Vermont covers 9,250 square miles, with a 2010 estimated population of 625,741 people – with 414,480 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, 95.3% of the state’s population is white, 1.0% is Black/African-American, 1.3% is Asian, and 1.5% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2010).
There are 14 hospitals in Vermont, 12 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 8 hospitals identified as Critical Access Hospitals (Sept. 2010). There are 15 Rural Health Clinics in Vermont (Kaiser, 2011); 8 Federally Qualified Health Centers providing services at 39 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2010). 10.0% of Vermont residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2008-2009).
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for Vermont residents in 2009 was $39,205, although rural per-capita income lagged at $37,980. Estimates from 2010 indicate a poverty rate of 12.8% exists in rural Vermont, compared to 11.7% in urban areas of the state. 2010 ACS data reports that 9.9% of the rural population has not completed high school, compared to 8.5% of urban populations. The unemployment rate in rural Vermont is 6.7% and the rate is 5.4% in urban Vermont (USDA-ERS, 2010).
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; North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center; Vermont Office of Rural Health and Primary Care; 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 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.
New England Rural Health RoundTable (NERHRT)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Composed of a diverse group of individuals and organizations committed to improving health and health care throughout rural New England communities. Serves as a regional rural health advocate for Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, 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.
Resources for Communities and People Solutions
State/regional organization
Helps support rural community infrastructure in the northeastern United States.
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 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
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Vermont
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM New England Region: Vermont Resources
Web site
Overview of the state and provides links to state agencies, health associations, and other resources for residents of Vermont.
Northern New England AgrAbility Project
Web site
Is committed to supporting farm families affected by a disability to be productive and successful in agriculture.
Vermont Directory of Foundations
Web site
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
Web site
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)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Vermont QuickFacts
Web site
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: Resources for All States: Tools Funding
Agricultural Medicine: Occupational and Environmental Health for Rural Health Professionals
Provides basic information and skills to enable the health care professional to function in the anticipation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of occupational illnesses and injuries in the farm community.
Entergy Micro Grants
Micro Grants can be used for projects that effectively impact arts & culture, community improvement/enrichment, education & literacy, the environment or healthy families.
Gannett Foundation Community Action Grants
Community action grant priorities include education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment.
New England Region AIDS Education and Training Center Program(s) (AETC)
Funding to improve healthcare and health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS.
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
Art and Soul of the Community: How the Arts Transformed Starksboro, Vermont
Author(s): Paulette Beete
Sponsoring organization: National Endowment for the Arts
Discusses how a local rural initiative helped communities define aspects of their rural community such as the landscape or cultural heritage and use as a basis for planning decisions and community development.
Date: 2011
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
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
Licensed Practical Nurses in Vermont Summary of January 2006 Survey: Board of Nursing Relicensure Survey
The Office of Nursing Workforce Research, Planning, and Development prepared this report to provide Vermonters with useful information on the status of Vermont's nursing workforce.
Date: 2006
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
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: 02 / 2011
See also: Resources for All States: Documents |
