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 description and guidelines - http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/Planning/MEG.htm
a. Decide on a training topic (review Menu of Training Topics in Grant Application Package)
b. Find a qualified trainer (review List of Trainers on website for a list of possible trainers)
c. Determine a training date
2. Complete application and obtain necessary signatures (Don’t forget to sign in the gray box on Page 7 of the application)
3. Mail to DHCA, postmarked by May 15, 2010
4. If approved, you will receive your grant agreement by the end of May
5. Conduct training within 120 days of executing the grant agreement
6. Within 30 days of training, submit request for reimbursement, financial documentation, copy of sign-in sheet and copies of training evaluation forms.
MEG funding can be used for training local volunteer planning commissions, development review/zoning boards and/or for all-boards training on topics related to statutory roles, responsibilities and functions. (Please see page 4 of the Grant Application Package for more on eligible topics.)
If you have any further questions about eligible topics or the grant guidelines please feel free to contact me. Brenda Greika is also available to assist you at 802-828-3243. Thank you!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
MORE Energy and how to access it!
Renewable Energy Atlas
You've Got the Power
On 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 (Waterbury), Fountains Spatial (Montpelier), and Overit Media (Albany, NY).
The Atlas is the first tool of its kind in the United States that enables end users to click on their town (or several towns or county/counties) and select from a thorough suite of renewable energy options: biomass, efficiency, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, and wind.
With the proliferation of energy committees in over 90 towns and cities, it’s clear that Vermonters want a renewable energy and efficiency based economy. To support such efforts, a variety of new programs and funding sources have become available, including the Clean Energy Development Fund, Vermont Community Climate Change Grant Program and Community Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grants. Two additional opportunities — the state’s new feed-in tariff program and the enablement of ‘clean energy assessment districts’ — will also result in the development of new renewable energy projects in the state.
Despite these opportunities, and the growing interest in taking advantage of them, Vermonters struggle with how to best navigate the process of moving projects from concept to reality. How, for example, can we assess the renewable energy and efficiency possibilities in our communities? How much local renewable energy generation is theoretically possible? How can Vermonters influence local energy planning and the decision making process?
The Atlas will assist town energy committees, the Clean Energy Development Fund and other funders, educators, planners, policy-makers, and businesses in making informed decisions about the planning and implementation of renewable energy in their communities – decisions that ultimately lead to successful projects, greater energy security, a cleaner and healthier environment, and a better quality of life across the state.
The Atlas is a collaboration between VSJF, Vermont Center for Geographic Information (Waterbury), Fountains Spatial (Montpelier), and many helpful experts. “Our Vermont office is particularly excited to be working on a project that supports the maturation of Vermont’s green economy,” said Mark Haberle, Senior Project Manager at Fountains. “The Atlas is a unique, forward-thinking, and important tool for analysis and review of alternative energy solutions. It is our goal to create a solution that facilitates influencing the decision-making process at all levels through robust information discovery and dissemination. It is our hope that the Atlas will cement VSJF’s position at the forefront of sustainable jobs development and innovation in Vermont and, through this effort, become a national leader in deploying pioneering solutions for responding to a carbon constrained future.”
You've Got the Power
On 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 (Waterbury), Fountains Spatial (Montpelier), and Overit Media (Albany, NY).
The Atlas is the first tool of its kind in the United States that enables end users to click on their town (or several towns or county/counties) and select from a thorough suite of renewable energy options: biomass, efficiency, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, and wind.
With the proliferation of energy committees in over 90 towns and cities, it’s clear that Vermonters want a renewable energy and efficiency based economy. To support such efforts, a variety of new programs and funding sources have become available, including the Clean Energy Development Fund, Vermont Community Climate Change Grant Program and Community Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grants. Two additional opportunities — the state’s new feed-in tariff program and the enablement of ‘clean energy assessment districts’ — will also result in the development of new renewable energy projects in the state.
Despite these opportunities, and the growing interest in taking advantage of them, Vermonters struggle with how to best navigate the process of moving projects from concept to reality. How, for example, can we assess the renewable energy and efficiency possibilities in our communities? How much local renewable energy generation is theoretically possible? How can Vermonters influence local energy planning and the decision making process?
The Atlas will assist town energy committees, the Clean Energy Development Fund and other funders, educators, planners, policy-makers, and businesses in making informed decisions about the planning and implementation of renewable energy in their communities – decisions that ultimately lead to successful projects, greater energy security, a cleaner and healthier environment, and a better quality of life across the state.
