Three Steps Toward
A 'Creative Economy'
By M. D. Drysdale
• Better internet access
• Environmental iniatives
• Stronger collaborations among creative organizations and people—

These three goals were chosen Thursday night to advance Randolph's standing as a "creative community."

The priorities were picked by a group of 40 people in the second community meeting introducing this locality to the "Creative Economy" concept being pioneered by the Vermont Center for Rural Development. About a dozen Vermont towns, including Randolph, have been picked by the VCRD as places where the community's overall health and prosperity might be enhanced by acknowleging and building on its "creative" resources.

These resources include the arts but not exclusively, it was stressed Thursday night by the two organizers—Alex Aldrich, who is the executive director of the Vermont Arts Council, and Helen Labun Jordan, who's heading up the VCRD's "Creative Communities" program.

"It's not just about you," Aldrich said pointedly, to an audience which indeed did include a strong representation from the arts community. "There's going to be an ebb and flow, and lots of perspectives," he noted. "The goal is to get everybody involved."

Nor, he said, will economic transformation happen overnight. In Bellows Falls—one of the demonstrated success stories—the renewal took 12 to 15 years, Aldrich said, while noting that Randolph was far ahead of where Bellows Falls was when it began.

Jordan then led an exercise designed to narrow down the strategies that Randolph's leadership could take to advance the creative economy. The results were:

• High speed interned access, including wireless hot-spots, is vital for many kinds of creative businesses.

• Defining Randolph as a "green community" would help attract young people by giving it a unique flavor and culture. It was noted that the presence here of Vermont Technical Collge, the White River Partnership, and strong local agriculture gives Randolph an advantage in this respect.

• Collaborations—perhaps including an umbrella organization—could make creative businesses more aware of each other and the contributions and needs that each present, it was stated.

Third Meeting

The third and final "creative community" organizational meeting will take place March 28 at Vermont Technical College at the Old Dorm Lounge. As in earlier sessions, snacks will be available at 6 p.m. and the session will run from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The public is invited.

Another 10 or so goals were suggested. Although not chosen, they will undoubtedly contribute to eventual success, Aldrich said. Among them:

Building a marketing campaign emphasizing Randolph as the "center" of the state;

Establishing the town as a major recreation hub;

Developing a comprehensive community calendar;

Tying existing festivals into a "cycle" of festivals including the new Fiddlehead Festival, the New World Festival, and the Fourth of July weekend.

Promoting downtown housing.

Launching a "buy-local" campaign;

Promoting safety and health as a key benefit of the Randolph area, drawing on partnership with Gifford Medical Center and other organizations;

Redefining the education system to incorporate more creativity and multiple generations;

Reaching out to new residents and former ones;

Improving nighttime activity with more kinds of evening offerings.