State announces tax credits for rehab, revitalization downtown projects
SOUTHERN VERMONT - Gov. Phil Scott announced on Thursday, September 30, funding to support 28 rehabilitation and revitalization projects in 22 designated downtown and village centers, including projects in Bennington, Brattleboro, and Guilford.
In 2021, $3.6 million in tax credits will offset the costs of major investments to projects. Statewide, these awards will help generate over $83 million in building improvements and public infrastructure to support local businesses, create new housing opportunities, and incentivize investments that will improve the resiliency and vitality of Vermont’s community centers.
In Bennington, $195,000 in tax credits will be awarded to transform the former Bennington High School, at 650 Main Street, into a community center with recreation and arts programs and local businesses, and to adapt former classrooms into 24 new housing units. Built in 1913, the building was closed in 2004 and has been idle for the past 16 years. For more information contact Christopher Gilbert at (845) 464-7520 or cpg7520@gmail.com.
In Brattleboro, $577,100 in tax credits will be awarded to rehabilitate the Emerson-DeWitt Building, at 47 Flat Street, for 19 housing units and a shared office space. Work will include window restoration, installation of a new elevator and egress stairs, asbestos and brownfield remediation, new roofing, utility and sprinkler systems. Formerly a warehouse, the building has been vacant and partially boarded up for nearly a decade. For more information contact Martha Ratcliffe at (802) 246-1634 or mratcliffe@msdevelopmentllc.com.
Last, in Guilford, $30,106 in tax credits will be awarded to help the Guilford Free Library, at 4024 Guilford Center Road, embark on a project to construct a small and historically-sensitive addition to its tiny, but heavily-utilized public library, as well as help fund installation of a new elevator. The addition will allow the building to provide ADA-compliant access for all patrons. For more information contact Isaac Wagner at (802) 579-2363 or piwagner@comcast.net.
For more information and a list of projects visit https://accd.vermont.gov.