A Celebration of Vermont's Downtowns and Their Champion: Senator Patrick Leahy

Since establishing his first senate office in the then-slated-for-demolition firehouse in downtown Burlington in 1975, Senator Leahy has put our historic downtowns at the center of his economic development agenda and has recognized that arts and cultural entities are at the heart of Vermont communities. He has championed investments in historic preservation programs that nearly every downtown has benefited from, created new ones (like National Park Service Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants), earmarked grants for housing, sewer, and water projects that have served as catalysts for redevelopment, and fought for the businesses that make our downtowns great. When tragedy has hit our downtowns, from fires in Randolph, St. Johnsbury, or Brattleboro to floods in Waterbury, Northfield, and Montpelier – Senator Leahy has made sure the federal resources were there to rebuild better. 

Now it’s time to celebrate those contributions!

The event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are appreciated and will sign you up for event updates, including updates about food vendors, performers, and inclement weather plans. A taste of Waterbury’s downtown will be complimentary, and there will be a cash bar.

Brought to you by: Revitalizing Waterbury, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the Preservation Trust of Vermont, Evernorth, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, the Vermont Arts Council, the Vermont Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Vermont Downtown Coalition, the Vermont Association of Planning and Development Associations, the Vermont Council on Rural Development, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, the Vermont Regional Development Corporations, and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency