FY24 Appropriations

In order to make the federal funding process more responsive to the needs of the American people, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee accepted requests from Members of Congress for Community Project Funding for Fiscal Year 2024. Members of Congress may submit up to 15 projects by non-profit and government entities. 

Final determinations on funding are subject to enactment of an FY24 appropriations bill. Members cannot guarantee which, if any, projects are funded, nor at what funding level. 

I am grateful to have received so many wonderful proposals for projects across Vermont. Below are details of the projects that I submitted, listed in alphabetical order. In compliance with House and Committee rules, I have certified that neither I nor my immediate family has any financial interests in any of the projects I submitted.

Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless – Emergency Family Shelter Capacity Expansion - $500,000

The funds will enable Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless to purchase a new building to serve as a family emergency shelter. The new building will replace a low barrier shelter that BCHH had to close after 20 years of operation due to the need for lead paint remediation and exorbitant building repairs. The need has never been greater in Bennington County, with waiting lists at both shelters resulting in turning away individuals and families every day.

Canaan Naturally Connected – Canaan Gathering Place – $125,000

Canaan Naturally Connected is creating a gathering place for people in the area with the goal of empowering them to shape the future of the community by improving local decision-making, creating a shared sense of belonging, and strengthening the social, cultural, and economic environment of the town and area. The funding would be used to bring the historic Episcopal Church building in Canaan into ADA compliance by adding a ramp and enhancing the bathroom facilities as well as upgrading the wiring, plumbing, kitchen, lighting, parking and security areas.

Carlos G. Otis Health Care Center, Inc. dba Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital – Primary Care Medical Office Building – $1,500,000

The funding would contribute to a new clinic building to improve patient care for the residents of 25 towns in Windham County, VT, and beyond who rely on Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital for primary and mental health care. The new clinic building at the north end of the current facility will replace an aging 19^th century facility and allow Grace Cottage to deliver “best practice” primary care in a facility that is highly functional, energy-efficient, safe, comfortable, and well-organized.

Champlain Housing Trust - Bay Ridge Neighborhood Development - $1,000,000

The Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) will use the funds to redevelop the site of Harbor Place in Shelburne, VT from a transitional housing motel with 59 short-term rooms to a new mixed-income and mixed-tenancy neighborhood in one of Vermont’s wealthiest communities. Ten new buildings will include 68 rental apartments (serving households with incomes at or below 30-80% AMI) and 26 shared equity condominiums for sale to households at or below 100% AMI. An essential feature of Bay Ridge is its unit mix favoring large apartments and condos to address the desperate need in Chittenden County for homes for large families.

City of Burlington – Burlington High School-Burlington Technical Center Campus Stormwater Treatment – $1,500,000

The funding will be used to create stormwater treatment at the site of the new Burlington High School/Burlington Technical Center campus. BHS/BTC is Burlington’s only secondary school; together they serve one of the state's largest and most diverse high school student populations—many of whom are from low-income families in Burlington and the surrounding region. The buildings have been closed since August of 2020 when PCBs were discovered at levels that exceeded Vermont standards.

City of South Burlington – Bartlett Bay Wastewater Facility Energy Efficiency Improvements – $700,000

The funding will be used to reduce the overall carbon footprint as part of the current upgrade of the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) in South Burlington. The facility was last upgraded over 20 years ago and will undergo a refurbishment over the next 1-3 years. This funding will be used to replace existing, conventional, fossil-fuel powered heating systems with efficient heat pump units which can reduce the heating system’s carbon footprint by 25%. In addition, modern heat pumps can reduce electricity used for heating by approximately 50% compared to electric resistance heating. An energy efficient heating system will help keep wastewater rates low for rate payers, reduce the plant's carbon footprint, and support a clean energy future.

East Berkshire Fire District #1 – Water Source – $500,000

The project will discover and connect a new clean drinking water source to provide sufficient capacity for the individuals served by the East Berkshire Fire District #1 village water system. This project is a requirement for the Fire District to be compliant with regulations.

North East Kingdom Community Action Inc. – Family Wellness and Economic Empowerment Campus – $1,485,000

This project seeks to acquire and renovate property in St Johnsbury to serve the needs of Northeast Kingdom residents, creating efficiencies within the NEKCA organization and improving service delivery and privacy for clients. NEKCA’s current facility does not work well for its needs, and the organization seeks a facility that better accommodates its programs and services. The facility will house administrative offices, family, financial literacy, emergency and transitional housing programs, workforce development, economic equity, homelessness prevention, Head Start, and essential services programming such as the food shelf. NECKA has identified a site and executed a Purchase Option Agreement. The organization is already engaged in significant pre-development work and has secured funding for pre-development costs.

Norwich University Applied Research Institutes - Operational Technology Advanced Cyber Architecture - $250,000

The Norwich University Applied Research Institutes (NUARI) develops new technologies, education and training, and provides services to commercial and government organizations in the cybersecurity industry. Through a partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NUARI will use the funds to conduct research, design, and create a new concept that involves a zero-trust architecture with embedded and anticipatory security functions, for a variety of legacy industrial control systems, impacting information and operational technology (IT/OT) processes, people, and performance.

Royalton Fire District #1 – South Royalton Rescue Squad Crew Quarters and Ambulance Garage – $648,887.25

The funds will be used to build a two-bay garage for rescue squad vehicles. Immediately next to the garage there will be crew quarters with sleeping rooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, office, storage space, and meeting/training rooms.

Rutland Housing Authority – Templewood Court Housing Preservation Project - $650,000

The Templewood Court Housing Preservation Project will provide mandated electrical upgrades to 10 buildings serving over 60 low-income elderly and disabled individuals. In addition to addressing safety and code issues, the project will position the Rutland Housing Authority to pursue short- and long-term energy efficient measures including heat pumps and EV chargers. 

Town of Bennington – Bennington High School Redevelopment - $1,000,000

This funding will support the redevelopment of Bennington High School, which has been vacant since 2004. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and was built in 1913 with additions in the 1950’s and 1970’s. It has 100,000 square feet of space and is a prominent structure on Main Street within Bennington’s designated downtown. In addition to restoring a historic building, the project will create much needed housing as well as new space for essential community services, such as the Town’s Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, a Town recreation center, and an early childcare center. The Town of Bennington will help fund the renovations and will become an anchor tenant in community spaces not otherwise suitable for housing. 

Town of North Hero – New Elevated Water Storage Tank – $1,000,000

North Hero will use the funds to construct an elevated water storage tank that will provide a backup water source to areas south of the village and eliminate any disruption of service during future breaks and necessary repairs. North Hero has recently experienced multiple pipe failures involving the original 8-inch waterline installed more than 25 years ago along US Route 2. Repair (and the eventual replacement) of the line necessitates shutting down the line for all points south of the elementary school—including the village. As the water treatment plant is located at the very northernly end of the distribution system, there is currently limited redundancy to serve the water customers located at the southernly end of the service area when a leak occurs. This project will address that issue.

Turning Point Center of Central Vermont – Recovery Center Renovation - $400,000

This funding will support the development of a model addiction recovery center serving all of central Vermont. In doing so, it will also restore and revitalize a historic building in downtown Barre. This project is supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders in central Vermont.