More Route 4 paving to begin Monday in Woodstock

This stretch of Route 4 in Taftsville is part of a paving project that begins on Monday in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Another part of Route 4 in Woodstock is about to be repaved. 

On Monday, work will begin on a three-mile stretch of Route 4, located east of the village. The project will start near Sawyer Road and end at the intersection with Route 12 just beyond Taftsville, according to an announcement from the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), which is in charge of the project. Completion is projected for this fall. 

This coming week will involve excavation activities along that part of Route 4, state officials said. There will be alternating one-way traffic there, Monday through Friday, between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To learn more about this project, the public is invited to an open meeting with VTrans officials at the July 19 Woodstock Selectboard meeting at 6 p.m. For more information about attending the Selectboard meeting in person or via Zoom, please visit the Town of Woodstock website.

VTrans completed an extensive Route 4 paving project in Woodstock Village last year.

— Gareth Henderson

The project’s public information consultant, Delia Makhetha, can be reached at delia.makhetha@wsp.com. There is also a project hotline available to the public at 603-263-8881.

State: Help protect loons and their young

A nesting loon on Green River Reservoir in Hyde Park, Vermont. (VTF&W photo by Tom Rogers)

Few birding experiences rival hearing the haunting call of the loon or seeing them glide by in protected coves on a lake.  However, for the birds’ protection, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking boaters and anglers to enjoy loons from a safe distance this summer.

“Loons were removed from Vermont’s endangered species list in 2005, but they face continued threats from human disturbance during the breeding season and ingestion of fishing gear,” said Doug Morin, wildlife biologist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife.

“Many areas where loons nest on Vermont’s lakes are surrounded by signs reminding people to give loons the space they need, but not all nesting areas are marked,” Morin added. “We’re asking people to enjoy loons from a distance rather than approaching them, whether you are in a boat or on shore.” 

Morin also reminded people to avoid lead fishing tackle.  Every year Vermont loons die from lead poisoning after swallowing fishing tackle. Lead sinkers weighing one-half ounce or less are prohibited in Vermont, but larger tackle­­­ still has the capacity to slough off lead into the environment over time. Morin also recommended that anglers be careful to not attract loons to their bait and lures, and especially to not leave any fishing line behind, as it can entangle and kill loons. 

Eric Hanson oversees the Loon Conservation Project for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies in partnership with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.  He and his colleagues monitor Vermont’s loon population and have put out game cameras around loon nests to monitor the behavior of people around them.  Hanson said most people are respectful of nesting loons and give them space, but people sometimes inadvertently harm loons without meaning to.

“Loon chicks can be difficult to see, so we ask motorboaters to note where loon families are and to avoid those areas,” Hanson said.  “We also ask that motorboaters obey ‘no wake’ laws within 200 feet of shorelines because boat wakes can flood and destroy shoreline loon nests.” 

As Vermont’s loon population continues to increase and canoeing and kayaking continues to become more popular, there is greater potential for people to come into conflict with loons. Hanson reminded boaters to avoid pursuing loons in a canoe or kayak, especially loons with young. 

“Occasionally a loon will be curious and approach people and if that happens, just enjoy it,” Hanson said.  “However, loons that are constantly swimming away from you are stressed and may abandon their young if they feel they are in danger.”

Hanson also urged shoreline property owners to maintain appropriate habitat for loons, including a forested area along shorelines where loons can nest.  Having shrubs and trees instead of lawns along shorelines also improves water quality which is essential for healthy lakes and loons.

Volunteers interested in monitoring loons for the Loon Conservation Project should contact Hanson at loon@vtecostudies.org.  Volunteers can monitor lakes all summer long with a focus on lakes with loon pairs and nesting. 

Volunteers can also survey one or two lakes on Loonwatch Day, being held on July 16 this year, between 8 and 9 a.m.  The goal is to survey all lakes greater than 20 acres at the same time, which provides a population count and checks on small lakes that are surveyed less often during the rest of year.  

— Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department 

Editor’s Note: Omni Reporter will return after the July Fourth holiday weekend. Happy Fourth, everyone!

Woodstock’s Tesha Buss running for state representative

The U.S. and Vermont flags in Bridgewater, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

Local entrepreneur Tesha Buss has announced her candidacy for the Vermont House. 

Buss, a Woodstock-based Democrat, is seeking the Windsor County-5 seat for state representative, serving Woodstock, Plymouth and Reading. She’s holding an official campaign announcement in Woodstock this Saturday.

“My Vermont businesses have been all about creating vibrant community,” Buss said in a campaign statement released this week. “I rise up to challenges. My experience has prepared me to step up to what we face now as Vermonters. I grew up in the service industry and now I am ready to serve Vermont.”

Charlie Kimbell, the incumbent state representative for Windsor County-5 and a fellow Democrat, is running for lieutenant governor. 

“Tesha has first hand experience of what it is like to run a business in Vermont, a perspective that is very important to have in the Statehouse when shaping policies,” Kimbell said in a statement. “And she has worked to solve local child care needs, a real priority for working people and the entire state.”

Buss opened two businesses in Plymouth during the 2008 recession — Good Commons, a retreat home; and The Good Bus. Using resources from Vermont’s Small Development Center and a grassroots marketing approach, Buss grew both businesses. She continues to welcome guests to Good Commons.

Buss is experienced at renovating and permitting businesses at the state and local level, according to this week’s statement. She led the Rainbow Playschool Renovation Project and has seen firsthand how much money can be saved in energy efficient building. Through her efforts, Buss enabled the creation of many new childcare spots for infants and toddlers serving the towns in the Windsor County-5 district, Woodstock, Plymouth and Reading. She was also instrumental in opening The Community Campus to serve K-6 students in the hybrid schooling days of the pandemic and as a summer and after-school program.

Buss entered public service in 2009, serving as an Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce board member and as the president of the Ludlow Rotary Club. She learned her business skills growing up on her family farm in Illinois. Her family’s other business, a tavern called The Buss Stop, is now employee-owned 38 years later. Following her passion for dance, she earned a BFA from Illinois Wesleyan University, moved to New York City, and performed for 15 years including in the Broadway production of Cats. Seven seasons at The Weston Playhouse brought her to Vermont. 

