Governor Phil Scott, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Peter Welch, and Congresswoman Becca Balint, together with the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), on June 24 announced that 11 Vermont communities will be receiving a combined $13.6 million from NBRC’s Catalyst Program.
Local awardees include:
Rutland City
Grant amount: $3,000,000. Total project cost: $6,741,410.
Project: Modernizing Downtown Rutland’s wastewater infrastructure, enhancing economic growth and resilience.
Town of Rochester
Grant amount: $1,000,000. Total project cost: $4,552,120.
Project: Re-purpose the former Rochester High School into a multi-use community hub, providing early childhood education, senior services, workforce development, arts programming, and business incubation.
Town of Woodstock
Grant amount: $868,858.52. Total project cost: $1,755,094.22
Project: Upgrade municipal drinking water system, increasing pressure and capacity to support new housing and business development.
Benson Village Trust, Inc.
Grant amount: $500,000. Total project cost: $1,309,000.
Project: Rebuild the Benson Village Store, restoring a vital economic and social hub for the rural community.
“Investing in our communities and fixing aging infrastructure, is key to addressing many of the housing and affordability challenges we’re facing in the state,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I want to thank the congressional delegation for their advocacy for this funding as well as the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and NBRC for their work to support these important projects.”
The Northern Border Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire collaboration to improve rural economic vitality. NBRC encourages projects that take a creative approach to accomplishing those goals.
“The Northern Border Regional Commission plays a crucial role in supporting rural economies and communities in Vermont. These funds will be a catalyst for economic growth in rural communities across our state–from renewing vital drinking water infrastructure to renovating historic buildings and community gathering spaces,” said the Vermont congressional delegation. “We’re pleased to see these projects receive funding to help communities in every corner of the Green Mountain State grow and thrive.”
When evaluating potential projects, the Catalyst Program considers project readiness, economic impacts, impacts on Vermont’s skilled workforce, project location, regional input and priorities, and the project’s transformational nature.
For a complete list of Spring 2025 awardees, visit: Vermont.gov/latest-news.
