Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott joined Town officials and the Lamoille Housing Partnership to celebrate the construction of 24 new units of mixed-income housing at the Village Center Apartments as well as announcing $13,258,021 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards that have been made to 25 communities throughout Vermont. This funding through the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP) will support a broad range of projects that will accelerate pandemic recovery, build more affordable housing and strengthen communities across the state.
“We all know what a tough year and a half it has been but I’m very hopeful for our future. Projects like the Village Center Apartments and other CBDG funded initiatives address critical needs like housing and childcare, and they keep us all moving forward, together,” said Governor Scott. “I want to thank our congressional delegation for their support of this program, as well as my team at the Department of Housing and Community Development, legislators and all those who work on these projects. We all need to keep pulling in the same direction towards a more prosperous future for every corner of our state.”
“From breathing new life into a historic general store in Calais to the construction of new affordable housing in Colchester, these projects will go a long way to making Vermont more affordable for all Vermonters and ensuring the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis will make the state stronger in the long run,” said Housing and Community Development Commissioner Josh Hanford. “These projects, many of which have already broken ground, will support the State’s economic recovery efforts and help us come out of the pandemic in a position to better support our neighbors.”
The Vermont Community Development Program, a part of the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, awards approximately $7 million annually in competitive grants to Vermont cities and towns. The grants are funded through the federal CDBG program, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Funding is targeted to address the needs of lower-income Vermonters and represents a true partnership between the federal, state and local government.
Vermont’s congressional delegation, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) has been steadfast in supporting the funding that makes the program possible, including $1.5M in recovery housing funding to assist individuals in recovery and build recovery homes and an additional $8.8 million in CDBG-CV funding to support businesses, public facilities, and service programs that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a joint statement, Senator Leahy, Senator Sanders and Representative Welch said: “These projects represent the commitment of Vermonters to helping their neighbors and supporting their communities as they recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The path to recovery is different for each community in Vermont. As a delegation, we support the Community Development Block Grant program because it gives communities the flexibility they need to forge their own recovery. We congratulate each community receiving an award today and thank the dedicated Vermonters who are working to ensure housing, economic vitality, and community resilience in their towns, villages and cities.”
For more information and a full list of project descriptions, see detail below.
Community Development Block Grant Awards:
- Town of Alburgh – Alburgh Community Child Care Facility ($440,000)
- Town of Arlington – Arlington Community Arts and Wellness ($25,000)
- Town of Bakersfield – Brigham Academy Feasibility Study ($45,000)
- City of Barre – Barre Recovery Residence ($500,000)
- Town of Bennington – 219 Pleasant Street Housing ($268,408 - Enhancement)
- Town of Berlin – Fox Run Housing ($1,000,000)
- Town of Brattleboro – Tri-Park Mobile Home Park ($30,000 - Enhancement)
- Town of Calais – East Calais Community Store & Apartments ($383,000)
- Town of Colchester – Stuart Avenue Apartments ($650,000)
- Town of Fair Haven – Fair Haven Community Center ($250,000 - Enhancement)
- Town of Guilford – Guilford Free Library Expansion Study ($4,919 - Enhancement)
- Town of Hartford – Cornerstone Community Center Planning ($43,970)
- Town of Middlebury – Lindale Mobile Home Park ($350,000)
- Town of Morristown – Village Center Apartments ($550,000)
- Town of Randolph – Randolph Village Water System ($300,000)
- Town of Randolph – Orange County Parent and Child Center ($50,000)
- Town of Rochester – Rochester High School Repurposing Study ($50,000)
- Town of Rockingham – Bellows Falls Garage Housing ($292,745)
- Town of Rupert – Sheldon Store Redevelopment Plan ($43,260)
- Town of South Hero – Bayview Crossing Senior Housing ($730,000)
- City of St. Albans – Spectrum Youth and Family Services ($300,000)
Community Development Recovery Housing Program (RHP) Awards:
- City of Barre – Barre Recovery Residence ($500,000)
- Town of Johnson – Jenna’s Sober Living ($200,000)
Community Development CARES Act Awards:
(Municipal and non-profit Public Facility and Public Service Program)
- Town of Fairfield – Fairfield Community Center ($77,255)
- Town of Bradford – Space on Main ($13,897)
- City of Burlington – COVID response ($388,940)
- City of St. Albans – Healthy Roots Collaborative ($72,939)
- City of Vergennes – Boys and Girls Club ($9,300)
Community Development CARES Act Business Stabilization Program Awards:
