Contact: Joss Besse (802) 828-5212 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (802) 828-5212      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (802) 828-5212 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

December 28, 2010

State Announces $417,660 In Municipal Planning Grants

46 Municipalities Will Share funding For Planning Projects

MONTPELIER, VT. – The state has awarded more than $417,000 in Municipal Planning Grants to forty five communities across the state to help them plan for growth and development.

Officials at the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development announced the Municipal Planning Grants of up to $15,000, which can be used for a variety of planning projects.

“These grants support the planning activities that are at the heart of Vermont’s Smart Growth strategy,” said Tayt Brooks, Commissioner of the Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development. “While the budget crisis has curtailed the amount available, these investments will help promote economic activity, community development, and housing in our downtowns and village centers, while protecting Vermont’s working landscape.”

The Municipal and Regional Planning Fund was first established in 1988 as a way to support municipal planning and development. The program offers grants of up to $15,000 through a competitive process. Municipalities were funded to support updating town plans, zoning bylaws, and capital improvement plans, as well as special planning projects relating to downtown and village revitalization, growth center planning and economic development planning efforts.

“The program priorities were established through a municipal survey, which indicated a strong interest in supporting downtown, village center, and growth centers,” said Brooks. “The awards also reflect an increased focus on municipal infrastructure, which the survey indicated was a strong concern in our communities.”

Communities have 18 months to complete their planning projects.

For more about the Municipal Planning Grant site please visit: www.dhca.state.vt.us/Planning/MPG.htm

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October 27, 2010

Contacts:

State of Vermont: Ali Sarafzade

Education Vermont USA: Dr. James Cross

Shanghai Overseas Affairs Service Center: Miss Wang Wenjun

Vermont Schools Ink Agreement With China

Agreement Will Promote Foreign Studies For Chinese and Vermont Students

MONTPELIER, Vt. – A group of Vermont colleges, universities, and high schools has signed an agreement with a Chinese group to promote the schools to Chinese students seeking to study abroad, as well as opportunities for Vermonters to study there.

Last week, Education Vermont USA, Shanghai Overseas Affairs Service Center, and North American High-Tech Center, signed an International Memorandum of Understanding at the Equatorial Hotel in Shanghai to jointly promote Sino-US cooperation and investment.

“This agreement opens the door for the parties to begin discussing and developing new mutually beneficial projects that link education to economic development in China and Vermont,” said Ali Sarafzade, Director of International Trade at the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development.

This event was part of the trade mission from the State of Vermont led by Governor Jim Douglas. Douglas attended the signing ceremony in support of this initiative to promote educational exchange, investment and business cooperation between China and Vermont.

“It is an honor for me to be here today to participate in this groundbreaking event,” Douglas told the participants. “I wish you well and look forward to supporting your efforts to create opportunities that benefit our respective students, states and countries.”

Education Vermont USA is a consortium of more than 20 colleges, universities and high schools from the State of Vermont. The schools are among the best in United States and offer many options for Chinese students from liberal arts to professional studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The institutions have a shared vision to promote global citizenship and sustainable economic development through international education.

The three-party Sino-US IMOU is intended to promote Vermont’s educational institutions to Chinese students interested in high quality education combined with the opportunity to live and study in a State that values environmentally sustainable economic development. The IMOU is also intended promote opportunities for students at Vermont institutions to study Chinese language, culture, business in China.

Shanghai Overseas Affairs Service Center, a leading overseas affairs company with more than 20 years experience in overseas study and investment, will be aggressively promoting the student exchange.

North American High-Tech Center in both the United States and China can use its influence with American and Chinese industry to promote synergies between industry, academia, research and investment. It will better supplement the traditional knowledge delivery by academic institutions.

“This initiative is a truly unique partnership that promotes both inbound and outbound mobility, includes secondary and postsecondary students, private and public institutions and partners with government and business to support innovation and economic development,” said Education Vermont USA President James Cross, who is also Associate Provost for Education Abroad and Senior International Officer at Champlain College.

Chairman of Shanghai Overseas Affairs Service Center, Mr. Jieming Wang said that the tri-party cooperation between the two countries will increase the demand for U.S. education and investment.

“We will work with our partners, making efforts to promote Vermont’s secondary and higher education,” said Ms. Ying Zhao, Education Promotion Representative from North American High-Tech Center. “Only by encouraging more students to go out and come in, becoming more aware of each other’s culture, society and history, will we help students from both countries know each other better.”

The tri-party partners agreed to provide students with better services and to develop more skills for the global economy.

Education Vermont USA is a consortium of secondary and postsecondary schools, state government, and businesses committed to expanding international education collaboration that helps prepare students to become actively engaged global citizens and leaders.

Member schools are Bennington College; Burlington College; Castleton State College; Community College of Vermont; Champlain College; Green Mountain College; Johnson State College; Lyndon State College; Marlboro College; Middlebury College; New England Culinary Institute Norwich University; St. Michaels College; Sterling College; Southern Vermont College; Vermont Technical College; Vermont Law School; St. Johnsbury Academy; Lyndon Institute; Vermont Academy; The Putney School and the University of Vermont.

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CONTACT: David Mace (802) 828-5229

July 12, 2010

New Act 250 Rule For Archeological Protection Adopted

Revised Rule Clarifies Protection Of Archeological Sites and Historic Resources

MONTPELIER, Vt. – A new rule for protecting archeological and historical sites during development under Act 250 is in place after a legislative panel signed off the changes.

