Greg Moody, Sharon Silow-Carroll
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Demonstrates that high levels of health system performance are achievable and sustainable, and provides useful examples of policies and practices in Vermont, Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Delaware that may be associated with health system improvement.
Date: 10 / 2009
Around the Country: Local Programs Help Patients Navigate Medical Care
Author(s): Candi Helseth
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center
A look at patient navigator programs in four states: a statewide program in Georgia; a program in Kentucky for cervical cancer patients; a promotores program in Texas for chronic conditions; and a coordinated care program for cancer patients in Vermont.
Journal citation: Rural Monitor Volume 2012 Issue Spring
Date: 05 / 2012
Care Management for Medicaid Enrollees Through Community Health Teams
Author(s): Mary Takach, Janon Buxbaum
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Presents data from a 2011–2012 review of state Medicaid medical home programs in eight states. Identified community health team programs that provide an array of services, including care coordination to self-management coaching. Includes small or rural practices.
Date: 05 / 2013
Changing Faces of New England: Increasing Spatial and Racial Diversity
Author(s): Keneth M. Johnson
Sponsoring organization: Carsey Institute
Discusses racial diversity in New England. Includes information about rural or Nonmetropolitan New England.
Date: 2008
Demographic and Economic Profile: Vermont
Author(s): Kathleen K. Miller
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, income, and more. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 02 / 2009
Demographic Change in the Northern Forest
Author(s): Kenneth M. Johnson, Miranda H. Mockrin, Susan I. Stewart
Sponsoring organization: Carsey Institute
Examines the population redistribution in the Northern Forest, which includes counties scattered across northern and central Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.
Date: 03 / 2012
Exploring the Role of Regional Transportation Projects as Rural Economy Drivers
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
Describes case studies in Alabama, Oregon, and Vermont that demonstrate successful partnerships between regional development organizations (RDOs) and local governments in transportation-led economic development projects.
Date: 2011
Hospital Performance Measurement in Rural New England: Recommendations for Improvement
Sponsoring organization: New England Rural Health RoundTable
Serves as the foundation for developing a set of useful quality indicators and measures that Critical Access Hospitals in New England can use.
Date: 03 / 2010
Lessons Learned from Irene: Vermont's RPCs Address Transportation System Recovery
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
Describes the damage Hurrican Irene made to Vermont's transportation infrastructure and how the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) partnered with the state’s 11 regional planning commissions (RPCs) to assess and address local road repairs.
Date: 07 / 2012
Local Agricultural Community Exchange: Outcomes and Lessons Learned from a Public-Private Initiative to Revitalize a Downtown Community
Author(s): Michele Cranwell Schmidt
Sponsoring organization: Carsey Institute
Describes a downtown revitalization project in the rural community of Barre, Vermont. The project transformed an empty storefront into a market and café, an artisan gallery, and a commercially licensed, shared-use kitchen. Presents lessons learned, strategies, and project challenges.
Date: 2012
Opportunities to Meet the Needs of Seniors in Rural America: Cathedral Square
Author(s): Nancy Eldridge
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
Describes a network of nonprofit housing providers in Vermont who share their skills statewide, while promoting local ownership of housing.
Journal citation: Rural Voices Volume 17 Issue 4 Pages: 10
Date: 12 / 2011
Putting Broadband to Work for Vermont: Final Report of the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Council on Rural Development
Discusses how e-Vermont has built a cultural infrastructure in using online tools in communities, businesses, schools, and government in rural towns across the state.
Date: 10 / 2012
Small Business Profile: Vermont
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2 / 2013
See also: State-by-State Resources: Documents Success Stories
Integrated Reporting Technology Speeds Clinical Information Retrieval for Rural Vermont Health Providers
Orion Health's technology allowed the Mt. Ascutney Healthcare Consortium to improve the way they collect, store and transfer patient information.
North Central EMS Cooperative (NCEMSC)
- Need: The passage of the Balanced Budget Act in 1997 threatened to put many rural, volunteer emergency medical services (EMS) providers out of business across the country due to reduced Medicare payments for ambulance services
- Intervention: The North Central EMS Cooperative (NCEMSC) was created as a mechanism for EMS providers to achieve cost reduction through group purchasing
- Result: The program now brings discounts on EMS supplies to almost 4,000 members across the United States, Canada, and Mexico
Precision Valley Physical Activity and Nutrition Consortium
The Precision Valley Physical Activity and Nutrition Consortium will increase youth and family access to physical activities and increase opportunities for healthy food choices in Springfield and Windsor, Vermont.
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