Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission

Vermont Communities in a Digital Age

2012-01-27T11:51:00.000-05:00

Thursday, February 16th; 9am - 4:30pm Vermont Technical College, Randolph Vermont Visit http://www.evermontworkshop.org/ for links to more information and registration. Join community leaders from around the state to share ideas and learn how online tools are being used to create jobs, reinvent schools, attract visitors, improve civic involvement, and enliven Vermont communities. The workshop is

CVRPC Newsletter

2012-01-20T11:25:00.001-05:00

The January 2012 newsletter is ready and posted for reading. The articles in this issue include. Hazard Mitigation Grants Available Municipal Planning Grants Awarded Town River Debris Survey Moving Forward After Irene Community Recovery Partnership Front Porch Forum Click here to download a copy of the newsletter. Please provide us with your comments.

Broadband Survey - please participate!

2011-12-02T15:18:00.001-05:00

Hello and thank you for agreeing to share your thoughts about broadband access in Central Vermont. Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission and a group of volunteers representing a wide range of business sectors are working to develop a regional technology plan. For the purposes of this survey, we are interested in how broadband is currently used in your profession AND how universal

Button Up Workshop

2011-11-10T16:13:00.000-05:00

BUTTON UP WORKSHOP TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011 AT 7PMBARRE ENERGY ACTION RESOURCE GROUP PRESENTS ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR HOMEOWNERS (Barre VT—11/2/2011)— Are you worried about heating costs for this winter? Do you want to save money AND make your home more comfortable for the cold weather? Please join BEAR (Barre Energy Action Resource) group for a free Button Up Vermont workshop

VECAN Annual Conference is December 3rd!

2011-11-10T15:48:00.000-05:00

~~Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network ~~Invites you to REGISTER NOW FOR VECAN'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON DECEMBER 3rd!The Vermont Community Energy and Climate Action Conference will be held on Saturday December 3rd, from 9:00 am- 4:00 pm, at the Lake Morey Inn in Fairlee, Vermont. Register for the conference HERE. Organized by VECAN and the UVM Extension Service, this daylong conference is

Woodbury, Fayston Berlin, and Warren Mitigation Plans

2011-11-10T10:03:00.000-05:00

The Woodbury, Fayston, Berlin and Warren Local Mitigation Plan drafts are available to review for public comments. If you would like to review and submit comments, please contact Jen at mojo@cvregion.com or 802-229-0389 for a copy of the draft plan.

Washington Local Mitigation Plan Draft

2011-10-07T11:15:00.001-04:00

The Washington Local Mitigation Plan draft is available to review for public comments. If you would like to review and submit comments, please contact Jen at mojo@cvregion.com for a copy of the draft plan.

Community Development Grant Workshop

2011-08-08T15:50:00.000-04:00

The Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP) will be hosting an application workshop on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at Capitol Plaza, 100 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont in the Montpelier Room. Registration and refreshments will begin at 8:30AM with the program starting at 9AM. You can now register online for the event at https://secure.vermont.gov/ACCD/eventreg/event.php?eid=25 . The

Housing Challenges Survey

2011-08-08T10:22:00.000-04:00

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development is requesting the assistance of regional planning commissions in getting this information out to employers and encouraging them to respond to the survey regarding housing issues related to doing business in Vermont. If you know of business people who would be interested in participating in the survey, please forward this email to them. The link for

FEMA flood declaration -- Washington and Orange Counties

2011-07-26T08:27:00.000-04:00

Attention Local Officials: The FEMA form that needs to be completed and provided to VEM for the new declaration just announced today regarding Washington and Orange Counties for the May flood damages is available by contacting CVRPC. cvrpc@cvregion.com will get you to Laurie Emery and the form can be emailed back to you. The town clerks of the municipalities in Washington and Orange have

Grant Resources for VT Municipalities

2011-07-25T14:21:00.002-04:00

The Vermont Dept. of Buildings and Services has just announced the availability of the 2011-12 Recreational Facilities Grants Program. Click on the link below for the criteria and application details. Application deadline is September 2, 2011. • Building Community Grants Programs Summary • Recreation Facilities Grant • Human Services and Education Competitive Grant Program These forms are

2010 Census Fact Finder and how to get the data you want!

2011-07-22T11:57:00.000-04:00

CVRPC has scheduled a webinar on tips and tricks to using factfinder2.gov for gathering 2010 Census data by town and by dataset. As I discovered at a meeting last night, it is not easy. So, we encourage you to join us on Thursday, July 28 at 2 p.m. at CVRPC’s offices to view this webinar and learn the tricks we need to get our data! We believe that once the webinar has been viewed, that it will

FEMA Flood Estimator Workshops

2011-07-19T08:11:00.000-04:00

FEMA will be hosting a series of one-day Substantial Damage Estimator software workshops at the Joint Field Office in Burlington. The software is a tool designed to assist communities in determining whether or not structures have been Substantially Damaged and whether structures need to be brought into compliance with local/NFIP minimum standards. Workshops are scheduled to be held August 2, 3,