The Atlas is a collaboration between VSJF, Vermont Center for Geographic Information (Waterbury), Fountains Spatial (Montpelier), and many helpful experts. “Our Vermont office is particularly excited to be working on a project that supports the maturation of Vermont’s green economy,” said Mark Haberle, Senior Project Manager at Fountains. “The Atlas is a unique, forward-thinking, and important tool for analysis and review of alternative energy solutions. It is our goal to create a solution that facilitates influencing the decision-making process at all levels through robust information discovery and dissemination. It is our hope that the Atlas will cement VSJF’s position at the forefront of sustainable jobs development and innovation in Vermont and, through this effort, become a national leader in deploying pioneering solutions for responding to a carbon constrained future.”
E-Vermont
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 VT Council on Rural Development web site: www.vtrural.org, or call 802 223-6091.
e-Vermont partners are the Vermont State Colleges, the Vermont Department of Libraries, the Vermont Department of Public Service, Vermont Small Business Development Center, the Snelling Center for Government, Front Porch Forum, and Digital Wish.
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 VT Council on Rural Development web site: www.vtrural.org, or call 802 223-6091.
e-Vermont partners are the Vermont State Colleges, the Vermont Department of Libraries, the Vermont Department of Public Service, Vermont Small Business Development Center, the Snelling Center for Government, Front Porch Forum, and Digital Wish.
Friday, April 2, 2010
U. S. Census Information
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 State
Data Center at the Center for Rural Studies, http://crs.uvm.edu/census.
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 State
Data Center at the Center for Rural Studies, http://crs.uvm.edu/census.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Municipal Planning Grants
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 to create a new MPG application without further contact with our office. All other municipalities will need to follow the instructions for registering an executive of the municipality as an M/AO before initiating an MPG application.
Conference call training for using the online application system will be available on Tuesday, March 23, and Friday, April 16, from noon – 1:00 pm. If you have any questions about this year’s MPG application or wish to sign up for the training, please don’t hesitate to contact Wendy Tudor (828-5249 or wendy.tudor@state.vt.us).
Municipalities that already have a Municipal/Authorizing Official (AO) are enabled to create a new MPG application without further contact with our office. All other municipalities will need to follow the instructions for registering an executive of the municipality as an M/AO before initiating an MPG application.
Conference call training for using the online application system will be available on Tuesday, March 23, and Friday, April 16, from noon – 1:00 pm. If you have any questions about this year’s MPG application or wish to sign up for the training, please don’t hesitate to contact Wendy Tudor (828-5249 or wendy.tudor@state.vt.us).
Monday, March 8, 2010
Planning Volunteers Workshop, VT Law School
June 18-19, 2010
Development Review Volunteers’ Summer Retreat
Speakers and Workshops (under construction)
Keynote Speakers:
Prof. Marc Mihaly Friday evening
Prof. John Echeverria Saturday morning
Prof. Sean Nolon Saturday lunch
Workshops: (aimed at timely topics, leadership building, skills, best practices…)
These are aimed for development review volunteers who are leaders in their municipalities, and so should be highly interactive; anticipating and incorporating their feedback. The information exchange among them is as important as the info the speaker wants to convey. Also, examples should be aimed at rural skills, examples and issues rather than more urban.
First session (choice of one):
1. Promoting More Energy Efficient Communities: Implementation via Project Review (Peg Elmer with Kat Roos, VLS): regulatory implementation
2. Takings: Lessons for the local decision-maker from the direction of the Courts (Prof. John Echeverria)
3. Basic Ethics (Garrett Baxter, VLCT): exploring the dilemmas posed in local land use decisions
Second session (choice of one):
4. The Developers' Perspective (speakers yet to be determined from the private sector) the experience from the other side – what helps/what doesn’t; how to get more development happening (incentives) in the centers; small town examples; successful examples and why
5. The Effective Land Use Board (Stephanie Smith, VLCT)
6. Pushing that Density (Noelle MacKay and, tentative, Sharon Murray): Beyond enabling, to requiring. What to look for, issues to address
Third session (choice of one):
7. Dispute resolution: some successful models, and when to fit into development review decisions? (Prof. Sean Nolon, Director, VLS Dispute Resolution Center)
8. Making Decisions that Stick, post JAM Golf (Sharon Murray, Jim Barlow, VLCT both tentative - Offspring of VLS/VPA 4/23 professional workshop): Crafting defensible decisions under discretionary review criteria in the town bylaws.
