In 2012, what was then the Cultural Bennington Planning Committee, identified a need for a strategic cultural plan. After three Cultural Summits, an outline and a grant proposal was created by the Bennington County Regional Commission and a search for a source of funding began. In 2017, the towns of Bennington and Manchester were granted $35,000 from a Municipal Planning Grant awarded by the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development to create the plan, and in April 2018 the towns hired Julia Dixon, creative economy consultant, to complete that plan. The fruit of her efforts can be found to the right on this page. The BAAC will advocate for the towns involved to formally adopt this plan and to actively participate and aid in the cultural activities spearheaded by the community.