ADDING CAPACITY HELPS COMMUNITIES THRIVE

The Northern Forest Center emphasizes the value of bringing capacity to rural communities across New England and New York, recognizing that many local leaders already have the skills but lack time, funding, and extra hands to move projects forward. Instead of only “building capacity” through training, the Center partners with towns by writing grants, managing reporting, coordinating projects, and redistributing funding in more accessible ways. Staff embedded in or near the communities supplement local government efforts and foster collaboration, ensuring that resources are applied effectively and that new ideas circulate between towns. This hands-on support not only relieves overextended leaders but also sparks progress on initiatives that might otherwise stall, proving that providing direct, practical help is a vital complement to traditional capacity-building approaches.