Nearly 60 new residents gathered at Lake Paran for Southwestern Vermont’s third annual New Vermonter Welcome Picnic, part of the region's growing effort to make relocation about more than simply getting people across the state line.

Vermont Department of Economic Development leaders joined the Bennington County Regional Commission and other partners for a project immersion tour that demonstrated just how much redevelopment is occurring across Bennington at the same time.

Seven years after the closure of Southern Vermont College, its historic mountainside campus is moving toward a new chapter. Alfred Weissman Real Estate has proposed transforming the property into The Orchards, a hospitality, residential and commercial development centered around the landmark Everett Mansion.

The platform brings together regional data, development opportunities, economic reports, workforce information, business resources and stories of investment already taking place throughout Southwestern Vermont. The larger goal is to make the region easier to understand — and easier to discover — for people outside our borders. Southwestern Vermont combines Vermont’s quality of life with proximity to the Capital Region, Berkshires and major Northeast markets, but those advantages only create opportunity when prospective investors and residents know they exist.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is making a major investment in both health care access and downtown Bennington through development of a new Dartmouth Health Family Medicine Residency. The program will be located within Phase II of the Putnam Block, bringing medical education directly into the heart of downtown.

The Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester has completed a transformative expansion designed to strengthen the Northshire as a cultural destination. The centerpiece of the $14.5 million capital project is a new 12,000-square-foot addition to Yester House, providing museum-quality galleries, collection storage and new public spaces.

The redevelopment of the former Bennington High School is turning a long-vacant 100,000-square-foot landmark into a new community anchor. The approximately $40.2 million project combines housing, child care, recreation, education and community services while preserving one of downtown Bennington’s most recognizable historic buildings.

One of Southwestern Vermont’s largest and longest-standing manufacturers continues to grow. Mack Molding, headquartered in Arlington, announced a significant group of new engineering, manufacturing, quality and business hires in response to strong demand for its plastic injection molding and contract manufacturing services.

A new partnership between the Vermont State Treasurer’s Office and The Bank of Bennington is bringing $2.5 million in low-interest financing to housing projects throughout Bennington County. The Building Up Bennington initiative is designed to help developers construct new homes and bring vacant or underused properties back into productive use.

Southwestern Vermont is continuing its effort to attract and retain new residents through Vermont’s Grants for Relocation Outreach Work (GROW) program. The Southwestern Vermont Chamber was one of 15 organizations selected for the program’s second funding cycle and is participating in both the relocation and retention tracks.