VT Law School Presentations - Farm bill and Agriculture Law - Free

2011-07-18T10:56:00.000-04:00

Summer Agricultural Events at VLS Tues July 26 – Sustainable Agricultural Law Careers Oakes 007 4:15-5:45PM Moderator: William Eubanks II ’08, Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal Panelists: Annette Higby, National Sustainable Agricultural Coalition; Kenneth Miller, Law for Food LLP; Jim Libby, VT Housing and Conservation Board Panelists will describe what they do that relates to sustainable

Farm to Plate and Good Agricultural Practices funding

2011-07-18T09:06:00.000-04:00

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Capital Improvement Grant FY2011 Request for Applications I. BACKGROUND A. Funding Source and Available Funds The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) received $100,000 from the Vermont Legislature to provide matching grants for capital investments that will support Vermont agricultural producers in obtaining GAP certification. There is a

FEMA News Release

2011-07-06T14:09:00.001-04:00

SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT FEMA, NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR BURLINGTON, VT – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has recently incorporated the latest high-tech ways of getting the word out about disaster assistance, including websites, mobile applications and cell phones. However, one of the best ways to spread information is still the old-fashioned way: word-of-mouth. That’s why officials from

June Forums to Focus on State Comprehensive Energy Plan Update

2011-05-11T08:44:00.000-04:00

June Forums to Focus on State Comprehensive Energy Plan Update ***Your input is needed!*** Goal: Comprehensive Energy Plan to be Completed & on Governor’s desk by Oct 15;Implementation of VT’s Energy Plan is the central piece of this work! Community energy committee leaders, planners and the general public are all invited to attend one of the following:§ June 1 — Montpelier — 6-9 p.m. National

Northfield Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

2011-05-03T11:17:00.002-04:00

Northfield's Hazard Mitigation Plan is currently being updated and available for review and comments. Please contact Jennifer at mojo@cvregion.com if you would like to review and make comments.

Build Your Best Future--Heart and Soul Community Planning

2011-04-20T13:25:00.001-04:00

Build Your Best Future Submit a Heart & Soul Community Planning Proposal Are you looking for a way to help your community realize its potential and create a better future? Orton has issued a Request for Proposals seeking four Heart & Soul Community Planning project towns in the Northeast and Rocky Mountains. Selected towns will be eligible for up to $100K in funding and support from the

Lcoal Food System Presentation, Waitsfield

2011-04-20T12:24:00.000-04:00

Local Food System Presentation 5/10 - 7 PM Big Picture - How can Vermont build strong local and regional food systems, create jobs in the food and farm economy, and improve access to healthy local food? The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund has laid out an impressive road map for the next 10 years of agricultural development with the release of the Farm to Plate (F2P) Strategic Plan in January

Woodland Landowner Summit

2011-04-20T12:22:00.000-04:00

Woodland Landowner Summit 4/30/2011 Fairlee – The VT Dept. of Forests Parks & Recreation and VNRC are cosponsoring a daylong summit entitled Keeping Forests for the Future: Planning a Legacy for your Woodland at Lake Morey Inn. The day will be packed with useful information for both landowners and professionals who work with landowners to learn about ways to plan ahead for the long-term

Historic Preservation and Downtown Conference April 29, 2011

2011-04-20T12:20:00.000-04:00

This year the VT Division for Historic Preservation will be combining its two statewide conferences into one, providing three specific education tracks: The Historic Track will be of interest to Historical Societies, Byway communities, heritage tourism groups, to those interested in history and historic preservation, and to those wanting to learn more about Poultney. The Streets as Places Track

Hazard Mitigation Drafts Available for Comment and Review

2011-04-06T10:53:00.000-04:00

Roxbury and Worcester are updating their Hazard Mitigation Plans. Draft copies are available for review and comment through CVRPC. Please contact Jen at mojo@cvregion.com if you would like to review and submit comments for these draft plans before they are reviewed by VEM and FEMA.

2011-03-10T10:45:00.002-05:00

GMTA TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN PUBLIC HEARINGS The Green Mountain Transit Agency (GMTA) and Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) will be holding public hearings to receive comments on the Transit Development Plan (TDP) which addresses the future of GMTA services. Each meeting is open to the general public, on GMTA bus routes and ADA accessible. GMTA encourages all residents

FEMA/VEM Pre Disaster Mitigation Workshop

2011-03-03T09:25:00.001-05:00

Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) and FEMA Region 1 will be conducting a comprehensive Local Mitigation Planning Workshop at VEM’s temporary offices in Waterbury on Wednesday, March 23. Please mark your calendars accordingly. The training will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM in VEM’s temporary Emergency Operations Center, located in the lower level of the Weeks Building in the state office complex in

Central Vermont Energy Program

2011-02-25T08:17:00.002-05:00

CVRPC has received notification from the U.S. Department of Energy that the weatherization funds in the CVRPC energy grant have been released. Local officials of the towns participating in the Central VT Energy Program have been notified that these funds are available for the work on municipal buildings as recommended in the energy audits done this past summer. For more information, contact

