Experience Shelburne provides a forum for proactive planning, coordination, and catalytic action that enhances the quality of life for residents, organizations, and visitors, while strengthening the town's fiscal health. Most of our work to date has been accomplished through community volunteers with part-time support from Town staff. Here is a sampling of the highlights of that work.
Highlights at a Glance
- December 2025 Securing the Future of the Shelburne Farmers Market
- November 2025 A Unifying Brand Identity for Shelburne
- October 2025 Reviving Bay Road Infrastructure and Pedestrian Safety Efforts
- September 2025 New Development Regulations Set the Stage for Shelburne's Future
- September 2025 Sharing Our Progress with the Community
- September 2025 Establishing Experience Shelburne as a Nonprofit
- August 2025 Advancing Development of the Rice Lumber Site
- Summer 2025 Expanding Winter Lights Across Shelburne
- April 2025 Launching Experience Shelburne
- January 2025 Selectboard Charters Experience Shelburne
- December 2024 Selectboard Approves O'Brien Brothers Sewer Petition
- April 2024 Building the Foundation for Experience Shelburne
- July 2021 Economic Development Report and Recommendations
Securing the Future of the Shelburne Farmers Market
December 2025
For more than a decade, the Shelburne Business and Professional Association (SBPA) nurtured the Farmers Market. However, as the market grew in popularity and complexity, it required resources and infrastructure beyond what SBPA could provide. In fall 2025, SBPA approached the Shelburne Selectboard to explore transition options. An Experience Shelburne working group collaborated with Town staff, a team from the University of Vermont, and SBPA to analyze the challenges and develop a sustainable path forward. The Selectboard adopted this plan and partnered with Experience Shelburne to guide the market beginning in 2026—ensuring this community treasure continues to thrive in a financially sustainable way.
A Unifying Brand Identity for Shelburne
November 2025
Experience Shelburne developed a shared community brand—distinct from Town government—enabling businesses, organizations, and residents to signal their shared connection to Shelburne and encourage others to experience and contribute to our community's future. The brand bridges Shelburne's strong existing identities—the Town, Farms, Museum, Teddy Bear, and others—fostering collaboration among local businesses and organizations. More than 150 community members contributed through focus groups and interviews. The effort was completed in partnership with regional firms OverUnder and Libretto, selected through an open RFP process, with community volunteers bringing additional technical expertise, local knowledge, and cost efficiencies.
Reviving Bay Road Infrastructure and Pedestrian Safety Efforts
October 2025
As the northern access to regional attractions including Shelburne Farms, Shelburne Bay Park, and a Vermont Fish & Wildlife access point—in addition to being a primary route for many residents—Bay Road is one of the busiest roads in Shelburne. For years, pedestrian safety along Bay Road has been studied but not addressed. Shelburne's $38M sewer upgrade creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity to begin addressing pedestrian safety efficiently while the road is excavated. Experience Shelburne is partnering with local, regional, and state stakeholders to develop a phased strategy addressing immediate safety needs while advancing long-term infrastructure improvements, including repair of the bridge over the LaPlatte River and the dangerous railroad underpass.
New Development Regulations Set the Stage for Shelburne's Future
September 2025
After more than two years of dedicated effort, the Shelburne Planning Commission completed a comprehensive rewrite of Shelburne's zoning ordinances and delivered Unified Land Development Regulations (ULDR) to the Selectboard for review and adoption. This significant achievement addresses affordable housing, connectivity, and environmental protection while streamlining regulation and permitting and setting the stage for smart, sustainable community and economic development. Several Experience Shelburne members contributed to the effort as Planning Commission members or as contributors on strategic issues related to community and economic development.
Sharing Our Progress with the Community
September 2025
In September 2025, we gave the Shelburne Selectboard and wider community a 9-month update on Experience Shelburne's progress, including on our mission, partnership structure, short and long term priorities, and the collaborative work underway to enhance quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors while strengthening our community's fiscal health.
