Leahy $250,000 Grant For Downtown Renovation In Wells River Wins Final Approval

August 10, 1999

(August 10) -- A $250,000 grant secured by Sen. Patrick Leahy to help renovate downtown Wells River has won final approval from the federal housing department.

In last year's funding bill for the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Leahy included $250,000 to renovate some of the downtown buildings and set up a revolving loan fund for downtown business needs. Before those funds could be allocated, Wells River needed to submit an application for the project to HUD. That application has just now been approved by the housing department.

"These funds should be a real boost to the impressive revitalization projects Wells River has already undertaken," said Leahy, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "This kind of targeted federal aid can be critical to keeping Vermont's downtowns strong and stable. These funds are well deserved and I know will be well spent."

Some possible ideas under consideration for the $250,000 grant include:

1) help renovating the Performance Seminar Building (including remodeling the building so the Post Office could move in) ;

2) help renovating the Old Village hall;

3) help modernizing the Heritage Building for commercial use, and;

4) setting up a revolving loan fund for downtown business needs.

Local Contact: Al Stevens, Chairman, Wells River Trustees -- 757-3401 # # # # #