Photo Caption: Three maple trees soaking up the sun at King Farm, Woodstock. Source: TRORC
Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission
PROJECT UPDATES AND REMINDERS
Vershire and Strafford Among 27 Vermont Communities to be Awarded Congressionally Directed Spendings
In March, Senator Bernie Sanders secured $42.5 million for Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funding on behalf of Vermont. CDS is a congressional budgetary program that allocates federal funds to local projects that address crucial issues such as affordable housing, infrastructure, transportation, clean energy and water, agriculture, childcare, and rural development. The two projects located in our Region are Vershire and Strafford. For the Town of Vershire, $750,000 was awarded to the town to build a new town garage, and for the Town of Strafford, $325,000 was awarded to preserve the historic town office. See the list of all the recipients and their projects through this link.
Photo caption: Ribbon cutting of the EV chargers. Credit: Rita Seto, TRORC
Vermont’s First Federally Funded EV Fast Chargers Now Operational in Bradford
In case you didn’t know, Bradford is the first recipient of federally-funded public electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers in Vermont. Our state is the sixth in the nation to install fast chargers under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. With four super-fast NEVI charging stations installed at the Denny Park parking lot in downtown Bradford, these EV chargers can charge 180 kilowatts per hour. If you have an electric vehicle, please check it out!
Biden-Harris Administration Awards $23.6 Million To Help 112 Communities Deliver Transformative Infrastructure Improvements
For the first time ever, the Department of Transportation announced that they will be adding a Regional Pilot Program to the Thriving Communities Program (TCP), which gives participants the power to administer federal funding and resources derived from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in their communities. Currently, there are six pilots in the nation that have been awarded $1 to 2 million to support 60 communities. In our Region, the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission was given $1.2 million, and is partnering with TRORC to support 14 communities in New Hampshire and Vermont. The following Vermont towns will benefit from TCP: Bethel, Granville, Hancock, Hartford, Hartland, and Royalton.
Photo caption: (top) Ron Rhodes (center) from the Connecticut River Conservancy gives directions to the Intervale Center tree nursery team on where to plant cuttings; (right) TRORC staff members working hard. Photo credit: Geena Baber, TRORC
Erosion Control for Pinney Hollow Brook in Plymouth
Early this May, staff members from Connecticut River Conservancy, Intervale Center, and TRORC planted live cuttings on a section on Pinney Hollow Brook on Route 100A in Plymouth for an ongoing floodbank restoration project. During Hurricane Irene in 2011, Farmbrook Motel was destroyed and the building was effectively removed from the site. This highly effective yet low tech method allows for the soil to stay in place in case of heavy rainstorms. Watch TRORC’s video to learn more about our ongoing restoration process for Pinney Hollow.
Randolph Walk Bike Survey is OUT
We need your help! The Town of Randolph is gathering feedback from residents and visitors about walking and biking experiences in Downtown Randolph, Randolph Center, and East Randolph. Your feedback will inform Randolph’s Walking and Biking Master Plan, helping to address current issues. Whether you walk, bike, or use transit in Randolph, your perspectives are crucial, and we invite you to participate in the survey (link to the survey here). Please send any questions/feedback about the survey to [email protected].
EVENTS AND GRANTS
Vermont Local Roads Round Table Workshops
Wednesday, June 22. 2024 | 8 - 2:30 pm | Sunderland Town Office, 104 Mountain View Road, Sunderland, VT
Coming up in June 22nd in Sutherland, VT, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Municipal Roads Program Coordinator, Evelyn Boardman, will lead a round table workshop that will cover important topics like Municipal Roads General Permit (MRGP) requirements, Desktop Reporting, Culverts and Stream Alteration Permitting, and many more The round table will take place in Sunderland Town Office, 104 Mountain View Road, Sunderland, VT, and the event will go from 8 am to 2:30 pm. Register via the Vermont Local Roads Website or Learning Management System. To read more about the workshop, click on this link here; to see other upcoming trainings and events hosted by the Vermont Local Roads, please see their offerings here.
Home Creators Expo – Back in 2024 by Popular Demand!
