Shedding the light on Vermont’s
24 designated downtowns.

About the VDC

We believe that thriving downtowns are Vermont’s economic engine and the vibrancy of our downtowns translates into a healthy and prosperous state. The work of the downtown organizations support the many economies that make up our state: the creative economy, outdoor recreation, food & beverage and retail entrepreneurs. Vermont downtowns are the lifeblood of our state’s commerce and community development as well as critical areas for growth, historic preservation and visitors.
Yet, we know Vermont’s downtowns are under threat. To that end, the Vermont Downtown Coalition was formed and our 2023 state policy agenda builds on past efforts and adds to the continued investment into the heart of Vermont’s communities.

Contact Us

Tracie Lewis

PROGRAM LEAD
Tracie Lewis has served as the Executive Director of The Barre Partnership for nearly six years. A proud native of Central Vermont, Tracie’s deep roots in the area trace back to her great-grandfather, who immigrated from Italy and co-owned Zampieri & Buttura Granite Corporation in Barre for many years. A graduate of Champlain College with a degree in Business Management, Tracie is passionate about strengthening the Barre community, championing small businesses, and revitalizing the downtown area. Under her leadership, The Barre Partnership has experienced a resurgence, earning renewed recognition and support in the community.
Melissa Corbin

DATA LEAD
Melissa assumed the role of Executive Director at Downtown Winooski in April 2023, bringing with her a wealth of experience in nonprofit management and a passion for helping small organizations achieve their goals. A long-time resident of Essex, Melissa lives with her husband and their two dogs, and enjoys exploring nature trails and discovering new restaurants. In addition to her role at Downtown Winooski, Melissa is a contributing writer for a camping magazine that highlights farms and small businesses offering free accommodations to travelers. A graduate of the University of Vermont, Melissa has been an active member of the local community for over 20 years.

Stephanie Bonin

LEGISLATIVE LEAD
Stephanie Bonin is a political strategist and community builder driven by a passion for empowering teams to tackle complex challenges, from climate change to food security to economic equity. Known for her entrepreneurial creative spirit, Stephanie has built organizations and businesses, developed creative policy solutions, and led campaigns throughout the country.
Currently, she serves as a Senior Strategist at the Economic Security Project, a network focused on developing policy solutions to combat poverty.
Stephanie is perhaps best known as the visionary behind Vermont Everyone Eats, a $49 million statewide pandemic relief program that strengthened food security, supported economic stability, and enhanced agricultural resilience. She served as the Executive Director of the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance 2017-2022 and was the founder and owner of duo Restaurant, with locations in Brattleboro, VT, and Denver, CO.
A graduate of Green Corps, a field school for environmental organizing, Stephanie has led direct action campaigns with Mighty Earth and advocated for environmental policies through her work with Environment Colorado. Raised in an independent bookstore, she now lives in southern Vermont with her family, where she continues to be a driving force for positive change.
Rebecca Ramos

LOBBYIST LEAD
Rebecca is known for her swift strategic thinking and ability to rapidly comprehend complex problems to find winning solutions. She is a proven expert at navigating Vermont’s complicated political landscape to bring success to her client’s issues. She is enthusiastic, undeterred, and known for her warm and engaging manner. Rebecca strives to not only win the issue but to also grow leaders.
Rebecca has worked with some of Vermont’s finest political leaders since stepping into the Vermont political landscape in 1998. She was legal counsel and political liaison for Governor Howard Dean and then worked with now Congressman Peter Welch when he was Pro Tem in the Vermont Senate. Prior to joining Necrason Group, Rebecca was Chief of Staff for Vermont Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell.
Rebecca also spent a number of years working with individuals, non-profits, and businesses on leadership development, strategic thinking, and mentoring.