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This year’s Market will feature handcrafts and textiles from Tibet and India, several local jewelry makers, including MK Designs, who make fused glass pieces. Additionally, African jewelry, clothing and bags, photography, greeting cards and magnets will all be available, and you can speak with the owners of ONE Revolution, Burlington’s newest bicycle-based delivery service. Old North End resident and owner of Sweet Basil Cards appreciates the affordable opportunity ONE World Market provides. "I'm trying to expand my greeting card business,” says Humphrey, “so this market gives me a wonderful opportunity to show some different neighbors in the Old North End what I create." The power of selling in a group setting, as part of a larger event, is also a great draw to vendors. “I enjoy selling at ONE World Market where there is a nice group of vendors,” says Lobsang Jinpa, who will be selling textiles and gifts from his native Tibet and adopted homeland India. “I am so happy the event is happening again this year,” says Jinpa. “I only wish the Market would happen more than once per year!” You will find more information about the Ramble at http://www.theramble.org/. The ONE World Market will be held rain or shine. |
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The all new 7th Edition provides all you need to know when starting, relocating and expanding a business in Burlington. This bright green, 36-page guide is an easy to follow, step by step walk through business planning, financing options, regulation and permitting, relocation and expansion, finding commercial space, and lots more. The print version provides a complete listing of City, State and Federal agencies involved in business regulation and taxation, in addition to the plethora of organizations that provide free or low cost assistance to Burlington entrepreneurs.
The publication is free and available at CEDO (City Hall), 149 Church St. Room 32. Also look for the green Business Guide at various municipal offices, Clerk/Treasurer’s, Planning & Zoning, Burlington Electric, Public Works, the Robert Miller Community Center, and Fletcher Free Library (where it is also available for circulation) and various locations on the UVM, Champlain College and St. Michael’s campuses. The document is also available on CEDO’s website at: http://www.cedoburlington.org/business/doing_business_in_burlington/TheGuide.pdf.
Printing and production was made possible through generous sponsorship from Citizen’s Bank, Northfield Savings Bank, Burlington Telecom, NBT Bank, Merritt, Merritt & Moulton, and Burlington International Airport.
Volunteers at Bike Recycle Vermont
Dan Hock, an AmeriCorps VISTA at Bike Recycle Vermont, helps fix up bikes for low-income Vermonters. The work done at Bike Recycle would not be possible if not for the volunteers who come in and give their time. They help give low-income people a chance at independence by providing them with alternative transportation. Dan and his volunteers at Bike Recycle provide insight on how to fix bikes, as well as providing bicycles at affordable rates.
To read more, go to the news story at http://www.wcax.com/global/video.asp?clipId=4695160&autostart=true.
VT EPSCoR Funding Opportunities
VT EPSCoR is pleased to offer two separate funding opportunities for the private sector:
- SBIR Phase (0): Cover:
http://www.uvm.edu/~epscor/pdfFiles/SBIR_Cover_2010-2011.pdf
RFP: http://www.uvm.edu/~epscor/pdfFiles/SBIR_RFP_2010-2011.pdf - Innovation Fund Awards (IF): Cover:
http://www.uvm.edu/~epscor/pdfFiles/2010_IF_Cover.pdf
RFP: http://www.uvm.edu/~epscor/pdfFiles/2010-2011_IF_RFP.pdf
Please read each RFP carefully and note the following changes in this year's solicitations:
- Deadlines for proposals begin in April 2010 - please check each individual RFP for exact date
- Electronic Submission forms now available: http://www.uvm.edu/EPSCoR/index.php?Page=businesses/businesses.inc.php&Opt=Solicitations
- Funding period - August 1, 2010 - April 30, 2011 (9 months)
- Identification of In-Kind Matching Funds are not required; but will be accepted
Electronic Submission forms are available on the web at the above links.
Questions? Contact Lillian Gamache at epscor@uvm.edu or visit us on the web at www.uvm.edu/EPSCoR.
Operation Snow Shovel
Operation Snow Shovel is a referral program that connects residents who need help shoveling with volunteers who are willing to help them out. Assistance is available for Burlington residents who need snow shoveled from their walkways this winter. For more information or to volunteer, click here.
