Oral history interview with Paul Costello
Title
Oral history interview with Paul Costello
Description
Paul Costello describes his role in Vermont's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) and chair of the local support and community action team of the Vermont Covid-19 Recovery Task Force. Throughout the pandemic, the VCRD took initiative to assist communities with the question "what's the Vermont we're aiming towards as we come out of this crisis?" They coordinated Zoom calls where hundreds of people shared COVID protocols, asked questions, and reported on what organizations or communities were doing in response to community needs. One outcome from these calls was the realization that recommendations related to housing and childcare needed to be made to the Governor. Costello also recalls how the VCRD responded to a need for leadership development by creating "chapters" on how to run a meeting or write a budget.
Paul Costello served as the executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) for 21 years, retiring in summer 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Phil Scott asked Costello to chair the local support and action team of the Governor's COVID Recovery Task Force.
The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of the locally defined progress of Vermont's rural communities. Founded in 1992, its work includes coordinating nonprofits to work effectively together by identifying priorities, developing leadership, and making recommendations for the future.
Sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-251676-OMS-22.
Paul Costello served as the executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) for 21 years, retiring in summer 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Phil Scott asked Costello to chair the local support and action team of the Governor's COVID Recovery Task Force.
The Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of the locally defined progress of Vermont's rural communities. Founded in 1992, its work includes coordinating nonprofits to work effectively together by identifying priorities, developing leadership, and making recommendations for the future.
Sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-251676-OMS-22.
Date
2023-04-17
Subject
Source
Collecting COVID-19: A Vermont Story Project
Identifier
AudioFileCOVID-014
Format
MP3
WAV
Type
Audio file
Rights
Permission to publish material from the Collecting COVID-19: A Vermont Story Project may be obtained from the Vermont Historical Society.
Interviewer
Bosek, Marcia Sue DeWolf
Interviewee
Costello, Paul
Duration
1 hr., 13 min., 45 sec.
Repository
Vermont Historical Society Library, 60 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641-4215
Collection
Citation
“Oral history interview with Paul Costello,” Digital Vermont: A Project of the Vermont Historical Society, accessed April 3, 2025, https://digitalvermont.org/vtcovid/AudioFileCOVID-014.