Community News

Regional Project Priority List Announced

CVEDC recently announced - "Each year, CVEDC with its regional partner Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission asks businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities in our region to submit the projects they are working on that contribute to economic development in our region.

A committee made up of board members from both organizations rank and score the projects based on criteria described to us by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. We provide back a list of the top ten ranked projects for ACCD to review and keep in mind as funding decisions are made throughout 2023.

We are pleased to announce that thanks to the diligence and work by the committee, the top 10 projects have been determined and submitted to the State. Here’s a look at the projects that will impact our region in 2023:

1.  VCFA Buildings Purchase by New School

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

3.  Town of Berlin - Scott Hill Loop

4.  Cabot Waterbury Store Demo & Test Kitchen

5.  Prospect Height Project - City of Barre

6.  Stone Arts School Infrastructure Project

7.  Habitat for Humanity Carbon Negative Affordable Housing Development

8.  Curtis Pond Dam Repair

9.  VCFA - Condo Association and Parking for new business

10.            Montessori School of Central Vermont (MSCVT) Expansion Project

And we additionally support these applicants:

11.            Confluence River Park

12.            Northfield Sewer Line

13.            Cabot Childcare"

Special thanks to the CVRPC Board members who participated on this committee.

Technical Assistance Opportunities

Through the TA Pilot, communities can access community designers, landscape architects, planners, community engagement specialists, community artists, outreach and marketing specialists, disability consultants, language translators, and public health and health equity experts to develop community-driven neighborhood/village health equity and placemaking ideas, designs, and project plans focused on improving public spaces to make communities more inclusive, healthy, welcoming, and connected.

More information at https://healthycommunitiesvt.com/technical-assistance-opportunities/

Looking to grow your local economy? Apply for a Rural Business Development Grant!

The Rural Business Development Grant Program (RBDG) is designed to promote economic development, job creation, and technical assistance and training for small rural businesses that have fewer than 50 workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue. Applications within the Northeast Kingdom may request up to $250,000, while all other applications may request up to $30,000. Applications are due on February 28, 2023. Priorities for this year’s grant cycle are: addressing climate change and environmental justice; advancing racial justice, place-based-equity and opportunity; and creating more and better market opportunities.

There are two types of RBDG projects, Enterprise grants and Opportunity grants. A few examples of Enterprise grant uses include training and technical assistance, the acquisition and development of land, the capitalization of revolving loan funds, and feasibility studies. A few examples of Opportunity grant uses include community economic development, entrepreneur training, and long-term business strategic planning.

The Central Vermont Region have benefited from the Rural Business Development Grant Program. In 2021, the Town of Northfield received $20,000 to start a revolving loan fund designed to assist small, locally-owned businesses. In 2022, the CVRPC received $29,000 to provide business development assistance to the Plainfield Cooperative.

For more information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-business-development-grants/vt. CVRPC staff are available to assist with application preparation. Contact us at cvrpc@cvregion.com

Funding to Install or Replace Water or Wastewater Systems

ARPA Funding Overview:

ANR has $16 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to provide safe and reliable drinking water sources and wastewater disposal systems for Vermonters disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This program will provide financial assistance to residential property owners, including owner-occupied multi-family properties with up to four units for the repair or replacement of failing or inadequate on-site water and/or wastewater systems.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

Have a failed or inadequate on-site drinking water or wastewater system (also known as wells, springs, septic systems or tanks, leach fields, drywells, or cesspools) 

Own and live on a residential property with either a single-family home or an owner-occupied, multi-family home with up to four units 

Earn a household income of less than $80,835 per year 

For more info: https://anr.vermont.gov/special-topics/arpa-vermont/funding-install-or-replace-water-or-wastewater-systems

Flood Resilient Communities Fund

Flood Resilient Communities Fund (FRCF) was established by the Vermont Legislature under Act 74 with the intent of improving landscape and community resilience and reducing the future public safety and water quality impacts of climate-related flood hazards in Vermont, focusing on buyouts of flood-vulnerable properties. This is a voluntary program that will prioritize projects in communities and/or for homeowners with greatest economic need and projects that mitigate repetitive loss among low-income and marginalized portions of the population. 

• Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as funding allows. 
• More information here.