Burlington Awarded $1.3 Million Housing Grant
The State of Vermont has awarded more than $1.3 million to the City of Burlington to purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed homes and convert a New North End building into affordable housing.
In a ceremony at City Hall, Lt. Governor Brian Dubie presented the $1,330,600 Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant, funded by the federal government in response to the mortgage foreclosure crisis that gripped the country last year, to city officials.
“This money will help create new housing as well as preserve much-needed affordable housing,” Dubie said. “And it will help the economy in the short-term by creating jobs for local contractors and others.”
“With this grant, Burlington will be able to convert the tragedy of home foreclosures into opportunities for new low-income families to become homeowners with affordable and stable financing,” Mayor Bob Kiss said. “Our partnership with the Champlain Housing Trust ensures that the homebuyers not only have affordable financing, but also the education and support to sustain their homes for future generations.”
About $1 million of the money will be used to acquire foreclosed single family homes that will be rehabilitated to code standards – including energy efficiency upgrades – and resold to eligible buyers. The purchase price may be discounted in some cases up to 50% of the cost of the acquisition and rehab expenditures to make the homes affordable to households up to 120% of area median income. The subsidy will remain with each of the properties to provide affordable homeownership for years to come. The balance of the grant, $330,600, will be sub-granted to the Cathedral Square Corporation to assist in the redevelopment of the former Thayer School property.
This project aims to transform this large, vacant and under-utilized property in the heart of Burlington's New North End into a mixed-use residential and commercial community providing new affordable rental housing to both seniors and working Vermonters.
Earlier this summer, Governor Jim Douglas announced the state will sell the building, which currently houses a Department of Motor Vehicles office, to Cathedral Square.
“Having the NSP funds allows us to jump-start the creation of 100 new affordable housing units for seniors and low income families on the old Thayer School site on North Avenue,” Kiss said. “This represents an important step in the ongoing efforts to relieve a chronic housing shortage in the Burlington area.”
The state Department of Motor Vehicles now occupies only part of the Thayer School site, which consists of the original 1947 building and an addition put on in 1967. The state acquired the school in 1982 after the city no longer needed it, and it housed both DMV and the Agency of Human Services, which later relocated to other offices in the Burlington area. Cathedral Square intends to demolish a portion of the vacant building and build up to 100 new units of senior affordable housing. The DMV will retain office space through a condominium purchase arrangement while the rest of the property will be a mixture of commercial and retail space.
Late last year the federal government authorized Vermont to distribute $19 million in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds to be used to buy and resell foreclosed homes and to refurbish or even demolish other buildings as part of the response to the mortgage crisis. The state’s plan for distributing the funds called for providing $7 million to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency to buy and re-sell foreclosed homes to low- and moderate-income Vermonters. $3.1 million of the funds were made available to municipalities that were able administer their own such Neighborhood Stabilization plans. $8.9 million has gone to non-profit or private developers for specific projects, with $3 million of the money administered for housing funding by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and $5.9 million administered by the Vermont Community Development Program.
To view the complete plan visit: www.dhca.state.vt.us/VCDP/NSP.html.
FREE EMP CLASSES
The City of Burlington Lead Program will hold Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) Training classes on:
- Wednesday, August 18, 2010 (Class Full) at Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall from 5-9 PM
- Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall from 5-9 PM
Call the Burlington Lead Program to register at 802·865·LEAD (5323) or visit www.leadsafevermont.org.
Information covered in the EMP class includes the requirements of Vermont's lead paint law and related federal regulations, the health effects of lead in children and adults, lead-safe work practices and maintenance procedures, and specialized cleaning techniques and equipment for removing lead-contaminated dust. Vermont Law requires that landlords take the EMP Class. Click here to view a printable PDF version of the EMP Manual. Taking the class also offers further protection from prosecution.
Burlington National Service Launch & Celebration held on September 17th
The National Service Launch and Celebration was held on Thursday, September 17th from 3:00 to 3:45 pm on the City Hall Steps at the Church Street Marketplace. The program included a keynote by Mayor Bob Kiss, members of Vermont’s Commission on National and Community Service, remarks from AmeriCorps Members, Alums, and supervisors, as well as the “swearing in” of our 70 new Members.
