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by Dave Soulia, for FYIVT.com
When Vermont unveiled its rainbow-gradient logo for the state’s 250th anniversary, it became the official symbol of a years-long planning effort to commemorate a milestone in Vermont’s history. The logo now appears across promotional materials, websites, and outreach campaigns leading up to 2026. But records from the Vermont 250th Anniversary Commission show limited documentation about how the design was chosen and leave gaps in the public record of its decision-making process.
A Commission Established in 2021
Governor Phil Scott created the Vermont 250th Anniversary Commission through Executive Order in December 2020. The commission was tasked with organizing statewide events, public programs, and educational initiatives marking Vermont’s role in the Revolutionary era and its admission to the Union. It was also charged with developing a unifying visual identity for the commemoration.
The executive order required the commission to meet no later than March 2021 and to convene quarterly thereafter. As a public body, the commission falls under Vermont’s Open Meeting Law. This statute requires meetings to be publicly warned, agendas to be posted no less than 48 hours in advance, and minutes documenting actions and votes to be made available within five days and kept publicly accessible for at least a year.
Tracking the Logo Process
In early 2024, Burlington-based design firm Place Creative Company was contracted to develop potential logos for Vermont’s 250th anniversary. According to commission agendas, Place Creative presented six initial concepts during a February meeting.
By March, the field had been narrowed to two finalists:
- A badge-style design with shades of green and warm earth tones, featuring Vermont’s silhouette against a circular landscape motif.
- A rainbow-gradient logo using vibrant colors and stylized lines meant to evoke motion and progress.
At a special session later that month, the commission voted unanimously to adopt the rainbow-gradient design as the official logo.
Meeting minutes from March 20, 2024, show there was discussion about the finalists. One committee member expressed concerns about whether the selected logo made it clear that the anniversary covers 1776 to 2026 and suggested that more traditional colors—such as red, white, and blue—might better connect the branding to the country’s 250th anniversary. Others noted that the logo would serve as a starting point for the website and visual outreach but acknowledged its abstract nature could lead to some initial confusion about its meaning.
Insights From Outreach: Vermont History and Modern Themes
As part of its public engagement efforts, the Vermont 250th Anniversary Commission hosted a series of webinars in late 2024 targeting K–12 educators, municipalities, and higher education institutions. These sessions provided a window into the narratives the commission prioritized as it prepared for the upcoming anniversary.
Webinars:
Vermont 250th Anniversary Outreach Webinar – K – 12 Educators
Vermont 250th Anniversary Outreach Webinar – Higher Education
Vermont 250th Anniversary Outreach Webinar – Municipalities and Local Government
Across the four outreach videos, there was substantial discussion of Vermont’s Revolutionary-era history, including mentions of the Green Mountain Boys, the Vermont Republic (1777–1791), and the state’s role in the fight for independence. However, a significant portion of the presentations emphasized modern frameworks of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Land acknowledgements opened each session, and presenters frequently highlighted the need to elevate “underrepresented stories” and reframe historical events through lenses of race, gender, and class. Terms like “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) were used explicitly in multiple sessions.
An analytical review of the transcripts suggests that approximately 30–40% of the content focused on Vermont’s 250-year history, while 60–70% centered on contemporary DEI themes and reinterpretations of historical narratives.
This emphasis provides context for the branding decision made earlier that year. The adoption of a modern rainbow-gradient logo appears aligned with the commission’s stated goals of inclusivity and forward-thinking representation.
Limited Meeting Records
While agendas from January 2024 onward are posted online, relatively few minutes are available to accompany them. Some agendas reference the approval of prior minutes, but those records are not present on the commission’s site.
It also remains unclear whether meetings held before January 2024 were formally warned and documented. The executive order establishing the commission required quarterly meetings beginning in 2021, but no records from that period have been posted.
We are preparing public records requests under Vermont’s Public Records Act to seek additional information about the six original designs, meeting materials, and any documentation related to the logo selection process. These requests will be directed to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), which provides administrative support for the commission.
Why It Matters
The Vermont 250th Anniversary Commission was created to organize a celebration of state and national history. Its work includes shaping how Vermont presents itself during a milestone anniversary, from events and educational programs to the branding seen on official materials.
Without clear and consistent records of its meetings, Vermonters are left with few details about how significant decisions, such as selecting the anniversary logo, were made. As the 2026 celebrations approach, maintaining transparency and ensuring that future meetings are fully documented will be key to building public confidence in the commission’s work.
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Categories: News Analysis, State Government
Limited meeting records seem to be common place these days in Vermont.
Symbols, convey so much information at a glance, they can easily influence!
