Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Natural Resources Council has announced the latest grant recipients for the Small Grants for Smart Growth program. Grantee selections are made by VNRC and a grant selection committee on a rolling basis. The Committee chose the Town of Wilmington Recreation Commission and the Town of Waterbury to be awarded a combined $5,000 in the most recent round of funding.
The Small Grants for Smart Growth program was developed by VNRC in 2018 in partnership with Beth Humstone, co-founder of the Vermont Forum on Sprawl and former chair of the VNRC Board of Directors, and her son, Chris Gignoux, to support community-based initiatives seeking seed capital to affect change on a local level.
“The grants are designed to help communities jumpstart strategies to achieve smart growth, such as downtown living or promotion of walking or cycling. Both the Waterbury and Wilmington proposals meet those goals in creative and inclusive ways." —Beth Humstone
Since its inception, the Small Grants for Smart Growth fund has disbursed more than $50,000 to Vermont-based programs in over two dozen towns across the state.
"What excites me about these grants is what comes next. Waterbury and Wilmington have already done the hard work of listening to their communities — this funding helps them take that momentum and turn it into something people can see and experience. That's how lasting change happens in Vermont: one community at a time, one step at a time." — Lauren Hierl, Executive Director, VNRC
The Town of Wilmington Recreation Commission will use its $2,500 award to fund design planning for the revitalization of Wilmington’s centrally located downtown park. The volunteer-run commission will work with designers to create a plan that reflects community priorities—identified through a public survey—including play components for all ages, a walking and biking path, seating, shade, and space for multigenerational community events. Because the park sits in a floodway and flood fringe area, the design will also account for the geographic and maintenance considerations unique to the site.
“We are so grateful to the support from Vermont Natural Resources Council as their funding will help us to create a beautiful design for a revived town park. We envision the park serving as a space of recreation and gathering for the entire community of all ages and walks of life, with natural playscape functions, a walking/biking path, gazebo, and space for events.” —Town of Wilmington
The Town of Waterbury will use the awarded $2,500 to conduct a Demonstration Project in the Waterbury Center Village Center during the summer of 2026. The project will test proposed transportation design changes—including pedestrian walking paths and new crosswalks—recommended by transportation consultants Stantec following community input gathered through public meetings, surveys, focus groups, and walking tours. Despite being one of the most popular destinations in the state, the Village Center currently has virtually no accommodations for pedestrians, bicyclists, or those with mobility challenges, making it difficult and unsafe to navigate outside a vehicle.
"Through the Better Connections program we're aiming to improve the safety and accessibility of the Waterbury Center Village Center and surrounding area for pedestrians, bicyclists, and others. We were delighted to be awarded a VNRC Small Grant for Smart Growth because it will help us conduct a demonstration project this summer around our town green to show residents and visitors the kinds of improvements we can make to help our community become safe and accessible for everyone.” —Duncan McDougall, Town of Waterbury representative
These two projects reflect a broader tradition of community-driven smart growth work that the Small Grants program has supported across Vermont since 2018. Past recipients have tackled similar challenges: the South Hero Land Trust used a grant to help develop a non-motorized, multi-use trail network connecting community resources and natural areas at the core of South Hero—a project that mirrors Wilmington’s goal of linking the park to the broader downtown and making it accessible to all.
In Burlington, Old Spokes Home used grant funding to launch a Transportation Equity Coalition and mobility audit in the Old North End, centering community voices in transportation planning much as Waterbury has done through its months of public outreach and focus groups. The Danville Village to Village Steering Committee leveraged a Small Grant to engage residents around revitalizing the historic 1871 Danville Railroad Station as a recreation and transportation hub—demonstrating how a single catalytic investment can unlock further funding and lasting community benefit. In each case, a modest seed grant helped turn a community vision into measurable momentum.
Highlighting Five Impactful Small Grants for Smart Growth Projects
In Vermont, we benefit from decades of community-driven land use planning that set our state apart for protecting natural resources while fostering our downtowns and village centers. Yet we’re also experiencing – along with the rest of the country – the impacts of land development that has been misguided or poorly planned through the connected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and housing affordability.
We are inspired by the work of Vermonters across the state who are working to tackle these challenges to ensure their communities are welcoming, vibrant, and socially and environmentally resilient.
- Historic Danville Railroad Station – Danville, VT
The Danville Village to Village Steering Committee was awarded a Small Grant for Smart Growth to engage the community and revitalize the 1871 Historic Danville Railroad Station near the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT). The project aims to leverage the LVRT’s potential to boost Danville’s economic and cultural impact, enhance outdoor recreational opportunities, and restore the cherished historic landmark.