Vermont Public Transit Policy Plan Update - Public Meetings

2011-01-28T09:40:00.002-05:00

Come share your views on public transit services and needs in Vermont! Public transit plays a vital role in the high quality of life that Vermonters enjoy and we need your help.The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is currently updating their Vermont Public Transit Policy Plan (PTPP). The purpose of the PTPP is to review and update transit polices and goals and to develop strategies to

Central Vermont Regional Energy Forum

2011-01-28T09:28:00.002-05:00

Wednesday, Feb 16, 6PM. until 9 p.m. at Montpelier City Hall in the Memorial Room. Hers' a snapshot of the agenda:6:00 - The first 1/2 hour will be for nibbles and socializing.6:30 - We will ask each town to provide an update on their efforts: who knows, you may find a town to collaborate with!7:15 - A presentation by Brian Shupe of VNRC, who will overview the 'hot-off-the-presses' Energy

Energy Committee Grant Opportunity

2010-12-22T14:07:00.008-05:00

Here is the information you need about the new grant program the Vermont Energy & Climate Action Network (VECAN) announced at the Dec. 4 conference workshop called 'Building the Power of Vermont Communities to Increase Energy Efficiency and Reduce Climate Change Impacts'.The VECAN grant program will support Vermont groups working on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in their

Pre Disaster Mitigation Plan Workshop

2010-12-03T11:32:00.003-05:00

SAVE THE DATEPre Disaster Mitigation Plan WorkshopWHEN: December 14, 2010, 2:00 - 4:00 pm WHERE: The New East Montpelier Fire Station located at 54 Village Acres (Rte 2 & 14), East MontpelierWHO: Central Vermont Regional Planning CommissionPRESENTATION SPEAKERS: Ray Doherty from Vermont Emergency ManagementWHY: Updated

Montpelier Winners - Rain Garden Contest

2010-11-29T14:07:00.002-05:00

At the 3rd annual Vermont Rain Garden contest held this summer, Heather Burt (Montpelier High School) won best garden outside Chittenden County and Jeff Schumann (also Montpelier) won best us of native plants for his garden. Congratulations to both for their attractive landscape that is also used to treat storm water runnoff; nice work, indeed!

Bagels & Brownfields!

2010-11-03T08:50:00.004-04:00

The Brownfields & Bagels meeting has been postponed to a later date. Please feel free to contact Jennifer at mojo@cvregion.com if you have questions or are looking for more information regarding brownfields funding and redevelopment ideas.

ECO DRIVING

2010-10-12T15:16:00.000-04:00

Want to save money on your vehicle’s fuel costs – personal and municipal? CVRPC is pleased, to announce free workshops on vehicle fuel savings for your municipal road crews, town employees, business and the general public. These 2 hour sessions will be held on Nov 11, Thurs, and Nov 12, Friday each from 3 – 5 pm. The workshop is entitled ‘Eco Driving’ and will provide hands on training in

SAVE the DATE: Low Impact Development Workshop -November 4th, 2010

2010-10-05T15:05:00.002-04:00

SAVE the DATE Thursday November 4, 2010, 5:30 – 8:30pmLow Impact Development Workshop Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Berlin, VermontPresentations will include the benefits Low Impact Development, implementation techniques and regional stormwater analysis results. Design charrette will provide participants hands-on opportunity to retrofit an urban site with LID techniques. What is LID? Low

Municipal Planning Grants Available FY 2011

2010-09-09T10:32:00.002-04:00

Municipal Planning Grants (MPGs) will be available once again this year with applications due on November 30, 2010. MPG funds provide assistance for town planning and implementation. Information about the program is available online at: http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/Planning/GMS/OnlineApplication2011.htmMPG funding for fiscal year 2011 (FY11) was allocated approximately at the same $400,000 level

Wrightsville Beach Facility 25 Years Old!

2010-09-08T11:58:00.002-04:00

Wrightsville Beach Turns 25 For the last 25 years Wrightsville Beach has been providing a low cost, high quality and now diverse recreational experience for residents of its member communities (Montpelier, East Montpelier, Middlesex, and Worcester) and the Central Vermont Region. The beach facilities are widely used and appreciated by families, community groups, and visitors.The 2010 season

Barre City Main St Reconstruction

2010-09-01T13:36:00.004-04:00

A major three year reconstruction of Main St in Barre City, VT has started. The first year consists of the installation of new traffic signals and the reconfiguration of intersections and lane configuration along the detour route (Maple Ave, Summer St, Elm St and Washington, St). The actual reconstruction of Main St is not scheduled to start till 2011, but Barre is already gearing up for the

Environmental Conference October 2010

2010-08-20T08:48:00.000-04:00

Recognizing that we ALL are educating about and for the environment, the conference theme, Designing Our Shared Future, says it well. The conference organizers welcome all those who have a role in designing our shared future from health workers to planners, loggers to farmers, energy innovators to green business people and conservation folks to teachers, including those who may not see