“I want to see Vermont grow into a state where our next generation can make a living wage and small businesses can thrive,” said Buss, a single mother to an 8-year old. “I think of my own daughter and if she chooses a path of entrepreneurship when she’s older, I want Vermont to be a place of opportunity.”

— Gareth Henderson

Further campaign information can be found at www.teshabuss.com or by calling 802-245-4746.

The donuts are back: Farmer & The Bell thriving at new location

April Lawrence, of Farmer & The Bell, grabs a tray of donuts at her business’s new location at the Parker House in Quechee, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

If you go to the Parker House building in Quechee, Vermont, on Saturday or Sunday morning, you’ll see a long line of people filling the wrap-around porch, and they have one thing in common: They’re all hungry for donuts made by Farmer & The Bell. 

The popular donut business, owned and operated by April Lawrence and her partner Ben Pauly, got its start as a pop-up in Woodstock for five weekends last December.  

Now the business has a new home at the Parker House, where ownership has welcomed them with open arms and their donut operation keeps thriving. April 30 was their first day at the new location.

“We can’t be effusive enough about their kindness, and everybody there,” Lawrence said of the Parker House. “It’s such a great place.” 

And donut fans near and far are loving it, too. 

Matt Ashby recently moved to Quechee, and going to Farmer & The Bell is now part of his weekend. In one of his first times taking his dog to the nearby dog park, he remembers people dropping by carrying boxes of donuts. 

“Everybody came over with donuts saying, ‘Oh my God, these are the best donuts in the world’, and they are,” he said, while waiting in line for another box last Saturday. “I don’t know what kind of magic they’re working back there, but it’s effective.”

On the same morning, Shelby Donahue, of Connecticut, was visiting the area for Mother’s Day weekend and showed up with her family, after a friend tagged her on Instagram, recommending Farmer & The Bell.

“It’s a great Mother’s Day gift,” she said. 

David and Anna Pauly prepare some donuts for Farmer & The Bell on May 7. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The idea for these donuts came about a couple years ago at the beginning of the pandemic. Lawrence and Pauly took a camping trip to Maine, and during those travels, they ended up tasting some French crullers nearby. That “life-changing donut experience” — as Lawrence called it — made the couple determined to make this art their own. 

“We said, ‘This is going to be our thing, we’re going to master this …. We need this donut in our life,’” she recalled. 

It was really a perfect match as far as ingredients: the crullers require about a half-egg per donut, and Lawrence has a farm with chickens.

And so, they spent six months perfecting the recipe, and trying out their budding creation and all its versions on family members and friends. Later on, Lawrence and Pauly’s young son asked for donuts for his birthday instead of a birthday cake. As if that wasn’t endorsement enough, multiple people at the party — who were wowed by the crullers — encouraged them to go into business. 

That they did. Thanks to Chy Tuckerman of Angkor Wat Restaurant in Woodstock, Farmer & The Bell was able to use the restaurant’s kitchen space last December. 

“For me, it was a perfect intersection between working with people, being creative, and working with food,” Lawrence said.  

Donuts on display at Farmer & The Bell in Quechee. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The pop-up experience helped them figure out their process, she added. Customers pre-ordered their donuts online, and they stuck with that system during their five pop-up days there. In 2022, real estate agent and customer Meredith Christiansen connected Lawrence with Simon Pearce CEO Jay Benson, which led to a lease to use the Parker House kitchen. Right now, the system is “first come, first served,” and to accommodate the long line usually waiting outside, the business always has lots of donuts ready to go. They’re open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday and Sunday.

“We try to have 300 to 400 ready, and we’re still making them as we’re going,” Lawrence said. 

That’s no easy feat, either. Everything is measured in grams, and the measurements and timing are absolutely exact, down to the second.  

“If any part of it’s off, it’s all ruined,” Lawrence noted. 

But she says they’ve been able to make the entire process more efficient, and it’s become a true family business as well. Pauly’s parents, David and Anna, help out every weekend as the business keeps cranking out multiple flavors of donuts. Among the staples: sugar and spice, chocolate and coconut, and several berries & cream flavors (like raspberry and strawberry, for example). For a touch of springtime, this weekend, Farmer & The Bell will debut their viola and lemon donut — with a lovely viola flower on top. 

“We’re trying to do six (flavors) each week. Some of the popular ones we keep as standards, and we rotate others ones out,” Lawrence said. 

A popular one is brown butter-WhistlePig, made with local whiskey from WhistlePig — a business also located in the Parker House building. That’s one example of a big part of Farmer & The Bell: using ingredients grown or made right here. For instance, they use King Arthur Flour, butter from Cabot, and local eggs and milk. .

“We truly try to put as much local into it as we can,” Lawrence said. 

Running a business has its challenges, but for Farmer & The Bell, it’s about giving joy to others in the form of a delicious donut.

“It’s decadent, a donut is a treat,” Lawrence said. “You can’t have a bad day with a donut in your hand. … It’s a joyous experience, and I think that resonates with a lot of people.”

— Gareth Henderson

Farmer & The Bell is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday and Sunday at the Parker House at 1792 Main Street in Quechee, Vermont (use the side porch entrance). For updates, check out @farmerandthebell on Instagram. The business can be reached by email at: farmerandthebellvt@gmail.com.

The first customers of the day step into the porch entrance for Farmer & The Bell at the Parker House in Quechee on May 7. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Welch: Allies standing strong for Ukraine; aid continues to be crucial

(Gareth Henderson File Photo)

Even amid the most treacherous and dangerous situations, acts of kindness and compassion shine through. 

A great many people have stepped in to help those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Neighboring Poland has given refuge to nearly 3 million Ukrainian refugees as of Wednesday, according to data from the United Nations. 

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., saw this in action when he recently went to Eastern Europe, visiting Latvia, Poland and Slovakia. He traveled with U.S. Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., Mike Quigley, D-Ill, and Jason Crow, D-Colo., with whom he serves on the House Intelligence Committee. Welch said the trip was meant to inspect how the U.S. policy of arming the Ukrainians and the coordination with humanitarian aid, is proceeding.

