Governor Phil Scott, alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Peter Welch, and Congresswoman Becca Balint, on Tuesday June 24 announced that 11 communities will receive a combined $13.6 million in federal funding through the Northern Border Regional Commission’s (NBRC) Catalyst Program, supporting growth and resilience in rural and underserved areas.

A press release from the governor’s office says funding will support wastewater system upgrades, redevelopment of historic buildings into community hubs, and transportation infrastructure improvements. Among the notable projects:

• Bennington County Industrial Corporation will receive $3 million to develop essential transportation and water infrastructure to support downtown Bennington’s economic revitalization.
• Bolton Valley Water and Community Development Co. will also receive $3 million to modernize wastewater facilities and construct new roadways to support housing and economic growth in Chittenden County.
• Rutland City will receive $3 million to upgrade aging wastewater systems in its downtown area, bolstering economic growth and environmental sustainability.
• Town of Rochester will repurpose a former high school into the Valley Hub, a multi-use community center offering early childhood education, senior services, workforce development, and more with the help of a $1 million federal grant. The Valley Hub website states: “Your donation will contribute to this Legacy Project, supported by Senator Sanders, that will serve and enrich our cherished community well into the future.”

Other awarded projects include renovations to transform a historic Episcopal church in Canaan into a community center ($449.000), a $100K feasibility study for expanded childcare and recreation facilities at Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary in Orange County, and $499K for the expansion of food distribution infrastructure to support local producers in Windham County (Balint’s home county), and $282K for public transportation in Windsor County (Welch’s home county).