MONTPELIER, Vt.—February 28, 2018— As part of a four-year partnership to revitalize community centers with strategic transportation investments, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) are pleased to announce the Better Connections (BC) Grant Program has funded three projects to increase local transportation options and the vitality of Vermont’s village centers.
Grant Winners:
- The Town of Danville will develop an action plan to improve safety and accessibility along Route 2 and strengthen the connection between the village and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. (Alison Low, Northeastern Vermont Development Association,alow@nvda.net)
- The Town of Enosburgh will develop a vision to draw more residents, visitors and business to the village by creating a marketing and economic development plan that identifies projects to make the village more pedestrian and bike friendly. (Greta Brunswick, Northwest Regional Planning Commission,gbrunswick@nrpcvt.com)
- The Town of Hyde Park will develop a plan to coordinate and increase public and private investments in the village and strategies to entice more Lamoille Valley Rail Trail users to visit the village and its businesses. (Ron Rodjenski, Town of Hyde Park,ron@hydeparkvt.com)
“Vermonters depend upon their transportation system to provide access to work, school, shopping and other activities. We need to collaborate with communities and coordinate public polices and investments in order to grow our economy and improve quality of life for all Vermonters,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. “This inter-agency collaboration is doing just that by supporting communities to plan and grow in a way that integrates transportation and land use planning with economic development decision making.”
“This exciting agency partnership aligns state and local transportation investments to build strong local economies and improve the quality of life for Vermont families and businesses” said Housing and Community Development Commissioner Katie Buckley.
Annually, the program grants approximately $200,000 in funding to help Vermont communities plan for future transportation investments that support economic development. For more information, contact Jackie Cassino, at 802-272-2368 or Richard Amore at 822-828-5229 and visit the grant website at Annually, the program grants approximately $200,000 in funding to help Vermont communities plan for future transportation investments that support economic development. For more information, contact Jackie Cassino, at 802-272-2368 or Richard Amore at 822-828-5229 and visit the grant website at vtrans.vermont.gov/planning/projects-programs/better-connections.
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