WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Could you use an unexpected $385 in cash? That’s the average claim amount paid by the Vermont State Treasurer’s Office last fiscal year to the 13,435 individuals who discovered they had unclaimed financial property. State Treasurer Beth Pearce announced today that there’s now more than $64 million in Vermont’s unclaimed property fund. She urged Vermonters to check and see if any of this money is theirs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Officials in the Town of Georgia recently determined that two properties in their town have lost value because of their proximity to a utility-scale wind project.

Burlington VT - October 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Residents of more than a dozen Vermont communities can now get help covering the upfront cost of energy projects for their homes, but they will need to act by October 31st

Montpelier, VT - October 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Vermonters like independent, local and sustainable initiatives. Following these values, the last few years have seen a strong advancement in renewables in Vermont – from wind and solar, to biomass, geothermal and hydropower. This success has brought new conversations to the table about the changes in Vermont’s landscape as we move to a renewable, resilient energy future

Williston, Vermont - October 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Northern Vermont (HBRANV), is pleased to announce our Better Homes Award (BHA) Event happening this year on November 7, 2013 at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center Leahy Center for Lake Champlain from 7 PM – 9 PM and this will be open to the public to attend this year. One of the Boards goals is to inform and educate the public about our Association, our members and what we do. This program will be able to do just that

Johnson, VT - October 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Johnson’s Sterling Market opened with a public ceremony celebrating the renaissance of the new downtown supermarket on October 3, 2013. The store had a “soft” opening on October 1, and had over 2,000 customers through its doors in the first two days. The town has been without a grocery store for over two years.

Bennington - October 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than 15 years ago, Albert and Rachel Shulman began talking to the Vermont Land Trust about conserving their land located at the end of Pleasant Valley Road. After they passed away, their four children decided to conserve a 261-acre portion of the property.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Vermont Land Trust and the Greensboro Land Trust are happy to announce that a large stretch of well-managed forest—filled with unique natural and historical features—was conserved on Thursday, September 12

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Buy an extra gallon of water the next time you’re at the grocery store. Bring it home, store it away and don’t drink it. You have started building your emergency preparedness kit.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 6, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lewis Creek Streambank property is a 323-acre area of conserved land owned by the Department to protect streamside habitat and provide access along the stream for hunting and fishing. Recently, the Department acquired an additional 65 acres that has been added to this property in the towns of Hinesburg and Monkton. The 65 acres are along Lewis Creek and were sold at a discounted rate by Ray and Pat Mainer of Hinesburg to the department

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.