Innovators in Rural Community Economic Development

Resource Library

Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 2015

Yellow Wood in Transition; Update on Our Work; WealthWorks; Presentations; Measurement; Staffing News; Reading & Watching


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Opportunities for Sustainable Natural Resource-Based Development in the Dragon Run Watershed

This final report documents a study conducted by Yellow Wood to identify potential opportunities for sustainable natural resource-based economic development in the Dragon Run watershed. The Special Area Management Plan recognizes that one of the keys…


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Exploring Common Measures for Food Hubs: Documenting Impact, Sharing Stories, Connecting with Stakeholders

This draft report is a product of a study supported by the Wallace Center and the National Good Food Network. The study explored how a set of common measures might assist food hubs and the food hub community in telling their stories and improving their…


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Case Study: Building an Agriculture Strategy

This case study profiles Yellow Wood's work with Goody Clancy and the Town of Mansfield to develop an agricultural strategy for the Town of Mansfield as part of their updated Plan of Conservation and Development.


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Case Study: Outcome Funding Evaluation for NESARE

This case study profiles Yellow Wood's work with the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NESARE) to assess the impact of an outcome funding framework on principal investigators and beneficiaries of projects funded by NESARE.


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Case Study: Sustainable Water Management

This case study profiles Yellow Wood's work with the West Central Initiative to help small Minnesota communities meet their water-related needs in a cost effective manner while protecting water resource quality.


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Case Study: Value-Added Agriculture Feasibility Study

This case study profiles Yellow Wood's work with Suri Paco LLC to assess the feasibility of an alpaca fiber mid-tier value chain to aggregate and process alpaca fiber into a range of value-added products that make use of all grades of fiber produced…


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Case Study: Increasing the Use of Sustainable Wood Energy

This case study profiles Yellow Wood's work with the US Forest Service Wood Education Resource Center to increase the use of sustainable wood energy.  Yellow Wood worked with Richmond Energy Associates to provide independent, third party biomas feasibility…


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You Get What You Measure®

This video describes You Get What You Measure®, Yellow Wood's trademarked approach to strategic planning that incorporates measurement and can be used as a framework for evaluation. The video also shares…


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Case Study: Assessing Impacts of Liquefied Natural Gas Terminals

This case study profiles Yellow Wood's work for Save Passamaquoddy Bay on an economic and fiscal impact analysis of proposed liquefied natural gas terminals.  Save Passamaquoddy Bay (www.savepassamaquoddybay.org)…


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You Get What You Measure: Public Workshops

Join us for public workshops that provide an introduction to Yellow Wood’s unique approach to strategic planning and measurement, You Get What You Measure®. The approach integrates systems thinking to identify key leverage indicators, and aligns actions…


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Becoming a Measurement Guide: Training Brochure

Twice a year, Yellow Wood Associates, Inc., of St. Albans, VT, offers professionals with facilitation skills the opportunity to learn how to deliver You Get What You Measure®. In development and use for over fifteen years, You Get What You Measure®…


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WealthWorks Training for Coaches and Coordinators: Application

WealthWorks is a 21st-century approach that belongs in every community and economic development toolkit. WealthWorks is inclusive, bringing together and connecting community assets to meet market demand in ways that build lasting livelihoods and upward…


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WealthWorks Training for Coaches and Coordinators: Brochure

This brochure provides an overview of the WealthWorks Training for Coaches and Coordinators. WealthWorks is a 21st-century approach that belongs in every community and economic development toolkit. WealthWorks is inclusive, bringing together and connecting…


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Wealth Creation in Rural Communities – Building Sustainable Livelihoods: Cross Regional Convening

Place-based grantees from three regions (Central Appalachia, the Alabama Black Belt and Mid-South Delta, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas), resource team members, researchers, and Ford Foundation staff met at the Ford Foundation office in New…


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Why did Yellow Wood create Green Community Technologies?

Provides an overview of the need for communities to assess their infrastructure needs and make sustainable, systemic decisions about how to address infrastructure and wastewater challenges.
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Green Community Technologies Phase 2 Franklin

Mary Ellen Keith, Supervisor of the Town of Franklin, and Shanna Ratner, Principal of Yellow Wood Associates narrate this film highlighting the results of Yellow Wood's Green Community Technologies© work with the Town of Franklin.


