Sanders, Welch, Balint secure more than $100 million for Vermont in federal funding

Submitted by tim on Fri, 02/06/2026 - 16:36

ORCA Media video of Vermont State House press conference.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) today announced more than $100 million in federal funding they secured on behalf of 69 projects addressing critical needs across Vermont. The funding for these Congressionally Directed Spending projects, or “earmarks,” was included in the three fiscal year 2026 appropriations packages passed by Congress and signed into law in November, mid-January and last week.

“I am proud to announce that — alongside Senator Welch and Representative Balint — the Vermont delegation secured more than $100 million in federal funding on behalf of 69 Congressionally Directed Spending projects addressing critical needs across Vermont. That includes important projects in affordable housing, health and dental care, environmental infrastructure needs and much more. This agreement also includes the largest increase in mandatory funding for community health centers in a decade: which is, I might add, $1.2 billion more than the Republicans originally put on the table. This funding will support the 11 Community Health Centers across our state that provide high-quality primary care to one out of every three Vermonters — over 200,000 people across 93 sites,” Sanders said. “At a time when our nation faces incredible challenges, ensuring the federal government pays attention to the needs of working Vermonters remains my top priority. I look forward to working with the folks responsible for these projects, as well as with the federal agencies responsible for getting the money out the door, to ensure the work begins as soon as possible so Vermonters can see real results.”

“I fought to secure nearly $60 million in federal funding for Vermont through the Congressionally Directed Spending process — I’m proud this money will be invested right back into Vermont communities. These funds will support projects that will make a huge difference in every corner of our state — from building more affordable housing to expanding access to vital health care services, and implementing important public safety and infrastructure upgrades. These funds will also help jump-start projects that support flood-impacted and rural communities,” Welch said. “Federal funding is crucial to supporting local projects that make Vermonters’ lives better, but President Trump’s backwards priorities have jeopardized the success of these projects. I’ll keep up the fight to protect Vermonters’ taxpayer dollars and bring money back to the Green Mountain State.”

“Strong communities need strong foundations: safe water, reliable housing, good schools, and emergency services we can count on,” Balint said. “I’m proud to have secured over $13.5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending projects that tackle these priorities for our state. Over time, these projects will help our towns grow, our neighborhoods flourish, and our people thrive. I look forward to seeing them progress and will keep fighting to turn federal dollars into tangible improvements for Vermonters.”

Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) projects shared by the delegation include $1 million for wastewater infrastructure in Burlington and $850,000 for the Winooski River Bridge replacement.

Sanders and Welch jointly secured $26,350,000 across nine projects, including $12 million for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to construct affordable housing, $4.6 million for the University of Detroit Mercy to build a state-of-the-art dental clinic and training site in Colchester, $4 million for Vermont Army National Guard training facilities, and $5,250,000 for water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Richmond, Montpelier, Burlington and Addison County.

Sanders and Balint jointly secured $750,000 for the town of Highgate to construct a wastewater discharge system enabling the town to develop housing and commercial use properties.

Sanders’ individually-secured CDS projects include an additional $10.5 million for affordable housing and shelter projects across the state, $4,450,000 to support renewable energy infrastructure through the Vermont Electric Cooperative, and $2,498,000 for Vermont’s 13 Career and Technical Education Centers to address critical workforce shortages our state faces in medicine, construction, and manufacturing.

Sanders also secured $2,385,000 for outpatient care for substance use disorder at the Johnson Health Center, $2,000,000 for the Vermont Department of Public Safety to upgrade its communications equipment, $1,662,000 for health care education at the Community College of Vermont, and $1.5 million for a new highway garage and fire station in Newark.

Welch-championed CDS projects include $5.25 million to help construct new affordable housing in Middlebury, $3.2 million for the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation to create more than 350 jobs and spur economic development, and $2.7 million to UVM to foster a local and regionally skilled research workforce. Welch also secured $2 million for the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity to weatherize 120 homes, $1.4 million for Northeastern Regional Hospital to construct new community pharmacies in the Northeast Kingdom, and $250,000 for the Vermont Department of Economic Development to provide help for Vermont businesses hurt by President Trump’s tariffs and trade war.

Balint secured funding for all 15 projects that she submitted — the maximum allowed under House rules. That includes $4.8 million to build housing in Brattleboro, Springfield, Fairlee and Hinesburg, plus an additional $2,132,000 for water and wastewater projects in Troy and Riverton Village that will deliver clean water to existing homes and allow for new housing development. Balint's projects also provide more than $1.4 million for Pownal Valley Fire Department to build a new central station and for Granville Fire Department to upgrade their firehouse. Lyndon Institute will also receive $488,000 for the Lyndon Early Childhood Education and Workforce Development program, run in partnership with Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA).

Additional information is available here on projects secured by Sanders, Welch and Balint.

Organizations and municipalities interested in applying for Congressionally Directed Spending in the future can sign up for Sanders’ e-newsletter, the Bernie Buzz, to get notified when the fiscal year 2027 application process opens.

Vermonters are encouraged to sign up for Welch’s newsletter and check his website for future CDS updates.

For updates on this process from Balint, Vermonters can subscribe to her newsletter or reach out anytime to her office via her website.

