EAGLE TIMES STAFF
BERLIN, VT — Gov. Phil Scott and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) recently announced recipients of $4,591,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Recovery Housing Program (RHP) federal funding awards through the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP).
The funding will support two mixed-income housing developments; continued funding for the five home-ownership centers throughout Vermont to support affordable home repair financing and housing counseling services for low-and-moderate income homeowners; provide funding to renovate a historic farmhouse into childcare and community space, including two units of affordable housing; provide funding to support a regional health care facility’s heating plant; planning for ADA improvements to a historic theater; and an enhancement of RHP funding.
“The Community Development Block Grant program continues to enhance communities throughout the state,” said Gov. Scott. “With these grants, we are making childcare more available, making public spaces more accessible and adding affordable housing to cities and towns across Vermont. We thank our congressional delegation for their continued work to keep these federal dollars coming to Vermont.”
“The CDBG program is a valuable resource that plays an important role in projects throughout Vermont,” said Department of Housing and Community Development Commissioner Farrell. “By leveraging these federal dollars, communities can advance vital affordable housing projects and create more opportunities for residents.”
Several Vermont senators were in support of the grants and said so in a joint statement.
“The Community Development Block Grant program helps create stronger and more resilient communities here in Vermont and around the country. This federal investment will jumpstart meaningful improvements in towns and cities across the state. CDBG funds provide the resources our communities need to make critical projects a reality. We look forward to seeing Vermonters benefit from this important work,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Peter Welch and Rep. Becca Balint.
This round of CDBG and RHP funds were awarded to 11 projects, including projects in Brattleboro and Windsor:
• Town of Brattleboro: $440,000 CDBG supplemental award for Windham Windsor Housing Trust to administer The Green Mountain Home Repair Loan Fund to provide affordable home repair financing and housing counseling services to eligible homeowners in Windham, and Windsor Counties.
• Town of Windsor: $500,000 CDBG award to support the construction of a new building with 25 mixed income rental apartments.
For more details on these CDBG and RHP awardees and projects visit the DHCD website at tinyurl.com/yc3w8zk8.
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