(Administered regionally as the Sole Proprietor Program)
- Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation ($1,844,694 - Addison, Bennington, Lamoille, Rutland, Washington and Windham counties)
- Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission ($1,744,694 - Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Orange, Orleans and Windsor counties)
Community Development CARES Act Housing Stabilization Program Awards:
(Administered regionally by NeighborWorks of America – HomeOwnership Centers)
- Champlain Housing Trust ($490,692 - Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties)
- NeighborWorks of Western Vermont ($425,172- Addison, Bennington and Rutland Counties)
- Windham & Windsor Housing Trust ($395,537 - Windham and Windsor Counties)
- Rural Edge ($309,490 - Caledonia, Essex and Orleans Counties)
- Downstreet Housing ($379,109 - Lamoille, Orange and Washington Counties)
| Vermont Community Development Program Awards | ||||
| Community Development Block Grant Awards: | ||||
| Grant Identifier | Organization | Award Date | CDBG-CV Awarded | Project Description |
| 07110-IG-2018-Alburgh-09 | Town of Alburgh | 15-Jun-21 | $440,000 | Grant to the Town of Alburgh to conduct pre-development feasibility and exploration of the potential new construction of a childcare facility to be located adjacent to the Alburgh Community Education Center. |
| 07110-PG-2019-Arlington-02 | Town of Arlington | 15-Jun-21 | $25,000 | Grant to the Town of Arlington to explore the feasibility of re-purposing a group of underused, vacant buildings in the center of Town to create a community center designed to meet the wellness, education, economic and cultural needs of the community. |
| 07110-PG-2020-Bakersfield-14 | Town of Bakersfield | 15-Jun-21 | $45,000 | Grant to the Town of Bakersfield to conduct predevelopment and feasibility studies to determine the reuse and redevelopment of the Brigham Academy building to be repurposed for housing and community space. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Barre C-51 | City of Barre | 5-Apr-21 | $500,000 | Subgrant to Downstreet Housing to acquire and rehabilitate 31 Keith Ave. in Barre in order to turn the property into a Recovery Residence. The project will renovate 3 family units to be dedicated to women in recovery who also have children. Downstreet has partnered with Vermont Foundation of Recovery (VFOR) to staff and operate the program. |
| 07110-IG-2018-Bennington-05 | Town of Bennington | 15-Jun-21 | $268,408 | Subgrant to a private developer to complete renovations and upgrades to 10-units of residential rental housing located at 219 Pleasant St in the Town's downtown historic district. Renovations are to include both interior and exterior improvements, including but not limited to flooring, siding, windows, kitchens, bathrooms, heating, plumbing and electrical systems. The building has not been modified in nearly 40 years. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Berlin-67 | Town of Berlin | 15-Jun-21 | $1,000,000 | Subgrant to a to-be-formed limited partnership for the construction of 30 new multi-family housing units and complete infrastructure repairs to the Berlin Mall Road. The apartments will be located in Berlin's New Town Center, right on Berlin Mall Road. |
| PG-2016-Brattleboro-00016 | Town of Brattleboro | 15-Jun-21 | $30,000 | Grant to Town of Brattleboro to assist with the development of a Master Plan for the Tri-Park Mobile Home Cooperative. The plan will guide the relocation/removal of predominantly low-moderate income owner occupied mobile homes that are currently within the Whetstone Brook floodway. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Calais-49 | Town of Calais | 5-Apr-21 | $383,000 | Subgrant to the East Calais Community Trust to redevelop the East Calais General Store building located at 4520 VT-14, East Calais, VT 05650. The project will return the first floor of the building to a General Store, create 2 full-time and 4 part-time jobs, and renovate the 3 apartments located above the store. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Colchester-57 | Town of Colchester | 15-Jun-21 | $650,000 | Subgrant to Champlain Housing Trust, in partnership with Evernorth, to construct 36 new affordable rental apartments within Colchester's New Town Center designation at Severance Corners. |
| 07110-IG-2018-Fair Haven-20 | Town of Fair Haven | 5-Apr-21 | $250,000 | Grant to the Town of Fair Haven to create a community center on the second floor of the Town Offices. Grant funds will be used to address fire code improvements and accessibility modifications to allow for the space to become a functional public space. |
| 07110-PG-2018-Guilford-17 | Town of Guilford | 5-Apr-21 | $4,919 | Grant to the Town of Guilford to complete a feasibility study on the potential expansion of programming and community space at the Guilford Free Library located at 4042 Guilford Ctr. Rd. |
| 07110-PG-2020-Hartford-02 | Town of Hartford | 15-Jun-21 | $43,970 | Subgrant to Cornerstone Community Center to complete a feasibility study, including planning and predevelopment activities, for the renovation of 14 Elk Street in Hartford Village in order to expand community programs. |
