Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) today announced five additional awards and another $3.97 million have been committed to remediate brownfields sites across the state.
“This latest round of brownfield remediation projects continues our work of taking previously unusable sites and responsibly redeveloping them to create jobs, housing, and opportunity for economic growth,” said Governor Scott. “This is a key component of our strategy to make our communities more vibrant.”
The most recently awarded projects are:
- Evernorth & Champlain Housing Trust (Colchester)
- Award: $1,500,000
- Purpose: Redevelopment of former St. Michael’s College dormitories.
- Anticipated outputs: 64 residential units, reused infrastructure, remediation of a 3.17 acres site.
- 561-567 North Main Street LLC (Barre)
- Award: $38,107.80
- Purpose: Redevelopment of a vacant commercial/residential site.
- Anticipated outputs: 5 jobs, 1 unit of housing.
- Lamoille Build LLC (Cambridge)
- Award: $441,234
- Purpose: Redevelopment of the former Jeffersonville Granary and revitalization of the vacant commercial site as a vibrant hub for local food businesses and renewing the property’s agricultural legacy.
- Anticipated outputs: 8 jobs, 1.79 acres remediated.
- Lake & Maple LLC (St. Albans)
- Award: $793,360.80
- Purpose: Redevelopment of a contaminated parking lot for housing.
- Anticipated outputs: 72 units of housing, 0.97 acres mitigated.
- Town of St. Johnsbury
- Award: $1,200,000
- Purpose: Redevelopment of the 16,700 sq ft former armory building and reuse of infrastructure on a site that has been vacant since 2009.
- Anticipated outputs: 2 full-time employees, 1.6 acres mitigated.
Since the Brownfields Revitalization Fund (BRF) - State Program opened in October 2021, nearly $11 million in cleanup funding has been awarded to 25 projects in eight counties (Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Washington, Windham, and Windsor). The projects combined are anticipated to clean up more than 42 contaminated acres and create 554 jobs and 425 units of housing.
“We are seeing increasing demand for this funding, which can support business retention and expansion, as well as critical housing and mixed-use redevelopments,” said Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein. “That is why we are asking the Legislature to invest an additional $10 million for this important work.”
The funding was previously announced by Governor Phil Scott as part of Act 74 and represents the most significant state investment in brownfields sites to date. Another $6 million was added to the fund as part of Act 183 resulting from the 2022 legislative session. Historically, remediation projects have been funded exclusively by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In total $15 million was allocated to fund cleanup projects at brownfields sites that can show transformational economic development and/or housing outcomes. Nearly $11 million has been committed to date.
A full list of approved cleanup projects and their economic impact, program details, FAQs, and the application form can be found below and on the Brownfields Revitalization Fund - State Program page.
Brownfields Revitalization Fund – State Program Awards
The Brownfields Revitalization Fund is used to fund clean-up projects at brownfield sites that can show transformational economic development outcomes. These are the awards that have been made to date:
Connor Brothers Redevelopment Company, LLC
- Location: Montpelier, Washington County
- Award: $400,000
- Purpose: Redevelopment of a vacant 15,000 sqft former granite shed.
- Anticipated outputs: Lease agreement with the new tenant being finalized; 12 full time employees. Reused infrastructure, water, sewer, power and roadways. 1.6 acres mitigated.
157 South Champlain Street, LLC
- Location: Burlington, Chittenden County
- Award: $338,814
- Purpose: Work to infill redevelopment of a 0.25 acres blighted site that has been vacant for decades.
- Anticipated outputs: 48 units of housing (10 affordable/38 market rate) meeting Burlington and Efficiency VT energy standards; will include car share and EV parking spots.
Windham & Windsor Housing Trust
- Location: Rockingham, Windham County
- Award: $202,872
- Purpose: Redevelopment of a blighted downtown building as part of the active revitalization effort.
- Anticipated outputs: 27 units of affordable housing; ADA access and parking as required. Decrease homelessness with 5 units intended to serve this specific population. Acres remediated 0.22.
