Weekly News Roundup

January 12, 2024

Community News

Housing Reform Legislative Priorities Presentation

Thee Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), along with the Tax Department, and the Department for Children and Families held a virtual presentation to highlight the Scott Administration’s housing reform priorities to revitalize communities and increase housing stock. There will also be an update on current collaborative efforts with the legislature to enact these reforms and proposals. A link of the webinar will be available on the ACCD website.

Public Meeting on Act 250 Legislative Study - Video Available

If you were unable to participate in the public meeting on December 14th that the Natural Resources Board hosted o present its draft legislative report “Necessary Updates to the Act 250 Program", you can view it here! and the draft report can be found here.

Announcing the Regional Project Prioritization List

Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) recently announced its Regional Project Prioritization List for 2024. This list ranks the region’s top ten priority projects as determined by a joint committee of members from both CVEDC and Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission. Projects include:

1. Prospect Heights Project - City of Barre

2. Modernization and Flood Mitigation - Trow and Holden

3. New Location for Dessureau Machines, Inc.

4. Waterbury Ambulance Service Station Creation Project

5. Town of Berlin - Scott Hill Loop

6. Plainfield Co-operative Relocation and Expansion

7. Conversion of Commercial Rental Space to Residential at 172 North Main

8. Neck of the Woods Vermont Childcare and Early Education Center

9. MakeShift by Generator

10. Vermont Pro Construction Workshop, Office & Employee Housing

RFPs & Grant Information

Grants for Sustainable Energy for Schools and Municipalities

The Vermont Public Service Department released a request for proposals (RFP) from schools and municipal governments to install renewable energy and clean heating systems in their buildings. Funding for the grants to be issued to respondents to this RFP comes from the US Dept. of Energy and thus their federal grant requirements will be included in any grant agreements issued.

This request for proposals (RFP) is intended to provide financial and technical support for the installation and/or repair of clean energy technologies in underserved public schools in communities and municipalities in Vermont to lower their energy costs, decrease harmful air emissions from heating and power sources; and increase the exposure and experience with clean energy technologies in these public buildings.

The clean energy measures to be supported via this project will be limited to the following three technologies: solar photovoltaics (PV), advanced wood heating, and cold climate air- or ground-source heat pumps.

The RFP and information about the RFP is posted at this site:

https://publicservice.vermont.gov/renewables/clean-energy-development-fund-cedf/funding-opportunities-projects

The RFP itself is at this link:

https://publicservice.vermont.gov/sites/dps/files/documents/2024-01-08_FINAL_10167_SESM_RFP.pdf

Questions regarding the RFP are due on or before 5:00pm: Friday, February 2, 2024

Final Proposals Due on or before 5:00pm: Friday, March 1, 2024

Email your questions to: Christopher.Heine@vermont.gov

2024 Nut and Fruit Tree Grants

The Vermont Fruit & Nut Tree Grant focuses on increasing public access to fruit and nut trees across the state. This grant program is a collaboration between the Vermont Garden Network (VGN) and the VT Urban & Community Forestry Program (VT UCF). Additional funding and technical support comes from Branch Out Burlington!

To prepare for the application please review our Grant Preparation Guide_ VT Fruit & Nut Tree Grant 2024 and Site Assessment Guide – Fruit & Nut Tree Grant 2024 If you have any questions please reach out to our main point of contact, Angela at angela (at) vtgardens.org

Downtown Transportation Fund grants available

The Department of Housing and Community Development is pleased to announce the availability of the Downtown Transportation Fund https://accd.vermont.gov/community-development/funding-incentives/downtown-transportation-fund (DTF) to support revitalization efforts in Designated Downtowns and eligible Designated Village Centers. Since 1999, the DTF program has invested over $14 million in public infrastructure and helped municipalities update streetscaping, parking, rail, and bus facilities, bicycle and pedestrian safety, utilities, street lighting, and wayfinding signage. These vital infrastructural improvements to civic centers directly contribute to healthier and happier communities.

Eligibility for Designated Village Centers

The Downtown Transportation Fund has expanded eligibility to Designated Village Centers that have participated in the Better Connections Program https://secure.accd.vermont.gov/betterconnections/index.html and Designated Village Centers within Chittenden County that have completed a comprehensive downtown/village center/community area planning process with public input, comparable to the Better Connections Program. See the program application for a full list of eligible municipalities.

Application Deadline: February 19, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.

Please note that the application includes a preliminary project review by Historic Preservation, which must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the application deadline.

See the 2024 Downtown Transportation Fund Guidance and Application for complete details of the program. The maximum grant amount is $200,000 with a 20% match requirement.

Please contact Gary Holloway at gary.holloway@vermont.gov or 802-522-2444 if you have questions or need assistance. Applicants are strongly encouraged to set up a preapplication meeting to discuss project ideas. Learn more about how Downtown Transportation Fund investments can transform your downtown at our blog post https://spark.adobe.com/page/MrXJK0TETLywR/.

Upcoming Meetings

In addition to a physical location, CVRPC will provide a video or call in option for all meetings (see agendas on our website for details).

January

Jan 15 Office Closed - Holiday

Jan 2 4 pm Executive Committee (*Tuesday due to holiday)

Jan 3 4 pm Regional Plan Committee (due to holiday)

Jan 4 4 pm Project Review Committee

Jan 9 6:30 pm Board of Commissioners

Jan 11 4 pm Clean Water Advisory Committee

Jan 18 1 pm Winooski Basin Water Quality Council

Jan 23 6:30 pm Transportation Advisory Committee

STAY CONNECTED