Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development has issued $464,000 in Municipal Planning Grant awards to 38 communities across Vermont. This year’s Municipal Planning Grants range from $3,159 to $20,000, with total requests exceeding $780,000. Competitively awarded, 69 total applications were reviewed. Winning projects ranged from $3,159 to $20,000 and included updating local regulations to better serve the farm and forest economy in Berkshire, a rural town at the Canadian border, to improving parking conditions in downtown Brattleboro.
Municipal Planning Grants support local planning and community revitalization initiatives. Their intent is to build strong communities and improve Vermont’s quality of life. Grants are awarded annually and administered by the DHCD. Since 1998, the program has provided over $11 million to 234 cities and towns.
“These grants support diverse, locally-driven projects that address a range of issues from housing and economic development to steps that reduce future flood damages,” said Josh Hanford, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development.
The communities of Cabot, Manchester and Winooski and others recognize that the design of their downtown or village buildings, streets and sidewalks, and how they relate to the surrounding neighborhoods, directly impacts vitality of the community and the local economy. For this reason, they secured grant funds to help them develop projects and strategies to replicate the revitalization successes in seen in other Vermont cities and towns. Similarly, through a public-private partnership, West Rutland will use its grant to redesign an underused 1970s mall, making it more useful, attractive and better connected to the village.
Milton’s grant will help align improvements in future buildings and infrastructure to ensure new development brings in the kind of growth and opportunity desired by its residents. St Albans City will make a long-term plan to get the most out of Taylor Park, a site that attracts thousands of visitors to downtown with activities ranging from the local farmers’ market to the Vermont Maple Festival. Bennington’s grant aims to make downtown more accessible for everyone whether they travel by bus, bike, foot or by car.
This year, applications for available funding in the Northeast Kingdom were over-subscribed for the first time in years. Grants in that region will support projects ranging from a first-time town plan in Irasburg to exploring business opportunities associated with trail biking in Concord and Hardwick’s efforts to identify development sites for growing mid-sized businesses. David Snedeker, Executive Director of the Northeastern Vermont Development Association noted that “town leaders have come to recognize the Municipal Planning Grant program as an important tool to access the funding and expertise they need to bring good local ideas to life.”
FY17 Municipal Planning Grant Projects
Over $460,000 was awarded to 38 municipalities. The winning FY17 projects are described below.
Barnet – Town Hall Study
Barnet will hire the expert help it needs to develop a plan and budget to renovate and relocate the town offices to the historic McIndoe Falls Academy. For more information, contact Benjamin Heisholt, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $26,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $20,000
Bennington – Increasing Walking and Biking Opportunities
Bennington will develop a transportation infrastructure plan to increase safe walking and bicycling opportunities throughout Bennington’s Designated Growth Center. For more information, contact Daniel Monks, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $8,000 *
Benson – Updating Policies to Shape Future Development
Benson will use grant funds to help preserve its rural character, promote traditional and diversified agricultural uses, and encourage renewable energy development consistent with local expectations. For more information, contact Thomas Bartholomew, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $8,000 *
Berkshire – Protecting Rural Character
Funds will be used to protect Berkshire’s agricultural and forest lands and encourage traditional development in its historic villages. For more information, contact Virginia Messier, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $14,067
Grant Funds Awarded: $12,045
Bradford – Evaluating Development Potential
Bradford’s grant will help the community evaluate potential locations to support businesses and create jobs in the designated village center and the Lower Plain Commercial District. For more information, contact Danielle Robinson, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $26,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $20,000
Brattleboro – Studying Downtown Parking Needs
This comprehensive review of the downtown parking supply and demand will result in recommendations to support downtown vitality well into the future. For more information, contact Rod Francis, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $26,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $20,000
FY17 Municipal Planning Grant Projects December 2016 Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development Page 2
Cabot – Revitalizing the Village
The funding will help the community prepare a detailed economic development plan with recommendations to bring new businesses, visitors, and vitality to the village. For more information, contact Betty Ritter, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $25,989
Grant Funds Awarded: $19,993
Concord – Expanding Tourism Opportunities
Grant funds will improve the connections with the Kingdom Trails biking network to give visitors at the Burke Mountain Resort more opportunities to visit Concord village businesses. For more information, contact Cynthia Stuart, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $6,930 *
