Community News

Regional Plan Update Underway

New regional plan efforts are underway! The Regional Plan Committee will be meeting each month to provide input and direction on this project.

Questions? Contact your municipal CVRPC representative or contact Clare Rock at 229-0389 or rock@cvregion.com

Fundamentals of Land Use Planning

Great turn out at the recent “Fundamentals of Land Use Planning” training hosted last month! Over 30 participants representing over 13 Central Vermont municipalities. To view a video of of training visit https://centralvtplanning.org/cvrpc-training-and-workshop-recordings/. If you participated but didn’t yet fill in an evaluation please take the 1 minute survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2VT7CBV

RFPs & Grant Information

Announcing the 2023 Downtown and Village Center Tax Credit Program

In FY 2024, $4.35 Million in state income tax credits are available. Credits are awarded to projects that improve building safety, attract new business, and create jobs. Projects must be within a state-designated downtown, village center, or neighborhood development area. Funding supports general rehabilitation and code compliance work. The program also funds flood mitigation upgrades and exterior façade improvements. 

Applications for the next round of tax credits are due Monday, July 3, 2023.

Program Guidelines and Application

You must submit applications via email to: accd.DowntownVillageCenterTaxCreditProgram@vermont.gov.

Applicants encouraged to contact Caitlin Corkins with any questions. There will be a webinar on Thursday, May 4th at 10 am. Email Caitlin Corkins for more information. The webinar will cover program basics and required attachments, scoring criteria, and how to compile a strong application for those looking for a competitive edge.

State Fiscal Year 2024 Grants In Aid Participation

VTrans has received Letters of Intent to participate from 52 municipalities. If you confirm your municipality is listed as “enrolled” on the attached enrollment spreadsheet, please disregard this email. If your municipality is not on the list and you wish to participate in this funding opportunity for FY24, please complete the letter of intent (attached) and send it to grantsinaid@vermont.gov no later than May 5^th. Read the Press Release

If you have any questions, please contact Grantsinaid@vermont.gov

SBA Disaster Loans Available to Private Nonprofits

As a result of the federal disaster declaration for damages suffered in the December 22-24, 2022

storm, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will now offer certain Private Non-Profit organizations (PNPs) in Vermont that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans for damages suffered in that storm.

Eligible PNP organizations in the following Vermont counties may apply: Chittenden, Essex,

Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington.

Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food

kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

PNP organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real

estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. The interest rate is 2.375 percent, with terms up to 30 years.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of their physical

damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements might include insulating pipes, walls, and attics; weather stripping doors and windows; and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s

Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services), or by sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. 

The filing deadline to submit applications for physical property damage is May 19, 2023.