$1.3 Million Granted to Vermont Schools for Safety Projects

2010-07-16T08:26:00.002-04:00

The Vermont Agency of Transportation announced that 22 schools received a total of $1.3 Million in Infrastructure Awards through the Agency's Safe Routes to School Program. "Safe Routes to School is about kids walking and biking to school regularly, routinely, and safely," said VTrans Secretary David Dill. "The program is an opportunity to have schools and comminities work together to solve some

River Corridor Management Program, Vermont

2010-07-02T08:43:00.004-04:00

The following is a summary of the river corridor and riparian buffer-related changes in Vermont law (10 V.S.A. Chapter 49 and 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117) as a result of the passage of Act 110 in May of 2010. In several parts of this summary, entire lists and their introductory paragraphs from pre-existing State Statute are presented for the sake of context and clarity, using underlining to indicate

Sustainable Communities Grants - HUD funding

2010-06-28T10:51:00.001-04:00

During a keynote address to The Atlantic's inaugural Future of the City Forum in Washington, D.C., U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that HUD is launching a $100 million Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program, the first of its kind designed to create stronger, more sustainable communities by connecting housing to jobs, fostering

Weatherization Skill Shops

2010-06-07T15:38:00.002-04:00

Do-It-Yourself Weatherization Skill shops and Home Energy Efficiency ProgramCentral Vermont Community Action Council (CVCAC) is organizing a series of day-long Weatherization Skillshops in nine locations statewide for do-it-yourselfers on how to weatherize their homes. These skillshops are being organizing in partnership with the Adult Technical Education Centers throughout the state. The first

Biomass Forums June 9, 2010

2010-06-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

Public Forums on the Role of Forests in Vermont’s Energy FutureMore and more Vermonters are seeking homegrown solutions to meet our energy needs. A diverse collaborative of stakeholders is convening a series of public forums to add to the dialogue about how Vermont communities might harness the potential of forest biomass to help provide renewable energy on a sustainable basis. The goal of these

Central Vermont Energy Program Update

2010-05-26T11:44:00.001-04:00

Building Energy of Williston has been selected as the energy and lighting auditing firm to do the audits on the municipal buildings enrolled in the CVEP. The municipalities enrolled include: Barre City, Barre Town, Berlin, Cabot, Duxbury, East Montpelier, Fayston, Marshfield, Middlesex, Montpelier, Moretown, Northfield, Orange, Plainfield, Roxbury, Waitsfield, Warren, Washington, Woodbury, and

Challenges for Change - Thank you!

2010-05-26T11:42:00.000-04:00

Thank you to all of the Commissioners, Selectboard members, Planning Commission members, Municipal Managers and Administrators, and Municipal Planners who contacted our legislators to support regional and municipal planning recently. Your efforts were highly effective in achieving a positive outcome in the legislative process.As one of the last acts before adjourning, the Legislature passed

National Park Service Technical Assistance

2010-05-18T13:40:00.000-04:00

Want to connect your community to nature?We can help.Are you trying to protect your local rivers, save an unspoiled landscape, or build trails to help everyone in your community enjoy nature? Applications for the next round of technical assistance can be submitted until August 1.Through the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program, the National Park Service provides staff who

Corridors and Commons Awards Program

2010-05-18T13:32:00.002-04:00

2010 Corridors and Commons Awards ProgramThis program recognizes communities that have developed creative, farsighted methods for linking existing open spaces, such as parks, town commons, ponds or reservoirs, town forests, or wetlands, with public corridors such as riparian zones along waterways, recreational trail systems or tree lined streets.Entries are due June 15, 2010. Sponsored by: The

Biomass forums

2010-05-14T08:34:00.001-04:00

FY 2011 Transportation Enhancement Grants

2010-04-21T14:42:00.002-04:00

The 2011 Transportation Enhancement grants are now available. Letters of intent are due by June 4, 2010. Completed applications are due to VTrans by August 20, 2010. These grants can fund such projects as new sidewalks, bike paths, historic preservation, environmental mitigation, and aid in the creation of a multi-modal and environmentally sustainable transportation system that encourages

Vermont "Renewable Energy Atlas"

2010-04-21T13:24:00.002-04:00

The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), in conjunction with the Vermont Center for Geographic Information and Fountains Spatial, Inc., announced the launch of The Renewable Energy Atlas of Vermont, a state-of-the-art GIS-based web application that identifies, analyzes, and visualizes existing and promising locations for renewable energy projects."The Renewable Energy Atlas of Vermont will be an

Challenges for Change -- Comments to the Legislature

2010-04-20T08:18:00.001-04:00

Jeff Carr is looking for comments on Challenges for Change and is surprised that more Vermonters haven't spoken out. If you want to read what the Challenges for Change includes and/or want to send a comment to the Legislature and Administration, this is the link. It should take you right to the Legislative Council's page of the State's web site and in the right hand side column you will see

Municipal Education Grants until May 15, 2010

2010-04-19T11:24:00.001-04:00

Depatment of Economic, Housing, and Community Development is accepting FY10 Municipal Education Grant (MEG) applications until Saturday, May 15, 2010 (postmarked). Up to $800 reimbursement is available per training. One grant per town per year.If you’ve been wanting to hire a trainer for local board/commission training on land use issues and procedures here’s how. 1. Review MEG program

MORE Energy and how to access it!

