ACRPC June Newsletter

Posted on June 2nd, 2022 to Uncategorized

The ACRPC Newsletter contains Addison County announcements, events, grants, and training for the upcoming month.  Click below to see this newsletter and other resources on our website. Please contact Maddison Shropshire with questions, [email protected]                          

ACRPC Update

ACRPC’s Annual Meeting

Dear Commissioners:

I am pleased to welcome you all to ACRPC’s Annual Meeting.  This year, we will be holding our Annual Meeting on Wednesday June 8th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Tourterelle Restaurant in New Haven, Vermont in their back open-air meeting room.  I very much look forward to seeing all of you in person.  As this will be a dinner meeting, we will NOT have a remote option. We will start with a social hour at 5:00 to allow all of us to catch up, in person. We will serve dinner at 6:00 p.m. followed by our Speaker, Middlebury Commissioner Ross Conrad will discuss his recent book on beekeeping in Addison County, the Land of Milk and Honey. After Ross’s presentation and a brief time for discussion, we will move to an abbreviated business meeting to elect officers and pass our budget. Dinner is free to Commissioners and one guest each.  Others wishing to join should contact Adam [email protected].  I look forward to sharing a meal and good conversation with all of you!

Best,

Adam 

Events

This newsletter is financed through the State of Vermont Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the State of Vermont. All programs of the Addison County Regional Planning Commission are ADA accessible.

Announcements

Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) 

On Monday June 13 at 5PM, ACRPC will serve as a remote host for the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) hearing. You may join the meeting in-person at the ACRPC office, remotely via Microsoft Teams, or via phone at +1 802-552-8456,,721808805#. The draft FY22-FY25 plan is available for review at https://vtrans.vermont.gov/about/stip

The STIP is a staged, multi-year, statewide, intermodal program of transportation projects funded by the Federal Highway Administration or the Federal Transit Administration. Projects listed on the STIP are consistent with the Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan produced by the Vermont Agency of Transportation. 

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Mike Winslow, Transportation Planner, at [email protected] or 802-578-9999

Brownfield Sites Sought for Assessment 

Do you own or want to develop properties in Addison County but think they might have  environmental contaminants from previous activities? These types of properties might include old gas stations, auto repair shops, dry cleaners, landfills, junkyards, industrial buildings, or vacant sites where any of these used to be. These Brownfields are properties which have, or could potentially have, hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. These can significantly complicate the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of these properties, so ACRPC is working to identify sites so that we can work with interested parties to assess and remediate them. If you have site suggestions or plans to purchase one, please contact ACRPC planner, Andrew L’Roe ([email protected]).

FOODAROO: 7th Annual Food, Music, Street Performer Festival

MARBLE WORKS, Middlebury, VT  |  Sunday, June 26, 2022 from 4:00 to 8:00pm

Presented by Middlebury UndergrounD (MUD), Foodaroo unites the state’s most talented culinary artisans and beverage makers, with an emphasis on Addison County and Chittenden County vendors and farms. From food trucks to brick-and-mortar operations, this outdoor event showcases creative, locally-sourced cuisine. Attendees taste their way through a huge diversity of vendors while musicians, street performers, dancers and more showcase the best of Vermont’s thriving maker movement. $5 cover. Kids 12 and under FREE.

Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference

The Department of Housing and Community Development and the Preservation Trust of Vermont is pleased to present the Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference on Thursday, June 9, 2022, in St. Johnsbury. This will be an in-person event without virtual offerings. Register Now.  Space is limited and the conference may sell out quickly. Please visit our website for more information on the schedule, sessions, and additional conference information. 

Climate Change and Land Use Guide Available

This guide is intended to provide municipalities with guidance on how to amend land use regulations to limit low density sprawl, enable compact walkable neighborhoods, and protect the working and natural landscape to ensure climate change resilience. Learn More

FY2023 VTrans Better Roads Awards

Congratulations to our 4 towns (Lincoln, Orwell, Starksboro, Waltham) on being awarded ditching and bank stabilization grants through the VTrans Better Roads program. ACRPC staff were actively assisting towns with these grant applications and are pleased our region is receiving nearly $62,200 to support municipal road projects that improve water quality and result in maintenance cost savings.

Learn More: here

Grants and Funding

Community 


Arts Impact Grants

Arts Impact Grants support nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and schools in their efforts to add vibrancy to Vermont communities through projects that provide equal and abundant access to the arts. The program also invites proposals for general operating grants to arts nonprofits. Eligible applicants may only apply for one grant—either a project grant or an operating grant.

Learn more: Here  |  Due: June 13, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.

