Vermont Introduces Better Places Program
Vermont Business Magazine – Governor Phil Scott, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and the Vermont Community Foundation today announced $90,000 in grant funding to launch Better Places, a statewide initiative that aims to speed economic recovery by creating places in downtowns and village centers to safely serve residents and visitors this winter and into the coming year.
“Even before the pandemic, my Administration has focused on growing the economy, creating opportunities and revitalizing Vermont’s downtowns and village centers in all 14 counties,” Governor Phil Scott said. “As we begin to rebuild in 2021, grants like Better Places are essential to ensuring the benefits of our recovery are felt in every corner of the state.”
The funding will help communities reimagine and reopen public spaces for safe dining, shopping and recreation, while showcasing the unique sense of place their community offers. The goal is to encourage entrepreneurship-friendly communities through creating safe ways to conduct local activities.
The types of qualifying placemaking projects is vast, from pocket parks and parklets to creative art projects to village events and cultural programming, pop-up spaces, winter markets, streetscape improvements, and many more.
“The grants will help communities quickly and creatively transform sidewalks, streets, parking lots, town greens and other public spaces to support public health and expand commerce in their communities,” said ACCD Secretary Lindsay Kurrle. “Jump-starting projects that enable small businesses to continue to operate is a critical component to sustaining economic and community vitality this winter, while making the places Vermonters call home better.”
The partnering organizations on this opportunity include AARP-VT, Local Motion, Vermont Department of Transportation, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Vermont Department of Health and many others. In addition to working on program design, this team has provided leadership and collaboration across sectors and government agencies.
“The Better Places partnership has worked incredibly hard for over two years to deepen the collaboration between the arts, community development leaders and Vermont-based funders to inspire local leaders to make transformative investments that generate wide-ranging economic and social benefits,” said the Vermont Community Foundation’s Vice President for Grants and Investments Sarah Waring.
“For the Community Foundation, this is a critical component of our longer-term recovery strategies through our COVID-19 Response Fund, particularly focusing on ensuring that communities have the capacity to support small and growing businesses. We are thrilled that the National Life Foundation, the Vermont Arts Council and the Preservation Trust of Vermont are joining to help empower local leaders to create better and safer places.”
Municipalities, nonprofits, and other community groups may apply to ACCD for grant awards of up to $20,000. Program guidelines, application, and FAQs are on the Better Places website.(link is external) Applications are due January 22, 2021, and awards will be announced in mid-February. Eligible projects must comply with the Governor Scott’s State of Emergency Executive Order and its addendums(link is external).
Better Places
The Better Places pilot program provides “placemaking” grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 that improve the vitality of state designated downtowns, village centers, new town centers, or neighborhood development areas(link is external). The Better Places partnership is a place-based economic development program that:
Revitalizes and improves public spaces in support of local economic and community development efforts
Empowers residents to play an active role in shaping their communities, building social capital, and local pride
Supports local COVID-19 response and recovery efforts
Advances “quick build” projects that boost confidence, builds partnerships and sparks momentum
Improves public health, reduces social isolation, and increases physical activity
Stimulates the creative economy and supports public art projects
Program Guide(link is external)
Application Form(link is external)
Program Partners
The program is funded and supported by the Vermont Community Foundation(link is external), Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Vermont Arts Council(link is external), National Life Group Foundation(link is external), and the Preservation Trust of Vermont(link is external). The program relies on the expertise and generous support of the Better Places Partners that include AARP Vermont, Local Motion, Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Agency of Transportation, and Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets.
Program Timeline
• Notice of funds – December 9, 2020
• Grants Due – on January 22, 2021
• Application review period – until February 12, 2021
• Grant Awards announcement – week of February 15, 2021
• Project completed – August 31, 2021
Additional Resources
The Department of Housing and Community Development and its partners offers tools, resources, and technical assistance to help communities reimagine and reconfigure their streets, parking areas, and public spaces during COVID-19 and beyond.
Guidance for Restaurant and Retail Use of Right of Way – The Department of Housing and Community Development worked with the Agency of Transportation on a toolkit to help restaurants and municipalities evaluate whether to make streets, rights of way and other public infrastructure available for outdoor dining. This document provides guidance on how a portion of a state or town public highway can be used on a temporary basis for outdoor eating, retail activities, and social gatherings to help achieve the physical distancing recommendations intended to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.
Guidance for Demonstration Projects in the State Right of Way – Demonstration projects are a way for communities to evaluate the impact of a roadway change, such as to improve walking, bicycling, transit access, public spaces, and traffic flow, without making a permanent, and often expensive, investment. This guidance document(link is external) describes the options available, issues that need to be considered, the state approval processes, and provides links to resources with additional information.
Streets for Success Recorded Online Workshop – Watch a recorded video on how communities are reconfiguring outdoor spaces in Vermont towns for safe dining, shopping, and walking. VTrans, AARP-VT, the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, and local officials in Brattleboro and Fairfax shared how communities are reimagining their public spaces to support COVID recovery efforts. Check out this list of resources and guidance documents to help local officials reimagine thier streets and public spaces.
Vermont Community Development Program – Grants can be used to help communities in deploying the necessary public safety equipment (tents, parklets, outdoor dining, hand sanitizing stations, PPE, etc.) to ensure proper physical distancing to ensure public safety while supporting local businesses in downtowns and village center.
Vermont Arts Council Animating Infrastructure Grant Program – Grants can support community projects that integrate art with infrastructure improvements that help communities improve their livability, walkability, safety, economic vitality, and community vibrancy.
Municipal Planning Grants – Municipal Planning Grants can help communities plan, adapt, and re-imagine public spaces (outside and indoors) in the time of COVID or develop COVID economic adaptation strategies, or produce a marketing plan with signage, decals, public information to encourage proper physical distancing and public safety.
VTrans Bike and Pedestrian Program – Jon Kaplan(link sends e-mail) with VTrans is partnering with Local Motion(link is external) to offer communities free technical assistance and guidance to communities who are exploring or implementing shared street strategies.
Source: Governor 12.9.2020 Montpelier www.vermont.gov(link is external)