Small Business Solutions

Elected and community leaders are addressing the housing crisis in Vermont Wednesday. Gov. Phil Scott announced a new round of community development block grants to fund affordable housing and other projects. He says the state needs about 6,800 units to bring the housing stock back to a healthy level. “This round of funding will bring over $2 million to projects across the state. Without it, many projects wouldn’t have the financial resources to get started at all through the program. Housing units in Rutland and Castleton will be renovated and redeveloped, bringing more affordable homes online, which we desperately need to keep and attract more workers,” Scott said. The governor met with local leaders at a vacant building on Park Street in Rutland, where some of the grant money will be used to turn it into affordable housing. Mary Cohen, executive director of Housing Trust of Rutland County, says they are hoping to begin the project in 2025 and expect it to be available in 2026. There are two additional projects also in the works in West Rutland and on Forest Street. That, totally, will bring about 80 units to the community in the next 24 months. That is super exciting, Cohen said. In total, the Housing Trust has received a roughly $500,000 block grant to fund its projects.Rutland City Mayor Mike Doenges says affordable housing is essential for the community and that the grants will help. However, building efforts will still require patience.”There’s a lot of standards that have to be met, and that’s great. That means that we’re providing good quality housing at an affordable rate, Doenges said. But in order for that to happen, government participation in the form of grant money and funding is always a great way to kick-start projects and get them going.”The block grants are also funding housing projects in Castleton and Underhill. Other communities are receiving grants to fund infrastructure improvements and services for residents.