Farm Agronomic Practice Grant Program

The Farm Agronomic Practice (FAP) grant program provides financial incentives to Vermont farms to implement soil-based agronomic practices that improve soil quality, increase crop production, and reduce erosion and agricultural waste discharges.

Learn more: Here  |  Due: June 15th, 2022

Dairy Processor Innovation Grant

This grant will fund a wide range of projects. Projects may address improvements in topics such as: sourcing, product development, transportation/distribution, marketing/supply chain, operations, employee welfare, consumer experience, utilization of materials or systems that reduce carbon footprint, and beyond.  

Learn more: Here  |  Due: August, 2022

Transportation


Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Grants

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) has issued a grant solicitation for new infrastructure projects that improve access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.The AOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program improves access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians through the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects. The program improves transportation options for commuters, visitors to the state, and recreational use. 

Learn More: here.  |  Due: 1:00 PM, June 8, 2022

VTrans Municipal Roads Grants-in-Aid Program InvitationThe Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) invites municipalities to participate in the Municipal Roads, Grants-in-Aid Program, which provides funding for municipalities to implement best management practices (BMPs) in accordance with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Municipal Roads General Permit (MRGP).  Municipalities will submit reimbursement requests directly to AOT for work completed, and AOT will reimburse up to 80% of the municipality’s documented construction expenses, including in-kind support, for BMPs on hydrologically connected roads. Due: signed letter by June 24, 2022

Energy


GreenSavingSmart Program

Reaching Energy Equity Goals with GreenSavingSmart – GreenSavingSmart is a new service administered by Vermont’s five community action agencies that connects financial coaching with energy savings for low- and moderate-income Vermonters to ensure a cleaner, greener Vermont. Learn all about this initiative here. And, if you missed VECAN’s March 2nd webinar about this program, you can watch the recording here.

Electric Vehicle Workplace Charging Station Loan Program

Electric Vehicle Workplace Charging Station loans are available for any for profit or not-for-profit business, municipality, or individual owning or leasing a business property to an otherwise eligible business and installing a new EV Charging station(s). These include individuals, sole proprietors, LLCs, corporations, cooperatives, not-for-profit, and municipalities.

Learn more: Here 

Water Quality


2022 Design and Implementation Block Grant Open Round

Watersheds United Vermont (WUV) is pleased to announce a new round of grant funding under the Design and Implementation Block Grant (DIBG) Program. Funding for this program is provided by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) through the state Clean Water Fund. The goal of the Clean Water Fund is to support projects whose primary purpose is to reduce sediment and nutrient pollution, including phosphorus, from runoff and soil erosion that discharge into the state’s rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. All projects under this funding source are to be completed by November 1, 2024. Funds available under this DIBG round include $350,000 for stormwater projects and $415,000 for natural resources projects. Contact Christian Pelletier ([email protected]) or Lyn Munno ([email protected]) with any questions.

Emergency Preparedness


Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

The HMGP program is funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is administered by Vermont Emergency Management on behalf of the state. Federal funds are available to cover up to 75% of approved project costs; however, please note that there is a 25% local match requirement that is the responsibility of the applicant town. Typical hazard mitigation projects include: mitigation of local roads and bridges, home acquisition (buyout), structural elevations or relocations, replacement of undersized culverts, mitigation outreach and education, etc. Project proposals do not need to be directly connected to damages incurred from the most recent declared disaster. 

Learn More: Here  |  Due: June 30, 2022

Resilient Communities Fund Grants Available

The second round of Resilient Communities Fund grants will fund buyouts of flood-vulnerable homes, floodplain restoration, and other natural resource projects that will help protect life and property from future floods in Vermont. More than $2.1M in grants will go to towns and non-profit organizations in round two of the program. The second round of Resilient Communities Fund grants were awarded fund buyouts of flood-vulnerable homes, floodplain restoration, and other natural resource projects that will help protect life and property from future floods in Vermont. ACRPC received two awards for projects in the Region:

  • Addison County Regional Planning Commission ($81,900) – old bridge removal and restoration (Starksboro)
  • Addison County Regional Planning Commission ($31,500) – project scoping – Lewis Creek Reaches (Starksboro/Bristol)

A third round of funding is now open to applications due October 22nd. 

