For Immediate Release
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Media Contact:
Caitlin Corkins, Vermont Division of Historic Preservation
802-828-3047 / caitlin.corkins@vermont.gov
Rebecca Kelley, Office of the Governor
802-828-6403 / Rebecca.Kelley@vermont.gov
State Barn and Historic Preservation Grants Awarded to 33 Projects Across Vermont
Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott recognized the recipients of 16 State Historic Preservation Grants and 17 Barn Preservation Grants at a ceremony held at the State House Thursday. The 33 grants, totaling $461,899 were awarded to municipalities, non-profit organizations and private barn owners in 13 Vermont counties to repair and rehabilitate public buildings and agricultural landmarks.
“Vermont’s vibrant and rich history is directly linked to the vitality and success of our future,” said Scott. “By investing in our historic buildings, we are acknowledging they remain the cornerstones of our communities and culture. Just as importantly, we are putting people to work restoring our past and creating new opportunities for the next generation of Vermonters.”
“Preserving historic sites starts at the local level,” said Vermont State Historic Preservation Officer Laura V. Trieschmann. “These grants enable investment that increases awareness of our heritage, educates the public about historic resources and bolsters the economic growth of Vermont. The recipients deserve recognition for their commitment to historic resources, which not only recount Vermont’s community and agricultural past, but strengthen the significance of our working landscapes.”
The Historic Preservation Grants awarded will preserve the historic steeples at the Strafford Town House and Old West Church in Calais and restore a decorative stenciled ceiling in the Pawlett Town Hall. Work includes replacing the roof of the Grand Trunk Railway Station in Island Pond, making foundation repairs at the Barnard General Store, exterior masonry repairs at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury and window restoration projects in Danville, Rochester, and Montpelier.
Barn Preservation Grants will support roof replacement projects at the round barn of West View Farm in Waterford and the iconic Greensboro Barn in Greensboro, as well as the slate roof repairs of several agricultural buildings at the Brattleboro Retreat Farm. Rehabilitation will be done at the Clemmons Family Farm barn in Charlotte, which is a site on Vermont’s African American Heritage Trail; foundation and drainage work at Bragg Farm in Fayston, which is now an artisanal butter operation called Ploughgate Creamery; and siding and roof repairs at Top Acres Farm in Woodstock, which is an 85-acre maple operation.
For a complete list of the projects awarded visit the Division’s website at:
http://accd.vermont.gov/sites/accdnew/files/documents/HP/HP-Grants-Summeries_FY2018.pdf
http://accd.vermont.gov/sites/accdnew/files/documents/HP/Barn-Grants-Summeries_FY2018.pdf
Established in 1986 and 1991 respectively, the state-funded Historic Preservation and Barn Preservation Grant Programs award matching grants for building improvement projects that promote Vermont’s architectural and agricultural heritage. Since their inception, the programs have granted more than $8 million in support of nearly 1,000 historic building projects. To qualify, buildings must be listed in, or eligible for listing in, the National Register of Historic Places and work completed must conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation reviews applications and makes grant selections. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation administers the grant program. For 2018, the Advisory Council reviewed 90 applications totaling $1.1 million in funding requests.
The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation is part of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD). ACCD’s mission is to help Vermonters improve their quality of life and build strong communities. ACCD accomplishes this mission by providing grants, technical assistance, and advocacy through three divisions: The Department of Economic Development, the Department of Tourism and Marketing, and the Department of Housing and Community Development.
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