GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION GRANT TO SUPPORT MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN DOWNTOWN BENNINGTON
Bennington, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today joined local, state and federal partners to announce a $1 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to the Town of Bennington. The federal grant will help redevelop the historic Putnam Block, which will include six properties and more than four acres, in downtown Bennington.
The Putnam Block redevelopment project is scheduled to begin this fall, with federal grant funding from the Town targeted to the first phase of the project, including site acquisition, environmental mitigation, demolition of blighted and unsafe commercial buildings, infrastructure improvements, and the renovation of existing historic buildings.
The Bennington Redevelopment Group – a consortium of local business leaders, institutions and civic-minded investors – is leading the effort to transform the under-utilized block into a vibrant mix of retail, housing and office space. Based on its successful revitalization of downtown Brattleboro’s Brooks House project, Brattleboro-based M&S Development has also been hired.
“I am thrilled to see the Town of Bennington, local business leaders and institutions joining forces to invest and revitalize downtown Bennington,” said Scott. “This is a significant public private-partnership, that will provide housing, improved infrastructure and support growth. As we work to grow our economy, which means focusing on the success of all 14 counties in Vermont, projects like these will have a big impact.”
This $1 million grant to the Town of Bennington is one of many competitive awards made from the state’s federal allocation of CDBG funds. The State awards approximately $7 million annually in competitive grants through the Vermont Community Development Program, run by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The grants are funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Vermont’s congressional delegation has been steadfast in supporting the funding that makes this program possible.
For information about the Vermont Community Development Program please see the Agency of Commerce and Community Development website at: http://accd.vermont.gov/.
Other recently awarded projects include:
Lincoln - $17,600 - Burnham Hall Handicap Accessibility - Subgrant to the Walter S. Burnham Foundation for accessibility modification improvements to Lincoln's Burnham Hall.
Brattleboro - $30,000 - Tri-Park Cooperative Master Plan - Grant to assist with the development of a master plan for the Tri-Park Mobile Home Cooperative. The plan will guide the relocation/removal of predominantly low-to-moderate-income owner occupied mobile homes that are currently within the Whetstone Brook floodway.
Randolph - $296,326 - 28 South Main St. - Subgrant to the Clara Martin Center to assist in the redevelopment of its 4,400-square foot historic building located at 28 South Main St. into four units of housing, an office and program space. The apartment units will serve individuals who are homeless and have a mental illness.
Winooski City - $300,000 - The Strand Public Infrastructure - Subgrant to 70 Main LLC to support the associated public infrastructure with the Strand Theater project. VCDP funds will be used for the realignment of Main Street, the narrowing of West Allen Street, pavers, new granite curbing, public sidewalks, a new three-way crosswalk and other pedestrian improvements, bollards, lighting, landscaping, plaza/park improvements, and other public infrastructure. Approximately 150 jobs are anticipated with the Strand Theater and other businesses locating in the new office space.
Brattleboro - $725,000 - Five-County Homeownership Services Program - Subgrant to Windham & Windsor Housing Trust to deliver a home repair and housing counseling services program to a five-county region including Windham, Windsor, Orange, Lamoille, and Washington Counties (a consortium grant with Barre City).
Bennington - $1,000,000 - Putnam Block Redevelopment - Subgrant to Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC) for property acquisition, legal costs and redevelopment of the 4-acre Putnam Block Property. The site is a brownfields site and will require environmental mitigation and renovation of the historic buildings. The project anticipates creating at least 35 new jobs and 34 new units of housing.