Learn More: HERE

Tools and Trainings

Transportation


Informational Meeting on Amtrak Service

There will be an Zoom meeting on Friday June 16 at 12 noon to provide information about up-coming passenger rail service between New York City and Burlington with stops in Middlebury and Vergennes. The meeting will include information about schedules, how and where to purchase tickets, pricing, and train safety. The event is jointly hosted by VTrans, ACRPC, the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, Addison County Economic Development Corporation, the Better Middlebury Partnership, and the Vergennes Partnership.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86219495194

Meeting ID: 862 1949 5194

Dial in: +1 929 205 6099

Community


Digital Access: Key Elements for Inclusion of Disabled People

Inclusive Arts Vermont has partnered with the Vermont Arts Council to offer a series of workshops on improving digital access to arts programming for the inclusion of disabled people. There are nine workshops altogether. All workshops will be held on the first Tuesday of the month, through July 2022. Recordings will be posted on our website after the event. Learn more and register here.

Water Quality


Abenaki Perspectives on Water

Clean water project proponents/implementers are invited to attend a presentation and conversation on the Vermont Abenaki perspective on water for the Clean Water Service Delivery Act (Act 76 of 2019) clean water network, including Clean Water Service Providers, Basin Water Quality Councils, and project implementers, such as watershed groups, conservation districts, and other interested partners.

  • Date/Time: Friday, June 17, 2022, 9:00 am (estimated to conclude at 10:30 am)
  • RSVP: Please RSVP by completing this online RSVP form, preferred by Friday, June 10, 2022 at 12:00 pm. 

Target Setting for Water Quality Projects

VT DEC has developed a new Clean Water Service Provider Target Setting Primer! This training was created for Clean Water Service Providers (CWSP) and Basin Water Quality Councils. A PDF version of the presentation with the presenters’ notes is available for viewing: Clean Water Service Provider Target Setting Primer PDF

During this video, you will learn about Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) and the TMDL Implementation Plans for Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog in Vermont. Our presenters will also discuss the regulatory and non-regulatory actions needed to meet the Phase 3 phosphorus reduction targets. They will describe how non-regulatory targets are set, along with the funding to achieve them. Video Link: https://youtu.be/KSspAZRTqVU.  This video provides information that is foundational to CWSP and Basin Water Quality Council operations.  

Natural Resources


Vermont Town Forest Webinar Series

Join the Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program and our partners for a 5-part webinar series on stewarding  Vermont town forests! 

  • Engaging Your Community Virtually: Harnessing Online and Socially Distanced Tools in the Times of COVID

June 2nd 12:00-1:00pm

Over the past two years, we have learned a ton about how to engage and solicit input from community members virtually. In this webinar, planners from SE Group, a design and planning consulting group, will share their experience creating effective virtual engagement opportunities for communities. Building on the previous webinar on community engagement and the Town Forest Recreation Planning Toolkit, this presentation will provide guidance, practical tips, and tools for community groups to take their engagement efforts online and out into the woods.

  • Making Decisions: Exploring Models of Town Forest Governance

June 7th 12:00-1:30pm

Community-level management and decision-making of town forests are often undertaken by a group of community stakeholders. Drawing on international research, this webinar will provide an overview of best practices of community forest governance. Then we will explore different models for town forest governance through our town forest volunteer panel. Each panelist will share their approach to governance and their communities experiences with making stewardship decisions. 

  • Town Forest Management Planning 101

June 14th 12:00-1:30pm

Developing a management plan for town forests can seem complex and challenging. In this webinar, Keith Thompson, Stewardship Program Manager with VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation will break down the process of creating a management plan for town forests, including the various important milestones along the way. We will also be joined by a panel of town forest volunteers who will share their approach and experience with management planning, including what worked well and what lessons they learned during the process.

  • Successfully Implementing Stewardship Activities in Town Forests

June 21st 12:00-1:30pm

Once a town forest management plan has been developed, it is time to begin implementing it. Through highlighting a range of different projects and practices, Chittenden County Forester Ethan Tapper will share his experiences with assisting towns in the implementation of their forest management activities. Ethan will be joined by a panel of town forest volunteers that will share examples of stewardship projects they have implemented. 

Community Wildlife Program at Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Trainings

Please join us for one of these informative webinars or in-depth training!

Follow these links to see the description below.

Registration and more information is available on our Trainings page where you can also find our library of previously recorded sessions. Contact Jens Hilke, [email protected] for more information.

Workshop Series: Habitat Connectivity and Biodiversity in the Champlain Valley

Sponsored by The Vermont Master Naturalists Program, Middlebury Area Land Trust, and Otter Creek Audubon.

  • Bird-Banding Opportunity at Hurd Grassland in Weybridge,VT

Saturday June 4, 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Register Here 

  • Seeing the Bigger Picture:  The Vermont ANR Atlas for Landowners  

Wednesday, June 8th, 7:00-8:00PM

Online Workshop via ZOOM. Register Here

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