Senator Welch secured the following federal investments to support Vermont communities:

$12,000,000 for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board** (VHCB) to support the creation of permanently affordable rental housing and the development of shelters in Vermont.
$5,250,000 for Ascend Housing Allies Incorporated to help construct a 21-unit, fully affordable, rental apartment building in Middlebury.
$4,600,000 for the University of Detroit Mercy and the Vermont State Dental Society** to establish and support clinical dental training in Vermont for up to 64 dental students from the University of Detroit Mercy School.
$3,250,000 for Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation to create a new industrial park in Brattleboro that will spur economic development and add up to 350 new jobs in the next seven years.
$2,700,000 for the University of Vermont (UVM) to create a Wet Lab Technician Certificate Program to foster a local and regional skilled workforce and expand UVM’s research enterprise.
$2,500,000 for Vermont State University in Montpelier to develop a comprehensive certification program for composite technicians to meet industry demands and train the next generation of Vermont workers.
$2,000,000 for the Vermont Air National Guard** to construct a readiness center in Northeast Vermont.
$2,000,000 for the Vermont Air National Guard** to complete construction of a general-purpose administration building on Ethan Allen Force Base.
$2,000,000 for the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity for home repair and remediation. This is expected to support 120 homes over a five-year period.
$1,700,000 for the City of Montpelier** to accelerate drinking water system upgrades.
$1,458,000 for the City of Montpelier** to update Elm Street housing to elevate above flood level.
$1,400,000 for Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital to construct new pharmacies in Caledonia County to address the recent loss of pharmacies in Caledonia towns.
$1,350,000 for the Town of Richmond** to upgrade the 50-year-old Richmond Wastewater Treatment Facility.
$1,200,000 for Addison County Community Trust** to address the aging and failing water systems infrastructure in Hillside Manor, a 29-unit affordable housing community in Starksboro.
$1,187,000 for the Vermont Department of Corrections for peer recovery coaches at six correctional facilities and 12 probation and parole offices across Vermont.
$1,000,000 for the Bolton Valley Water and Community Development Company to replace an existing wastewater treatment facility in Bolton at risk of contaminating drinking water sources.
$1,000,000 for Craftsbury Saplings to expand available childcare slots to meet the needs of the community and add nine new full-time jobs.
$1,000,000 for the City of Burlington* for new infrastructure upgrades for the South End Wastewater Storage.
$1,000,000 for the City of Burlington** to improve drinking water quality and increase the usable volume of the emergency back-up water supply of drinking water.
$1,000,000 for the Town of Woodstock to upgrade the 40-year-old Woodstock Main Wastewater Treatment Facility to optimize treatment and energy use.
$996,000 for UVM to expand and sustain its Bridges to Health Community Health Worker program across all rural Vermont communities.
$850,000 for Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTRANS)* to help fill the state’s funding gap for the ongoing $49.5 million Winooski River Bridge replacement project.
$814,000 for Vermont Youth Conservation Corp (VYCC) in Richmond to help families struggling with food insecurity.
$774,000 for the Town of Hartford Police Department for public safety upgrades to enhance Hartford’s emergency communications infrastructure, modernize its emergency response capabilities, and improve dispatch capacity.
$750,000 for VHCB to expand the Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program’s capacity to serve working lands businesses, with a focus on beginning farmers and businesses.
$694,000 for UVM Health Network for hospital safety improvements.
$664,000 for the Lamoille County Regional Planning Commission to add ten streamgages and two precipitation sensors in the Lamoille River basin.
$600,000 for the Town of Berlin to improve the town’s drinking water system and expand service along the Water Main System Loop.
$598,000 for the Rockingham Municipal Fire Department SR Station to build a new fire station with expanded emergency services.
$591,000 for the City of Barre** to mitigate future flood risk through floodplain restoration.
$557,000 for Norwich University’s School of Nursing Teaching and Simulation Center to enhance the center with additional equipment and medical infrastructure.
$500,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers** for a new flood control study of the Winooski River watershed in Montpelier and Barre following the 2023 and 2024 floods.
$500,000 for Bennington First Congregational Church to upgrade the historic church building to improve accessibility and protect the historic structure.
$500,000 for the Intervale Center’s Conservation Nursery in Burlington to expand the statewide riparian restoration and land conservation projects.
$500,000 for the Town of South Hero to restore and upgrade the Old White Meeting House, the oldest municipal building in Grand Isle County.
$375,000 for the American Association of State Climatologists to prepare Vermont’s first comprehensive drought plan, create an inundation flooding platform to better predict flood risks, and more.
$373,000 for Turning Point of Springfield to reduce substance misuse and increase recovery in rural, high-risk communities by expanding Peer Recovery Coaching and Community Coalition engagement.
$250,000 for Spectrum Youth to expand school-based mental health services for middle and high school students in Chittenden and Franklin counties.
$250,000 for the Vermont Department of Economic Development to provide technical assistance to small- and medium-sized enterprises in responding to an increase in costs associated with tariffs.
$100,000 for the Center for Agricultural Economy for farm-to-school education and local food school nutrition.

* Denotes funds were secured in partnership with the Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Becca Balint (VT-At-Large)

** Denotes funds were secured in partnership with Senator Sanders

2.6.2026. Delegation

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