SBIR-STTR Award

Rural communities must invest a range of infrastructure to support public services. Decision-making regarding municipal investments is often made by part-time, volunteer community leaders who lack access to up-to-date information regarding alternative technologies and approaches. Federal programs promoting alternative technologies are often focused on urban areas, with limited resources to address rural differences in scale, capacity, and financial resources. The fragmentation of Federal (and State) programs makes it difficult for rural communities to get a systemic overview of their infrastructure choices. The objective of this project is to create an assessment system that compares the performance, cost, and capacity of existing and proposal rural community municipal infrastructure with the performance, cost, and capacity of alternative technologies and approaches in a systems framework. YWA will use its experience with rural communities and economic development to engage a round table of technology experts in assessing existing and alternative infrastructure in the Town of Richmond, Vermont. The results of this applied research will enable us to document potential cost savings, cost avoidance, and employment creation implications as a basis for Phase II commercializations.

Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:
Our systemic assessment process will help communities in formulating cost-effective plans for phased implementation of appropriate alternatives. Rural communities will benefit through cost savings, cost avoidance, and potential creation of new employment opportunities related to the installation and maintenance of alternative technologies and approaches. Assuming tangible benefits, we believe the potential for commercial application with communities is positive. Alternative technology service providers benefit from increased access to rural communities. Service provider support for this project leads us to believe they may also support commercial application if Phase I is successful.

Problem Rural communities must invest in a range of infrastructure to support public services. Decision-making regarding municipal investments is often made by part-time, volunteer community leaders who lack access to up-to-date information about alternative technologies and approaches. In addition, federal programs promoting alternative technologies are often focused on urban areas, with limited resources to address rural differences in scale, capacity, and financial resources. Furthermore, technologies are always changing and improving, making it difficult to keep up with them. Yellow Wood Associates is offering an assessment approach to small communities that compares the performance, cost and capacity of existing and proposed rural community municipal infrastructure with the performance, cost and capacity of alternative technologies and approaches. Our systematic assessment process helps communities in formulating cost-effective plans for phased implementation of appropriate alternatives. Plus, we can take communities from assessment to implementation by connecting them with companies and methods of financing. Rural communities can benefit from the Green Community Technologies service through cost savings, cost avoidance, potential creation of new employment opportunities, and environmental benefits.