Press Releases

BURLINGTON, VT — U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) yesterday joined the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Institute for a roundtable on rural development. This comes as part of SEEC’s “Thriving Economy Project” and focused specifically on rural economies in Vermont and across the nation. Rep. Balint was joined on the panel by issue experts from across the Green Mountain State and nation and the panel was facilitated by MacKenzie Bills, the Founder and CEO of MacKenzie Bills Strategies, LLC, SEEC Policy Consultant, and Reimagining Rural Assistance Network (RRAN) Policy Consultant.

The panelists’ discussion was centered on four topic areas:

1. Federal and State rural development programs and policies;
2. Capacity building and technical assistance;
3. Outdoor recreation and tourism; and
4. Blue Sky: The Future of Rural and Tribal Development.

“Vermont has long understood that protecting our natural resources and growing our economy go hand in hand,” said Rep. Balint. “Our forests, farms, trails, and waterways support jobs, attract visitors, and sustain communities across the state. As we think about the future of rural America, we should be investing in the people, places, and natural resources that make rural communities strong. I’m grateful to SEEC Institute for bringing together leaders from across Vermont to share ideas and help chart a path forward.”

"The Growing Rural and Tribal Economies chapter of the Thriving Economy Project reflects something we hear from rural and Tribal leaders across the country: the solutions are already out there; they just need the policy support to scale,” said Max Frankel, Executive Director of the SEEC Institute. “Convenings like this and our project are focused on identifying those policies and getting them in front of policymakers like Representatives Balint and Stansbury who can act on them.”  

“Convening leaders from around Vermont to better understand our communities is the essential first step to our work,” said Tricia Coates, Director of the University of Vermont Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships. “We were pleased to work with the SEEC Institute and the office of Congresswoman Balint to bring these voices to the table.” 

"Rural and Tribal communities are dealing with compounding challenges, from disaster recovery to broadband gaps to the rising cost of living,” said MacKenzie Bills, Rural and Tribal Economies Chapter Lead (SEEC Institute). “The federal government has much opportunity if it coordinates and supports these communities effectively. The Growing Rural and Tribal Economies work in the Thriving Economy Project is about connecting the communities and leaders already doing the great work with the policy levers that can help it grow.”

SEEC’s Thriving Economy Project is comprised of a coalition of members of Congress, former senior congressional aides, officials from multiple presidential administrations, and leading energy and environmental policy experts who are collaborating on a new policy blueprint aimed at strengthening economic competitiveness, creating jobs, and delivering affordable and reliable energy for American families and businesses. The project will culminate in a landmark report to be released in September 2026 outlining a roadmap to build the economy Americans want - one that creates opportunity and long-term growth while recognizing that a truly thriving economy depends on protecting the natural resources and environment that communities across the country rely on.

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