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Mansfield Agriculture Workshop Summary

This report summarizes an interactive workshop hosted by the Town of Mansfield on the Town’s Agriculture Strategy as part of their Mansfield Tomorrow initiative. Yellow Wood Associates facilitated the workshop in their role as the consultant responsible…


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Parks and Beaches: Common Cents for the Common Wealth

Parks and Beaches: Common Cents for the Common Wealth quantifies the value of the park system as an engine of Massachusetts economic development. This value includes recreational tourism spending, recreational equipment spending, the timber industry,…


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Case Study: Community Forestry Workshop

This case study profiles Yellow Wood's work for the Quebec Labrador Foundation on a Community Forestry Workshop in Gorham, New Hampshire. This workshop was undertaken as part of our work with the National Community Forestry Center - Northern Forest…


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Community Forestry Made Real: Case Studies in Landowner Cooperation

This report describes the efforts of several Vermont forest landowners who developed cooperative relationships with their neighbors in order to provide habitat for wildlife.


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So, You're Thinking of Starting a Forest Landowner Co-Op?: An Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography describing materials and resources available in the Northern Forest for those interested in finding out more about how, why, and when cooperative action forest landowners makes-sense ecologically, economically, and socially.


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Forest Ownership & Forest Management in the Northern Forest

A selectively annotated bibliography containing materials collected between March, 2000 and November, 2001 while reviewing the literature connecting forest ownership and forest management in the Northern Forest region.


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Engaging Residents in Planning for Municipal Forests: A Case Study of Lincoln, Vermont

Town forests are a unique aspect of forestry in New England. Originally intended as a source of wood supply for the town, these forests now provide a means for educating the community about the value of working forests. This case study of Lincoln,…


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Finding Middle Ground Through the Arts: Using the Arts to Articulate a Balance between "Wood" and "Woods"

This report chronicles the Middle Ground Collaborative and its development of an interactive exhibit to tour the state of Maine in an attempt to generate dialogue about the history and future of Maine's forest resources. This report compiles the research…


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Changing from Industrial to Non-Industrial Ownership in the Northern Forest: A Case Study

This report serves dual purposes: it reports on the findings of a research project and also explores the process of participatory research using a case study approach. This is a story of a volatile industry looking for answers. This report contains…


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Meeting the Needs of Communities and Forests: The Development of a Biomass Energy System in Richford, Vermont

Summarizes the learnings and insights of a group of citizens from Richford, Vermont as they have explored the issues relating to the supply and harvesting of biomass from local lands. The Richford Wood Initiative (RWI) has been meeting regularly since…


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School-Based Forest Education in the Northern Forest

A description of several school-based forest education programs in the Northern Forest Region- Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.


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The Story of the East Branch of Fish Creek Working Group in Tug Hill, New York

This report demonstrates how a grassroots effort to protect forest values can succeed where top-down federal and state efforts failed.


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Choices and Challenges in Town Forest Management

A report summarizing a workshop on town forest management held in Gorham, New Hampshire in September of 2003. This workshop, sponsored by the National Community Forestry Center, Northern Forest Region and the Quebec-Labrador Foundation/Atlantic Center…


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What is Community Forestry and Why Does It Matter?

This report provides an overview for all those interested in learning more about community forestry, combining original material with articles by several well known community forestry practitioners to create a concise introduction to this fascinating…


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Who's Planning for Forests?: Results from a Region-Wide Contest

This report summarizes results of the 2001 Town Plans contest, with excerpts from most of the submissions.


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Community Roadmap to Renewable Woody Biomass Energy

A civic decision making tool for evaluating the viability of wood biomass district heating systems for New Hampshire communities.


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Case Study: Cooperatives and Wealth Creation - a Pilot Study

This case study profiles Yellow Wood's work, in collaboration with the National Cooperative Business Association, to document the impacts cooperatives have on multiple forms of wealth in their communities. This work was undertaken as part of Yellow…


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Case Study: Leadership in Community Wealth Creation

This case study profiles Yellow Wood's project management work with the Wealth Creation in Rural Communities - Building Sustainable Livelihoods (WealthWorks) initiative.