In a Tuesday interview, Welch reported that the coordination between European allies — both NATO, and non-NATO — is impressive.

For the Ukrainians who have fled their war-torn country, their neighbors in Poland have been answering the call to help from the beginning. 

“There are no camps. They're all sheltering in the homes of Polish families who have welcomed them and are willing to house them for as long as it takes,” Welch said.  

Working in partnership with U.S. aid efforts, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia have played important roles in bolstering Ukraine’s strong military operations against Russia, Welch noted.

“Even though they’re small countries, they've been sending an immense amount of military aid,” he said. “They're enormously grateful the U.S. is all in. They feel the U.S. is a full partner with them in their efforts to resist Russian aggression.”

These allies are spurred on in large part by their memories of World War II, and wanting to help their neighbors and prevent the tragedies of war from spreading.

“It’s like it was yesterday,” Welch said, of how they remember WWII. “It's just embedded in their psyche.”

Looking toward the long-term, Welch said there will be a vast amount of work for years to come, to rebuild the damage Russia has inflicted on Ukraine, with cities like Mariupol reduced to rubble. 

There will be a need for aid on many fronts, and Welch said there are ways Vermonters can play a role. 

“Governor (Phil) Scott has expressed an openness to accepting Ukrainian refugees in Vermont,” Welch said. He added that the Biden administration is facilitating those opportunities for Ukrainians to relocate to the U.S.

Also, Vermonters and many Americans have contributed to the humanitarian relief effort by donating to organizations involved, and Welch encouraged that generosity to continue. Vermont recently approved a legislative bill to send more than $640,000 in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

In a recent statement, Scott spoke of those displaced by the war and Vermont’s “moral obligation” to help.

“We are ready, willing and able to accept refugees from Ukraine if need be,” the governor said.

— Gareth Henderson

State: With bears roaming, time to take bird feeders down

With snow melting everywhere, bears are starting to emerge from their winter dens. (VTF&W Photo by Kris and Norm Senna)

As I look over the wildlife adventures we’ve had over the past two years, nothing compares with bear encounters. And I’m not talking about encounters I’ve had. It’s my wife who has been lucky enough to cross paths with multiple bears over the past two summers. If this happens during your next hike, she recommends remaining calm, and no, don’t run (more safety tips here). In fact, over this time, our ursine friends became such a part of the neighborhood that a neighbor of ours named one of the bears Ursula. 

Cute as that might be (and I’m smiling as I write this), the folks at Vermont Fish and Wildlife are hoping Vermonters can help cut back on the number of times that bears wander into residential areas. To that end, they’re asking Vermonters to take down their bird feeders now — about two weeks earlier than usual. 

With the spring thaw advancing, and reports of bear sightings starting to trickle in, wildlife officials hope this small request will make a difference, so that everyone can live together without too many frequent visits from the bears, whether walking near your home, or trying to take out the trash — which bears love to get their paws on. Hopefully less bird seed for bears means less of those other visits. Though for sure, we don’t mind seeing them once in a while - we do, after all, share a beautiful state together. 

To see Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s full press release, keep on reading. And thanks! 

— Gareth Henderson

_

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says warm spring weather and melting snows will cause bears to come out of their winter dens in search of food.  The department recommends taking down bird feeders and keeping them stored until December, to avoid attracting bears. 

“Although we typically recommend taking down bird feeders by April 1, we are asking Vermonters to take them down early this year,” said Jaclyn Comeau, the department’s bear biologist.  

The department is already receiving bear reports as of March 7, and encourages Vermonters who experience a conflict with bears to submit a report through the Living with Black Bears web page.  The warmer temperatures predicted now will stimulate more bears to emerge from their dens to seek any food sources they can smell. 

“Preventing bears from having access to human-related foods, such as bird seed, is key to successful coexistence,” Comeau added.   

Bird feeders are just one of the things that can attract hungry bears.  Other sources of food that bears find appealing are garbage, open dumpsters, backyard chickens, pet food, barbecue grills, campsites with accessible food, and food waste.  

“Purposely feeding a bear is not just bad for the bear,” said Comeau. “It is also dangerous for you, it causes problems for your neighbors, and it is illegal.” 

The department offers the following tips to coexist with bears: 

• Take down birdfeeders between late March and December. 

• Store garbage in bear proof containers or structures—trash cans alone are not enough  

• Follow the steps on our web page for composting in bear country 

• Use electric fences to keep chickens and honeybees safe 

• Request a bear-proof dumpster from your waste hauler 

• Feed your pets indoors 

• Never feed bears, deliberately or accidentally 

And for Vermonters who wish to connect with and appreciate songbirds after taking down their birdfeeders this spring, the department will be partnering with Audubon Vermont to highlight alternatives like the Native Plants for Birds Program.  

“Birds and native plants co-evolved over millions of years together,” said Gwendolyn Causer, Audubon Vermont’s communication coordinator and environmental educator. 

“Native plants provide essential food resources for birds year-round and also host protein-rich native butterfly and moth caterpillars, the number one food for songbird nestlings.  And best of all, they do not attract bears.”  

To help better understand peoples’ interactions with bears and inform measures for coexistence with this species, the department asks Vermonters to submit reports of bears engaging in potentially dangerous behavior like targeting bird feeders or garbage bins, feeding on crops or livestock, or investigating campgrounds or residential areas, through our website’s Living with Black Bears tab.

Woodstock Village to vote on cannabis ballot item

On March 24, voters will decide whether to allow cannabis retailers to do business in Woodstock Village. 

A total of nine items will be on the village ballot, and, unlike past years, all items on the village warning will be decided by Australian ballot. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 24 at Woodstock Town Hall. 

A public informational meeting will be held this Tuesday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall and on Zoom. Read the Village Report by clicking here.

By state law, cities and towns have to vote whether to allow cannabis sales in their communities. If communities approve it, businesses can start applying for a state license on April 1. A state board will review the license requests.

Woodstock's town and village are separate governing bodies, and, earlier this month at town meeting, town voters decided to "opt in" for allowing cannabis retail establishments. That means cannabis retailers who apply for a state license and meet the requirements, will be able to do business in the town.

