Gov. Douglas Announces
Achievement Awards and $1.6 Million in Community Development Grants
Six
municipalities honored for outstanding community development projects
MONTPELIER, Vt. — (April 15, 2008) Governor Jim Douglas on has announced the award
of $1.6 million in community development grants to six communities that will provide
affordable housing, preserve jobs, and create shelter and housing for victims
of domestic violence.
The largest Vermont Community Development Program award –
$500,000 – will help the Vermont Tubbs furniture factory in Brandon continue its recovery and preserve 87 jobs in Brandon by providing
needed capital.
“This grant to the town of Brandon
will be loaned to Vermont Tubbs and will allow them to continue their
turnaround,” the Governor said. “This is an investment in a company
and jobs that are critical to Rutland
County.”
The grant announcements were made Tuesday at an awards ceremony held to
honor four communities – Middlebury, Jay, Barre, and Groton, as well an
exceptional individual who has worked in community development for over 15
years – for their outstanding work and 13 additional communities that completed
Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP) projects in 2007.
Other Vermont Community Development Program grants include a $300,000
grant to City of Barre which will be used by the Good Samaritan Haven to
rehabilitate and expand their current emergency shelter, and a $275,000 grant
to the Town of St. Johnsbury that will assist the Gilman Housing Trust in
acquiring and rehabilitating shelter for women and families victimized by
domestic abuse.
“These grants are so important because they will leverage over
$4.5 million in other resources and help address critical needs in these
communities,” the Governor said.
Governor Douglas also praised the dedication of community leaders and
volunteers who work cooperatively with the State of Vermont to support and improve the quality
of life for Vermonters.
The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development awards
the competitive grants, based on recommendations of the Vermont Community
Development Board and approval of Secretary Kevin Dorn.
VCDP COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Housing Award: Town
of Middlebury,
Stone Hill Housing. Through this $600,000 VCDP grant to the Town a deferred
loan was provided to Housing Vermont and Addison County Community Trust to
develop 26 units of multi-family affordable housing on a rocky 3.88 acre parcel
of land in Middlebury and 18 of the units are designated to low to moderate
income families.
Economic Development Award:
Town of Jay, Jay Peak
Golf. Through this $748,664 VCDP grant to the Town a loan was provided to Jay
Peak Inc. to help fund the construction and operation of an 18 hole golf course
and academy at the base of the existing Jay Peak Ski Resort. The addition
of the Jay Peak Golf Course to Jay Peak Ski Area has allowed it to become a
year round resort, providing year round employment to an additional 46
individuals in Orleans and Franklin Counties.
Public Facility Award:
City of Barre,
Battered Women’s Services and Shelter. Through this $190,000 VCDP grant
the City provided a sub-grant of VCDP funds to the Battered Women's Services
and Shelter (BWSS), a non-profit organization providing service to women and
children fleeing domestic violence, to make the facility handicapped
accessible, create 4 additional bedrooms, increase and improve common areas,
add storage space for donations, and additional site improvements..
Community Development Champion: Edwin
Stretch. Ed built Gilman Housing
Trust into a full fledged community development organization, enlarging the
portfolio to include more than 400 affordable homes and apartments while
effectively reinvigorating village centers and downtowns in the Northeast
Kingdom—Vermont’s most rural and economically challenged area. The
development work reflects Ed’s tenacity, his leadership skills, and his
vision for community development.
Commissioner’s Award:
Town of Groton,
Groton Housing. Through this $454,100 VCDP grant the Town provided a deferred
loan to Gilman Housing Trust and Housing Vermont which assisted in the creation
of 19-units of affordable housing, benefiting 41 low-to-moderate-income Groton residents. Not only
did the $7 million project create and preserve 19 safe, attractive and
affordable apartments, it also provided new space for the critical elements of
any successful rural town—a new town library, space for local businesses,
and streetscape and park improvements.
VCDP 2007 CYCLE II AWARDS
IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
City of Barre
$300,000
Subgrant to Good Samaritan Haven to rehab their current emergency shelter facility
and construct an addition. The rehab will include installation of a
sprinkler system, upgrades to heating and ventilation system, structural
repairs and ADA
improvements. The addition will include a fully accessible bathroom and
common space.
City of Newport
$191,500
Deferred loan/subgrant to Gilman Housing Trust, Inc. to rehabilitate the
107-119 Main Street Newport property currently owned by the Passumpsic Savings
Bank for creation of 13 units of affordable senior housing.
Town of St. Johnsbury
$275,000 Subgrant to Gilman Housing Trust to acquire and rehabilitate 418
Railroad Street for Umbrella, an non-profit organization that provides
counseling and shelter for women and their families who are victims of domestic
abuse, to create 8 units of shelter and transitional housing in St. Johnsbury.
Town of Brandon
$500,000
Loan to Vermont Tubbs furniture manufacturing plant to retain 87 jobs in Brandon, of which 77 % of
the employees meet the current Low/Moderate income guidelines
requirement.
$1,566,500 Total Implementation Grants
PLANNING GRANTS
Town of Randolph
$30,000
Subgrant to Randolph Area Community Development Corporation to conduct
predevelopment work for a mixed use development at the former Ethan Allen
property on Salisbury and School Street which will consist of locating all
underground utilities, making recommendations regarding the roads and
utilities, performing a traffic study, performing the architectural assessment,
and other related activities.
City of Rutland
$15,000
Grant to complete a marketing/management analysis in order to attract retail
businesses to empty storefronts in the Special Benefits District located in the
City.
$60,000
Total Planning Grants
$1,626,500 Total Grants
For information about the Vermont Community Development Program, please
see the Agency of Commerce and Community Development website at: http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/VCDP/index.htm
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