Saturday, June 1, 2024 | 10 - 3 pm | Hartford Area Career and Technology Center
The Home Creators Expo is an event to address the housing crisis by empowering individuals to become part of the housing solution. Through workshops and Q&A sessions, participants can learn about different strategies such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs), converting single-family homes to multi-family units, developing cottage clusters, and establishing mutually beneficial home share arrangements. Following the success of last year's event, this year promises an even more engaging day of learning. Hosted by Vital Communities, Keys to the Valley, Town of Hartford, and HACTC, with sponsorship from Dartmouth Health and the East Central Vermont Economic Development District, the expo aims to equip attendees with the tools to create housing solutions that they can share with their communities.
Small-Scale Housing Solutions for Southwestern VT
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 | 9 am - 12 pm | The Hub CoWorks, 67 Merchants Row Rutland
The Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Vermont Homes for All Toolkit launched last month with a statewide summit, and the next training will be happening in Rutland! Join DHCD, the Bennington County Regional Commission, and the Rutland Regional Planning Commission for a morning of networking, training, and resource-sharing about missing middle housing development in Vermont. Light refreshments will be offered to the attendees in the morning with lunch served at noon. Sign up for the event and read the full agenda here.
Land Use and Resilience Discussion and Workshop
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | Community Room at the Kilton Library, 80 Main Street, West Lebanon, NH
Despite individual ownership of land, impacts are communally shared. Therefore, fairness requires that the entire community participates in the land use process. Hosted by the Connecticut River Valley Resource Commission and the Connecticut River Watershed Advisory Commission, Join the discussion hosted by the two commissions to explore topics such as best zoning practices and tools for resilience. Light refreshments will be provided. Register for the event here and view the agenda.
Vital Communities’ Curb Your Car Day
Friday, May 17, 2024 | Multiple Locations in Lebanon, NH and Hartford,VT
With Vital Communities having already launched their Upper Valley Ways To Go! Beginning this May, there are two more events that are scheduled: Curb Your Car Day and Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library Demo Day. Your Curb Your Car Day agenda could include:
Stopping by for refreshments from 7 to 8:30 am at Colburn Park in downtown Lebanon to get your bike checked out by Omer & Bob’s, or going to Hartford Town Hall for refreshments (same time).
Biking down a temporary bike lane on Lebanon Street north of Greensboro Road for the whole day.
Visiting West Lebanon's Kilton Public Library to try out and rent e-bike models using the Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library.
2024 Vermont Community Leadership Summit
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 | Vermont State University in Randolph
The Vermont Community Rural Development (VCRD) is gearing up for the Vermont Community Leadership Summit this August at the Vermont State University with the guiding tagline, “Forge Forward, Thrive Together”. The training will host diverse community leaders from all intersections of non-profit, business, and government, and will provide useful skills for the participants to work together and exchange inspiring success stories and best practices. Through workshops, panels, and networking sessions, attendees will gain valuable insights to drive local initiatives, build connections and resources.
Agency of Transportation Applications for Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements is Open
Friday, June 14, 2024
The application portal for the Bike Ped grant program is now open! As you already know, good bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure is vital for stimulating economic development in our downtowns, enhancing public health, and reducing our dependence on vehicles. A pre-application information and training webinar is planned for May 15, 2024. If your town is interested in a grant application and needs application assistance, please reach out to Rita Seto at [email protected].
Tree Planting Grant: $630k Available, Round One Due Soon
Friday, May 17, 2024
With a total of $630k reserved for the Community Tree Planting Grants program statewide, the deadline to submit your application for Round #1 is coming up next week! The grant program is administered by Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission on behalf of VT UCF. The purpose of the grant is to enhance urban tree canopy, improve water quality, and boost public health and wellbeing through strategic tree planting. Check out the program details and eligibility requirements at this link here. Don’t worry if you miss this round–the next one opens on November 1st, 2024.
Save the Date: Vermont Conservation Conference
Monday, October 7, 2024 | Vermont State University, Randolph
A statewide conservation conference is set to take place on Monday, October 7, 2024, at Vermont State University in Randolph! Organized by VHCB in partnership with several leading conservation and environmental organizations, this day-long gathering promises to be a pivotal event, bringing together stakeholders from across the state to discuss pressing environmental issues and chart a course for collective action. TRORC is providing financial support to the organizers of this event. Please learn more about the conference through this link.
Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission · 128 King Farm Road · Woodstock · Vermont · 05091
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