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Third Interim Report: Formulating a Sustainable Economic Development Process for Rural America

A balanced approach to development takes account of the triple bottom line, benefiting the economy, the environment, and social inclusion simultaneously, while considering the impacts on seven forms of wealth (individual, social, intellectual, natural,…


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Second Interim Report: Formulating a Sustainable Economic Development Process for Rural America

A balanced approach to development takes account of the triple bottom line, benefiting the economy, the environment, and social inclusion simultaneously, while considering the impacts on seven forms of wealth (individual, social, intellectual, natural,…


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Fourth Interim Report: Formulating a Sustainable Economic Development Process for Rural America

A balanced approach to development takes account of the triple bottom line, benefiting the economy, the environment, and social inclusion simultaneously, while considering the impacts on seven forms of wealth (individual, social, intellectual, natural,…


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Wealth Creation in Rural Communities – Building Sustainable Livelihoods: Cross Regional Convening

Place-based grantees from three regions (Central Appalachia, the Alabama Black Belt and Mid-South Delta, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas), resource team members, researchers, and Ford Foundation staff met at the Ford Foundation office in New…


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Cross Regional Convening March 20-21, 2012: Participant Photos and Bios

Photos and biographies of participants in the 2012 Cross Regional Convening of the Wealth Creation in Rural Communities initiative, supported by the Ford Foundation.
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Yellow Wood Notes, Fall 2007

Derby, New Gloucester, America's Byways, NESARE, What's New at Yellow Wood?, Fall Puzzler and Fall Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Fall 2010

Wealth Creation in Rural Commuities, Central Appalachian Network, Biomass Energy, Workforce Central, What's New at Yellow Wood? Winter Puzzler and Winter Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 1997

Redefining the Role of the Consultant; A Brief Introduction to Learning Communities; Update on Our Work; Recent YWA Publications; Suggested Reading; YWA's New Web Site; Vermont Computer Lingo


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 1998

YWA Receives Small Business Innovation Research Grant; Options for Agriculture; Community Learning Teams; Participatory Tools for Information Gathering; Options for a Vermont Telecommunications Center; Right Brain Work-Out; Tom Says Goodbye


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Yellow Wood Notes, Spring 2007

National Network of Forest Practitioners; Green Community Technologies, etc.; What's New at Yellow Wood?; Spring Puzzler and Spring Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Spring 2008

Ford Foundation, You Get What You Measure©, Green Community Technologies©, What’s New at Yellow Wood?; Spring Puzzler and Spring Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Spring 2012

Update on Our Work: Value-Added Producer Grant Feasibility Studies, Wealth Creation in Rural Communities, Measurement News, Connecting Rural Communities to Wealth, Creation Concepts, Green Community Technologies©


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 2000

Using Community-Based Measurement; Social Capital; What's Next for See the Forest?; Performance Standards for Community Services; Environmental Technologies and Rural Development; National Community Forestry Center; Celebrating Our Fifteenth Birthday


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 2001

Updates on Our Work; A Summer Puzzler; Using a Listserv to Create Connections; National Community Forestry Center Update; Mike Ballard joins the staff of YWA


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 2002

Green Community Technologies; YWA as Project Manager; Surveying Vermont's Airport; Economic Impacts of School Location; New YWA Staff; Island Pond Wood Workers Alliance; Union County Farmers; Tricks of the Trade: "Breaking the Ice"; Summer Puzzler…


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 2003

Updates on Our Work; What Our Former Clients Are Doing; Developing Rules for Effective Group Work; New YWA Staff; Summer Puzzler and Summer Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 2004

Updates on Our Work; Update on Past Clients; Stories for the Northern Forest; Action to Outcome Mapping; What's New at YWA?; YWA Now on GSA; Summer Puzzler and Summer Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 2005

Update on our Work; News from Former Clients; What's New at Yellow Wood?; Collecting Information that Matters; Summer Puzzler and Summer Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer/Fall 2006