Cornwall – Protecting Working Lands and Natural Resources
Building on the success of the VT Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Community Values Mapping Project, Cornwall will update its regulations to preserve its working landscape and natural resources. For more information, contact Susan Johnson, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $18,680
Grant Funds Awarded: $15,120
Fairlee – Studying Household Income
Fairlee will conduct a household income study aiming to improve the town’s eligibility for state water system improvement funding for the village. For more information, contact Chris Sargent, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $8,552
Grant Funds Awarded: $8,368
Hardwick – Locating New Sites for Business
Hardwick’s downtown offers great incubator space for small businesses, but in-town space for mid-sized business expansion is limited. Grant funds will evaluate several new locations to create jobs and connect residents to new economic opportunities. For more information, contact Brittany Currie, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $20,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $16,000
Highgate – Creating a Community Center
The town will hire experts to help it explore options to renovate, expand or construct a new library and community center in the village. For more information, contact Heidi Britch-Valenta, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $15,125
Grant Funds Awarded: $12,750
Irasburg – Developing First Ever Municipal Plan
Irasburg will use grant funds to write its first ever town plan. The plan will identify the community’s challenges and goals, guide decisions on future development and conservation, and help local leaders prioritize public investments. For more information, contact Danielle Ingalls, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $8,000 *
FY17 Municipal Planning Grant Projects December 2016 Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development Page 3
Jamaica – Preparing for Floods and Revitalizing Villages
The grant will help the town reduce damage from floods and improve conditions for businesses in its two villages, including strategies to address the lack of water and wastewater infrastructure. For more information, contact Sarah Bassett, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $8,000 *
Jeffersonville – Protecting the Village from Future Floods
Furthering Jeffersonville’s innovative work to reduce and better manage flood risks and protect the village from future disaster, the grant will help the town update and refine the regulations that govern building in vulnerable locations. For more information, contact Seth Jensen, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $8,000 *
Manchester – Mapping Downtown Manchester Future
Manchester will bring townspeople together to map-out desired changes for downtown, resulting in a vision and action plan that will guide both public and private improvements over the next ten to fifteen years. For more information, contact Janet Hurley, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $25,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $19,333
Milton – Coordinating Public and Private Investments
Milton will use grant funds to streamline the local review process and ensure new projects and public improvements meet the goals of the community. For more information, contact Jacob Hemmerick, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $26,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $20,000
Peacham – Guiding New Economic Development Opportunities.
Grant funds will enable Peacham to organize a robust community conversation on revitalizing the village, encouraging housing, businesses and farming, addressing renewable energy, and more as part of the town plan update. For more information, contact Stanley Fickes, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $6,465 *
Putney – Protecting the Community from Future Floods
Putney will update its regulations to reduce the risk of flood damage to infrastructure, private property, residents and the environment. For more information, contact Phillip Bannister, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $7,750 *
Randolph – Exploring a Virtual Community Center
The grant will facilitate a public discussion about the feasibility of a “virtual” community center to organize a wide range of community activities that serve the region. For more information, contact Julie Iffland, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $7,998 *
FY17 Municipal Planning Grant Projects December 2016 Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development Page 4
Rutland City – Aligning Policies to Support Downtown Revitalization
Local leaders will use grant funds to keep up the momentum of Rutland’s downtown renaissance by crafting zoning updates aimed at improving housing opportunities, attracting new businesses, and encouraging infill construction. For more information, contact Barbara Spaulding, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $26,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $20,000
Ryegate – Modernizing its Town Plan
Ryegate will use grant funds to update its local policies on economic development, flood resilience, housing and renewable energy siting. For more information, contact Marsha Nelson, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $7,160 *
St. Albans City – Getting the Most out of Taylor Park
Grant funds will result in an action plan for Taylor Park recommending options to improve the vitality, use, and maintenance needs of St. Albans’ premier downtown gathering space. For more information, contact Chip Sawyer, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $26,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $20,000
Springfield – Promoting a Healthy Community
