The Vermont Council on Rural Development helps Vermonters and Vermont communities develop their capacity to create a prosperous and sustainable future through coordination, collaboration, and the effective use of public and private resources. The Council values the importance of individual and community self-sufficiency; of interdependency between communities; of building local capacity; and of the effective participation in the global community of the 21^st century. The Council has a great respect for locally made decisions; for Vermont’s unique culture; for the individual nature of each community; and for the balance between economic stability and environmental integrity.