Community News

Barre Area Development Inc. is seeking full time Executive Director to promote, sustain and develop new and existing business in both Barre City and Town, Vermont.



Salary $90,000.00 to $100,000.00 per year plus benefits.

For more information click on www.badc.com or email, info@badc.com.

2025 Central Vermont Regional Project Priority List

Each year, the Regional Project Priority List for Central Vermont is developed by CVEDC and the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission. It is then presented to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. We look for projects that invite new workers, grow jobs, support housing, upskill workers, promote equity, respect diversity, and expand opportunities for all Vermonters.

The 2025 Regional Project Priority List was announced 12/4/24 by CVEDC: 

1. Greenway College 

2.   Waitsfield Community Wastewater Project

3.   Country Club Road Project

4.   Isabel Circle Extension

5.   Montpelier Downtown Building Flood Resilience Assessment Project

6.   Woody Avenue Development Project

7.   Jones Brothers Office Building Project

8.   New Location for Dessureau Machines, Inc.

9.   Central Vermont Medical Center Facility Upgrade

10. Plainfield Rises: Flood Recovery and Revitalization

Upcoming Events

Extreme Weather Preparedness Workshop

Old Labor Hall, Barre VT

CVRPC is notifying our member municipalities about a planning workshop for extreme temperature events on Friday December 13th at 11am. We will offer both an in-person (Old Labor Hall in Barre) and remote participation. The Vermont Department of Health is providing funding to support development of local hot/ cold weather emergency plans. Please let us know if you are interested in attending a workshop to develop extreme temperature emergency planning in your community by December 11th, 2024. We expect that most plans will address strategies such as: 

·                    Public outreach about risks and safety tips 

·                    Opening and advertising heating/cooling centers or shelters 

·                    Working with partners to check in on and assist community members at highest risk for experiencing a heat illness 

·                    Mobilizing extra emergency response personnel for standby assignments or safety checks 

Increasingly hot weather is already taking a toll in Vermont, including at least four heat-related deaths during a 6-day heat wave in 2018. While that heat wave was severe for Vermont, we expect more frequent and harmful hot weather episodes in the future. Well over 1,000 people were killed during a 2021 heat wave in the Northwestern US and Western Canada, an area with a similar summer climate to Vermont. It’s important to plan now for similarly extreme heat in Vermont, as many heat-related deaths are preventable with proper planning. 

We are still aware that cold weather conditions can impact our region especially in combination with power outages. These combined temperature extremes pose a risk to our communities and proper planning can go a long way in how we address these issues and develop our response. 

REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/6mHWcQYvFqfzFRqXA  

FIND RESOURCES HERE: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LxN1BHbDwf3XKxgDNaivR_R3jKWwo2UP?usp=sharing

Read more about Central Vermont's Regional Heat Vulnerability Profile here >>

Land Use Reform Municipal Training

Recently, Vermont has had major changes in land use law. Interested in learning more? 

Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission is offering a training on land use reform and how it affects your town. All are welcome: municipal officials, volunteers, and anyone who wants to find out how they can get involved! 

Topics will include Act 250 reform, flood safety, housing, conservation, and more.

Please join us online or in person on Thursday, December 19 at 6PM - see attached flyer for details - and forward this invitation to anyone who might be interested. We hope to see you soon!

More details here 

https://centralvtplanning.org/

VCDA Winter Conference - Navigating Funding in the Post-Pandemic World

January 15, 2025

Over the last four years, new funding sources have emerged to support countless projects and communities around the state. In addition to those new funding sources, we have also seen complexities, like higher than expected costs and capacity constraints. 

Learn about how communities are finding success and creative solutions to fund their projects. Hear from compliance and technical assistance experts on how to navigate requirements and unearth new ways and resources for you and your community to tap into. 

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Don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow community champions, gain valuable insights, and contribute to the collective work of building a brighter future for Vermont. 

Check out the website for agenda and presenter information!

RFPs & Grant Information

2025 Municipal Planning Grants Announcement

Municipal Planning Grants help Vermont’s cities, towns and villages adapt to change and prepare for the future.  This flexible State funding for planning and resilience can pay for a variety of eligible projects, such as:

• A new or updated municipal plan;
• New or updated bylaws that that implement Act 47 of 2023 (HOME Act) and Act 181 of 2024 (Resilience, Biodiversity & Land Use Act), including zoning & subdivision bylaws;
• Climate resilience and flood recovery projects;
• Projects related to housing development;
• New or updated capital programs and budgets for infrastructure maintenance and improvements;
• Physical improvement plans or other planning for a State Designation in coordination with Department of Housing & Community Development program staff; and
• Projects that support communities for all ages that align with Age Strong Vermont: A Roadmap for an Age-friendly State.

Individual towns may apply for up to $30,000, and multi-town applications (a consortium) may apply for up to $45,000. A local cash match of 10% of the total project costs is required, except for zoning/subdivision bylaw projects in municipalities without zoning/subdivision bylaws.

Please review the Program Description for eligibility requirements and the Application Guide for application questions. A wide variety of municipalities access this funding, including the Vermont’s smallest towns.

Application Schedule for FY2025 Grants: 

• Regional Planning Commission confirmation of municipal planning process (to be eligible to apply for projects other than a municipal plan): December 31, 2024
• Online application opens for use: January 27, 2025
• Application Deadline: March 31 @ 6:00 p.m., 2025
• Award Decisions: April 30, 2025
• Project completion: April 30, 2027 (2-year grant term to complete a project)
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Staff at CVRPC are available to assist you. Reach out to us if you have any projects ASAP- at cvrpc@cvregion.com

Efficiency Vermont Offers Nonprofits Access to Rebates for Equipment

A new Efficiency Vermont Enhanced Incentive Program offers a bonus rebate of up to $7,500 to nonprofit organizations in Vermont for any qualified piece of equipment. This is in addition to any standard incentives that may be available.

Enhanced Rebates for Nonprofits | Efficiency Vermont

$3.3 Million Available for Municipal Outdoor Recreation Projects

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant round. This reimbursement program enables municipal entities and state agencies to develop large-scale outdoor recreation projects across the state. LWCF funds are apportioned through the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Parks Service.

Eligible LWCF projects include acquisition of land for parks and public outdoor recreation; development of new outdoor recreation facilities; and renovation of existing outdoor recreation facilities. Recreation spaces acquired or developed using LWCF assistance must be maintained and remain open for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity. The recommended request range is $25,000 to $1,000,000. LWCF requires a 50% non-federal match, which means total project costs should range from $50,000 to $2,000,000.

Interested applicants must submit a Pre-Application for FPR to assess the project’s readiness, eligibility, and potential compliance needs. If the project meets the LWCF eligibility criteria, FPR will then invite applicants to submit a Full Application. Pre-applications are due on December 13, 2024.

For more information and to access the Pre-Application, please visit https://fpr.vermont.gov/land-and-water-conservation-fund. Questions can be directed to ANR.FPRRecreationGrants@vermont.gov.