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The Community and Economic
Development Office is a department of the City of Burlington.
We work with the community to foster economic vitality; preserve
and enhance neighborhoods, quality of life and the environment;
and promote equity and opportunity for all residents of Burlington.
In support of our
mission, CEDO works in partnership with citizens, the public and private
sector, and other city departments to:
- strengthen the quality of life in Burlington's neighborhoods;
- preserve and develop decent, safe and
affordable housing opportunities;
- maintain and improve the vitality of
Downtown, the Pine Street area and neighborhood business districts;
- encourage a thriving small business sector;
- foster job growth and employment
opportunities;
- increase civic engagement and citizen
participation;
- support the delivery of human services; and
- revitalize Burlington's waterfront.
CEDO is funded through Federal and State grants,
and through the Housing Trust Fund.
CEDO's departmental purpose is established by the City's Charter:
- Subject to the orders and ordinances of the city
council, the community and economic development office shall
develop and implement a comprehensive community and economic
development strategy.
- In furtherance of its purpose, the community and
economic development office shall, subject to the orders and
ordinances of the city council, have the following rights,
powers and duties:
- To work on behalf of the City to stimulate investment,
and to attract, retain, and encourage the development of both
existing and new economic enterprises.
- To develop, coordinate, implement, and administer economic
and community development strategies and projects for the City.
- To develop, coordinate, implement, and administer a
comprehensive program to address the City's housing needs.
- To develop, coordinate, implement, and administer waterfront
development activities other than those activities which the
Planning Commission and the city council must exercise under the
Vermont Planning and Development Act.
- To recommend to the city council, and to solicit on behalf of
the city council, grants-in-aid funds for the City.
- To administer Community Development Block Grants and Urban
Development Action Grants and to manage such grants-in-aid programs
in accordance with the laws and regulations pertaining thereto.
- To coordinate and facilitate citizen participation in
economic and community development with community organizations,
City commissions, and the Neighborhood Planning Assemblies.
- To do all other things necessary or convenient to carry out
its purposes in accordance with Vermont Statutes Annotated.
CEDO has three divisions: Housing, Economic
Development, and the Center for Community & Neighborhoods (CCAN).
In addition, CEDO has administrative and special
projects staff. CEDO’s Development staff work closely with other
divisions on a variety of development activities throughout the City but
principally focuses in downtown, the waterfront and in the Enterprise
Zone in the South End. CEDO uses a variety of tools in supporting
development. The City’s Brownfield program, Tax Increment Financing,
Renewal Community tax credits, the Burlington Community Development
Corporation, the Downtown Program, and transportation funding are all
utilized. Major redevelopment projects such as new housing, offices,
hotels, retail and industrial expansion are all supported.
CEDO facilitates and prepares housing and
community development related plans such as the
Consolidated Plan,
Affordable Housing Task Force Recommendations, Action Plan and Annual
Updates,
Moving Towards Home
(the City’s 10-Year Plan for Ending
Homelessness), and the Burlington Family Report and Recommendations. CEDO
participates in community planning and assessment initiatives such as
the Fletcher Allen Community Needs Assessment, the recent Substance
Abuse, Racism and Long Term Care Study Circles, the Vermont Agency of
Human Service reorganization, and the University of Vermont Quality of
Life Survey and Genuine Progress Indicator work. CEDO also helps to
develop new ordinances and legislation addressing issues such as
business advertising through greenbelt signs and no cause eviction.
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