ACRES Vermont Trial Fund

(An update on our progress)
Vermonters fighting for Vermont

Where your money goes matters

Spend a dollar at a Vermont business, and it stays here and keeps working. It pays a neighbor's wages, supports area suppliers, helps Little Leagues and community organizations. Local spending helps sustain the towns we live in. Studies around the country show independent retailers keep about 48 cents of every dollar circulating locally. National chains keep less than 14 cents. Amazon sits at the far end of that spectrum.

Vermont is one of the last states without an Amazon logistics facility. Amazon wants to change that with a 107,000-square-foot delivery station in Essex, which would make it much easier for Vermont dollars to leave the state.

We want businesses rooted here, money that stays here, and growth that fits our scale.

What we've done so far

In early 2025, a group of Essex neighbors and other Vermonters, with organizing first led by Joanna Grossman, showed the Essex Development Review Board how much residents care about their town and its small businesses. In June 2025, residents formed non-profit ACRES Vermont to hire Vermont attorneys and defend the Town DRB's decision to deny Amazon's plans. Amazon didn't like that answer and appealed.

Our approach is working. Vermont's environmental regulators sided with us twice, finding the project conflicts with the Essex Town Plan. In July 2026 we won again in Superior Court on a procedural matter. It took $100,000 to get here, all of it from Vermonters.

Now we have to be ready for trial

The case goes to trial in Vermont Superior Court in spring 2027. Amazon is worth nearly $3 trillion. We can't outspend them, but we can make our case on the evidence, and we believe the evidence is on our side.

The ask: $150,000, about $20,000 a month

That's what our Vermont attorneys and expert witnesses will cost, including an independent traffic and safety expert to analyze Amazon's numbers. It includes about $15,000 we already owe for work completed. ACRES is entirely volunteer-run by Vermonters. After processing fees, your gift goes to the Vermont attorneys and other experts preparing our case.

Whether you give $1 or $10 or $10,000, give monthly or give once, you're helping us put the evidence before the court.

We need development that helps Vermont towns thrive, not a company that takes more out than it leaves behind.

Fight with us through trial.

Donate today ➜ Givebutter.com/CxQYhQ

The Essex Development Review Board was right to deny Amazon’s proposal for a last-mile delivery hub. Their plan ignored traffic and environmental concerns and violated our Town Plan.

But Amazon isn’t backing down. They’re appealing the decision to Vermont’s Environmental Court—trying to override the wishes of the people who live here.

ACRES (Alliance of Concerned Residents Envisioning Solutions) is standing up for Essex—and for every small town that believes we have the right to decide our own future.

Small towns are the heart of America. We know what makes our communities strong: clean air, safe roads, good neighbors, and local decisions made by local people. We won’t trade that for traffic, pollution, and low-wage jobs.

The trial is expected in fall 2026, and ACRES is preparing expert witnesses on traffic, air quality, and noise. This fight isn’t easy or cheap—but it’s about protecting our way of life.

Every donation helps give our town the power to stand up to a global corporation and defend what matters most: community, independence, and the Vermont way of life.

Join us. Donate today ➜ Givebutter.com/CxQYhQ

ACRES (Alliance of Concerned Residents Envisioning Solutions) was formed to be sure that local voices are heard.

You should not have to be rich to have a voice in our small towns in Vermont.

Amazon had selected a parcel in the Resource Preservation District-Industrial of Essex Vermont for its last mile distribution facility.

We already get Amazon packages delivered to our doors and we do not need the traffic, air and noise pollution, and demand on our infrastructure that this project entails. We are opposed to any last mile distribution facility in the Resource Preservation District in Essex, Vermont.

The proposed development does not meet the requirements of the plan for the Town of Essex and it does not comply with Town Zoning Regulations. This proposed development does not help us diversify our economic base.

People mistake the Amazon brand for "good jobs." These are not high paying jobs and the news is filled with stories about their labor practices. The delivery jobs are most often lower wage contracted positions with little-to-no benefits and higher taxes.

Vermont values are a mix of deeply rooted community ideals, appreciation for our natural landscape, respect for sustainability, a tradition of independence, and concern for community and neighbors.

The proposed Amazon facility is antithetical to the values of Vermont.

We stand strong for our community. You matter to us. Your voice matters.

Please help our work.

Your donation is fully tax-deductible. We are a volunteer organization and all funds go to our expert witnesses and legal team who have given us deeply discounted rates.

Please join us.

Amazon Opposition: Trial Ready!

We've been making good progress