However, the village — like any municipality — must hold its own vote to opt in or out, and that happens on March 24. Village Trustees Chair Jeff Kahn wanted village voters to understand that the town's vote does not impact the village, and village voters on March 24 still get to decide whether or not to authorize cannabis retail sales within the village limits.  

"I think there's been quite a bit of confusion (on that point)," Kahn said.

In response to recent questions from voters, Kahn added that, if the village votes to opt in for cannabis retail sales, the village will not see any new tax money as a result. All additional tax money from those sales will go to the state, and the same is true for the town.

In other business for March 24 village voting: Two candidates are running unopposed for seats on the Village Trustees board. Incumbent Brenda Blakeman is seeking reelection for a three-year term, and Gabe DeLeon is running for a two-year term. Incumbent Daphne Lowe, who has served for two years as a trustee, is not seeking reelection.

— Gareth Henderson

Endangered no more: Bald eagle reaches Vt. milestone

A nesting pair of bald eagles in Barnet, Vermont. (VTF&W Photo by John Hall)

It was a big week for conservation in Vermont. On Thursday, officials revealed that the bald eagle was no longer endangered in the Green Mountain State. Wildlife officials announced this upcoming change in spring of 2021, after years of restoration efforts throughout Vermont. 

“The bald eagle’s de-listing is a milestone for Vermont,” Wildlife Division Director Mark Scott said in a statement. “This reflects more than a decade of dedicated work by Vermont Fish & Wildlife and partners. It shows that Vermonters have the capacity to restore and protect the species and habitats that we cherish.”

That conservation capacity will be essential moving forward, officials noted. But the bald eagle wasn’t the only animal to make statewide news this week. Seven species and three critical habitats were the subjects of changes on Vermont’s Endangered and Threatened Species List.

Along with de-listings for the bald eagle and short-styled snakeroot, a flowering plant of dry woodland habitats, Thursday’s update included a range of new listings. Two invertebrate species, the American bumblebee and a species of freshwater mussel known as the brook floater, and two plant species, Houghton’s sedge and rue anemone, have been listed as endangered. State endangered species are considered at immediate risk of becoming locally extinct in Vermont.

One bird species, the Eastern meadowlark, received a new designation as threatened. State threatened species are considered at risk of becoming endangered without timely conservation action.

Three Vermont landscapes also received new designations as critical habitats that are essential for the survival of threatened or endangered species, according to Thursday’s official announcement. The newly listed sites support species including the common tern and Eastern spiny softshell turtle, as well as little brown, Northern long-eared, and tricolored bats.

“These new listings reflect the stressors affecting Vermont’s plant, fish, and wildlife species,” said Wildlife Diversity Program Manager Dr. Rosalind Renfrew. “In the face of climate change and habitat loss, our mission is to conserve these species and others to the very best of our ability on behalf of all Vermonters, who demonstrate time and again that they care about the survival of wildlife populations.”

The new listings are a vital step towards enabling the department to carry out that mission, officials said. They trigger additions to existing species and habitat management plans, development of recovery metrics, initiation of population monitoring, and strengthening or establishing critical partnerships.

“We dedicate incredible resources through population monitoring, habitat conservation and improvement, and education and outreach to preventing species from reaching these thresholds in the first place,” said Scott, the Wildlife Division director. “But, when necessary, we also draw on our successful track record leading endangered species recovery efforts including restoring Vermont’s populations of common loon, osprey, peregrine falcon, and now the bald eagle. We will bring that same dedication to each of these new listings.”

— Gareth Henderson

Click here to find out more about Vermont’s endangered species and related recovery plans.

Vermonters making history at the 2022 Winter Olympics

A winter scene from Starksboro, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

Not everyone gets to witness a home-spun connection when it comes to the Olympics, but Vermont is making it an historic year at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

This week, Vermonter Ryan Cochran-Siegle won the silver medal in the super-G, becoming the first Vermonter to medal in Alpine skiing since his mother, Barbara Ann Cochran, took home the gold in 1972.

On that same day, Tuesday, Jessie Diggins, who lives in Stratton, became the first American woman to win an individual cross-country skiing medal, taking the bronze in the 1.5km sprint.

A day later, the winning ways continued, when Lindsey Jacobellis from Stratton won the USA's first gold medal of the 2022 Winter Olympics, competing in the snowboard cross.

Some members of the Vermont Army National Guard are also competing in Beijing, and one of them, Jericho resident Deedra Irwin, finished seventh in the 15k individual Biathlon. That's the best Olympic result ever by an American biathlete.

Irwin's history-making moment on Monday came just a couple days after Team USA's best-ever Olympic finish in the Biathlon mixed relay. Surging into seventh place were Vermonter Susan Dunklee and teammates Sean Doherty, Clare Egan and Paul Schommer.

Olympic glory indeed has its brightest and most memorable expression on the snow and ice. But the impact moves far beyond that, into the hearts of athletes and the many fans around the world. The greatest Olympic feat is the unity of purpose that expels any sense of division when athletes gather for these amazing, unforgettable events. And that resonates with people.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott captured this spirit well, in his recent video remarks congratulating the Vermonters competing in the 2022 Winter Games.

"Every four years, athletes from around the globe show the value of preparation, perseverance and patriotism," Scott said. "No matter what's been happening politically, the Olympics have always been a beacon of hope, pride and unity. During these times of uncertainty, it's more important than ever to show the world all the good we have to offer."

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. looks to strengthen career and technical education

A winter scene by the Ottauquechee River Trail in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

As Career and Technical Education Month continues nationwide, the state of Vermont is focusing on ways to enhance career and technical education opportunities and grow the state’s workforce, in the face of recent workforce declines.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed a proclamation establishing that same month-long recognition for February in the Green Mountains. Scott’s recent state budget address emphasized career education, and the Legislature is also exploring ways to support these programs. The governor said the state “desperately needs to grow its workforce,” especially in the trades, and he looks forward to working with lawmakers on that goal.

“Whether it’s plumbers, electricians, line workers, fiber splicers, or mechanics, Vermont has thousands of these jobs that need to be filled,” Scott said at a Tuesday press conference. 

