Governor Phil Scott Announces Brownfield Revitalization Fund Investments

Montpelier, Vt. - Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Economic Development announced today that the State Brownfields Revitalization Fund (BRF) State Program is investing $3.51 million to clean six properties in Bennington, Rutland, St. Johnsbury, Williston, and Montpelier.

The BRF promotes the productive reuse of sites that are currently abandoned or not fully utilized due to contamination on the site. By providing financial assistance to clean up these sites, the program has enabled meaningful housing development while advancing environmental stewardship, community investment, and economic growth.

Since the program opened in October 2021, $23 million in cleanup funding has been awarded to 46 projects in 11 counties. The projects combined are anticipated to clean up more than 96 contaminated acres and create 993 jobs and 745 units of housing.

"Cleaning up contaminated sites and which can be used for housing and economic opportunities is a win-win," said Governor Phil Scott. "Many of the projects we're announcing today will generate more housing which we desperately need as well as revitalize communities."

"These investments directly enable the creation of new housing across Vermont, which the business community has made clear is vital," said Economic Development Commissioner Lyle Jepson. "Every dollar invested in remediation has a ripple effect that ultimately supports business growth, which in turn strengthens the programs and services that benefit all Vermonters."

The newly awarded projects are:

Cornerstone Housing Partners

• Location: Rutland, Rutland County
• Award: $596,205.00
• Purpose: Convert existing structures and develop vacant property into housing units.
• Anticipated outputs: Preserves 9 affordable units while creating 14 new affordable units across multiple sites. 1.11 acres remediated

Caledonia Food Cooperative, Inc.

• Location: St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County
• Award: $73,897.00
• Purpose: Redevelopment of a former pharmacy into a locally owned food cooperative grocery store.
• Anticipated outputs: Will repurpose an unused building in the downtown and create 31 jobs. 0.74 acres remediated.

South Brownell Corner LLC

• Location: Williston, Chittenden County
• Award: $72,000.00
• Purpose: Development of a vacant lot into mixed-use commercial/health care space and housing units.
• Anticipated outputs: Will bring 9 housing units online with half targeting the "missing middle," and will create 10 jobs. 0.71 acres remediated.

Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District

• Location: Montpelier, Washington County
• Award: $63,000.00
• Purpose: Redevelopment of an unused property into a specialized facility to manage landfill-banned and dangerous waste materials.
• Anticipated outputs: Will create 3 jobs and, by relocating the administrative offices, create 2 housing units.

JMS 757 MAIN LLC

• Location: Bennington, Bennington County
• Award: $1,209,415.50
• Purpose: Rehabilitation of a former mill/machine shop that will create additional housing units.
• Anticipated outputs: Will bring 30 housing units online with half targeting the "missing middle," including employees of area businesses with the anticipation of filling 75 job vacancies. 1.37 acres remediated.

Center & Wales LLC

• Location: Rutland, Rutland County
• Award: $1,500,000
• Purpose: Construction of an infill, mixed-use building combining both housing units and a hotel on a site devasted by a fire more than 50 years ago.
• Anticipated outputs: Will bring 26 much-needed housing units online while helping to continue revitalization efforts in Rutland's downtown by adding 100 hotel rooms, which will create 25 jobs. 0.89 acres remediated.

A complete list of BRF awards is available on the Brownfields Revitalization Fund website page . The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation is an important partner in brownfield remediation, providing expertise and technical assistance for the redevelopment of contaminated properties.

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