2010-04-13T14:04:00.000-04:00

Renewable Energy AtlasYou've Got the PowerOn April 22, 2010, The Renewable Energy Atlas of Vermont will be unveiled. The new state-of-the-art GIS-based web application identifies, analyzes and visualizes existing and promising locations for renewable energy projects. The Atlas was developed in collaboration between the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, Vermont Center for Geographic Information (

E-Vermont

2010-04-13T12:15:00.001-04:00

This information just came to us today and the deadline for applying is April 30!e-Vermont is a new $4 million initiative to help rural Vermont towns take full advantage of the Internet and advance a wide variety of local needs including economic development, school innovation, job creation, downtown marketing, community engagement, and e-commerce. Community applications due April 30. Details at

U. S. Census Information

2010-04-02T08:36:00.003-04:00

Do you or your neighbors have questions regarding the Census survey? Here's where you can find many of the answers.The State Data Center front page at http://crs.uvm.edu/census/ is dedicated to helping Vermonters with some of the Census questions that are being asked the most often. For more information, please contact: Will Sawyer, Manager, Vermont StateData Center at the Center for Rural

Municipal Planning Grants

2010-03-17T11:06:00.006-04:00

The work by VT Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development on the online application is complete and they are now ready to accept applications. You can find all MPG information and instructions at http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/Planning/GMS/OnlineApplication2010.htm. Applications are due April 30, 2010.Municipalities that already have a Municipal/Authorizing Official (AO) are enabled

Planning Volunteers Workshop, VT Law School

2010-03-08T08:27:00.001-05:00

June 18-19, 2010 Development Review Volunteers’ Summer RetreatSpeakers and Workshops (under construction)Keynote Speakers:Prof. Marc Mihaly Friday eveningProf. John Echeverria Saturday morningProf. Sean Nolon Saturday lunchWorkshops: (aimed at timely topics, leadership building, skills, best practices…)These are aimed for development review volunteers who are leaders in their municipalities,

Municipal Planning Grants Apps due April 30, 2010

2010-02-26T14:03:00.001-05:00

Municipal Planning Grants (MPGs) will be offered again this year. MPG funds provide assistance for town planning and implementation. Information about the program is available online at: www.dhca.state.vt.us/Planning/MPG.htm.Municipalities may apply for any amount up to $15,000 for single applications or up to $25,000 for multi-town (consortia) projects. No local match is required. Approximately

FY 2010 Municipal Planning Grants Funded

2010-02-23T14:28:00.000-05:00

Apparently, the FY 10 State budget adjustment bill as passed by the Vermont Legislature includes $250,000 in funding for municipal planning grants for this current fiscal year. The Agency of Commerce and Community Development will be sending notices seeking grant applications. The deadline for applying will be April 30, 2010. If you have a need for GIS services or build out analyses, please

Muncipal Bonds available; reduced interest rate

2010-02-17T09:02:00.004-05:00

Recovery Zone Economic Development BondsThe Vermont Municipal Bond Bank (VMBB) has received authority from theState of Vermont to issue up to $90.0 million in Recovery Zone EconomicDevelopment Bonds (RZEDBs) in 2010.RZEDBs are a category of Build America Bonds (BABs), used to fundpublic infrastructure, facilities and equipment in “recovery zones”. Theentire State of Vermont has been declared a “

Central Vermont Energy Program

2010-02-16T13:58:00.002-05:00

Central Vermont Energy ProgramBackgroundThe Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission has received economic stimulus funding to assist municipalities and the Washington County Court House with implementing energy efficiency measures. CVRPC has funds available to perform energy and lighting audits on municipally-owned buildings and potentially will have funds available to undertake subsequent

Request for Proposals for Municipal Energy Audits

2010-02-16T13:53:00.002-05:00

Request for Proposals—Energy AuditsCentral Vermont Regional Planning Commission is seeking consulting services to conduct detailed energy and lighting audits of municipal buildings within the 20 Washington County towns and the Towns of Washington, Williamstown and Orange in Orange County, and including the Washington County Courthouse in Montpelier. Proposals are due March 5, 2010. For a copy

Safe Routes to School Applications

2010-02-09T10:26:00.002-05:00

Please check the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) website for the Infrastructure Grant announcement and take a look at the Safe Routes to School application. There is a notice of intent that is required for this year’s process. Please contact Aimee Pope at VTrans, 828-5799, with questions. Here is the link to the VTrans web site and the Safe Routes to School application. The notice or

