By VDC Staff

Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) earlier this week announced $3,547,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding through the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP).

“The reality on the ground is that without crucial CDBG funding, many of these projects wouldn’t get off the ground,” DHCD Commissioner Alex Farrell said in a statement released by Gov. Scott’s office. “This year’s funding round will help senior citizens age and live with dignity, and will create safer, more enriching early educational experiences for our children. It will provide better, modernized public infrastructure to benefit today’s residents and future generations, and develop new homes for Vermont families to put down roots.”

This round of CDBG funding was awarded to these seven projects:

• Town of Rochester ($650,000): The Town of Rochester will repurpose the former Rochester High School building into a childcare center, a senior center, and space for local businesses to lease.

• Town of Vernon ($850,000): The Vernon Advent Community Housing will complete renovations to an existing 39-unit senior assisted-living facility.

• Town of Hartford ($1,000,000): The Twin Pines Housing Trust will build 48 new affordable housing units, which is a component of a larger 242-unit master development plan.

• City of Rutland ($385,000): The Rutland Housing Authority will make infrastructure upgrades, including updates to the electrical system, at Templewood Court, a 60-unit senior housing facility.

• Town of Wheelock ($60,000): The Town of Wheelock will hire a consultant to complete hydraulic and hydrologic studies on four bridges and two culverts along a 1.5-mile section of Vermont Route 122.

• Town of Fairlee ($280,000): The Town of Fairlee will receive additional funding to build on its $500,000 CDBG grant awarded in June 2025. The funds will be used to rehabilitate 11 affordable rental housing units and fund the construction of eight new housing units.

• Town of Underhill ($322,000): The Town of Underhill will receive additional funding to build on its $322,000 CDBG grant awarded in June 2023. This grant will be used to construct six single-family homes and one duplex at 16 Harvest Run and 422 Vermont Route 15. Additionally, the United Church of Underhill will install water and road infrastructure. Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity will build the homes and complete all real estate exchanges.