In this case, it would seem important such symbols not represent or promote agendas of a power structure. But rather reflect on a time when Vermonters actually governed themselves, without influence from advocacy.
It’s ironic, but when I see concept #1: I am reminded of Act 250 and remember what it was like before Central Planning was installed in the green Mountains.
It would be nice to include the first 200 years, in this celebration, but these two symbols, just don’t don’t cut it for me!
It took nearly five years to come up with these two “Concepts” for Vermont’s 250th anniversary? What a waste of time and effort, and money–if appropriate.
The presented Concept 1 is just a big nod to the DEI / Pride mindset of those chosen to make the decision on what Vermont’s 250th Anniversary Logo should look like.
The presented Concept 2 is, well, rather lack luster, to be kind.
Neither of the two presented concepts are appropriate or suitable for the
250th Anniversary of the 1777 vision of Vermont, as the people settling here then saw it. Their vision was based on the the love of God, love of family, love of the land, hard work, patriotism, and the sense of a bright and fulfilling future.
It’s passed time to start teaching our youth a meaningful history of the founding of the United States, of the Republic of Vermont, and of the 14th State.
Thank goodness there are nearly two more years to come up with a decent ‘LOGO’ commemorating Vermont’s 250th Anniversary. There’s still time…
Two years?
It’s less than one year away now.
Am I missing something?
As usual it’s the Unelected Bureaucrats deciding for ALL Vermonters ! When will this crap end?
Today anyone could use AI and create one in seconds ! It might take a little longer if you want to give it parameters to work within.
We have seen for the last 25+ years how they want everyone to celebrate their clown show !! We are absolutely not required to ! We DO have a say in this stuff and it is past time we stop these clowns from walking all over everyone because no one has the balls to stand up to them !
Who are the “Bullies” here !!
This is very boring and certainly doesn’t reflect 250 years of statehood. Very disappointing!
Definitely 1 is too WOKE for me! Besides it really doesn’t have anything relevant to Vermont about it!
How much funds were allocated for this? Where were the meeting advertised? Is there an outline of how these funds were spent? So many more questions. Surely 95% of the general population is disappointed with this design as it nowhere near embodies the spirit of Vermont. Ethan Allen is rolling in his grave.
The one on the left needs more green in it, the abstract design of VERMONT brings to mind an ad for a communications company/organization.
this sucks and better get changed – and quickly – NOT Acceptable
I doubt my Revolutionary war ancestor would be impressed. As a DAR member I am extremely disappointed. They could have reached out to DAR chapters if they needed “inclusion” or if they actually cared about history.
This is the outcome – DEI – when activists are on committees. No surprise education institutions were brought in for this. It’s where they’ve planted the seeds of their activism. Quite sickening actually
I missed the part where they mentioned how much the Burlington-based design firm, Place Creative Company, was paid. Who paid for it? Our tax dollars?
They used a wi-fi rainbow to represent the green mountain state? Maybe it signifies our electricified funeral – a celebration of life in memoriam. Bread and circus events sponsored by Palanltir and Oracle. No cash accepted or needed – your stablecoins will be docked or blocked according to your score.
Sign the petition for change addressed to Gov. Scott that is circulating online.
The link is below:
https://www.change.org/p/redesign-demand-on-vermont-s-logo-for-the-250th-anniversary-celebration?recruiter=1364869635&recruited_by_id=253f7650-e55d-11ef-9c06-ff1dbb9ccf51&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_combo_
share_initial&utm_term=psf&utm_medium=mobileNativeShare&fbclid
=IwQ0xDSwLnRg5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHo2WXvX9DxsIX88Iis2-hlXhQTQAXl1wOYjHcubpFipYRyZSdmGrFNJs5gm1_aem
_jbL8meRkoQLXTM2TYGjQWw
We are the Green Mountains not the rainbow mountains !
You can take your rainbow logo and shove it sideways up your rainbow colored butt!
What a bunch of twisted fruit loops running things in Montpelier…didn’t the last election tell you fruit loops anything?
Vote them out!
This is not at all historical. 250 years is a time of history and celebration of our place in becoming Our Great State.
A nice red, white, and blue logo in the form of a flag theme along with 250 inside the shape of Vermont would be much better. I’m sick that our beautiful rainbow has been hijacked and we can’t enjoy as it was originally intended. Sad, just sad
Having been in the design field for over 50 years, this is not a well thought out concept. No consideration for our history either. Very disappointing. Any design teacher I had would have teared up this and thrown it in the trash.
Sandy O
Both logo’s are terrible!!!! They don’t
even consider the last 200 years and it took five years to come up with a logo that doesn’t even take in the history of Vermont? What a senseless waste of taxpayer money as usual!! This will be crammed down our throats as everything is!!!