Vergennes Partnership 2025 Fundraising Campaign

THE CHALLENGE: Which gentleman can pull in the most donations for our 2025 Fundraising Campaign and secure bragging rights for an entire yea —and maybe even a special t-shirt!

WHO THEY ARE: Both Scott and Cory have been pillars of the Vergennes community their entire lives. They have witnessed, and have been a part of, the tremendous renaissance Vergennes has experienced over the last 25 years. For more info on each, click the blue buttons in the above right.

THE VOTE: Are you Team Scott or Team Cory? Be sure to cast your vote when you donate! And keep a look out in the city for the VP Fundraising Thermometer—complete with happy Scott & Cory stick figures—tracking the progress of their competition!  

Why Give?

Because a beautiful, welcoming and healthy downtown benefits everyone—from residents and visitors to businesses and service providers. Because families and visitors need reasons to stop and stay. Because a flower basket, a good sidewalk, and a packed summer event in City Park make our city better for all of us. Because you want to maintain and further uplift the community you love so much—the Little City with the Big Heart…the City of Vergennes.

Your Generosity Powers Community Growth and Vibrancy

Downtowns are the heartbeats of our towns and cities—places where small businesses thrive, neighbors connect, and history is preserved. At Vergennes Partnership, our mission is to nurture, develop, and sustain a vibrant downtown that benefits everyone…residents, business owners, workers, and visitors. But as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we simply can’t do it without your help!  Your donation—no matter the size—will have an immediate and lasting impact.

Every day, we work to support and promote local businesses, organize community events, improve public spaces, and partner with leaders and residents to shape a downtown—and a city—that is fun, safe, welcoming, and full of life. Your contribution directly funds our efforts, as we maximize every dollar we receive. 

Vergennes Partnership is Making It Happen!

For more than 25 years, the Partnership has been helping Vergennes grow and thrive — and with your support, we can continue to Make It Happen! We would love to share what we have already accomplished, what we are working on today, and the exciting plans we have for the future.

But first, a few things you might not know:

●      Independent Nonprofit: The Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — completely independent from the City of Vergennes and the Addison County Chamber of Commerce.

●      Powered by Volunteers: With just one part-time Executive Director and an all-volunteer Board, every project is powered by the passion and energy of dedicated community volunteers.

●      Focused on Vergennes: Since 1999, we’ve been the only organization solely and fully committed to the well-being and promotion of the City of Vergennes.

●      Community-Supported:  Every promotion, program, event and improvement is made possible thanks to generous supporters like you who believe in our mission.

So, what difference has the Partnership made in Vergennes — and how are we continuing to Make It Happen? Let’s take a look…

What You See…

Streetscape Upgrades:

●      Seasonal color & cheer: Flower gardens and baskets on the Otter Creek Bridge, along Main Street and in City Park from May–October, plus festive holiday décor and City Park tree lighting — all designed and maintained by our Board and volunteers.

●      Highlighting our local services and hidden gems: New wayfinding signage downtown and throughout the city — grant-funded.

●      Adding beauty & artistry: Public art projects like the “Flower Stop” at the Green Street bus station — grant-funded.

●      Supporting community projects: Partnered on the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church community garden grant.

●      Sharing our history: A new informational kiosk at Macdonough Park.

Free Community Events:
The Partnership also brings people together with free, family-friendly events that celebrate all that makes Vergennes special:

●      Groovin’ on the Green annual fall concert and food fest in City Park.

●      Ho Ho Ho Holiday Stroll provides fun activities for children and the young-at-heart.

●      Quarterly Blenders are casual gatherings that connect neighbors and showcase local businesses.

Historic Sites Walking Tour:

The tour includes 42 sites of note all around Vergennes. It is available as a playbill (available at City Hall, lu•lu ice cream and Bixby Library) and online at https://www.vergennesdowntown.org/walking-tour. 

Behind the Scenes…

Downtown/City Promotion:

●      Spreading the word: Ads in local and regional publications plus custom tourism marketing materials to showcase Vergennes.

●      Keeping people informed: A robust website, monthly newsletters, and active outreach on Facebook, Instagram, and Front Porch Forum.

●      Creating retail promotions: Annual events like Mother’s Day Late Night on Main, the Summer & Fall Sidewalk Sales, Black Friday/Small Business Saturday, and Magic on Main. We handle everything from posters, banners, and prizes of Vergennes Green to paid ads and social media buzz.

●      Supporting local shopping: Ongoing promotion of the Vergennes Green gift certificates.

●      Helping businesses thrive: Coordinating communication, sharing resources, and acting as a liaison with city leaders, community groups, and partners.

●      Cheering on new businesses: Supporting new owners and providing assistance through our Economic Development Committee.

●      Making the city more welcoming: Opening City Hall bathrooms on event weekends for shoppers and visitors. In 2025, VP funded upgrades of the bathrooms to better represent Vergennes.

Financial Incentive & Grants:
The Partnership is proud to champion the securing of grants and the support of new and growing businesses — all to benefit Vergennes as a whole. Example successes include:

●      Improved infrastructure: Safer, smoother sidewalks along Main Street (most recently in front of the Basin Block) — grant-funded.

●      Greater accessibility: Significant ADA improvements for downtown buildings along Main Street — grant-funded.

●      City Park enhancements: Upgraded power and lighting, a new EV charging station, and a bike fix-it station — all grant-funded.

●      A win for the Vergennes Grand: We expanded our “designated downtown” boundaries to unlock valuable tax benefits for the Grand during a time of soaring building costs.

●      Support for businesses: Guidance on Revolving Loan Funds and assistance with storefront upgrades through secured grants.

In the Future…

Looking ahead, the Partnership is excited to build on these efforts and take bold new steps for Vergennes. In the coming months and years, we plan to:

●      Boost tourism and outreach by expanding marketing and social media to shine a brighter spotlight on our downtown and surrounding area.

●      Bring in new funding through grants and other opportunities that directly benefit local businesses and the community.

●      Create a more beautiful and safer Main Street through the removal of the utility poles and relocation of the wires.

●      Reimagine our waterfront with improvements like new docks and enhanced parks to encourage both economic growth and community enjoyment.

●      Lead the historic Pump House renovation, preserving a beloved piece of Vergennes history while creating new opportunities for its future.

With your continued support, these future goals are within reach — donate and together we can Make It Happen!

Get Involved!

If you support the mission of Vergennes Partnership and want to make a difference in our community, we would love to have you join us as a VOLUNTEER!

We always welcome extra hands for:

●      Gardening (May–October): Keep our downtown blooming and beautiful—no experience is required! Help us throughout the growing season whenever you have the time.

●      Special events & projects: From staffing special events (e.g., Groovin’ on the Green, Ho Ho Ho Holiday Stroll) and lighting the City Park trees in November, to social media outreach, market research and grant writing, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

●      Committee work: Help shape the future of the Little City by joining one of our committees: Community Engagement Committee, Design Committee, Marketing & Promotion Committee and Economic Development Committee.

Click HERE for a slide presentation with more details!

Your time and energy directly support the health and vibrancy of our downtown. Whether you can give an hour or a season, your contribution is greatly needed and will make an impact!

Interested? Contact Christine Garrow, Executive Director
VergennesPartnership@gmail.com or 802.398.7399