JAM golf case update

2010-02-05T08:52:00.000-05:00

The Environmental Court recently issued a new ruling in the JAM Golf case on whether certain regulatory provisions in South Burlington's 2003 regulations are sufficiently specific to guide a development review board's decision-making. The decision is available at:http://www.vermontjudiciary.org/GTC/Environmental/ENVCRT%20Opinions/03-194z.HighlandsMasterPlan.sjo.pdf This and similar cases will

Energy Grant Signed; Municipal Bldg Audits coming soon

2010-02-02T11:50:00.000-05:00

Department of Energy ARRA grant: CVRPC today signed the agreement with the Department of Energy for the ARRA stimulus funding for municipal building audits. CVRPC will now prepare a RFP for energy audit firms and will keep the municipalities informed of the status. We anticipate that the selected firm(s) will contact municipal officials directly to arrange for energy audits of your municipal (

Municipal Education Grants

2010-01-22T08:01:00.001-05:00

Applications for the FY10 Municipal Education Grants (MEGs) will be accepted any time until May 15, 2010 or until available funding runs out, whichever occurs first. MEGs offer up to $800 reimbursement for on-site training of local volunteer officials dealing with land use planning and regulation, including all-boards training.The MEG Program Description and the quick and simple application form

Montpelier, Energy funds, biomass for downtown

2010-01-21T15:08:00.002-05:00

The City of Montpelier has just been awarded an $8 million grant for a District Energy plant. It's a great day for Montpelier. They're well on their way to implementing the dream of enVision Montpelier and becoming this country's first sustainable state capital. Secretary Chu Announces More Than $20.5 million for Community Renewable Energy Deployment Projects Will help promote widespread

GIS workshops

2010-01-11T08:13:00.001-05:00

The VT Center for Geographic Information is partnering with UNH Extension to bring the following hands-on workshops to VT Technical College on March 30.Brochure: http://extension.unh.edu/GISGPS/documents/GISVTMar10.pdfMaking Maps the Google Way:Learn how to make interactive and 3D maps using free Google mapping tools!This course explores the basics of Google Earth and Google Maps with a special

VT Community Development grant app workshop

2010-01-07T09:52:00.002-05:00

Please save the date, the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP) will be hosting an application workshop on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 here at our offices at National Life (6th Floor Calvin Coolidge Room), 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, Vermont. Registration and refreshments will begin at 8:30AM with the program starting at 9AM. Please find the agenda attached.Starting January 13,

Extra ARRA $ possible for clean water projects

2010-01-04T08:07:00.000-05:00

There is a small chance that additional ARRA funds may be available to municipalities seeking Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for eligible projects that can proceed by June 17, 2010.This email is being sent to municipalities with projects on the State FY 2010 priority list that may have projects that could meet the deadlines for this funding. To meet the deadlines to use this funding

Emergency Shelter Generators

2009-12-22T11:25:00.001-05:00

Grants are available for the purchase of emergency shelter generators through VEM. See the following information.Applications and other forms for this year’s Emergency Shelter Generator Grant program are now on the VEM web site at http://www.dps.state.vt.us/vem/generator2009/index.html. Or you can go to www.vemvt.com and click on the link on the top right of the page.Questions should be

Regional Food Discussion

2009-12-16T09:28:00.001-05:00

"Building Resilience and Recovery through Regional Foods" on Transition Vermont Time: January 7, 2010 from 7pm to 9pmLocation: Vermont College of Fine Arts, Chapel, Montpelier, upstairs from the Wood Art GalleryOrganized By: Annie McClearyEvent Description:Ken Meter will discuss how local food networks thrive, how local officials can help strengthen economies, and how regionally-grown food can

Chapter 117 2011 Amendments - Workshop

2009-12-01T13:06:00.001-05:00

CVRPC WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENTThe 2011 Provisions of Chapter 117: What Do They Mean to Your Town?Wednesday, December 16, 20095:30 -7:00 PM (A light meal will be provided.)CVRPC Offices, 29 Main Street Montpelier, VTDid you know that the 2004 legislative amendments to the Vermont Municipal and Regional Planning and Development Act (aka Chapter 117) contained many provisions that do not take effect

Municipal Education Grants

2009-11-30T13:00:00.002-05:00

Here are some topics and presenters that have done workshops funded with MEG (Municipal Education Funds). These funds are available until May 2010 from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs. For more information on the grant funds and application process, go to www.dhca.state.vt.us/Planning/MEG.htm. DRB Review Process: How to Proceed with Challenging Applications, Presenter: VLCT

EECBG Stimulus funds for Municipalities

2009-11-24T08:20:00.001-05:00

These frequently asked questions are very helpful in refining the application requirements.A list of Frequently Asked Questions on the EECBG RFP is now posted on the VT Department of Public Service's website at: http://publicservice.vermont.gov/energy/ee_cleanenergyfund.html.

