FOR RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) announced the recipients of this year’s Building Communities Grants for Facilities today. These grants will fund $900,000 in construction and capital improvements for 80 projects across Vermont, helping communities grow and thrive.
“I continue to be impressed with the way communities have pulled together and to innovate throughout the pandemic,” said Governor Scott. “This year, we significantly increased the appropriation for this program that I championed when I was in the Senate. I’m very pleased the State continues to provide this support to businesses, critical services, and municipalities, that helps to strengthen our regional economies and local resources.”
The grants are awarded to non-profit organizations, regional economic development organizations and municipalities in three major categories: facilities, historic preservation, and cultural. The facilities subcategories include human services, educational, recreational facilities, and regional economic development:
- Human Services Facilities: Projects include improving kitchens a the Craftsbury Community Care Center and the Northfield Senior Center, ADA and other accessibility improvements at Camp Thorpe in Goshen, Josslyn House in Randolph, Grace Cottage in Townshend and Heaton Woods in Montpelier.
- Educational Facilities: Projects include access controls for the South Hero Library and the Sunrise Family Resource Center in Bennington, HVAC upgrades for the Peacham Children’s Center, Castleton Free Library and developing new classroom or training space at Generator in Burlington, and the ABC and LOL Childcare Center in St. Johnsbury.
- Recreational Facilities: Projects include improvements to playgrounds, courts and rec fields in Arlington, Barre, Guilford, Huntington, Johnson, Peru, Readsboro, Richford and Winooski, and repairs and upgrades to several recreation trails and ski areas including Prospect Mountain in Bennington, Retreat Farm in Brattleboro, Hard’ack-Aldis Hill in St. Albans.
- Regional Economic Development: Projects include renovations to create a new Early Education center in Bennington, refrigeration and sprinklers for Vermont Beer Shepherd in Waterbury, an embroidery machine for Northern Embroidery in Newport, fit up of a new bakery space at Cluckin’ Café in Pittsford and a new cooler to help Chapman’s General Store expand in Fairlee.
“We try to keep the application process simple and accessible and every year we see a growing list of worthy projects,” said BGS Commissioner Jennifer Fitch. “It’s inspiring to see what communities are accomplishing in these difficult times.”
For a complete list of Building Communities Grants for Facilities recipients and more information on the application process, please visit https://bgs.vermont.gov/commissioner/building-communities-grants.
Source: BGS 12.15.2021. Montpelier www.vermont.gov