Leahy-Authored Farm Bill Provision Nets Northeast Kingdom $22 M. In Economic Development Investments

U.S. SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY

CONTACT: Office of Senator Leahy, 202-224-4242

VERMONT

Leahy-Authored Farm Bill Provision
Nets Northeast Kingdom $22 M.
In Economic Development Investments

. . . Leahy Announces Additional $600,000 Federal Investment In Hardwick

HARDWICK, Vt. (Wednesday, Oct. 15) – A provision of the 2008 Farm Bill authored by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy and passed by Congress earlier this year has helped Northeast Kingdom communities receive more than $22 million in United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD) funding this year. Leahy told attendees at a Wednesday news conference in Hardwick that he extended the Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zone designation for the Northeast Kingdom -- Caledonia, Essex and Orleans County -- until 2013. The designation gives communities, nonprofit organizations and businesses preference when applying for USDA-RD funds.

“The residents of the Northeast Kingdom have helped to ensure that the natural beauty and celebrated culture of rural Vermont also translates into a strong rural economy,” said Leahy. “When Congress writes farm bills, we do more than shape agricultural policy, we also help to shape rural America’s economic and social well-being. This designation is intended to help communities in Caledonia, Essex and Orleans Counties leverage their rural character into long-term economic growth through increased federal investments.”

Leahy, and then-Senator Jim Jeffords, incorporated the Northeast Kingdom into a REAP Zone in 2000 making it only one of five REAP Zones nationwide. The designation allows USDA-RD officials to give preference to grant applications that would benefit communities, organizations and businesses within the REAP Zone. Leahy has renewed this designation twice: once in the 2002 Farm Bill and again this year in the 2008 Farm Bill. Since 2000, this designation has brought more than $80 million to the communities of the Northeast Kingdom.

“In the Northeast Kingdom, Rural Development investments help to build partnerships and leverage other public and private resources,” said USDA-RD NH/Vt. State Director Jolinda LaClair. “We see real outcomes — affordable houses, critical infrastructure, jobs and key ingredients for a healthy community. RD staff could not be more proud – we know connecting our assets makes a difference.”

During Wednesday’s press conference, Leahy and LaClair presented 20 federal grants, loans and loan guarantees totaling $22,893,429 to Vermont communities, nonprofit housing providers, businesses and community development organizations. [A complete listing of recipients follows, below.]

In addition to the USDA-RD grants Leahy announced Wednesday, he also presented two separate federal grants that will be used to enhance community development in and around Hardwick. Leahy presented the Town of Hardwick with a $492,000 grant to improve its water distribution system. Following the 2005 fire that gutted the Bemis Block, Hardwick officials told Leahy they must improve the water system to ensure the town can both fight fire and have a safe and adequate supply of drinking water. Leahy also announced that Northern Enterprises Inc. has received a $100,000 federal grant to be used to design and build an incubator kitchen in the Hardwick Industrial Park. These funds are in addition to a $500,000 USDA-RD grant announced at the news conference.

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Northern Enterprises, Inc.

$500,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to create a kitchen incubator in Hardwick

Nulhegan Gateway

$ 154,637 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to create a training program to promote Geotourism in the region.

Northern Community Investment Corporation

$750,000 Intermediary Relending Program Loan to recapitalize an existing lending program.

Northern Community Investment Corporation

$200,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to provide energy analyses and efficiency recommendations to businesses.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association

$91,875 Rural Business Opportunity Grant to fund a position of economic development coordinator who will partner with Lyndon State College and the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative to enhance the Collaborative.

Northeast Employment and Training Organization

$50,000 Housing Preservation Grant to provide grants to 13 very low-income residents in the Northeast Kingdom for essential home repairs.

Gilman Housing Trust, Inc.

$ 50,940 Housing Preservation Grant

Town of St. Johnsbury

$3,360,000 Water and Environmental Program Grant

$2,240,000 Water and Environmental Program Loan

Town of Glover

$ 560,000 Water and Environmental Program Grant

$ 683,000 Water and Environmental Program Loan

To connect the West Glover residential area to the Barton sewer system.

Village of Lyndonville

$ 186,000 Water and Environmental Program Grant

$ 159,000 Water and Environmental Program Loan

To replace water lines in Lyndonville Village.

Town of Troy (announced August 2008)

$ 522,300 Water and Environmental Program Grant

$ 638,000 Water and Environmental Program Loan.

Town of Jay (announced August 2008)

$3,207,900 Water and Environmental Program Grant

$3,920,000 Water and Environmental Program Loan

Chaput Family Farms

$458,147 Renewable Energy Systems Grant

$458,147 Renewable Energy Systems Loan Guarantee

To construct a 278 kW anaerobic methane digester.

Drury L. Vinton

$4,044 Energy Efficiency Improvement Grant

To install energy efficient lighting equipment at South Main Auto Repair Shop in St. Johnsbury.

Unified Towns and Gores

$ 62,000 Community Facility Grant

$143,500 Community Facility Loan

Provide for the construction of consolidated local government offices for the towns of Averill, Ferdinand, Lewis, Warner’s Grant, Avery’s and Warren’s Gore.

Sheffield/Wheelock Fire Department

$ 42,000 Community Facility Grant

$ 88,000 Community Facility Loan

Funds will be used to purchase a used fire truck, incident support vehicle and equipment.

Northeast Kingdom Community Action

$ 30,000 Community Facilities Grant

$ 70,000 Community Facilities Loan

To purchase a facility in Canaan to supply services to low-income and disadvantaged residents of Essex County.

Holland Elementary School District

$ 24,754 Community Facility Grant

To build a new playground at the Holland School.

Town of Brighton

$ 8,000 Community Facility Grant

$11,620 Community Facility Loan

North Country Chamber of Commerce

$ 8,000 Community Facility Grant

To furnish the new welcome center in Newport.

Gilman Housing Trust, Inc.

$ 316,000 Community Facilities Loan Guarantee

To purchase a new operations center in Lyndonville to house the Gilman Property Management and the Neighborworks Home Ownership Center.

In addition to these funds, USDA Rural Development provided over $3.8 million to help Northeast Kingdom families
purchase or repair their homes.