Governor Shumlin Announces $2.9 Million in Community Development Grants

Brownfield clean-up and re-development in Richmond and Montpelier, and energy efficient affordable housing in Bennington and Hardwick, are among the eight projects receiving more than $2.9 million in grants from the Vermont Community Development Program announced today. “From Waitsfield to Wheelock, communities across Vermont will use these grants to build affordable housing, clean-up contaminated sites for re-development, expand services to their residents, restore historic buildings, and make their communities more resilient”, said Gov. Peter Shumlin. “We are excited to support this array of community projects, and thank all the people and organizations working hard every day to improve the lives of Vermonters and the communities we call home’, commented Patricia Moulton, Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. “While targeted to the needs of lower income Vermonters, Community Development Block Grants address the needs of communities and represent a true partnership between the federal, state and local government,” said Department of Housing and Community Development, Deputy Commissioner Josh Hanford. The projects include expanding childcare, parenting classes and family support services in Rutland, creating and improving affordable housing in Bennington and Hardwick, and assisting with flood recovery in Hancock, Montpelier and Waitsfield. Vermont’s congressional delegation has been steadfast in supporting the funding that makes the program possible. In a joint statement, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said: “At its core, this program is about transforming communities by creating opportunities for Vermonters. These projects mean new homes for our neighbors, more childcare for children and working families, and reinvigorated downtowns. They will play diverse and critical roles in our communities, from improving flood mitigation to ensuring town offices are ADA accessible. These federal investments will empower Vermonters to offer a much-needed helping hand to community members who need it most, and we congratulate each of the recipients.” The state awards approximately $7 million annually in competitive grants through the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development. The grants are funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For information about the Vermont Community Development Program, please see the Agency of Commerce and Community Development website at: http://accd.vermont.gov/strong_communities/opportunities/funding/vcdp $350,000 Town of Bennington – Deferred loan to Applegate Housing Limited Partnership to rehabilitate a 104-unit mixed-income property. 93 units will be available to households at or below 80% of Area Median Income. Proposed improvements to the property include repairs to water and sewer lines, accessibility and code upgrades, new roofs, siding, windows, and insulation, as well as converting the existing heating oil system to a bio-mass heating system. $358,250 Town of Hancock – Grant to assist in replacing an undersized culvert, on Churchville Road, causing damage and road closures during high-water, with a larger bridge structure capable of passing a 100-year storm event. $300,000 Town of Hardwick – Subgrant to the Lamoille Housing Partnership to purchase and install 13 new, energy efficient modular-built homes on vacant lots at the Evergreen Manor Mobile Home Park in Hardwick. All homes will be affordable to families earning less than 80% of Area Median Income. $850,000 City of Montpelier – Grant to repair and rebuild the historic granite block retaining wall, at 1 Taylor Street, damaged by flooding in 2011. The project will also remove and dispose of contaminated soils, allowing the long planned multimodal transportation center and bike/pedestrian path project to proceed. $500,000 Town of Richmond – Subgrant to Buttermilk, LLC to demolish four derelict buildings and remediate the former Richmond Creamery property. The brownfield site requires extensive cleanup due to the following sources of contamination: asbestos, lead paint, mold, ammonia, PCB’s, PAH’s, and metals. The redevelopment plan involves a net zero mixed-use development with office space, housing, public services, and retail space. $257,000 City of Rutland – Subgrant to Rutland County Parent Child Center (RCPCC) to complete Phase III of a five-year strategic plan to rehabilitate a building that has been unoccupied for 20 years. The project will serve an estimated 1,610 persons, all with income less than 50% of Area Median Income. The building will be used to expand RCPCC’s programs, including parenting classes for the community and a larger space for their Learning Together program, focused on pregnant and parenting youth who are working toward their high school diploma. The rehabilitation will involve roof work, improvements to the HVAC system, new windows, doors, floors, and painting. $264,182 Waitsfield Village Meeting House – Grant to assist the Waitsfield Village Meeting House flood proof the building and construct life safety and ADA/accessibility improvements. The project will include stabilizing and flood proofing the basement and moving all mechanical and electrical system components out of the basement to locations more than 2 feet above a 100-year flood. $30,000 Town of Wheelock – Grant to hire professional consultants to complete the planning and construction documents for the redesign and renovation of the Town Hall/offices to be ADA compliant. For a link to this press release, click here.

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