| 07110-IG-2018-Hardwick-04 | Town of Hardwick | 5-Apr-21 | $50,000 | Grant to the Town of Hardwick to construct a two-story, 40,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose food processing facility and a 6,000 sq. ft. innovative adaptive reuse of the historic yellow barn located at 281 Route 15 West, Hardwick VT 05843. The project will result in 25 new FTE jobs being created. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Middlebury-61 | Town of Middlebury | 15-Jun-21 | $350,000 | Subgrant to Addison County Community Trust (ACCT) to construct a new septic collection and treatment system at the Lindale Mobile Home Park on Case Street in Middlebury. The project is working off a previously awarded VCDP Planning Grant which has now been completed. |
| 07110-IG-2019-Montpelier C-04 | City of Montpelier | 5-Apr-21 | $50,000 | Subgrant to Washington County Mental Health Services to rehabilitate three buildings that serve LMI community members at great risk of homelessness. All buildings are located on Barre Street in Montpelier, and require accessibility modifications, energy conservation improvements, and replacement of building infrastructure. |
| 07110-IG-2019-Morristown-13 | Town of Morristown | 15-Jun-21 | $550,000 | Subgrant to Lamoille Housing Partnership, Inc. to develop 24 new apartments in on a vacant lot in downtown Morrisville with Housing Vermont. The mixed-income development will dedicated 5 units as Supportive Housing. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Randolph-30 | Town of Randolph | 5-Apr-21 | $300,000 | Grant to the Town to construct new reservoir and introduce three new water wells to the Randolph Village Water System. |
| 07110-PG-2020-Randolph -20 | Town of Randolph | 15-Jun-21 | $50,000 | Grant to the Town to assist Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC) in completing architectural and engineering needs in planning for a new childcare facility focused on the Randolph Childcare Region. The site will be purchased by GMEDC and leased to Orange County Parent Child Center (OCPCC) long term to run a childcare facility for 88 children. |
| 07110-PG-2020-Rochester-22 | Town of Rochester | 15-Jun-21 | $50,000 | Grant to complete a feasibility study to determine the best use of the former Rochester High School. |
| 07110-IG-2019-Rockingham-17 | Town of Rockingham | 5-Apr-21 | $292,745 | Subgrant to Windham and Windsor Housing Trust to support the demolition of the former Bellows Falls Garage located in the Bellows Falls Designated Downtown at 115 Rockingham St.. to be replaced with a new building that will include 27 new apartments, 20 of which will be affordable to households earning less than 80% AMI. |
| 07110-PG-2020-Rupert-15 | Town of Rupert | 15-Jun-21 | $43,260 | Subgrant to Rupert Village Trust to complete a feasibility study and predevelopment work of the former Sheldon Store building to be used as new indoor and outdoor community spaces with a small café, community center, and public event space. |
| 07110-IG-2020-South Hero-08 | Town of South Hero | 5-Apr-21 | $730,000 | Subgrant to Cathedral Square Corporation to develop 30 units of affordable senior rental housing in South Hero's designated village center. |
| 07110-IG-2020-St Albans C-44 | City of St. Albans | 5-Apr-21 | $300,000 | Subgrant to Spectrum Youth and Family Services for operational expenses related to the establishment of a new regional drop-in center that will provide support services to at-risk and homeless youth and young adults in Franklin County. |
| Total: | $6,406,302 | |||
| Community Development Recovery Housing Program (RHP) Awards: | ||||
| Applicant | Organization | Award Date | CDBG-CV Awarded | Project Description |
| 07110-IG-2020-Barre C-51 | City of Barre | Action Plan | $500,000 | Subgrant to Downstreet Housing using RHP funds to acquire and rehabilitate 31 Keith Ave. in Barre in order to turn the property into a Recovery Residence. The project will renovate 3 family units to be dedicated to women in recovery who also have children. Downstreet has partnered with Vermont Foundation of Recovery (VFOR) to staff and operate the program. |
| 07110-IG-2019-Johnson | Town of Johnson | Action Plan | $200,000 | Jenna's Promise Project -- RHP funds to be used for rehabiliation of the second floor housing |
| Total: | $700,000 | |||
| Community Development CARES Act Awards: | ||||
| Grant Identifier | Organization | Award Date | CDBG-CV Awarded | Project Description |
| 07110-IG-2020-Bradford -36 | Town of Bradford | 15-Jun-21 | $13,897 | Subgrant to Space on Main, a coworker space, to install new HVAC equiptment to allow for COVID safe work environment. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Fairfield-59 | Town of Fairfield | 15-Jun-21 | $77,255 | Grant to the Town of Fairfield to construct an outdoor pavilion to allow COVID-safe social programs to be offered to the community including those offered by the Senior Citizen Center and food shelf. |
| 07110-IG-2020-St Albans C-63 | City St. Albans City | 15-Jun-21 | $72,939 | Subgrant to Northwest Regional Planning Commission to reimburse and pay for expenses that the Healthy Roots Collaborative, a food security program that provides food to senior citizens, NOTCH clinics, food shelves, and homeless shelters in Franklin and Grand Isle counties. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Burlington C-39 | City of Burlington | 21-Dec-20 | $130,000 | Grant to the City of Burlington to provide training for approximately thirty low-and-moderate-income individuals in order to expand the pool of health care workers and technicians to respond to the spread of infectious disease (i.e. coronavirus) by administering vaccines and delivering mental health and other health care services. