ST. JOHNSBURY – The Center for an Agricultural Economy is a sub-award recipient of the 2026 Northeast Vermont Prevention Consortium – Prevention Lead Region 3 from Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH), Umbrella and the Lamoille Family Center.
The Center for Agricultural Economy received $14,500 to build on work begun in the community through the FY24 & FY25 grant awards. The project fosters social connection, addresses needs identified by the community and emphasizes assets using a big picture approach. This year they are focusing on cultivating school-community connectivity and collaborative, youth-centered programming.
Priorities that the awards address include reducing underage substance use as well as high-risk adult substance use, increasing supports for LGBTQIA+ youth and aging Vermonters, and creating a community where youth and adults feel valued. The project will provide high-impact experiences combining substance misuse prevention education, skill-building, and celebration in safe, inclusive spaces.
The Prevention Lead Organization Grant aims to increase regional and community capacity to deliver meaningful substance use prevention to optimize well-being among individuals, families and communities across the lifespan. The total amount funded for non-competitive and competitive sub-awards for FY26 was $445,877.
Funding was made possible by the Vermont Department of Health Division of Substance Use Programs. To learn more, contact the Northeast Vermont Prevention Consortium – Prevention Lead Region 3 Regional Coordination Team; Carolyn Towne, Cheryl Chandler, Amanda Cochrane, Jessica Bickford, Roynell Sanders, Joe Stacy, and Tiffany Garces at [email protected] or visit nvrh.org/nvpc-pl.