Update on our Work: Measurement, Community Forestry, Home Town Competitiveness, and More; What's New at Yellow Wood?; Summer Puzzler and Summer Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 2011

Update on Our Work: Community Roadmap to Renewable Woody Biomass Energy; Wealth Creation in Rural Communities; 25th Anniversary Party; You Get What You Measure© Presentations


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 1999

Forensic Research; Walking the Lake Champlain Basin; An Innovative Evaluation Tool; YWA Expands Training & Facilitation Services; Examining Assumptions; Direct Producer Retailer of PA Dairy Products; Mind-Bending Puzzler
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Yellow Wood Notes, Winter 2000

Project Updates; A New Evaluation Model for Business Development; Participatory Research; A New Resource for Rural People in Forest Communities; Recommended Winter Reading; Enhance Your Communication with Chiasmus


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Yellow Wood Notes, Winter 2001

Updates on Our Work; Technological Options for Rural Communities; Measuring Missouri; A Real Tough Puzzler; National Community Forestry Center; New Faces; Coming of Age in St. Albans, VT


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Yellow Wood Notes, Winter 2002

Training for Measurement Guides; Promote Learning with a Game of Jeopardy; Assisting Displaced Furniture Makers; See the Forest SM Heads South


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Yellow Wood Notes, Winter 2003

YWA Gets Trade Mark; Defining a Researchable Question; What Our Former Clients Are Doing; National Community Forestry Center; Spoonerisms


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Yellow Wood Notes, Winter 2004

Updates on Our Work; Update on Former Clients; Telling Stories for the Northern Forest; Using the Dialogue Method; Winter Puzzler and Winter Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Winter 2005

Update on our Work; Updates on Former Clients; Stories for the Northern Forest; A Tool for Increasing Effectiveness of Board Members; What's new at YWA?; Winter Puzzler and Winter Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Winter 2006

Update on our Work; News from Former Clients; What's New at Yellow Wood?; The Power of Visualization; Winter Puzzler and Winter Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Spring 2009

Wealth Creation in Rural Communities; Central Appalachian Network; Biomass Energy; Adirondacks; What's New at Yellow Wood?; Spring Puzzler and Spring Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Winter 2010

Wealth Creation in Rural Commuities; Central Appalachian Network; Biomass Energy; Workforce Central; What's New at Yellow Wood?; Winter Puzzler and Winter Reading


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Yellow Wood Notes, Winter 2013

Wealth Creation in Rural Communities; Green Community Technologies©; Update on Agricultural Work; Measurement News; WealthWorks


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Yellow Wood Notes, Winter 1999

Focus on Forest Products; Public Market Feasibility Study; Community Forest Stewardship; YWA Hires New Research Intern; Adirondack Study Tour; Skills for Effective Communication; ...And a Challenging Puzzler


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Becoming a Measurement Guide

This video highlights the Becoming a Measurement Guide training offered by Yellow Wood.


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You Get What You Measure- Progress You Can See

This brochure highlights the You Get What You Measure© process, available training and workshop formats, past clients. Quotes throughout provide feedback from clients and participants on their experiences with You Get What You Measure.©


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Mansfield Agriculture Strategy

This agriculture strategy report was created for Mansfield Tomorrow, a Town-wide project designed to provide the vision, strategies and tools for Mansfield to become the 21st century community Mansfield wants to be. This project included a community…


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Yellow Wood Notes, Fall 2013

Launch of updated Yellow Wood website; Green Community Technologies©; Update on our Work; Measurement News; WealthWorks


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Vermont’s Environmental Sector: Identifying Green Workforce Training Needs and Opportunities

This report is the product of a study undertaken by the Vermont Environmental Consortium, funded by grants from the Vermont Community Foundation and the Redducs Foundation, to survey Vermont’s Environmental Business Sector.  The survey established…


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Yellow Wood Notes, Summer 2014

Update on Our Work; Measurement News; WealthWorks; Mapping the Strength of Your Region's Capitals; Conferences and Presentations


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Yellow Wood Notes, Spring 2015

Update on Our Work; Measurement News; Tool: Value Propositions as a Collaboration Tool; WealthWorks; Staffing News; Reading & Watching


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