Village Designation

Advantages:

  • Village Designation offer tax credits and many incentives.

  • 10% Historic Tax Credits

    ■ Eligible facade work up to $25,000.

    50% Code Improvement Tax Credits

    • Eligible code work includes ADA modifications, electrical or plumbing up to $25,000.
    • 50% Technology Tax Credits

    ■ Available for up to $30,000 for installation or improvements made to data and network installations, and HVAC (heating, cooling or ventilation systems) reasonably related to data or network improvements.

Eligibility

  • Any Vermont town, city (except Burlington), incorporated village chartered to function as a general purpose unit of local government, or a consortium of such entities, is eligible for funding. However, the majority of projects are a coordinated effort between the municipalities, community groups and local or state non-profit organizations or small businesses.

Grant Types

VCDP provides federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for eligible activities through the following application types:

  • Accessibility Modification Grants (AM) (Grant Range: $5,000-$75,000) – Example: Bring municipally-owned buildings and libraries into compliance with state and federal accessibility requirements.
  • Implementation Grants (IG) (Grant Range: $50,000-$1,000,000)  –  Examples: Assist businesses to create or retain jobs, create or rehabilitate housing  units, build infrastructure, create or assist childcare and senior centers etc.
  • Planning Grants (PG) (Grant Range: $3,000-$60,000)  – Examples: Conduct feasibility studies and marketing plans, produce architectural and engineering plans, etc.
  • Scattered Site Grants (SS) (Grant Range: $50,000-$1,000,000) – Example: Rehabilitate scattered site housing projects.

Benefits

The Village Designation program supports the revitalization efforts of small and medium-sized historic centers. The designation brings financial incentives, training and technical assistance needed to attract vitality to Vermont’s smaller communities.

The program was initiated by the Agency of Community Development.

So far Clarendon Heritage, with the assistance of Nicolette Francey Asselin and the Vermont Preservation trust, has applied successfully for the National Registry for the Chapel 1871, applied for State grants and done much research to make this happen. These efforts would not use town tax payers money but government and private grants as well as offer Tax incentive for local land and building owners.

References: Village Designation Program Guidelines