Heineberg Properties, LLC
- Location: Colchester, Chittenden County
- Award: $323,198
- Purpose: Redevelopment of vacant former dry cleaner site to create new storage units and solar array.
- Anticipated outputs: Significantly contaminated property in a mixed-use area. Human, health and safety threats will be mitigated as contamination plume will migrate off-site. Supports Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy energy goals. Two full-time employees and 1.53 acres remediated.
Community Development Support Inc.
- Location: Brattleboro, Windham County
- Award: $142,843.50
- Purpose: Redevelopment/adaptive reuse and expansion of vacant/blighted 47 Flat Street property.
- Anticipated outputs: First floor shared office space (BDCC & SBDC), 19 net new affordable housing units - 9 of which with project-based vouchers from VT State Housing Authority, community park, 0.29 acres remediated, grand list value increase from $475,000 to $2 million.
City of Winooski
- Location: Winooski, Chittenden County
- Award: $809,927.10
- Purpose: Construction of a municipally owned 3 level parking garage, topped by 84 units of housing, 115-unit hotel, restaurant, cafe, meeting space on vacant site in a developed portion of Winooski's designated downtown.
- Anticipated outputs: 84 units of housing, 115-unit hotel to support travel/tourism/hospitality sector, 160 jobs, 0.895 acres mitigated.
Lineage Realty Group, LLC
- Location: Montpelier, Washington County
- Award: $108,000
- Purpose: Increase capacity/production for Caledonia Spirits (CS) distillery (current facility has a 350 person capacity with parking for 150); 22 parking spaces and green space will increase access to CS, local trail system and Winooski River. Campus build-out.
- Anticipated outputs: 18 full time employees, reused water, wastewater, roadway and trails infrastructure. Support a travel & hospitality business/Increase CS ability to support charitable donations. Reuse of 0.28 acres vacant site.
Nedde Pine, LLC
- Location: Burlington, Chittenden County
- Award: $45,000
- Purpose: Construction of 49-unit/9 story housing development in the designated downtown.
- Anticipated outputs: 49 units of housing (10 affordable and 2 for those who have experienced homelessness), 36 full time employees, solar array, storm water catchment chambers, and electric vehicle charging stations on 0.125 acres site.
Charest Alpinism, LLC
- Location: Burlington, Chittenden County
- Award: $264,641
- Purpose: Petra Cliffs expansion; construction of a new 13,000 sqft facility.
- Anticipated outputs: 59 full time employees. Operator will provide educational opportunities including discounts, scholarships and free experiences to underserved and underrepresented communities, and expand youth summer camps and service to local educational institutions. Acres remediated 1.684.
Coop Hill, LLC
- Location: Brattleboro, Windham County
- Award: $117,990
- Purpose: Expansion for Hidden Springs Maple; redevelopment of site includes new construction of a processing and shipping facility on the undeveloped portion of the site.
- Anticipated outputs: Current facility will become warehousing for bulk syrup and packaging storage. 12 full time employees and 4.21 acres mitigated.
UVLLC
- Location: Weathersfield, Windsor County
- Award: $31,730.40
- Purpose: Redevelopment/reuse of vacant garage for commercial occupancy. BRE for a landscaping company.
- Anticipated outputs: Redeploy building vacant since 2010, 6 net new jobs, reused infrastructure, 0.1 acres remediated.
Springfield Regional Development Corporation
- Location: Springfield, Windsor County
- Award: $1,234,810.80
- Purpose: Redevelopment/adaptive reuse of Park Street School building/site.
- Anticipated outputs: 24 housing units, 155 jobs, 5.6 acres mitigated.
Southern Vermont Health & Recreation Center Foundation, Inc.
- Location: Springfield, Windsor County
- Award: $1,223,305
- Purpose: Redevelopment phases 2 & 3 to reuse of the foundry building; a 20,000 sqft portion of the former J&L Plant - building #4 and construction of a new 10,000 sqft space to connect two buildings to expand Edgar May Health & Rec - child care, group exercise, multipurpose space, lifestyle medicine office and indoor rock climbing and walking track, and basketball court.
- Anticipated outputs: 15 FTEs, 0.2 acres mitigated. Expanded community service offerings.
