Workshop: Local Community-Led Resilience Initiatives

September 19 | 10:00-11:30 AM | Virtual

Vermont communities are finding creative ways to increase their resilience in order to take on the diverse challenges they are facing such as the loneliness epidemic, climate change, community divisions, vacant and aging properties, etc. This panel will explore local community-led resilience initiatives from social networks of support, physical community hubs with resilient power, to regenerative agriculture. Join us to engage with Vermonters taking on the challenge of building community-led resilience initiatives.

Panelists include:

• Sam Lash – Climate & Energy Planner, Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission
• Mindy Blank-Co-director, Community Resilience Organizations
• Marie Caduto- Watershed Planner, Department of Environmental Conservation

 Register here.

Webinar - Flood Relief Offers from Efficiency Vermont

Sept 20, 2023 - 6:00 pm

$36 million for new flood recovery programs is now available through Efficiency Vermont for homeowners, renters, rental property owners, and businesses affected by the summer floods. The offers can help replace critical home heating systems, hot water systems, and essential appliances that were damaged or destroyed in the floods. Join our webinar to learn how you can take advantage of these offers. Plus, new weatherization and financing options that can help you rebuild. Send your questions to webinarevt@efficiencyvermont.com, or ask live during the webinar.

https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/floodwebinar

VLCT hosts Flood Recovery Weekly Meetings with VEM

The SEOC is no longer holding weekly virtual meetings, but you can join VLCT on Tuesdays at 1:00 PM when they host Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) and other officials to keep recovery information flowing to you. Details here!

Backyard Woods Course - October 2nd - November 3rd, 2023

Vermont's Urban & Community Forestry's Backyard Woods Course is designed for homeowners with less than 25 acres who want to learn more about the woods in their backyard: what’s in it, who (wildlife) uses it, and how they can become better caretakers of it.

The course is free of charge, but registration is required. Learn more about the course and register.

MERP Energy Assessment Deadline Has Been Shortened!

The deadline to apply for free Level 1 and Level 2 Energy Resilience Assessments through the Municipal Energy Resilience Program has been moved up to 10/31. Buildings must be municipally owned (but perpetually leased facilities may be eligible). Additional info can be found here and questions related to this program can be directed to Sam Lash, CVRPC's Climate & Energy Planner - lash@cvregion.com

RFPs & Grant Information

Grants for New Municipal Park and Ride Lots

Park-and-Rides encourage ride sharing and can advance your community’s energy and transportation goals. If your area qualifies, apply before the funding runs out! More details here!

AARP VT 2023 Winter Placemaking Grants

AARP Vermont is committed to helping towns and organizations create livable communities for older adults to live and thrive. Vermont’s cold and dark winter months pose several challenges for residents across the state, one of which is social isolation. The Winter Placemaking grant program focuses on helping communities embrace the winter months by reinventing public spaces to encourage activities and social engagement.

The grants fund quick-action projects that initiate winter placemaking demonstrations focused on creating or reinventing public spaces to improve safety, accessibility, and overall appeal. Now in its fourth year, the program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for all residents, especially those age 50 and older.

AARP Vermont’s 2023 Winter Placemaking Grants will provide financial support in the amount of $4,000 per project to non-profit or ad-hoc groups, who meet the eligibility requirements.

 deadline for submissions is 5:00 p.m. EST on October 16, 2023 to be eligible for consideration.

Community Partnership for Neighborhood Development (CPND) Grant

The Community Partnership for Neighborhood Development (CPND) grant status and timeline has been updated. They will be reopening the grant application period until Friday, October 27, 2023, at 5 p.m., due to receiving further clarification on the extent of the grant’s enabling statute. 

Previously, the program overview and guidance stated that projects must, “Provide for a mix of housing types, styles, tenure, and sizes to accommodate diverse households of varying composition, age, and income, including not less than 25 percent of the units with perpetual affordability and 35 percent of the homes affordable at 80 percent of the area median income.” Updated understanding is that this is not a cumulative affordability threshold; the 35% of homes affordable at 80% AMI is INCLUSIVE of the 25% perpetually affordable units. 

Updated program guidance and application instructions will be posted on the CPND webpage. Please contact Program Manager Amy Tomasso (amy.tomasso@vermont.gov) with any further questions.