Archives

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 6, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, Rep. Peter Welch joined with Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV), John Carney (D-DE) and Daniel Webster (R-FL) to introduce the “Creating Homeownership Opportunities Act.” This is bipartisan legislation that would create a pre-tax savings program -- similar to a Health Savings Account -- for the purpose of saving toward a down payment on a first home. Rep. Welch made the following comments after introducing the legislation

MORRISVILLE - July 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Peter Shumlin announced the allocation of nearly $2 million in tax credits to support about $18 million in building improvements and investment to help revitalize Vermont’s downtowns and community centers. Competitively awarded by the Downtown Development Board, this year’s tax credits went to 31 projects in 20 communities.

MONTPELIER - July 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a $2.3 million grant to the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) to protect children and families from the hazards of lead-based paint. This award will be used to control lead paint hazards in the homes of low-income families and to raise awareness about the dangers of lead paint, which is still found in the majority of Vermont homes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced the availability of approximately $450,000 in Municipal Planning Grants (MPGs) to create stronger, more sustainable communities. Grant applications are due September 30, 2013 for grants that will be issued in the 2013 calendar year. Funding priorities for this year support local planning efforts to improve neighborhoods, plan for infrastructure, and minimize the impacts of future floods

BURLINGTON - June 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Peter Shumlin, EPA New England Brownfields Director Carol Tucker and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, along with representatives from Vermont’s congressional delegation, launched a new program today that will advance the redevelopment of brownfields, former industrial or commercial properties that are contaminated from historical uses making it difficult or impossible to put them to new uses. In addition, six Vermont organizations redeveloping brownfields were awarded funding for that work from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

BURLINGTON - June 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Peter Shumlin today signed into law three bills that will improve access to energy efficiency and clean energy for Vermonters. The legislative package will provide new financing options through VEDA and the Treasurer’s Office for projects meeting state energy goals, make improvements to the state’s thermal efficiency programs, and streamline the permitting process for farm digester projects.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In celebrating 25 years of investment in affordable housing, land conservation and historic preservation at an event at Shelburne Farms on Tuesday, June 11, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board presented awards to exemplary practitioners and partners. Gus Seelig, VHCB Executive Director, said, “The honorees have dedicated their careers—more than 20 years each—to improving Vermont communities with investments in housing, agriculture and historic preservation. We are proud to work with such talented and inspirational partners. We recognize that our work is only as good as the ability of our partners to produce excellent results.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO), and the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development are celebrating the opening of the Turner Hill Wildlife Management Area, located in Athens and Grafton, on Sunday, June 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The celebration will include brief presentations and tours exploring the natural and cultural history of the property. Light refreshments will be served.

RUTLAND - June 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Peter Shumlin today signed a bill into law that improves the state’s Downtown, Village Center, and Neighborhood Designation programs, as well as reducing the cost to develop new housing in and around designated villages and downtowns. In addition, the new law improves blighted properties

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Peter Shumlin today announced $1.8 million in grants from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development to help three communities replace municipal buildings damaged by flood waters. The funding comes from $21.6 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery funds ACCD received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help the state recover from Tropical Storm Irene and the spring floods of 2011.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs today proposed legislation to help the Department of Veterans Affairs meet its goal to eliminate veteran homelessness by 2015.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- State Treasurer Beth Pearce announced today new efforts to assist Vermonters in claiming life insurance benefits, including improved web page search tools, consumer tips and information to assist consumers in claiming their money. The Treasurer’s office has received more than $2.2 million in unclaimed property as the result of a multi-state initiative to require life insurance companies to pay out on old, sometimes forgotten, policies

MONTPELIER, VT - April 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A 355-acre forest which includes a variety of popular trails used for hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing will be protected as the Barre Town Forest, The Trust for Public Land and the U.S. Forest Service announced today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Peter Shumlin announced today that more than a year-and-a-half after they watched their homes destroyed by the floodwaters of Tropical Storm Irene and other floods in 2011, three families have closed on the sale of their properties as part of the FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), completing the home buyout process. The three -- two from Bethel and one from Bolton -- are the first to complete the HMGP process and receive compensation for their washed out homes. HMGP provides federal funds for towns to buy properties in flood-prone areas to avoid future damage

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In one of the largest single grants to the state to help after Tropical Storm Irene, Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Congressman Peter Welch (D) and Governor Peter Shumlin (D) Wednesday announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is releasing $17,932,000 in community rebuilding funds to Vermont from a disaster relief appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed by the President in January. Leahy, Sanders and Welch supported the disaster relief measure and wrote a letter to HUD advocating for the funding.

BARRE, VT - March 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- After Tropical Storm Irene swept through Vermont, many residents were left homeless in areas of the state that were already experiencing shortages of affordable housing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development announced today that Lars Hasselblad Torres has been hired as Director of the Agency’s Office of the Creative Economy (OCE).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Tom Carper (D-DE) and Congressman Dan Benishek (R-MI-01) and Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would improve veterans groups’ access to surplus personal property donated by the federal government