The launch and celebration was the culminating event in a 3-day training for the 70 new A*Corps and VISTA members and 20 agency partners who will sponsor them. Mayor Kiss said, “For more than 16 years Burlington has been hard at work fostering volunteer efforts to address issues of poverty using VISTA Volunteers. The addition of ‘these new resources and volunteers provides Burlington with a great opportunity to tackle and solve some of Vermont’s most daunting problems. As of today, we’re on our way.”
A video of the full program is available at: http://www.cctv.org/node/81988.
Resources for Families with Young Children
Have a question - or a crisis - and don't know who to call? Here's a list of resources available in Chittenden County compiled by Building Bright Futures of Chittenden County.
2010 Neighborhood Night of Success Slideshow
This slideshow features individuals who were nominated for Neighborhood Leadership Awards for the 10th Annual Neighborhood Night of Success that was held on March 25, 2010. The people in this slideshow demonstrate the qualities that make Burlington such a special place to live, work and play. They deserve to be recognized for contributing to the beauty of this community.
City of Burlington Support for the Redevelopment of the Banknorth Block
The City of Burlington is excited to commemorate the next phase of a model smart growth project on a key downtown block. With the recent completion of the mixed-use, residential/office building by Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) and Housing Vermont at 88 King Street, we celebrate another milestone of a six-year public-private partnership designed to revitalize the former Howard Bank site. This block is bordered by Main, St. Paul, King and Pine Streets.
The City’s Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) made several key grants and loans that were instrumental in bringing this $10 million project to fruition. In addition to the funding that is detailed below, CEDO staff has spent hundreds of hours providing technical assistance, underwriting and supporting regulatory approvals. The most pivotal aspect of CEDO’s support is an $800,000 loan using HUD Section 108 funds for the development of the offices and the NeighborWorks Homeownership Center. This loan is interest-only so that CHT can leverage $1.4 million in New Markets Tax Credits and reduce debt service for the first 10 years of the project.
“This building is important in several different ways," said Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss. “Housing Vermont and CHT have created new affordable apartments and new commercial space, and kept a significant employer in our downtown, all in a green building. This combination of community development, economic development, and workforce housing in Burlington's downtown deserves recognition as a special project.”
The City provided the following sources of support for this project and for the overall redevelopment of the Banknorth Block:
- $67,375 in grants for pre-development costs from the Burlington Housing Trust Fund going back to 2004
- $378,000 in HOME funds for development costs
- $800,000 Section 108 loan for development of the CHT offices NeighborWorks Homeownership Center counseling and classroom space that will serve hundreds of low and moderate income residents each year.
- $233,000 in CDBG funding for staff costs and housing delivery services related to the development.
- $10,000 grant from Burlington Electric Department for energy efficiency
- Total financial support from the City for the mixed-use project at 88 King Street: $1,488,375
- Collectively CEDO invested over 400 hours of staff time into making this project come to fruition dating back to 2004.
- CEDO provides annual capacity funding to CHT in the approximate amount of $165,000 from CDBG, HOME and the Housing Trust Fund.
- Advocated at Development Review Board in support of meeting the Inclusionary Zoning requirement for the entire Banknorth redevelopment with the development of 17 perpetually affordable rental units at 88 King Street.
- CEDO continues to advocate with the Planning Commission and City Council in support of the zoning changes needed to complete the full build-out of this important downtown property.
Vermont Wins MacArthur Award for Affordable Rental Housing
Thousands of Vermonters who live in affordable rental housing will be able to keep that housing, thanks to a $2.6 million investment by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Vermont’s longstanding commitment to the preservation of rental housing was recognized by the investment of grants and loans by the foundation, which will be used in conjunction with other private and public investment to preserve thousands of apartments over the next decade.
CEDO assisted with this proposal and Burlington's success with preserving Northgate Apartments and other affordable housing units is part of the story that led to this award.