The envisioned Train Station will serve as a transportation and recreation hub, featuring amenities like restrooms, a digital kiosk, and educational displays. Infrastructure improvements, including signage, recreation asset mapping, and guidebooks, are also part of the plan. Further grant funding has been secured for a water station and bike repair station. The committee is redesigning their website and identifying historic markers along the LVRT to complement the Train Station displays. Local businesses are collaborating with the project, and a meeting has been scheduled to explore connections to the initiative and the LVRT. From the Committee: “Thank you again for your support – this event truly helped us to kick-off this effort and no doubt has helped us get to where we are today.
- Old Spokes Home Transportation Equity Coalition – Burlington, VT
Old Spokes Home, a non-profit bike shop, launched the Transportation Equity Coalition with a Small Grant for Smart Growth, focusing on improving transportation accessibility. Following outreach to initiate a mobility audit in the Old North End of Burlington, they were able to leverage additional funding for a comprehensive audit. Collaboration with local partners resulted in 75 survey respondents from communities that have been marginalized.
The audit in the Old North End was completed in mid-2021.The organization is also working with various partners to ensure diverse voices in transportation planning processes. Old Spokes Home plans to recruit more agencies to join the Transportation Equity Coalition and involve community representatives in designing communication strategies for diverse populations. They also received grants from the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Go! Vermont, and Green Mountain Transit to enhance access to existing transportation options.
- South Hero Community Trails – South Hero, VT
The South Hero Land Trust worked with local partners to develop a non-motorized, multi-use trail network that will connect important community resources and natural areas in the core of South Hero, with seed funding from a Small Grant for Smart Growth. The grant facilitated community engagement efforts and supported ongoing coordination. A connector trail is being developed, fostering partnerships and raising awareness about natural resource access. Building on this initial work, a second project aims to establish a community roadmap for recreational cycling, promoting local businesses and enhancing bike and walkability.
The collaborative effort involves the South Hero Land Trust, Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corp, Local Motion, South Hero Recreation Commission, and Northwest Regional Planning Commission.
- Epsilon Spires High Street Renewal – Brattleboro, VT
Epsilon Spires, an arts and science non-profit, led a community-driven project to transform a graffitied wall into an inspiring mural representing the region’s local culture. With a Small Grant for Smart Growth, they planned and promoted the High Street Mural through grassroots efforts, including engaging local businesses, community leaders, and neighbors.
Selected for Vermont’s Better Places program, the High Street Mural received a 2:1 matching grant after exceeding their crowdfunding goal. Epsilon Spires shared, “We believe that our award from VNRC made all the difference in our competitiveness for the Better Places Program!” A successful Charity Bingo Night at Whetstone Brewery generated donations and positive feedback. The “Meet the Artists” event allowed community members to view the latest designs and learn about the talented artists. The mural was unveiled on October 7, 2022, at Epsilon Spires.
- Rich Earth Institute Nutrient Reclamation Pilot Project – Brattleboro, VT
The Rich Earth Institute, a non-profit dedicated to advancing sustainable waste management and nutrient reclamation, was awarded two Small Grants for Smart Growth in 2018 and 2019 to support planning activities and site visits to bring urine diverting sanitation systems to facilities and residences in West Dummerston and Westminster.
Collaborating with the Windham Regional Commission, Rich Earth’s Village Sanitation Pilot Study aimed to alleviate pressure on septic systems in unsewered Vermont villages and assess the feasibility of innovative wastewater solutions. Significant progress has been made, establishing urine diversion installations in various locations. Additional installations are planned, and permits are being pursued. A report detailing the study’s findings was published in 2020 and can be found on Rich Earth’s website. With recent funding from the Thomas Thompson Trust and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Rich Earth aims to maximize their pilot permit for 25 plumbed and 25 unplumbed installations by 2024.
About VNRC:
VNRC’s mission is to promote a healthy environment and resilient communities for all Vermonters today and into the future.
About Small Grants for Smart Growth:
The Small Grants for Smart Growth program is made possible with financial support from Beth Humstone, co-founder of the Vermont Forum on Sprawl and former chair of the VNRC Board of Directors, and her son, Chris Gignoux. Grants of $500 to $2,500 are available from VNRC throughout the year on a rolling basis. Learn more at https://vnrc.org/small-grants-for-smart-growth/
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