Detour Affecting Travel through Swanton on VT Route 78

The bridge across the Missisquoi River in Swanton along VT Route 78 is CLOSED to all traffic until July 29th to facilitate bridge repairs.

Traffic will be detoured to South River St., Beebe Rd., and US Route 7.

Please adjust your travel plans as necessary and allow for extra time.

For more information please contact Heidi Britch-Valenta at hbvalenta@swanton.net.

Have a great project looking for some funding?

Northern Border Regional Commission offers two rounds of funding (Spring and Fall) for three different programs:

Forest Economy Program - The Forest Economy Program is designed to support the forest-based economy, and to assist in the industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models across the 4-state NBRC region. Forest Economy projects are eligible for an award up to $1,000,000. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply.

Timber for Transit - The Timber for Transit Program is designed to advance the use of domestic forest products in transportation infrastructure projects across Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont to showcase the capabilities of wood in these applications. Highly competitive projects will demonstrate and widely promote the utility of high value forest products (e.g. glued laminated timber, cross laminated timber, composite materials, etc.) in transportation infrastructure and commit to enhancing climate resilience in rural communities. Awards range from $250,000 to $1,000,000 for feasibility applications and from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 for implementation projects.

Catalyst - designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire partnerships that improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region. NBRC encourages projects that take a creative approach to addressing an economic need or opportunity in the region, alleviate economic distress, and contribute to economic growth.

Successful projects support a broad range of economic development initiatives such as, but not limited to, projects that modernize and expand access to public water and wastewater services, revitalize transportation infrastructure, establish workforce development programs and facilities, grow the outdoor recreation economy, and provide access to new childcare and healthcare facilities.

Projects classified as construction in support of infrastructure are eligible for awards of up to $1,000,000. Infrastructure projects may be eligible for up to an additional $2,000,000 in funding, for a total maximum award of $3,000,000, if the project meets certain criteria. Projects classified as non-infrastructure projects are eligible for awards of up to $500,000. 

Deadlines for all pre-applications are September 6th. For those invited to apply the deadline for a full application is October 18th.

Swanton's Annual Car Show

When: Saturday, July 27th (rain date July 28th) 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Where: Village Green in the heart of downtown Swanton Village

Have a Project? Let Us Know

Every year the 12 Regional Development Corporations, in partnership with the Regional Planning Commissions, develop a Regional Priority Projects list. This list is then sent to the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and is used in scoring Northern Border Regional Commission as well as U.S. Economic Development Administration grant applications.

If you are a municipality or non-profit, please reach out to Tim Smith at tim@fcidc.com for more information.

To see the current list of projects please click here.

Celebrate the 10th Annual Vermont Open Farm Week

August 4-11, 2024

'Open farm week not only opens farms to the public, but it opens the eyes of public to the farms around. Without farm and food awareness, there will not be the connection between Vermont's farms and the food people see on the store shelves.'

-Farmer Testimonial

The greatest part about Open Farm Week is that every farm is unique. Milk a cow and harvest a carrot at one farm, sit on a tractor and take in the smell of freshly cut hay at another and then head over to another for woodfired pizza night and a garden tour. Events are happening all across the state, it's a great time to get out and explore!

A complete list of events is available here.

Vermont-based business,

'Resonant Link' makes fast, wireless chargers for

commercial applications

Do you use electric forklifts or material handling equipment? If so, check out Resonant Link's wireless lift truck charger. It automates industrial EV charging and is contactless, so you can mitigate labor challenges, maximize productivity, and make your workplace safer.

Please visit Resonant Link.

Registration is Open!

Registration has opened for the 2024 Vermont Community Leadership Summit: Forge Forward, Thrive Together! The event will take place on Tuesday, August 6th at Vermont State University in Randolph, Vermont, and is hosted by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD).

Join hundreds of community builders from across the state to build skills, capacity, and connections - and forge forward towards a thriving and resilient future for all. This year’s event offers a range of topics tailored to support people working on all aspects of local vitality and resilience - capacity, economic vitality, emergency preparedness, youth engagement, inclusion, and more. Attendees can participate in any session, or follow optional “Participation Pathways” of Climate Resilience and Long-term Recovery; Youth Leadership and Engagement; or Understanding and Solving Our Persistent Challenges. 

See the full agenda and sliding-scale registration (including signing up for lunch and accessibility accommodations) at vtrural.org/summit. All who are interested in supporting their community and the future of the state are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center Grant Announced

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the New Dairy Processor Start-up Grant program to support new dairy processing projects throughout the Northeast. The goal of this program is to help develop competitive dairy processing businesses with long-term viability, supporting operations of all sizes in successfully launching and sustaining their products in the marketplace.

Funds are intended to support start-up operations, focusing on tangible implementation rather than research and development, concept development, or initial planning.

By the end of the grant period, projects should show their products being sold in stores or show a Letter of Commitment from a buyer, distributor, or retailer indicating plans to sell the products. Additionally, licenses must be obtained to sell dairy products across state lines. Therefore, applications should be at a stage where they are nearly ready for implementation and can provide Proof of Concept.

Applicants are required to allocate at least 15% of their funding towards obtaining technical assistance or training relevant to starting up value-added production. This may include business planning, recipe formulation, one-on-one training, workshops or mentorship programs on dairy safety, business acceleration, food handling, and more. Funding from this grant program can also cover the purchase of specialized dairy processing equipment and supplies, enhancement of food safety measures, professional marketing and branding efforts, market access strategies, and product development. Construction costs cannot be covered by grant funds, but can be included as match. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to engage in technical assistance such as business planning, market research, or other relevant pre-work ahead of applying.  

Grants will range from $15,000 -$75,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment required.

Applications are due September 5, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

FCIDC Offices will be Closed Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.

Lots are still available at the St. Albans Town Industrial Park conveniently located off US Route 7. All lots fall under an Act 250 Land Use umbrella permit as well as a blanket stormwater permit. Each lot will require additional minor permitting prior to development.

For more information please contact either Tim Smith at tim@fcidc.com or Brad Worthen at bworthen@vermontrealestate.com.

FCIDC is a catalyst for regional economic progress through a community approach.