The state has awarded nearly $350,000 in Municipal Planning Grants to thirty-eight communities across the state to help them plan for growth and development. Officials at the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development announced the Municipal Planning Grants of up to $15,000, which can be used for a variety of planning projects.
These grants support the planning activities that are at the heart of Vermont s Smart Growth strategy, said Tayt Brooks, Commissioner of the Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development. While the budget crisis has curtailed the amount available, these investments will help promote economic activity, community development and housing in our downtowns and village centers, while protecting Vermont s working landscape.
The Municipal and Regional Planning Fund was first established in 1988 as a way to support municipal planning and development. The program offers grants of up to $15,000 to help Vermont municipalities develop their town plans and to conduct special planning projects.
Through a competitive process, 38 towns across the state were awarded funds for a diverse collection of planning projects. A number of projects are planning activities to support updating town plans, maps and zoning bylaws. There are also projects relating to downtown and village revitalization, growth center planning and economic development planning efforts.
As part of Governor Jim Douglas E-State Initiative, these grants are now applied for, approved, and administered completely on-line.
This is how we are using technology to be more efficient in state government, Brooks said. Making the process of applying for and administering grants paperless makes the process faster, less costly, and less time-consuming for both the applicant and our staff.
With no local matching funds required, this is one of the few state grant programs accessible to even the smallest of Vermont municipalities. Communities have 18 months to complete their planning projects.
For more about the Municipal Planning Grant site please visit: www.dhca.state.vt.us/Planning/MPG.htm
Source: Economic Development. 6.2.2010.
GRANT AWARDS
Addison County Regional Planning Commission
Municipality
Project Type
Offered
Town of Bristol
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw Update
$12,350
City of Vergennes
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw Update
$15,000
Total
$27,350
Bennington County Regional Commission
Town of Bennington
Municipal Plan Update WT other
$3,500
Town of Stamford
Municipal Plan Update
$7,428
Town of Woodford
Municipal Plan Update
$8,400
Total
$19,328
Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission
City of Barre
Municipal Plan Update
$15,000
City of Montpelier
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw Update
$15,000
Town of Waitsfield
Other
$8,450
Total
$38,450
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
City of Burlington
Municipal Plan Update
$14,999
Town of Hinesburg
Growth Center Plan
$15,000
City of South Burlington
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw Update
$8,775
Total
$38,774
Lamoille County Planning Commission
Town of Belvidere
Historic Schoolhouse Feasibility Study
$6,721
Town of Hyde Park
Municipal Plan Update
$12,740
Town of Johnson
Municipal Plan Update
$2,325
Total
$21,786
Northern Vermont Development Authority
Town of Burke
Town Plan and Zoning Update
$14,655
Town of Concord
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw Update
$8,655
Town of Derby
Municipal Plan Update
$7,175
Town of Granby
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw Update
$4,940
Total
$35,425
Northwest Regional Planning Commission
City of St. Albans
Municipal Plan
$15,000
Town of North Hero
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw
$10,000
Town of St. Albans
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw Update
$15,000
Total
$40,000
Rutland Regional Planning Commission
City of Rutland
Downtown Traffic Study
$15,000
Town of Killington
Official Map
$1,870
Town of Mount Holly
Affordable Housing Studies
$4,283
Town of Poultney
Municipal Plan Update
$5,000
Total
$26,153
Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission
Town of Chester
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw Update
$10,150
Town of Ludlow
Municipal Plan Update
$10,350
Total
$20,500
Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission
Town of Bradford
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw Update
$4,540
Town of Barnard
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw Update
$2,825
Town of Hartford
Highway Specifications
$9,650
Town of Plymouth
Municipal Plan Update
$2,545
Town of Randolph
Economic Development Plan
$7,475
Town of Strafford
Unified Bylaws
$11,425
Town of Topsham
Municipal Plan Update
$3,075
Town of West Fairlee
Municipal Plan Update
$5,540
Total
$47,075
Windham Regional Commission
Town of Brattleboro
Municipal Plan Update
$15,000
Town of Guilford
Zoning and/or Subdivision Bylaw
$5,000
Town of Putney
Municipal Plan Update
$12,450
Total
$32,450
Grand Total
$347,291
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