The MacArthur grant and $2.6 million investment in Vermont is described at www.macfound.org/housing/vermont.
Laid off? Have You Thought About Starting A Business In Burlington?
CEDO can help!
Make an appointment to meet with one of our business advisors to talk about your idea. Call 865-7144 or email jadamskollitz@ci.burlington.vt.us.
Check out our Doing Business In Burlington Guide (link to http://www.cedoburlington.org/business/doing_business_in_burlington/TheGuide.pdf. This award-winning booklet is also available at City Hall and a number of other locations around the City. You can also request a copy by calling 865-7187 or e-mailing jadamskollitz@ci.burlington.vt.us.
Climate Action Plan
Concerned about climate change? Interested in working on energy efficiency, sustainability and making Burlington a more livable City? Volunteer to work on one of seven teams re-writing the City's Climate Action Plan. This effort will require 3-4 evening meetings between fall and early winter to brainstorm ideas and recommendations. Dinner will be provided. How to get involved? Visit the Climate Action Plan website and sign up for a topic of interest (http://www.cedo.ci.burlington.vt.us/legacy/cap.html) -- or contact Jennifer Green of the Burlington Legacy Project at Jgreen@ci.burlington.vt.us (865-7532) or Sandrine Thibault (Dept of Planning and Zoning) at Sthibault@ci.burlington.vt.us, 865-7193. Thank you.
FREE Lead Dust and Soil Sampling
Imagine a free service where a technician came to your home and tested for the presence of toxic lead paint dust so that you got a clear picture about the safety of your home.
FREE Lead Dust and Soil Sampling is now available through the City of Burlington’s Lead Program to all Burlington residents. This free service will help parents keep their children safe from lead poisoning by making sure you are aware of potential lead hazards.
Burlington has over 10,000 housing units with lead-based paint hazards. Take advantage of this FREE testing to keep your children safe from the life-long health, social and behavioral problems associated with lead poisoning.
For more information or to set up an appointment, please call the Burlington Lead Program at 802-846-0149 or 865-LEAD (5323).
Purchase a Compost Bin From DPW For a Low Price
While supplies last, SoilSaver compost bins can be purchased at the Department of Public Works for the low cost of $40 plus tax (total $42.80, cash or check only). The bin regularly retails for about $100! Burlington DPW is located at 645 Pine Street in Burlington and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
By composting, you can reduce the amount of trash you send to the landfill by about a third - that’s an average of about 650 pounds per household! In addition to food scraps, you can also compost soiled paper such as paper towels and napkins. The SoilSaver bins measure 28" square by 30" tall and weigh 30 lbs. They are passive composters - you don't need to turn them, though occasional stirring is helpful. SoilSaver bins have large, locking lids and two sliding doors at the bottom that make loading and unloading fast and easy.
For folks who are new to composting, or re-starting their compost piles, please know that help is always available for questions that arise by calling CSWD’s hotline at 872-8111. This line is staffed Monday through Friday, 9 am - 4:30 pm (except holidays). Information is also available online at http://www.dpw.ci.burlington.vt.us/recycle/faq/#10.
Please share this information with your friends and neighbors!
Catamount Health
Catamount Health is Vermont’s new health insurance program for uninsured Vermonters. It offers comprehensive coverage at affordable rates. Premiums are on a sliding scale based on income. The Legislature made two very important expansions to Catamount Health this legislative session.
Vermonters in high deductible plans can now enroll in Catamount Health. Vermonters with at least a $10,000 deductible plan for an individual or a $20,000 deductible for a family plan can now enroll in Catamount Health. They must have had the plan for at least 6 months. They must also pay the full cost of Catamount for the first 12 months, which currently is $393 month for an individual. After 12 months, they can apply for the Premium Assistance program to help pay their Catamount premium. Vermonters in high deductible plans effectively have no coverage. By enrolling in Catamount Health they will have comprehensive coverage.
Vermonters who apply for Catamount Health before November 1, 2008 will not have to worry about coverage for pre-existing conditions. Under this new expansion to Catamount, anyone applying for Catamount before November 1 will have coverage for pre-existing conditions without any limitation. Pregnancy will never be considered a pre-existing condition.
