Richmond Area Business Association

RABA Mixer & Regional Website Preview - October 11

You are invited to join the local business community on October 11th, at 5:30P, at On The Rise Bakery, for a preview of the new community web portal resource for Bolton, Huntington and Richmond as well as other
initiatives on the horizon. In addition to the fun activities of our Fall mixer, there will be a formal presentation about the web site and Western Slopes brand for our region. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.

The recent branding and the new web site only happen because volunteers believe these are critically important to creating healthy dynamic communities, RABA's mission.

In the course of any one year more than 75 volunteers give over a thousand hours!

This project was no different. When the community at last year's Economic Development Summit identified the need for a common web "portal" a team of volunteers stepped forward to see what was possible. They soon learned of a grant, applied, and eventually were awarded $17,206 by the US Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program to do just this. The total project cost is $24,000 after including in-kind match amounts.

Amy Klinger, Deb Shelby, Will Keyworth, Thomas Hark, Larry Bohen, Dave Thomas and others (the team!) soon identified the need to have an experienced grants person at helm of project. They asked Ron Rodjenski who immediately volunteered to help us develop and launch the Western Slopes web portal and brand. Ron coordinated a team of volunteers who helped write the grant. Each volunteer had a specific area of specialty that they researched and wrote. Ron coordinated the communication with USDA. As a former town administrator, Ron had the experience managing federal grants to respond quickly to the grant deadlines. He knew who talk to and how to communicate RABA's needs in an effective way.

Richmond Area Business Association President, Thomas Hark, who is also the President of the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) said, "Ron's experience and knowledge was critical to our success in receiving the grant. Now that we have received the USDA grant, he is volunteering his time to help manage overall grant reporting, fiscal management, and continuing communication with USDA."

RABA's Board and membership is appreciative of Ron's leadership on this project. Currently Ron is working hand in hand with Amy Klinger and Deborah Shelby as they develop the content and look of the Western Slopes portal. He is also developing a full directory of all local businesses. If you haven't been contacted for inclusion please email Ron at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You will get to see the fruits of their efforts on Tuesday, 5:30P, October 11 at RABA's fall mixer at On the Rise Bakery, Bridge St, Richmond. Please come and bring a friend. We are encouraging RABA members to make a special effort to attend since we will have some important business items to discuss and subsequently vote on.