Vermont Provides $2.8M in Jobs & Affordable Housing Grants

BRATTLEBORO, VT — Governor Peter Shumlin announced $2.8 million as affordable housing grants to eight communities.

The state awarded a $450,000 through its community development grant program to the Bradley House, a senior residential care home serving lower income seniors since 1964. The funding supports a $5.3 million project made possible through both public and private fundraising efforts, according to Vermont Business Magazine.

The project will upgrade the historic 19th-century housing and add seven new units. Bradley House has partnered with the Holton Home in Brattleboro and development consultants from Burlington-based Cathedral Square, a statewide non-profit organization that operates and assists senior care facilities.

From Arlington to Lunenburg, communities across Vermont will use these grants to build affordable housing, provide services to seniors and create jobs,” Shumlin said at the announcement.

Other community development grants include:

$375,000 to Arlington – Shires Housing and Housing Vermont will rehabilitate 22 units of affordable rental housing contained in seven buildings located in the Towns of Arlington, Bennington and Shaftsbury.

$450,000 to Bradford – Downstreet Housing & Community Development will rehabilitate 21 affordable apartments for seniors and families in Bradford Village.

$250,000 to Bennington – NeighborWorks of Western Vermont will develop a pilot program for the town of Bennington to encourage small scale rental property owners to reinvest in their rental units through a combination grant/loan.

$550,000 to Lunenburg – Northeastern Vermont Development Association and Kingdom Pellets will build and operate a 30,000-ton softwood pellet mill at the site of the old paper mill in Gilman, resulting in 21 new full-time jobs.

$455,000 to Rochester – Rochester Community Care Home, Inc. will complete critical safety improvements, energy improvements and modernization of the Park House, a community housing development for frail seniors.

$250,000 to Rutland – Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging will renovate the 5,000 sq. ft. property located at 143 Maple Street, to serve as their permanent home allowing them to serve over 2,000 seniors.

$29,535 to St Johnsbury – The town will complete a comprehensive assessment of housing stock.

Read the original story and learn more about the grant program on the Vermont Business Magazine website.