Although Newport, Vermont, is the largest municipality in Orleans County, it is a very small city.
It’s population is 4,700 according to the 2010 census.
Over time, however, the regions economic engines slowed and essentially stopped.
Today, the community remains in one of the most remote regions of the state.
Patricia Sears has a vision for how Newport can thrive again.
In 2012, Sears was named Newports Citizen of the Year.
The following year she led Newport’s efforts to join theAARP connection of Age-Friendly Communities.
In July 2014 Sears was named president ofAARP Vermont, a volunteer position.
Most of your career was spent working on community and economic development issues overseas.
How do those experiences relate to working in rural Vermont?
A key to success when working in any community is listening listening and learning.
Another key is tenacity.
People will tell you something cant be done because it was tried before and didnt work.
Similarly, when youre looking at results its not just measuring what youthinksuccess is but measuring what successreallyis.
Also, looking at what a communitydoeshave helps it see what itdoesnthave and that helps inform next steps.
In Newport we have an international lake.
We have access to farms, so we really can do a better job of eating healthier.
We have a walking path that goes all the way up to the Canadian border.
We have bodies of water we can use for kayaking or swimming or canoeing.
Why did Newport join the AARP online grid of Age-Friendly Communities?
Newport is committed to enhancing and expanding its age-friendly attributes.
Newport is a hub for the regions employment, services, shopping and dining.
We know that economic development must be integrated with community development in order for success to be sustainable.
(There are actually efforts underway to improve winter mobility opportunities via snowshoes and cross-country skiing.)
Newport is a largely rural community, yet you and other community leaders helped create a community garden program.
We conducted a neighborhood survey asking people whats important to them and what they see as needs.
A community garden was a priority development for the residents.
To be honest, a community garden was not something I thought they would say.
This neighborhood was an area where seniors didnt feel safe walking around and getting off their porches.
People with young children didnt feel safe letting their kids walk around the neighborhood.
The playground was too far away to walk to.
There was a lot of dog poop lying around.
The community garden we wound up creating is a private-public partnership.
A pride has developed in that neighborhood and the people are taking care of one another.
The streets are cleaner.
Residents now spend time outside and theyre getting off of their porches and are talking to one another.
And to repay the damage you did youre going to give us more volunteer hours helping with the garden.
The kids are developing a healthy connection to the community.
Its been quite an attitude adjustment.
The garden has sold some vegetables and herbs to local downtown restaurants and contributed produce to nearby food shelves.
Seeing the success, other people have come forward to say, Ive got a plot of land.
Do you want to work on that one, too?
The neighborhood has a good core of volunteers but they had almost overextended.
Last year they had close to seven garden plots.
Now theyre holding at five so they can do the best job with them.
Then its all yours, and call if you need help.
Improving Internet access to Newport and the surrounding areas has been a community priority.
As part of our economic development efforts we need better access to affordable high-speed Internet.
Being able to work from home or be in a maker-space once or twice a week is important.
Good Internet access is essential to start-ups and businesses.
Were also looking to be multi-generational.
Older people can be a good resource for younger people, and vice versa.
What can community leaders and residents of other towns and cities learn from Newports efforts and successes thus far?
Age-friendly awareness has not only benefitted Newport, it has become an asset for advancing positive change.
Other communities can look at Newport and learn the power of community investment and participation.
Small grants are incredibly important to making a difference and showing an investment in local solutions.
The meeting gives residents a voice in developing age-friendly improvements that advance positive change in neighborhoods and the community-at-large.
For so many years Newport has been the last in the state in just about everything.
But about 10 years ago we basically said, Okay, thats a wrap.
Now we are going to be first.
Everyone was like, Yeah, sure.
That helped us attract other experts who have encouraged us to pursue an assets-based approach to development.
With form-based code a developer cant come in and just drop a big box store on us.
Today, people come to Newport and say, Wow, this place rocks!