Municipal Grants for ARRA/Energy Funds

2009-11-17T08:08:00.002-05:00

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG)>> Competitive Local Government Sub-Grants> The Clean Energy Development Fund is seeking proposals from eligible > units of local government for projects that implement energy > efficiency measures in buildings and transportation, install energy > efficient traffic signals and street lighting; provide energy > efficiency financial incentive

Recreation Trail Grants

2009-11-13T08:35:00.001-05:00

Governor Announces $500,000 Available for Recreation TrailsGrant program expands outdoor opportunities for Vermonters Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Jim Douglas today announced $500,000 in funding will be available for the 2010 Recreation Trails Program. Vermont’s Recreational Trails Program is a matching grant program of the federal Highway Administration for the acquisition, development,

Municipal Education Grants FY 2010

2009-11-03T15:44:00.002-05:00

Applications for the FY10 MEGs may be submitted any time before May 15, 2010. Details about the program and application forms are available here: http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/Planning/MEG.htm. This has just been announced by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs on November 3, 2009! This is a great source of funds for excellent workshops to be held in your community. Let CVRPC know

VT Community Energy and Climate Action Conference

2009-10-30T11:15:00.003-04:00

The University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN) invite you to attend the second annual Vermont Community Energy and Climate Action Conference. The conference will take place at the Lake Morey Inn in Fairlee Vermont on Saturday, December 5th from 8:00-4:00. Conference registration is now open! For complete information and to register on-line, go to:

Central Vermont Housing Menu now online

2009-10-23T11:05:00.004-04:00

The Central Vermont Housing Menu is a housing-related planning and zoning tool kit for local communities. The publication includes definitions of a variety of housing strategies, how the strategies can be applied in Vermont, the benefits or outcomes of implementing the strategies, suggestions or companion strategies and examples of where they have been implemented in Vermont. To check it out

Introducing CVRPC

2009-10-08T08:58:00.000-04:00

WHAT IS CVRPC? CVRPC is a regional planning organization working with and for twenty-three municipalities in Central Vermont, including all the towns in Washington County and three towns in Orange County; Orange, Washington, and Williamstown. Our mission is to assist member municipalities in providing effective local government and to work cooperatively with them to address regional issues. We

Vermont Floodplain Management publication

2009-09-29T14:55:00.002-04:00

There is a new publication available titled “Preparing for the Next Flood; Vermont Floodplain Management.” It was developed with the assistance of the Vermont Law School’s Land Use Institute, and includes information on roles and responsibilities in preventing flood damage, state and local roles in floodplain management, information on what a flood plain map is and is not, protecting property

Energy Efficiency Funds for Vermont

2009-09-24T15:22:00.001-04:00

It’s time to keep an eye on the VT Dept of Public Service web site for the application announcement. Periodically it will be good to check in at this link, http://publicservice.vermont.gov/energy/ee_cedf.html. We will continue to keep you informed as soon as we hear anything about application packages and deadlines, etc. Be sure to check our blog at www.centralvtplanning.org for the latest

2nd Annual Emergency Preparedness Conference

2009-09-21T09:25:00.003-04:00

Vermont Emergency Management will be hosting the second annual Emergency Preparedness Conference to be held in Killington on Tuesday November 3, 2009. Course offerings range from flu planning and preparedness to municipal damage reporting to hearing about the numerous resources available in emergency response. Registration is now open at www.vemvt.com.

Flu Update 09.15.09

2009-09-21T09:24:00.000-04:00

A message from the Vermont Department of HealthLike a snowstorm, we can't stop the flu from coming – either the regular, seasonal flu or the new pandemic flu. It's more important than ever that Vermonters know the precautions and the actions they can take to prepare now.The new pandemic flu – novel influenza A (H1N1), sometimes called swine flu – has not gone away. This virus is the predominant

Energy Money/ARRA Vermont

2009-09-16T10:41:00.001-04:00

EnergyEnergy Stimulus Update – August 31, 2009WeatherizationVermont will receive approximately $16.8 million over a 3 year period. Funding will go to program activities including weatherization job training and grants to Community Action Program agencies to deliver weatherization services in the community. For more information about the Weatherization program, see information from the Office

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plans and Congratulations!

2009-09-14T15:04:00.002-04:00

SIXTEEN Central Vermont communities have had their pre-disaster mitigation (PDM) plans approved by FEMA! Those 16 towns are: Barre City, Barre Town, Berlin, Cabot, Calais, Duxbury, Marshfield, Middlesex, Montpelier, Moretown, Northfield, Orange, Plainfield, Waitsfield, Woodbury, and Worcester. PDM plans for Fayston, Warren, and Williamstown are awaiting FEMA's approval. That only leaves 4

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy-ARRA $

2009-09-14T10:53:00.000-04:00

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyEERE NewsDOE to Fund up to $454 Million for Retrofit Ramp-Ups in Energy EfficiencySeptember 14, 2009U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced a new $450 million program designed to catalyze a nationwide energy upgrade that experts estimate could save $100 million annually in utility bills for households and businesses.

