November 25th, 2020

Happy Thanksgiving! 

NRPC wishes you and yours a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving! 
 
Comic by Scott Nickel

Learn More about Home Energy Efficiency Incentives at NRPC's Step Up to Button Up Webinar

As winter approaches, making sure your home is well-insulated and weatherized can mean significant savings on your heating bills. If you are looking for ways to weatherize your home, or a rental property you own, Efficiency Vermont has incentive and rebate programs that can help.

This year, Efficiency Vermont is offering a new program for DIY weatherization. Homeowners can get up to $100 back when you complete three simple DIY projects. To learn more, click here. For a comprehensive overview of all energy efficiency programs available for homeowners, check out NRPC's  home energy efficiency survey. For information on weatherization programs for rental properties, click here.

Have more questions? Attend the Step Up to Button Up webinar hosted by NRPC and Button Up Vermont on Wednesday, December 2th at 7 PM. Button Up staff will be available to answer your home weatherization and energy efficiency questions. Click here to register.
NRPC Assists Local Food Shelves with Equipment Purchases

NRPC provided grant funds to 5 area food shelves to purchases cooler, freezers and other equipment needs. This new equipment will support the distribution of local and healthy foods such as dairy and fresh produce. The project was funded as part of a US Economic Development Administration Disaster Resiliency grant to support the economic recovery and improve the resiliency of the agriculture and food system in Franklin & Grand Isle Counties. In addition to supporting capital investments into the food distribution system, the project will include technical assistance to farm and agricultural producers, municipal planning to support on-farm businesses and a pilot agricultural workforce apprenticeship program for high school students in cooperation with the Community College of Vermont.

New cooler shelving purchased through the program increased storage space in coolers at the Sheldon Methodist Food Shelf.
Upcoming LCRR Technical Webinars   

The International Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Study Board is hosting technical webinars. Each week starting on Thursday November 5th, LCRR will host a webinar on one of the eight topics currently being investigated under the study. A study member will be presenting an in-depth presentation on a particular topic and will be followed by a Q & A period.  

LCRR is offering the webinars in English and French. For English sessions, please attend the morning sessions. For French sessions, please attend the afternoon sessions. See the schedule below for upcoming webinars. 

Date & Time 
Topic of Technical Webinar 
Wednesday,
December 2nd  
10:00 (EN); 14:00 (FR
Wednesday,
December 9th  
10:00 (EN); 14:00 (FR) 
Wednesday,
December 16th
10:00 (EN); 14:00 (FR) 

Grant Opportunity: Better Roads Program 

The Vermont Agency of Transportation has announced the 24th year of funding to provide grants for projects on municipal roads that improve water quality and maintenance cost savings. The grant is funded by the Vermont Agency of Transportation with partnership through the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. 

The application scoring of the Better Roads Program is intended to be line with the State's Clean Water Act (Act 64), as well as the Municipal Roads General Permit (MRPG). In order to prioritize funding, applicants must indicate whether or not the projects that are seeking funding are in compliance with the MRPG. 

Applications for funding will be accepted until December 18th, 2020. For more information or to download a copy of the application please visit the website : 
 
http://vtrans.vermont.gov/highway/better-roads

NRPC is able to provide assistance for any municipality that is interested to apply for this grant. Please feel free to contact Bethany Remmers for more information. 

Northwest Regional Planning Commission
Address: 75 Fairfield Street, St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: 802.524.5958      Fax: 802.527.2948     Website: www.nrpcvt.com