The registration form is up and ready to use at the following link, for use by sponsors of participants as well.
http://forms.vermontlaw.edu/elc/landuse/DevelopmentReviewSummerRetreat/register.cfm
Development Review Volunteers’ Summer Retreat
Speakers and Workshops (under construction)
Keynote Speakers:
Prof. Marc Mihaly Friday evening
Prof. John Echeverria Saturday morning
Prof. Sean Nolon Saturday lunch
Workshops: (aimed at timely topics, leadership building, skills, best practices…)
These are aimed for development review volunteers who are leaders in their municipalities, and so should be highly interactive; anticipating and incorporating their feedback. The information exchange among them is as important as the info the speaker wants to convey. Also, examples should be aimed at rural skills, examples and issues rather than more urban.
First session (choice of one):
1. Promoting More Energy Efficient Communities: Implementation via Project Review (Peg Elmer with Kat Roos, VLS): regulatory implementation
2. Takings: Lessons for the local decision-maker from the direction of the Courts (Prof. John Echeverria)
3. Basic Ethics (Garrett Baxter, VLCT): exploring the dilemmas posed in local land use decisions
Second session (choice of one):
4. The Developers' Perspective (speakers yet to be determined from the private sector) the experience from the other side – what helps/what doesn’t; how to get more development happening (incentives) in the centers; small town examples; successful examples and why
5. The Effective Land Use Board (Stephanie Smith, VLCT)
6. Pushing that Density (Noelle MacKay and, tentative, Sharon Murray): Beyond enabling, to requiring. What to look for, issues to address
Third session (choice of one):
7. Dispute resolution: some successful models, and when to fit into development review decisions? (Prof. Sean Nolon, Director, VLS Dispute Resolution Center)
8. Making Decisions that Stick, post JAM Golf (Sharon Murray, Jim Barlow, VLCT both tentative - Offspring of VLS/VPA 4/23 professional workshop): Crafting defensible decisions under discretionary review criteria in the town bylaws.
The registration form is up and ready to use at the following link, for use by sponsors of participants as well.
http://forms.vermontlaw.edu/elc/landuse/DevelopmentReviewSummerRetreat/register.cfm
Friday, February 26, 2010
Municipal Planning Grants Apps due April 30, 2010
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 $250,000 is available for grants statewide in FY10.
Priority will be given to the following types of projects this year:
• Update of municipal bylaws for the purpose of bringing bylaws into conformance with the municipal plan by 2011 as required in 24 VSA §4401 & §4481.
• Developing or updating a municipal plan that addresses pressing planning concerns in the community. (A recently expired plan or pending expiration of a plan alone is not considered a priority.)
• Studies or activities furthering growth center planning that will help meet requirements for designation [24 V.S.A. § 2791].
• Studies or activities leading to a Vermont Neighborhoods designation application [24 V.S.A. § 2791(15)].
Please review the Program Description first for an overview of MPG program requirements and competitive criteria. The Application Instructions will orient you to the online application process and provides tips on preparing a competitive application. We encourage you to begin working on your application before the on line application is available on March 15th. You can start by meeting with appropriate boards and consultants and developing your work plan and budget using the sample application as a reference.
Application dates:
March 15, 2010 – Online application website available
March 23 – Training on the online application system, noon – 1 pm
April 16 – Training on the online application system, noon – 1 pm
April 30 – Application due date
Late May – Grant decisions
To register for the training or for any questions about the MPG program, please email Wendy Tudor or call: (802)828-5249 – direct line, or (800)622-4553 – toll free.
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 $250,000 is available for grants statewide in FY10.
Priority will be given to the following types of projects this year:
• Update of municipal bylaws for the purpose of bringing bylaws into conformance with the municipal plan by 2011 as required in 24 VSA §4401 & §4481.
• Developing or updating a municipal plan that addresses pressing planning concerns in the community. (A recently expired plan or pending expiration of a plan alone is not considered a priority.)
• Studies or activities furthering growth center planning that will help meet requirements for designation [24 V.S.A. § 2791].
• Studies or activities leading to a Vermont Neighborhoods designation application [24 V.S.A. § 2791(15)].
Please review the Program Description first for an overview of MPG program requirements and competitive criteria. The Application Instructions will orient you to the online application process and provides tips on preparing a competitive application. We encourage you to begin working on your application before the on line application is available on March 15th. You can start by meeting with appropriate boards and consultants and developing your work plan and budget using the sample application as a reference.
Application dates:
March 15, 2010 – Online application website available
March 23 – Training on the online application system, noon – 1 pm
April 16 – Training on the online application system, noon – 1 pm
April 30 – Application due date
Late May – Grant decisions
To register for the training or for any questions about the MPG program, please email Wendy Tudor or call: (802)828-5249 – direct line, or (800)622-4553 – toll free.
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