In his Tuesday remarks, the governor noted his budget plan has $10 million for reducing education costs for those working toward careers in the trades, which includes $3 million to the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation for those enrolling in training or certification programs. Scott also said the state is launching a $1.4 million recruitment campaign for career and technical education enrollment, which includes engaging with students and parents at the middle and high school levels. 

He also said Vermont has to work to reduce the stigma around career and technical education.

“It’s time we recognize that going into the trades is just as impressive, and in fact can be just as lucrative, as a four-year degree,” Scott said. 

Additionally, with a $90 million surplus projected for the education fund, Scott is proposing putting $45 million of that money toward upgrades for career and technical education centers in Vermont. There are 17 such educational centers across the state. 

“As we spend billions in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding, in addition to all the money from the bipartisan infrastructure bill, we’re going to need more people who have the skills to weatherize homes, build bridges, install and connect fiber optic cables, and so much more,” Scott said. “We can’t let this moment pass, because the time to invest is now.”

— Gareth Henderson

Statewide effort aims to create vibrant public places

A view of the Ottauquechee River from the East End Park in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Creating vibrant public places throughout Vermont is at the heart of a statewide economic development effort that officially launched this week.

This partnership, “Better Places”, gives residents the opportunity to use crowdfunding to develop strategic, locally led projects in their communities and be supported with a 2:1 matching grant from the state, according to a Thursday announcement. 

“The Better Places program provides municipalities and nonprofits with funding for community-driven projects in our downtowns and village centers,” said Vermont Gov. Phil Scott in a statement. “These grants will help increase activity at local shops, restaurants, and other small businesses in all corners of Vermont.”

Teaming up for this effort are the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Community Foundation, and the company Patronicity. 

The program provides one-on-one project coaching, fundraising support, and matching grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 to advance local projects that create and revitalize public spaces. Whether communities are dreaming for more parks and green spaces, a vibrant main street, colorful public art projects, community gardens, or cultural events, Better Places grants can help turn these ideas into reality, state officials said.

“At the heart of economic development is creating places where people want to be, spend time, belong, and thrive,” said Lindsay Kurrle, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. “From public art to pop-up parks to outdoor seating, we’re excited to support community-driven placemaking efforts that add vibrancy, social life, and pride to Vermont’s communities.”

In December of 2020, the Better Places pilot program began, and the state’s program partners invested $130,000 dollars into eight collaborative projects around the state. With the success of the pilot program, the Vermont Legislature allocated $1.5 million for the formal launch of this program.

“The Better Places pilot program was key to strengthening collaboration between the arts, community development leaders, Vermont-based funders, and local leaders, and has led to transformative investments in Vermont with wide-ranging benefits to our health, economy, and social connections,” said Dan Smith, CEO and president of the Vermont Community Foundation.

• To review projects that were part of the pilot program click here.

• For full details on the program including eligibility and application process, visit the program website.

• A program launch webinar will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m. Registration is required.

— Gareth Henderson

New program to help with overdue housing payments

A view of Wyman Lane in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

A new statewide program is offering grants of up to $30,000 towards a variety of overdue housing payments.

Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP), which will help Vermont homeowners facing pandemic hardships, is now accepting applications. The program, funded by $50 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will provide grants of up to $30,000 per household to cover overdue mortgage payments, utility bills, property taxes, and property association charges.

The HAP is being managed through the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) and is expected to run for multiple years to help reduce the long-term risk of foreclosure and home loss.

“As we move forward in our recovery, my administration is making housing a top priority,” said Gov. Phil Scott in a Monday announcement. “In addition to supporting those experiencing homelessness and building new housing stock, we must also work to keep Vermonters in their homes, to stabilize neighborhoods and preserve the health of our communities. This program offers another tool to help accomplish this.”

Passed as a part of ARPA, this program was supported by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.). In a joint statement, the Vermont Delegation said: “As foreclosure moratoriums and forbearance agreements end, many Vermonters are facing an uncertain future. These funds will help homeowners harmed by the pandemic get caught up on their bills and move forward.”

Earlier in the pandemic, VHFA organized the Mortgage Assistance Program, which assisted nearly 900 households with a total of $10 million in mortgage and property tax assistance. The additional federal ARPA funding allows the HAP to offer expanded criteria to support homeowners who do not have a mortgage or who have a reverse mortgage, state officials said, and it will also cover utility bills and homeowner and condominium association fees, to help even more households facing financial challenges.

The program is available to any Vermont homeowner who meets the eligibility criteria, and is not just for VHFA mortgage borrowers. The program is available to Vermont homeowners for expenses related to their primary home, who meet income limits, and who are behind on their bills due to a financial hardship associated with the coronavirus pandemic after Jan. 21, 2020.

“Since the HAP funding is provided as a one-time-only grant, we highly encourage homeowners to talk with a local HUD-approved housing counselor prior to applying,” remarked Eric Hoffman, VHFA’s manager of homeownership business development. “Their free counseling services can help applicants make sure they are taking advantage of all the loss-mitigation tools that may be available to them.”

More information and application materials are available at vermonthap.vhfa.org. The website is available in several languages and includes information about how applicants can access additional translation and application assistance. A Homeowner Assistance Program information hotline is open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 833-221-4208.

— Gareth Henderson

Vermonters urged to order at-home COVID tests

A trail near Lake Pinneo in Quechee, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday strongly encouraged Vermonters to order at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests at covidtests.gov.

This Biden Administration’s initiative – which launched this week – is similar to a program piloted by the State, according to a Thursday statement from the governor. Through this new federal program, each household is eligible to receive four tests, which are expected to ship within 7-12 days of ordering, state officials said. Supplies are limited. 

“Rapid at-home tests are a useful tool that will help us continue to move forward,” Scott said in the statement. “Vermont has worked hard to gain supply of these tests, and I appreciate President Biden’s recent efforts to do the same. The USPS website is up and running now, but federal supplies remain limited, so Vermonters should act fast.”

Any Vermonter without internet access can call the Governor’s Constituent Services Office at 802-828-3333. “My team will help complete the online request form for you,” the Governor continued.

The federal effort is similar to the state of Vermont’s pilot partnership with the National Institutes of Health, which sent 350,000 tests to Vermonters. Many of these tests have already arrived at Vermonters’ homes.