Fair Housing Workshop

2009-09-10T15:08:00.001-04:00

Removing Barriers to Strengthen Communities:Fair Housing: Affordable Housing and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing at the Local LevelOctober 1, 2009 6-9pmThatcher Brook Primary SchoolStowe Street, Waterbury VT Hosted by the Central Vermont Regional Planning CommissionDesigned to provide relevant information to realtors, lenders, affordable housing developers, property managers, and municipal

Updated Flood Hazard Regulations

2009-09-10T11:43:00.001-04:00

Updated model flood hazard area regulations are now available on the VT DEC website:http://www.vtwaterquality.org/rivers/htm/rv_floodhazard.htm If a community is updating their flood hazard or zoning regulations then these models may be valuable to the work of the Planning Commissions. The table below briefly describes the four models and includes links to pdf versions of the texts. Model 2 is

VEM/FEMA Benefit Cost Analysis Training

2009-09-10T08:40:00.003-04:00

To all applicants for the HMGP and PDM-C FEMA grant programs: Since a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) is required for all FEMA grant programs, we will be conducting an intensive two-day BCA workshop on October 14-15, 2009 at Vermont Emergency Management offices in Waterbury. A grants overview will also be given during this training session. All HMGP and PDM-C grant applicants are strongly

Impact of Compact Development on Travel

2009-09-09T15:24:00.000-04:00

NRC Reports on Impact of “Compact Development” on Motor Vehicle Travel (September 1, 2009) – The National Research Council of the National Academies released the results of a study, requested by Congress, of the relationship between land development patterns and motor vehicle travel in the U.S. In The Effects of Compact Development on Motorized Travel, Energy Use, and CO2 Emissions, researchers

Energy Block Grants--Survey for Public Service, VT

2009-09-01T08:44:00.001-04:00

Please respond to this request for input from the VT Department of Public Service. The survey closes on September 14 so it’s important to respond soon. Thanks. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 will provide stimulus money to many different sectors, including state and local governments. Specifically, Vermont will receive over $700M in recovery and stimulus funds for

UPDATE Home Energy Organizing Workshops

2009-08-31T09:51:00.003-04:00

The Button-Up Home Energy organizing session for local officials and residents to put together a home energy savings workshop in your community, as mentioned in the blog 2 blogs below, is confirmed for THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 AT THE MEMORIAL ROOM OF CITY HALL, MONTPELIER, FROM 6 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M. Contact CVRPC for more information: email cvrpc@cvregion.com or phone 802/229-0389.

Home Weatherization DVD!

2009-08-27T10:03:00.001-04:00

The Vermont Button Up program has prepared a 30 minute DVD illustrating basic home weatherization projects that a homeowner with basic handy “person” skills can do. It includes demonstrations on how to do basic air sealing, weatherize an attic hatch or pull down attic stairs or the bulkhead door for your cellar, and how to install interior storm window kits, among other sealing and weatherizing

Energy Workshops Coming in September 2009

2009-08-27T08:48:00.003-04:00

Home Energy Saving Workshops Available for Vermont CommunitiesCentral Vermont Community Action Council is seeking community groups and municipalities to partner in organizing local home energy saving workshops. Last year, community groups and other sponsors organized 100 home energy saving workshops statewide reaching over 2700 Vermonters. We hope to surpass these figures this year. These

FY 09 Municipal Planning Grants--report filing

2009-08-25T13:02:00.002-04:00

Progress Reports are due for FY 2009 MPG--grants that were received in the fall of 2008.Your FY09 Municipal Planning Grant is approaching the half-way point in the 18 month contract period. Please take some time over the next month to review the grant requirements and report on the progress of your grant project, including: • Inform us if any substantial changes have been made to your work plan

Stimulus Projects in Washington County

2009-08-24T09:30:00.003-04:00

Washington County has received over $50 million for stimulus/ARRA projects to date. The Excel table containing a list by county can be accessed at http://recovery.vermont.gov/sites/stimulus/files/1VT_Programs_by_Location.xls and includes program areas such as: education, trasnportation, clean water, arts, community facilities, health services, nutrition. public housing, and economic development.

Flood Hazard Maps and Regs

2009-08-14T12:56:00.001-04:00

WORKSHOP on Flood Hazard Regulations and DFIRM Maps, Washington CountyJust a reminder that Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission has scheduled a workshop for Wednesday, September 16, 2009 for 2 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. at 29 Main Street, Montpelier. The workshop will cover the DFIRM maps (digitized flood maps) and any implications resulting from flood zone boundary changes. Discussion

2009 Municipal Planning Grants on Hold

2009-08-14T12:53:00.002-04:00

Municipal Planning Grants - HoldCVRPC has been notified by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs of the hold on municipal planning grants. Following is the message the Department sent:“Due to the anticipated downgrades in state revenues, the Municipal Planning Grant Program has been put on hold. It is our hope that there will be adequate revenues to fund these important municipal