Officials from the Douglas administration said the new rule would maintain the protection of archeological sites while making it easier for applicants to comply with the state’s environmental protection and development control law.

“This new rule should make the process of applying for an Act 250 permit smoother and more predictable for an applicant under the ‘historic sites’ section of Criterion 8,” said Tayt Brooks, Commissioner of Economic, Housing and Community Development, including the Division for Historic Preservation.

Under Act 250, the division makes recommendations to the district environmental commissions on whether a proposed development would impact “historic sites,” including archeological sites.

The new rule clarifies that District Commissions, not the Division, have the final decision-making authority about such questions as whether to require additional field studies, and whether a site is historically significant enough to warrant protecting it.

“The division doesn’t issue permits,” Brooks said. “Our experts provide testimony to the District Commission about historic and archeological resources, and whether or not a project will adversely affect them.”

While the state recommends how much field study should be done to determine whether an area is historically significant and should be protected if a permit is issued, the District Commissions make those decisions

The new rule also clarifies that the definition of a “historic site” includes archeological sites that have not yet been discovered, and encourages applicants to work with the Division as early as possible in the planning process to identify and protect sites, even well before an Act 250 application is submitted.

“We can identify an area as historically significant and recommend to the District Commission that an archeological investigation be conducted by the applicant to ensure no undue adverse effect,” Brooks said. “The applicant can still present evidence to the commission disputing that.”

The new rule also sets additional time limits for reviews to make the process more predictable for permit applicants.

Brooks said the changes reflected the feedback received during five public meetings last summer around the state, and minor changes were made after a hearing before the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, which then recommended approval of the new rule.

Additional details and the final rule are available at www.HistoricVermont.org

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Contact: David Mace (802) 828-5229

February 26, 2010

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The state is making roughly $250,000 in grants available to communities across the state for municipal planning and other special projects.

Officials at the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development announced the Municipal Planning Grants of up to $15,000, which can be used for a variety of planning projects.

“While the budget crisis has curtailed the amount available, we are committed to funding the most urgent planning projects to maintain our commitment to smart growth,” said Tayt Brooks, Commissioner of the Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development.

Through a competitive process, towns can be awarded grants for such planning activities as updating town plans, maps and zoning bylaws; however, Brooks said priority will be given to the following types of projects this year

* Updating municipal bylaws for the purpose of bringing bylaws into conformance with the municipal plan by 2011 as required by law;

* Developing or updating a municipal plan that addresses pressing planning concerns in the community (A recently expired plan or pending expiration of a plan alone will not be considered a priority);

* Studies or activities furthering growth center planning that will help meet requirements for designation and;

* Studies or activities leading to a Vermont Neighborhoods designation application.

As part of Governor Jim Douglas’ E-State Initiative, these grants will now be applied for, approved, and administered on-line, with training on how to apply on-line available on March 23 and April 16 before the April 30 application deadline.

“This is an excellent example of how we are using technology to be more efficient in state government,” Brooks said. “Eliminating the paper involved in applying for and administering grants makes the process faster, less costly, and less time-consuming for both the applicant and our staff.”

The Municipal and Regional Planning Fund was first established in 1988 and funds technical assistance for town planning; zoning bylaws; implementation of town plans; encouragement of citizen participation and education; and innovative demonstration planning projects.

Municipalities may apply for any amount up to $15,000 or $25,000 for multi-town “consortia” projects. Funds for the municipal planning grants are allocated by the Vermont Legislature from revenue generated by the property transfer tax; last year the program had roughly $438,000 to grant.

With no local matching funds required, this is one of the few state grant programs accessible to even the smallest of Vermont municipalities. Communities have 18 months to complete their planning projects.

The application deadline for this program is April 30, 2010 and awards are expected to be made in May. The Municipal Planning Grant site can be accessed at: www.dhca.state.vt.us/Planning/MPG.htm

For additional information or assistance contact Wendy Tudor at: wendy.tudor@state.vt.us or (802) 828-5249.

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The Emergency Board voted today to delay a decision about granting an additional $15 million in incentives for businesses until Jan.22.

Gov. James Douglas said the Vermont Economic Progress Council, which would provide the funding, has received a number of inquiries from companies about government incentives, and the amount requested exceeds the funds now available through the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program.

The existing cap on incentives is $10 million; the Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development recommends raising the limit to $25 million.

“We want to do everything we can for job creation,” Douglas said.

A list of the companies that have requested government money was not made available at the meeting.

Sen. Susan Bartlett, D-Lamoille, a candidate for governor, said the incentives should be seen within the context of the kinds ofperformance-based expectations the state is pursuing in other areas. “I think what we need to do is be clear about what these incentives do.”

The Douglas administration’s push to raise the cap has stirred controversy.

Rep. Michael Obuchowski, D-Rockingham, said the proposal needs to be evaluated under current law. “It brings up the ghosts of VEPC and all the tax incentive ghosts.”

Obuchowski recommended that legislative committees be given more time to consider the matter.

The Emergency Board, which includes Douglas, Obuchowski, Bartlett, Sen.Ann Cummings, D-Washington, and Rep. Martha Heath, D-Westford, will discuss the incentive cap at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 22.

Douglas said it’s important for the board make a decision before the Vermont Economic Progress Council meets at the end of the month.

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