For more information about Catamount Health, including information on how to apply, contact the Vermont Campaign for Health Care Security Education Fund toll free at 1-866-482-4723 or visit our web site at http://www.catamounthealth.org.
Food Stamp Rules Have Changed
Save for Retirement - Save for Your Child’s Education - And Still Get Food Stamps!
In the past many people could not get food stamps because they had too much savings. Now you can have retirement and education savings accounts and still get the help you need, even if you have been denied before.
The Food Stamp Program is an important federal nutrition program that helps make sure people have enough food to be active and healthy. Households that participate can also receive other benefits like free school meals for your children and phone bill assistance!
For a food stamp application, call 1-800-287-0589 or visit www.vermontfoodhelp.com. For help with your application, dial 2-1-1, free from anywhere in Vermont, and ask to be connected to your nearest Community Action Agency. If you are a senior, call the Senior Helpline at 1-800-642-5119.
Is Graffiti a Problem in Your Neighborhood?
If you live in Burlington, it most likely is. Do you feel powerless to stop the tagging? Despair no longer! The Center for Community and Neighborhood’s Graffiti Removal Team is here to help you.
There are several actions that you can take:
- Call our hotline at 865-7548 or e-mail Nicky at nbeaudoin@ci.burlington.vt.us to report a tag on your own or someone else’s property.
- Come on out to a community clean-up!
- Get your very own graffiti removal kit. It’s free! All we ask in return is that you clean whatever tags you see on your street. You’ll become a member of Adopt-A-Block, an elite and dedicated group of citizens who are making Burlington a safer and more beautiful place to live.
For more information, please call Nicky at 865-7548 or e-mail her at nbeaudoin@ci.burlington.vt.us!
Burlington Moves to Create a Livable Community
As the citizens of Burlington age and their needs change, will the community continue to be a welcome and accommodating place to live? That question is at the core of a new initiative launched today by the City of Burlington and AARP Vermont aimed at assessing whether Burlington is a good place to grow old and charting ways to make it more livable for a fast-growing older population.
Called the Burlington Livable Community Project, the effort will include a host of partner organizations including Cathedral Square Corporation, CCTA, Champlain Senior Center and Champlain Valley Agency on Aging among others. The initiative will work to define a clear vision for Burlington and assess the needs of residents and the availability of necessary housing, transportation and services. This process will involve various research methods and citizen community evaluations across the city. Following these steps, concrete action steps will be identified that will make the city more accommodating to older residents and families.
“Today we are embarking on a project to earn Burlington yet another top national ranking -- this time as a great place to grow old,” said Greg Marchildon, AARP Vermont state director. “A livable community includes affordable and appropriate housing, an array of mobility options and community services that meet the needs of older residents. Burlington has some of these elements to one degree or another, but lacks an explicit vision for how it will meet the needs of its aging population and make the city truly livable for all its residents,” he explained.
The Burlington Livable Community Project was embraced by the City of Burlington, the Mayor and the City Council.
Community Justice Volunteers Needed
Join a team of Community Members meeting weekly to repair the harm done by crime & conflict in our neighborhoods. The Burlington Community Justice Center is seeking new Restorative Justice Panel Members to represent the community in the restorative justice process where offenders of low-level crimes make amends to the victim and community.
No experience is necessary to join one of these effective, fun and dedicated teams. A commitment of 2 hours a week is all it takes. Panel members are provided with training on restorative justice and conflict resolution.
Weekly panel meetings are held: Wednesdays 5:30 - 7:30 pm, Thursdays 5:30 - 7:30 pm, Fridays 9 - 11 am
For more information contact Jocelyn Dubuque at 865·7589, jdubuque@ci.burlington.vt.us.
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The Community Justice Center is also looking for volunteers (young folks - ages 13 and up and adults) to serve on our Youth Restorative Justice Panel.
The panel works with youth ages 10 - 17 who have committed a low level crime. This program is an alternative to court and focuses on rebuilding relationships and making better choices in the future. The panel meets with the offender, their family and the victim(s) to discuss the crime and who was impacted and agree on how they will make amends for their behavior.