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Burlington C-40 | City of Burlington | 21-Dec-20 | $98,440 | Grant to the City of Burlington to implement grant program through the City's Community Economic Development Office (CEDO) to assist businesses and non-profits in improving their ventilation/HVAC systems in order to prevent, respond to, and prepare for the spread of COVID-19. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Burlington C-41 | City of Burlington | 21-Dec-20 | $160,500 | Grant to the City of Burlington to increase and expand services available at a warming shelter for homeless individuals in response to and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Vergennes C-32 | City of Vergennes | 21-Dec-20 | $9,300 | Subgrant to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes to reimburse for the necessary cleaning improvements and sanitation supplies required to prepare the space for re-opening in order to prevent and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Total: | $562,331 | |||
| Community Development CARES Act Business Stabilization Program Awards: | ||||
| (Administered regionally as the Sole Proprietor Program) | ||||
| Grant Idenifier | Organization | Award Date | CDBG-CV Awarded | Project Description |
| 07110-IG-2020-BDCC-01 | Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation | Action Plan | $1,844,694 | Subgrant to Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) to administer the Sole Proprietor Program. BDCC's Sole Proprietor Stabilization Program is designed to assist sole proprietors with no employees that have been impacted by COVID-19 that have remaining unmet needs that can be documented. Funds may be only be used for working capital to cover business costs, such as rent, utilities, and for retrofitting to meet COVID-19 requirements to re-open and remain open. BDCC is administering funds for Addison, Bennington, Lamoille, Rutland, Washington and Windham counties. |
| 07110-IG-2020-TRORC-02 | Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission | Action Plan | $1,744,694 | Subgrant to Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC) to administer the Sole Proprietor Program. The Program is designed to assist sole proprietors with no employees that have been impacted by COVID-19 that have remaining unmet needs that can be documented. Funds may be only be used for working capital to cover business costs, such as rent, utilities, and for retrofitting to meet COVID-19 requirements to re-open and remain open. TRORC is administering funds for Caledonia, Chittenden (including the City of Burlington), Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Orange, Orleans, and Windsor counties. |
| Total: | $3,589,388 | |||
| Community Development CARES Act Housing Stabilization Program Awards: | ||||
| (Administered regionally by NeighborWorks of America – HomeOwnership Centers) | ||||
| Grant Idenifier | Organization | Award Date | CDBG-CV Awarded | Project Description |
| 07110-IG-2020-Brattleboro-50 | Town of Brattleboro | Action Plan | $774,646 | Subgrant to Windham Windsor Housing Trust, in partnership with Downstreet Housing, to provide eligible households in Windham, Windsor, Washington, Orange, and Lamoille Counties that have been affected by COVD-19 with housing-related financial counseling and emergency payments for housing related costs in the form of mortgage, rental, and utility payment assistance. |
| 07110-IG-2020-Lyndon-54 | Town of Lyndon | Action Plan | $309,490 | Subgrant to Rural Edge to provide eligible households in Essex, Orleans, and Caledonia Counties that have been affected by COVD-19 with housing-related financial counseling and emergency payments for housing related costs in the form of mortgage, rental, and utility payment assistance. |
| 07110-IG-2020-West Rutland-52 | Town of West Rutland | Action Plan | $425,172 | Subgrant to NeighborWorks of Western Vermont to provide eligible households in Addison, Rutland, and Bennington Counties that have been affected by COVD-19 with housing-related financial counseling and emergency payments for housing related costs in the form of mortgage, rental, and utility payment assistance. |
| 07110-IG-2020-St Albans C-48 | City St. Albans | Action Plan | $490,692 | Subgrant to Champlain Housing Trust to provide eligible households in Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties that have been affected by COVD-19 with housing-related financial counseling and emergency payments for housing related costs in the form of mortgage, rental, and utility payment assistance. |
| Total: | $2,000,000 | |||
About the Department of Housing and Community Development
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) works to support vibrant and resilient communities, promote safe and affordable housing for all, protect the state’s historic resources, and improve the quality of life for Vermonters.
About the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD)
The mission of ACCD is to help Vermonters improve their quality of life and build strong communities. ACCD accomplishes this mission by providing grants, technical assistance, and advocacy through three divisions: The Department of Economic Development, the Department of Tourism and Marketing, and the Department of Housing and Community Development. For more information on ACCD please visit accd.vermont.gov.
For more information on the VCDP or any CDBG awards, please contact Nathan Cleveland at [email protected] or 802-585-5659
Source: 9.2.2021 Morrisville, Vt. — Governor www.vermont.gov