Black River Crossing, LLC
- Location: Springfield, Windsor County
- Award: $133,763.40
- Purpose: Ensure that the buildings at 23-25 & 27-31 Main St. & 7-9 Park St. can continue to house residential and commercial tenants.
- Anticipated outputs: Renovated structures will expand commercial and residential use. FTE 10-35 new jobs across commercial spaces, 2-5 residential units, 0.2 acres mitigated, reused infrastructure.
Gilman Housing Trust, Inc.
- Location: St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County
- Award: $378,114.30
- Purpose: Infill development of a fire destroyed site.
- Anticipated outputs: Redevelopment of a vacant/blighted site idle since 2009. 30 residential units, 0.375 acres mitigated, public pocket park. Equity impacts: Senior population and wrap around services availed at site. Construction work will be contracted to section 3 employers/employees; prioritized to local, low-income, women, and/or graduates of St. Johnsbury Academy construction technology program.
WillJohn Properties, LLC
- Location: Hartford, Windsor County
- Award: $31,311
- Purpose: Low-income housing - 2 units; cosmetic and code improvements to ensure residential units don't revert to commercial use.
- Anticipated outputs: Retention of 2 low-income housing units. Mitigation of 0.4 acres.
Burlington City Arts Foundation, Inc.
- Location: Burlington, Chittenden County
- Award: $768,447
- Purpose: Expansion of Burlington City Arts facility and programming; expand cultural and economic opportunities, as well as indoor and outdoor community gathering space.
- Anticipated outputs: 3.5 full time employees, 2.19 acres mitigated, and reused infrastructure.
Sam’s Properties, LLC
- Location: Hartford, Windsor County
- Award: $49,680
- Purpose: Redevelopment/reuse of vacant garage for commercial occupancy. BRE for MDL Electric inclusive of office and warehousing space for the company.
- Anticipated outputs: Redeploy building vacant since 2010, 6 net new jobs, reused infrastructure, and 0.43 acres remediated.
2 Franklin Park West LLC
- Location: St. Albans, Franklin County
- Award: $68,000
- Purpose: Redevelopment/expanded use for current auto repair and showroom. BRE for automotive dealership.
- Anticipated outputs: Expanded use, 8-10 jobs, 14.88 acres site.
Little Rivers Health Care
- Location: Newbury, Orange County
- Award: $120,553
- Purpose: Redevelopment of a vacant former gas station into a dental clinic.
- Anticipated outputs: Expanded use, 11 jobs, reused infrastructure on a 0.36 acres site. Access to dental health services for an area previously not served.
Evernorth & Champlain Housing Trust
- Location: Colchester, Chittenden County
- Award: $1,500,000
- Purpose: Redevelopment of former St. Michael’s dormitories.
- Anticipated outputs: 64 residential units, reused infrastructure, remediation of a 3.17 acres site.
561 – 567 North Main Street LLC
- Location: Barre, Washington County
- Award: $38,107.80
- Purpose: Redevelopment of a vacant commercial/residential site.
- Anticipated outputs: 5 jobs, 1 unit of housing.
Lamoille Build, LLC
- Location: Cambridge, Lamoille County
- Award: $441,234
- Purpose: Redevelopment of the former Jeffersonville Granary, a vacant commercial site.
- Anticipated outputs: Revitalization of the property as a vibrant hub for local food businesses and renewing the property’s agricultural legacy; 8 jobs, 1.79 acres remediated.
Lake & Maple LLC
- Location: St. Albans, Franklin County
- Award: $793,360.80
- Purpose: Redevelopment of a contaminated parking lot for housing
- Anticipated outputs: 72 units of housing, 0.97 acres mitigated.
Town of St. Johnsbury
- Location: St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County
- Award: $1,200,000
- Purpose: Redevelopment of the 16,700 sqft former armory building
- Anticipated outputs: 2 full time employees. Reused infrastructure, on a site vacant since 2009. 1.6 acres mitigated.
Source: 4.27.2023. Governor. Montpelier. www.vermont.gov
