Spring 2013 Symposium

The Forgotten 20 Percent: Land Use Development and Conservation Challenges in Rural America

Friday, April 19, 2013

Chase Community Center, Vermont Law School, South Royalton, VT

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Co-hosted by the Environmental Law Center, Office of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Diversity, and the American Planning Association, Northern New England Chapter

About the Symposium:

This symposium addressed a wide range of cutting-edge topics facing rural America, including:

    • Demographic trends in Vermont and in other rural areas across the country and the world
    • Alternative strategies for effective conservation of rural back country areas
    • Approaches for providing affordable, high quality internet, transportation and other public services
    • Exploring the state of the rural housing stock and rural economy
    • Examining the benefits and burdens of use-value taxation, such as the widely used “current use” tax programs

Watch the Symposium Here:

Schedule:

8:00 – 8:45 Registration 8:45 – 9:00 Welcome and Introductions

    • Marc Mihaly. President, Dean, and Professor of Law, Vermont Law School.

9:00 – 10:15 Keynote Panel

    • Ken Johnson, Senior Demographer, the Carsey Insitute, University of New Hampshire
    • Gershon Feder, Chair, Publications Review Committee, International Food Policy Research Institute
    • Mark Lapping, Distinguished Professor, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine

10:15 – 11:30 Rural Infrastructure: Challenges and Strategies

    • Karen Horn, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
    • Robert Bruce, Former General Counsel, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
    • Joe Segale. Policy and Planning Manager, Vermont Agency of Transportation.

12:15 – 1:30 Alternative Approaches to Land Conservation

    • Robert Liberty, Director, Urban Sustainability Accelerator, Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University
    • Jane Difley, President/Forester, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests,
    • Robert Anderberg. Vice President and General Counsel, Open Space Institute

1:30 – 2:45 Rural Taxation: Benefits and Burdens

    • Deb Brighton, Independent Consultant in VT, specializing in tax policy issues
    • Lori Lynch, Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Maryland,
    • Darby Bradley. Former President, Vermont Land Trust

3:15 – 4:30 Building Sustainable Communities: Employment and Housing in Rural America

    • Gus Seelig, Executive Director, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
    • Laurie Ristino. Director, Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, Vermont Law School
    • Shaun Gilpin, Program Director, Mobile Home Program, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
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