As the state awaits the arrival of an additional 150,000 tests it ordered for the pilot program, it is reevaluating the best use of these tests – including potentially allocating them directly to schools, child care programs and long-term care facilities – now that the general public has access to the new federal program.

Vermont is the national leader in both PCR testing and the distribution of at-home tests, according to state officials. They noted Vermont has consistently performed the most PCR tests per capita of any state. Since late December, the state has also distributed about one million at-home tests directly to Vermonters, schools, child care programs, long term care facilities and other community partners.

States’ access to supplies of at-home tests continues to be a challenge, and the state of Vermont will continue to work to acquire more. The nation’s governors are working with the federal government to improve coordination in procurement and distribution, according to the governor’s statement on Thursday.

— Gareth Henderson

Vermont Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale running for Congress

The U.S. and Vermont flags flying in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

A Vermont senator from Chittenden County has announced her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, joining a race that has grown quickly in recent weeks. 

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a Shelburne resident who also served seven years in the Vermont House, will face Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint and Lt. Gov. Molly Gray in this year’s Democratic primary. Vermont has never sent a woman to Congress, and if elected, Ram Hinsdale would also become the first person of color to join the Vermont Congressional Delegation. The incumbent, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, is running for the Senate after U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy announced he would not seek reelection. 

Advocacy for Vermont’s working families and for action on climate change are prominent issues for Ram Hinsdale, as expressed in a campaign statement Thursday. 

“I’m running for Congress to be Vermont’s fighter for working families, our democracy, and our climate,” Ram Hinsdale said in the statement. “Now is the time to dream and deliver, to advance a bold vision for our multicultural democracy while building a responsive government that meets the everyday needs of Vermonters.”

She told Vermont Public Radio that her commitment to progressive environmental policies began years ago. 

“I was fighting for the Green New Deal before it had a name — that’s how I got into politics in Vermont,” she told VPR. “I introduced Vermont’s first environmental justice bill in 2007 as a senior in college.”

She also mentioned the impact of her upbringing in a multicultural, working class family, noting she felt the economic insecurity when the family’s restaurant failed. 

“And I think my lived experience has propelled me to be someone who’s on the steps of the Statehouse with teachers fighting for their pensions, to be alongside working Vermonters fighting to create more access to housing and homeownership, and to recognize that the fight for our climate is also one that matters deeply to people who are mobile home park residents or migrant farmers,” she told VPR.

Ram Hinsdale moved from Los Angeles to the Green Mountains to attend the University of Vermont, and she graduated from UVM in 2008. She served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 2009 to 2016. Ram Hinsdale lost a bid for lieutenant governor in 2016, but returned to the Legislature when she was elected in 2020, becoming the first woman of color to serve in the Vermont Senate. She is a member of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs.

— Gareth Henderson

In run for Congress, Balint focuses on unity, working families

The U.S. and Vermont flags flying in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

In a time of division, Vermont Sen. Becca Balint is looking to bring people together — and now she hopes to do that in Washington as Vermont’s next representative to Congress. 

She announced her candidacy for the U.S. House on Monday, a week after fellow Democrat Lt. Gov. Molly Gray did the same. They'll square off in the Democratic primary next year for the opportunity to become the first woman to serve Vermont in Congress. The incumbent, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), is running for Senate for the seat that will be vacated when longtime U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) retires next year.

Balint is no stranger to breaking barriers. In January, she became the first woman and the first openly gay Vermonter to serve as the state Senate’s president pro tempore. For the first time, the top four leadership roles in Vermont’s General Assembly are all held by women.

In Balint’s U.S. House campaign, the needs of working families are front and center. She often hears from Vermonters who are exhausted from dealing with the pandemic and its many impacts.

“Many folks are at their wits’ end dealing with childcare center closures, COVID infections at their kids’ schools, and having to miss work due to quarantining,” Balint said in an email Wednesday. “Our businesses, our schools, and even our medical centers are struggling. I’m going to DC to fight for Vermont working families. We need a progressive agenda that lifts up working people.”

Balint, who was first elected to the Senate in 2014, said we need to be dedicated to working together to succeed. 

“We can’t tackle these challenges if we remain divided,” Balint said. “We have deep — sometimes dangerous — divisions in our country, our state, and sometimes even with our neighbors and families. But despite all the darkness around us, I know we can still get to a better place.”

She expressed a perseverance in working with others, even with those who disagree. 

“As a leader, I know that the way to make change and to bring people together is to keep showing up. To never turn away from one another,” Balint said. “Growing up I knew I was gay, and I felt like I didn’t belong. I learned that even with people who said hateful things, if I had the courage to keep showing up and engaging, change was possible.”

In her prior role as Senate majority leader, she worked intensively on paid family leave legislation, which ran into a veto from Gov. Phil Scott, but the issue remains a top priority for Balint. She was also a key part of the effort to pass a minimum wage increase. Additionally, Balint was involved in passing the state’s largest-ever investment in affordable housing. As pro tem, she worked to make a huge $150 million investment in broadband access for rural Vermonters. 

“These were all tough fights,” Balint said. “But I never turned away from those who disagreed, and I stayed in the fight. That’s who I am. That’s everyday courage. If there was ever a place that needed everyday courage right now it’s Washington.”

Balint, 53, lives in Brattleboro with her wife and two children and represents Windham County in the Senate. Balint has earned degrees from Smith College, the School of Education at Harvard University, and, after teaching social studies for several years, a master’s degree in history from the University of Massachusetts.

— Gareth Henderson

New Vt. program aims to expand housing stock

The winter landscape as seen from River Road in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

Vermont has launched a new program meant to increase housing units throughout the state. This effort comes amid an ongoing housing shortage in Vermont — an issue which has been emphasized by local and state officials during the pandemic. 

Announced this week, the Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP) is designed to bring housing units back online by investing in existing, but under-utilized structures, the announcement said. VHIP builds upon past rental rehabilitation pilot programs that used modest public investment to revitalize housing in Vermont’s downtown areas, while helping renters and property owners who are most in need of assistance, according to the state.