Establishing Experience Shelburne as a Nonprofit
September 2025
Experience Shelburne Corp. was incorporated in Vermont in May 2025 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation and submitted its application for federal 501(c)(3) status in September 2025. The Corporation is led by a Board of Directors comprised of the Executive Committee of the Shelburne Community and Economic Development Committee, which includes both community volunteers and key Town leadership. The IRS review is typically a 3- to 12-month process. In the meantime, tax-deductible contributions can be made to the Town for Experience Shelburne committee activities under IRC Section 170(c)(1) and held in a restricted account used exclusively for our work. This allows operations and community support to continue seamlessly while approval is pending.
Advancing Development of the Rice Lumber Site
August 2025
The former Rice Lumber property is one of Shelburne's most strategic development opportunities—nearly 15 acres anchoring the northern portion of our Village, with excellent transportation access, full utilities, and strong community demographics. In 2021, Shelburne purchased a parcel within the site as part of a shared infrastructure agreement with Healthy Living Market. Due to pandemic delays, development has stalled. Experience Shelburne is working with the Town and engaging potential developers and partners to help shape the entire site's future. This is a one-time opportunity: what happens here will define Shelburne's character and vitality for decades to come. Done well, this site could offer more local food, service, and retail options, create gathering spaces that strengthen community life, provide housing options residents need, and anchor a more vibrant and self-sufficient local economy.
Expanding Winter Lights Across Shelburne
Summer 2025
Shelburne Museum's Winter Lights expanded beyond Museum grounds in 2024 with Vermont Tourism Board support, beginning to transform Winter Lights from a Museum attraction into a Shelburne-wide celebration. Encouraged by Experience Shelburne's analysis and support, the Town partnered with the Museum to continue this collaboration in 2025, enlivening the historic village, encouraging shopping and dining, and demonstrating how partnership strengthens community while attracting winter visitors. Our goal is to recruit additional partners and extend Winter Lights throughout Shelburne.
Launching Experience Shelburne
April 2025
During its first few months, Experience Shelburne welcomed over 20 community volunteers who collaborated with the Selectboard and the community to establish the organization's mission, charter, and structure. The committee engaged the broader community through interviews, surveys, and outreach while pursuing immediate community benefits and laying groundwork for sustained progress.
Selectboard Charters Experience Shelburne
January 2025
In January 2025, following recommendations from the economic development working group, the Selectboard officially chartered Experience Shelburne as the Town's new community and economic development committee. The Selectboard appointed initial business and community members to the committee and supported formation of Experience Shelburne Corp., the partnering nonprofit—marking the formal launch of Shelburne's public-private partnership for community development.
Selectboard Approves O'Brien Brothers Sewer Petition
December 2024
Few issues captured the tension between Shelburne's strategic priorities of housing and open space as did the O'Brien Brothers 2024 petition for sewer service. After extensive negotiations, the Selectboard granted the petition, beginning the process toward one of the largest housing developments in Shelburne's history. Benefits include the largest inclusionary housing contribution by any unsubsidized Shelburne development, up to 350 homes including about 132 small and medium-sized units, and approximately 88 acres of newly conserved land—the largest addition to Shelburne's open space in a generation. Members of the community and economic development working group contributed to the analysis of trade-offs and helped secure these benefits in an enforceable pre-development agreement now perpetually attached to the property.
Building the Foundation for Experience Shelburne
April 2024
At its 2024 strategic retreat, the Selectboard created a working group to mobilize economic development efforts. Co-chaired by Selectboard members alongside town staff and Finance Committee volunteers, the group conducted extensive research, studied peer community efforts, and engaged residents and business leaders, ultimately designing the Experience Shelburne public-private partnership model.
Economic Development Report and Recommendations
July 2021
The Shelburne Selectboard commissioned Leckey Consulting to assess economic development opportunities through interviews and market analysis. The study revealed strong assets but identified challenges with regulatory processes and coordination. Key recommendations include streamlining development review, pursuing Vermont Designated Downtown status, enhancing wayfinding and connectivity, and fostering collaboration between businesses, anchor institutions, and town government to leverage Shelburne's position as a visitor-dependent "gain market."