The Steeple

Feedback from recent events and surveys of the Greensboro village and Greensboro Bend communities, shows an ongoing desire for community spaces, more affordable housing, new recreational resources, improvements in utilities, and the preservation of historical character. The Greensboro Community Trust (GCT) has been created to take on the work of managing and funding specific projects which will meet these needs, improving the social and economic conditions of the Greater Greensboro Community. The GCT is a registered 501(c)3, and joins a collection of organizations across the state that are working to enhance local capacity in support of vital community assets.

Building on the work of the Bend Revitalization Initiative, the GCT is part of the inaugural cohort of Village Trust Initiative participants, working to build community capacity, preserve a sense of place, and ensure Greensboro is a dynamic place for future generations. The Village Trust Initiative is a program made possible by a partnership of the Preservation Trust of Vermont, the Vermont Council on Rural Development, and the Vermont Community Foundation. 

The GCT’s first project is reimagining and revitalizing the Former Methodist Church on Main Street, Greensboro Bend. This past year, the group hosted community engagement sessions and partnered with the Methodist Church and opened the space to community members for visioning about the building and property’s future during the Annual Bend Block Party. Following some organizational work to finalize bylaws and establish the Trust and its Board of Directors, the GCT signed an “Option To Purchase” Agreement with The New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, Inc. on October 13, 2025 for a 12 month term. 

With support from the Preservation Trust of Vermont and their team of experts, GCT is now embarking on a process of environmental review, septic assessment, property evaluations, and architectural planning. The outcome of this activity will determine the feasibility of the property to meet a variety of needs identified in the community engagement sessions. Ongoing workshops will be held over the Option Period to solicit additional community feedback and input as plans develop.

The work of the GCT will be led by Board members: Naomi Ranz-Schleifer, Nancy Hill, Annie McLean, Jane Johns, Liz Steel, Michael Malick, Chris Leary, Alexis Mattos, Nick Wright, Diane Cloutier, and Cathy Donnolly.