We hope to recruit a few youth, a few young adults and a few parents/teachers for the panel. It is a weekly commitment of about an hour and a half. This is a fun, relaxed group to work with, we have a flexible schedule and lots of snacks.
The CJC will provide training and support. If you are interested in learning more about the CJC, check us out online, come observe one of our programs or call 865·7185 for more information.
Every Vermont Child Deserves an Education Free of Harassment and Bigotry at School
Our state legislators and the governor underscored this point last year with the passage of one of the most stringent anti-harassment laws in the country (HR113 as amended by Act 91). Far too many Vermont school children are victims of harassment based on gender, race, sexual orientation and national origin to name but a few. Most parents, however, are unfamiliar with their rights, responsibilities and options under the new law.
In order to make the law meaningful parents and students must be aware of the its existence and how they can best advocate for themselves. There is more information for parents and organizations that serve parents and students at www.alanavision.org. Click on the "Harassment and Discrimination Complainant Toolkit" icon. We would like to hear from you on how we might assist you get the word out to your constituents and stakeholders: special mailings, workshops, newsletter articles, in-service training, and more. On behalf of all parents and students you have our advance thanks for getting this information where it needs to go.
Is Burlington Growing?
Yes, we think so. The US Census released 2003 population estimates which indicated that the City of Burlington had lost 700 residents since 2000. The Census estimate is based on a method that uses housing unit change to distribute county population. However, the formula used by the Census Bureau produces an undercount of city residents in several areas.
First, the Census formula assumes that housing units are lost based on data derived from a 1993 Components of Inventory Change Survey (CINCH) and 1990 Census data. The CINCH survey identified the following four types of housing units to be at a greater risk of loss: (1) Mobile homes, (2) Older units (constructed before 1939), (3) Vacant for Seasonal or Recreational Use, and (4) Boarded up. Using this methodology, the Census estimates that 111 housing units were demolished in the City over the last three years. (That's not surprising, since a great deal of the City's housing was built before 1939.) The actual number of housing units lost in the last three years, which is tracked under the City’s housing preservation and replacement and condominium conversion ordinances, is 12 units.
Second, the Census formula estimated that 110 new housing units were created in the last three years based on a calculation using the number of building permits issued. However, there were at least 275 units added to the City’s housing stock during that time period based on confirmed project completions tracked by CEDO. The Census formula also imputes the addition of 10 mobile home units in the City; the City believes the actual number there to be zero.
The Census formula produces a net gain of 9 housing units in the City over the last three years. Local data shows a net gain of 263 units in that time period. Using real data rather than national formulas, the U.S. Census formula has undercounted the number of housing units by 254 units.
In addition, the vacancy rate assumed by the Census seems to be higher than local data would indicate. The 2003 Census estimate stated that the housing vacancy rate for housing units in the City was 3.1%. However, June and December 2003 reports issued by Allen & Cable indicated that the rental vacancy rate was 2.7%. The City believes that the local survey is a more accurate picture of the local housing market.
Also, the City still believes that the US Census has undercounted the number of people living in group quarters by 493 people. In 1990, there were 5,473 people living in group quarters; in Burlington’s case, mostly dormitories. In 2000, the revised number of people living in group quarters, according to the US Census, was 4,948. Therefore, according to the US Census, there was a reduction of 525 people living in group quarters. There is, however, no apparent reason for this loss of group quarters. In 2000, CEDO conducted a thorough search comparing known existing group quarter numbers with those identified by the US Census. It indicated that the number of people living in group quarters should be higher by an additional 437 people. Since that time, Champlain College added a 56-bed dormitory to the group quarters stock, increasing the number of people living in group quarters to 5,441.
Finally, the Census formula reduces the population estimate derived from housing unit change by 2% to control for a countywide population estimate produced under a different formula. This, again, is a national formula approach that, according to research on estimation methods, has varying degrees of accuracy at the local level. Controlling for all of these national formula biases, CEDO believes that Burlington’s total population has increased to 41,106 people, an increase of approximately 3.2%.
Page last updated July 29, 2010
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