The program, funded using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, will invest a total of $5 million into the state’s aging housing stock. VHIP will provide grants of up to $30,000 per unit with a 20% funding match required to bring code non-compliant units back into habitability. This round of grants is dedicated to units serving renters who are exiting homelessness, officials said.

“In addition to building new housing, VHIP will be critical for bringing housing that has fallen into disrepair back online, helping to provide more housing for the workforce, lifting people out of homelessness, and aiding in the transformational change we are seeking to create stronger communities,” said Gov. Phil Scott in a Wednesday statement.

Scott joined the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development and other statewide partners in launching the program. 

“Throughout the course of the pandemic many businesses received financial assistance, but one of the populations that has been overlooked is the mom-and-pop landlords across the state,” said Josh Hanford, the state’s commissioner of housing and community development. “We designed this program for the long run with the success of the landlord and the tenant in mind. With this program, you are creating permanent housing and improving neighborhoods.”

Shaun Gilpin, director of the state government’s housing division, said a major goal is to address the needs of the most vulnerable Vermonters.

“We have been working with Vermont’s five homeownership centers to create a new program that is based on successful models and improves upon past efforts to bring more housing on-line,” Gilpin said. 

VHIP partners include Champlain Housing Trust, Rural Edge, Downstreet Housing and Community Development, Windham and Windsor Housing Trust, and Neighborworks of Western Vermont.

For more information, click here.

— Gareth Henderson

Wassail Weekend returning to Woodstock

Mike Johnson (left) and Rob Tracy lead a team of horses in a prior Wassail Parade in Woodstock, Vt. Click here for the 2021 Wassail Weekend schedule. (Photo Provided)

Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend is back this year, including its famous Wassail Parade in the village this coming Saturday. 

A host of festivities will take place Friday through Sunday, Dec. 10-12, with the parade starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday as usual. The parade includes 35 entries and starts at the East End, heads downtown, and circles The Green with the crowds looking on. For another transportation option, a free shuttle bus will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, going from Woodstock Union High School to the Welcome Center in the village.

Wassail Weekend didn’t happen last year due to the pandemic, and a virtual parade was held online. People can’t wait to see the real thing again and take part in a festive weekend of holiday fun, said Beth Finlayson, executive director of the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce. And, visitors have been planning on this for some time. 

“Everyone’s so excited,” Finlayson said. “People have had their reservations for months.” 

She also received multiple calls from people wanting to make sure the traditional parade was back on.

“The people in the parade do such a great job, dressing up both themselves and their horses,” Finlayson said. 

On Friday to start things off, Billings Farm & Museum is holding its annual “Christmas at the Farm” activities throughout the day and weekend. Pentangle Arts gets the season’s music going on Friday night, with a concert by “Irish Christmas in America” starting at 7:30 p.m. 

There are several new things in the festivities this year. Phil Warren will be giving horse-drawn carriage rides around Woodstock Village, starting at People’s United Bank, on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additionally, the Chamber is holding its first-ever Gingerbread contest, with winners being announced Saturday. Also on Saturday, Artistree will offer Drop-In Ornament Making from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be a craft fair at the Masonic Lodge in Woodstock Village on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Some refreshments will be available on The Green as well. Vicki Ferentinos and Shannon Lee will offer some festive treats, with their set-up adorned by a six-foot tall Nutcracker they built. Also, the Chamber will be serving Wassail punch and the WUHS Hockey Team will offer hot chocolate and coffee.

On Saturday at 4 p.m., Woodstock Rotary continues its cherished tradition of brightening The Green with 400 luminaries for the evening. 

For some, this will be their first Wassail Weekend in Woodstock, and that includes Alex Beram and his family. He and his wife, Christy, purchased The Village Butcher earlier this year. He’ll be part of what’s historically been a bustling downtown during the second weekend in December, with shoppers and diners heading around to various businesses. 

“Being new to the community, I’ve  been so impressed with the events and the organization, just the way that the town and the whole community come together,” Alex said, saying of Wassail: “It should be a great couple of days, and we’re excited to be part of it.” 

For the full schedule of Wassail Weekend events, click here for details. To reach the Chamber of Commerce, call 802-457-3555 or send an email to info@woodstockvt.com.

— Gareth Henderson

Lt. Gov. Molly Gray running for U.S. House

The U.S. and Vermont flags flying in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

Vermont’s lieutenant governor has kicked off her campaign for the U.S. House. 

Lt. Gov. Molly Gray (D) announced her candidacy on Monday, about a week after U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) confirmed that he was running for the Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who is not seeking reelection next year. If elected to the U.S. House, Gray would become the first woman to represent Vermont in Congress.

Gray, a native Vermonter, was sworn in as Vermont’s 82nd lieutenant governor in January 2020. In an interview with WCAX this week, Gray said she understands the issues facing Vermonters, which include a lack of affordable housing and the need for affordable health care and child care.

“I have the experience not only to be ready on day-one, to get an office open and off the ground and to get to work for Vermonters, but I have a deep understanding of the needs of our state, and I’ve served as lieutenant governor and I’ll continue to serve throughout the rest of my term,” Gray told WCAX on Monday. 

Gray, 37, is a former assistant attorney general for the state, and she grew up on her family’s farm in Newbury, Vermont. She attended college at the University of Vermont. After graduating from UVM, she helped elect Welch to Congress and worked for him as a Congressional aide in Washington, D.C. Gray would later spend three years working for the Red Cross engaging the U.S. on humanitarian issues. 

Her strong interest in human rights followed Gray back to her home state, where she attended Vermont Law School. She later helped launch the International Code of Conduct Association, the first global initiative mandated to oversee the human rights compliance of private security contractors.

Mike Smith to retire from agency leadership role

Following a long career in state government, Secretary Mike Smith will retire from the top job at the Vermont Agency of Human Services at the end of the year. 

This will cap Smith’s second stint leading the state’s largest agency. Over the past two years, Smith has been a central figure in the state’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic — including overseeing the state’s vaccination efforts. He was appointed to the agency’s secretary role in late 2019, coming out of retirement to take the familiar job. 

