On January 22, 2026, nearly 100 community members from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom descended on the Statehouse in Montpelier for NEK Day—a powerful display of rural advocacy and collective voice.
Representatives from Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties came together to meet with legislators, provide testimony, and highlight the unique challenges and strengths of one of Vermont’s most rural regions. The NEK is one of only five federally recognized REAP Zones in the nation, acknowledging both its economic challenges and the critical need for targeted support.
The message from the day was clear: rural communities need a level playing field, not handouts. Senator Peter Welch emphasized the importance of infrastructure—affordable healthcare, broadband access, and support for small businesses and farms. State Treasurer Mike Pieciak discussed his NEK Baby Bonds pilot program aimed at addressing wealth inequality in the region.
But perhaps the most passionate moment came from Representative Leanne Harple, an NEK educator, who defended the region’s small schools: “We can’t legislate away geography. We can’t consolidate away rural life. Our schools are smaller because our communities are smaller. That’s not a flaw—it’s a feature.”
The priorities are clear: housing, healthcare, affordability, climate resilience, and sustainable funding. Most importantly, education reform must recognize that strong rural schools are essential to strong rural communities.
As Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers, a fifth-generation Kingdom resident, put it: “Our rural heritage may present challenges, yes, but it also fosters collaboration, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to one another.”
NEK Day proved that when rural voices unite, they cannot be ignored.