Springfield is turning its town plan goals into action with new regulations to enable compact, walkable development. For more information, contact Bill Kearns, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $9,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $8,667
Starksboro – Sustaining Rural Economy
Grant funds will help the town engage citizens to chart a path towards reducing local flood risks, preserving scenic resources, and providing guidance to site renewable energy projects. For more information, contact David Wetmore, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $9,100
Grant Funds Awarded: $8,733
Tunbridge – Shaping Future Development
Concerns over a development proposal to urbanize this small rural town have spurred local leaders to hire experts to help them take proactive steps to ensure new development meets the needs and expectations of residents. For more information, contact Chris Sargent, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $9,964
Grant Funds Awarded: $9,309
FY17 Municipal Planning Grant Projects December 2016 Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development Page 5
Vernon – Identifying New Opportunities
Grant funds will help the residents create a vision to restore the vitality of the village with a vision and strategies to attract new businesses and job opportunities. For more information, contact Robert Spencer, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $16,975
Grant Funds Awarded: $13,983
Wallingford – Planning for Change
Grant funds will help the community update the town plan to improve the village and address concerns about renewable energy siting, flood resilience, and the identification of important forest lands and wildlife corridors. For more information, contact Julie Sharon, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $7,955 *
Warren – Thinking Beyond its Borders
Warren will use grant funds to integrate its municipal plan with neighboring towns, define its community priorities, and develop a user-friendly road map to guide local decision-making and investments. For more information, contact Alma Royston, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $14,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $12,000
Waterbury – Bolstering Housing and Commerce
Waterbury will update its local regulations to promote housing and commercial development opportunities while preserving the surrounding rural countryside. For more information, contact Stephen Lotspeich, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $20,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $16,000
Waterford – Improving Local Regulations
Funds will be used to protect Waterford’s working lands and scenic views, expand housing options and improve stormwater management in the town. For more information, contact Alison Low, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $7,180 *
Waterville – Mitigating Future Floods
Grant funds will help Waterville develop a plan to reduce and mitigate the impacts of future flooding events on private property and public infrastructure. For more information, contact Scott Johnson, [email protected].
Grant Funds Awarded: $3,159 *
Weathersfield – Increasing Economic Village Vitality
Weathersfield will obtain expert assistance to help develop a plan and strategies to leverage recent water system improvements to attract new businesses to its two village centers. For more information, contact David Osgood, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $9,210
Grant Funds Awarded: $8,807
FY17 Municipal Planning Grant Projects December 2016 Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development Page 6
West Fairlee – Planning for Economic Development and Floods
West Fairlee will develop new policies and strategies to support economic development in its village center and identify ways to reduce flood risks. For more information, contact Chris Sargent, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $9,830
Grant Funds Awarded: $9,220
West Rutland – Redeveloping the Westway Mall
Funds will support a public/private partnership to turn a 40-year old strip mall into a thriving, mixed-use development that welcomes residents and visitors to West Rutland’s historic center. For more information, contact Elysa Smigielski, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $25,993
Grant Funds Awarded: $19,995
Windsor – Building Walkable Neighborhoods
Windsor will update its policies to preserve its rural areas, guide re-development of its former industrial properties, and encourage compact, walkable development in both its downtown and rural neighborhoods. For more information, contact Cori Baptisella, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $9,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $8,667
Winooski – Strengthening the Local Economy
Winooski will develop a road map to improve the commercial vitality of the downtown, add more housing options, and increase employment opportunities for city residents. For more information, contact Heather Carrington, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $26,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $20,000
Wolcott – Reducing Flood Risks
Wolcott will hire experts to prepare a flood analysis with alternatives for reducing flood impacts in critical areas of the town. This town plan update will build on recommendations and lessons learned in similar flood studies conducted in other towns along the Lamoille River. For more information, contact Seth Jensen, [email protected].
Total Project Cost: $13,000
Grant Funds Awarded: $11,333
State Award Funding Totals: $464,920
*No local match is required for projects under $8,000
Source: DHCD. 12.7.2016. Awarded annually and administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Municipal Planning Grant Program works to strengthen Vermont communities. Since 1998, the program has provided over $11 million to 234 cities and towns across Vermont to help them thrive by planning for future growth and development and improving the quality of life.