“I don’t think he knew what he was getting himself into, because within a month the pandemic began,” Gov. Phil Scott said at his regular Tuesday press conference. “I think back on how fortunate we were that his wife, Mary, allowed him to come back, because without him, I’m not sure we would have led the nation in so many categories, from testing, to vaccination and beyond.” 

At Tuesday’s briefing, Smith thanked the governor, his voice breaking with emotion as he offered the following words:

“As a former Navy SEAL, the height of compliment in leadership is when you say that you would go into battle with someone, and I would go into battle any day with the governor,” Smith said. 

In a Monday announcement from Scott’s office, Smith said though the pandemic kept him in his current role longer than expected, it was still tough to leave the job. 

“There will never be a good time to leave. When I told the Governor of my intention to retire this summer, I thought we would be well on our way toward the endemic phase of this public health crisis,” Smith said in the statement. “The Delta variant has made our jobs a bit more difficult, but nonetheless, we have testing and vaccination programs that are the envy of the rest of the country and we have protected many Vermonters from the more serious outcomes of this virus. … I am very proud of the work that the Agency has accomplished over the last two years, and I am confident the Agency will continue to thrive.”

Smith, who grew up in Woodstock, Vermont, served in the U.S. Navy, first with the Underwater Demolition Team 21 and then as a member of SEAL Team Two. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1977-78 and as deputy state treasurer from 1995-99. Smith also served as the secretary of the Agency of Administration and secretary of the Agency of Human Services in the administration of Gov. Jim Douglas.

Deputy Human Services Secretary Jenney Samuelson, who has played a key role in the state’s COVID-19 response, will serve as interim secretary following Smith’s departure.

In addition to its role in the pandemic response, the Agency of Human Services oversees six state departments (including the Department of Health), 12 district offices, and a network of community partners and providers.

— Gareth Henderson

New aid arriving for water infrastructure upgrades

A view along Route 4 in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont will receive $63,041,000 in funding for drinking water systems and wastewater treatment as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

The bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden late last month, and  U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Gov. Phil Scott (R) announced the new funding on Thursday. This money will go into the state’s revolving loan funds for drinking water and wastewater. Those funds are loaned or granted to municipalities for constructing, improving or expanding public drinking water and wastewater systems. This funding is in addition to the state’s annual allocation of approximately $15.8 million for the revolving loan funds, bringing the total federal funding for 2022 to nearly $80 million, according to Thursday’s announcement. 

In the statement, Scott said these historic investments in this infrastructure offer a unique opportunity for Vermont towns and cities, including during their long-term economic recovery from the pandemic. 

“My administration has made these kinds of investments a top priority, and because of (our Congressional Delegation’s) work, we will be able to have a huge impact on communities in all 14 counties, helping them build back more prosperous and resilient,” Scott said. 

Leahy, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, also noted the importance to local economies. 

“We all know Vermont needs more housing of all types, but one of the barriers to building that housing has long been a lack of sufficient water and wastewater infrastructure,” he said. “Vermonters across the state have expressed a desire for vibrant, walkable downtowns, where people can step outside their doors and walk to local businesses. Realizing that vision requires precisely the infrastructure that these investments will fund.”

Vt. brownfield clean-up investment moves forward

More than $7 million of the $25 million appropriated for brownfield site remediation has been committed to 10 projects across Vermont, state officials announced in a Friday statement.

The funding was previously announced by Gov. Phil Scott as part of Act 74 and represents the first-time state dollars have been allocated to brownfield sites, officials said. Historically, remediation projects have been funded exclusively by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. On Friday, the governor said the impact of the funding “will be transformational for Vermont communities” from economic and environmental standpoints.

Act 74 appropriated $11 million to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development; $10 million of which makes up the Brownfields Revitalization Fund used to fund clean-up projects at brownfield sites that can show transformational economic development outcomes, Friday’s announcement stated.

The Act also appropriated $14 million to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) to help with the remediation of sites enrolled in the state’s Brownfield Economic Revitalization Alliance (BERA). These BERA projects represent some of the most costly and complicated clean-ups in Vermont. To date, ANR has committed $4.5 million of those dollars to two projects: the former Fonda Container Company site in St. Albans and the Jones and Lamson site in Springfield.

— Gareth Henderson

Local broadband network gets huge funding boost

Utility lines along the edge of a field off Cox District Road in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

A local organization that’s been growing its broadband network in central Vermont for over a decade is getting a major funding boost to help its expansion.

ECFiber, a municipal organization operating in east-central Vermont, has secured $11.8 million in funding. That number includes $9 million from municipal bonds and $2.8 million in grant money through the Vermont Community Broadband Board. The majority of the bond money will fund construction of lines in Norwich, Woodstock, Wilder, White River Junction and Quechee, according to an ECFiber press release on Wednesday. Funding from the statewide Broadband Board will pay for expanding ECFiber’s network into eight new towns, which are Topsham, Newbury, Washington, Corinth, Bradford, West Fairlee, Fairlee, and Windsor.

Formed in 2008, ECFiber is a Vermont municipality akin to a water district and consists of 31 member towns, according to the funding announcement. Officially known as the East Central Vermont Telecommunications District, it has no taxing powers and has — since its transition to a communications union district in 2016 — been funded mainly by municipal bonds backed by customer payments for service, ECFiber officials said in the statement. 

“We are the model for how to make world-class broadband available to every home and business on the grid in rural Vermont, infrastructure that is essential to social and economic well-being,” said Board Chair F. X. Flinn. “Investors have shown their appreciation for the work we are doing by paying a premium for our existing debt and competing for our new debt. That said, we will continue to pursue the new grant funding aggressively as we go all out to complete the network.”

Federal money coming to help health care sector

Many Vermont health care providers are seeing an influx of federal cash to help weather the pandemic. 

This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began distributing nearly $46 million to 143 of Vermont’s rural medical providers and suppliers serving Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare beneficiaries. 

Awarded under the American Rescue Plan, this funding will provide much-needed relief for Vermont’s rural health care providers, who have struggled under the financial and operational challenges of the pandemic, according to a press release. Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch played a key role in securing this funding for Vermont, the announcement said. 

This money is part of $7.5 billion in American Rescue Plan Rural payments being distributed nationwide. For more information about the funding, click here.

— Gareth Henderson