Better Places program supports community-led projects

VERMONT - Better Places is a community matching grant program empowering Vermonters to create inclusive and vibrant public places serving Vermont’s designated downtowns, village centers, new town centers or neighborhood development areas.
The program is led by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development in partnership with the Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Community Foundation, and Patronicity. The program supports community-led projects that create, revitalize or activate community gathering areas that bring people together to build welcoming and thriving places across Vermont. It provides one-on-one project coaching, local fundraising support, and matching grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000.
In December 2020 the Better Places pilot program was launched and the state’s program partners invested $130,000 into eight collaborative projects around the state, including $18,000 for Wilmington’s Beaver Street Art Project. With the success of the pilot program, the Vermont Legislature allocated $1.5 million for the formal launch of this program.
To learn more about the Better Places program visit accd.vermont.gov/community-development/funding-incentives/better-places.