 I am Chris Cole. I am commissioner of buildings and general services. We are the department that Issues these grants and we have oversight of some of the buildings community grants. I want to welcome you to this celebration each and every one of you Is the best of the best? You were selected to receive a grant from this program each year $600,000 is appropriated by the Vermont legislature for distribution through the building communities grant program This program supports infrastructure investments in the state of Vermont that supports community program goals There are three annual grant programs administered by the Department of Buildings and General Services They are economic development grants Recreational facility grants and then human service and education grants these programs are intended to stimulate job creation Help with new design or upgrades of facilities for nonprofits and municipalities as well as the private sector All nonprofit agencies that serve Vermonters are eligible to apply for these grants in any amount up to $25,000 the application process was created to be simple so anyone can complete it The grants require one-to-one match and are designed to be last-gap funding to support your projects Thank you all for coming to celebrate your projects and these wonderful grant programs made available to you by the Vermont General Assembly At this time I would like to introduce the governor of the great state of Vermont Philip B. Scott Well, thank you very much everyone for coming and if you haven't had an opportunity Please get out to visit the Vermont History Center. It's a wonderful area This is because we've had some construction at the the state house But we've had a number of events here in the in the smelling room and it's a great venue So if you have an opportunity to get out there and see that I I look forward to this ceremony Every year because it's worthwhile. It's putting money back into communities And I'd like to thank each and every one of you first for your dedication To make a difference the lives of others in your communities as well We're here to celebrate and highlight your accomplishments Vermont strength really comes from its communities And those for monitors who go above and beyond to make our state a better place place to live This program has always been highly competitive and this year was no exception We have many projects that that were in in the queues so to speak sprinkler systems upgrading community kitchens increasing energy efficiency in buildings with new windows and doors Providing safer playground facilities creating outdoor recreation trails installing new septic systems and so forth and something that has a Special meaning to me as well making facilities ADA compliant with the improvements the bathrooms and ramps and so forth My dad was a World War two vet. He was a double amputee as a result of the D-Day invasion So I know firsthand how difficult it is for some to get access some of our community facilities So the ADA requirements have special meaning to me Every year I've seen how these grants have had real lasting and meaningful impact for Vermonters Now I was I was in the Senate Before I became lieutenant governor and then governor and I was chair of the institutions committee when I first got into this Senate Became elected. I was on the institutions committee and and that's where this started actually when I was there to begin with it was We issued a number of different grants to different community Projects, but it was all about who you knew on the committee In order to get to get what you wanted and I thought at the time How unfair that was that it wasn't geographic it wasn't about the merits of the project They're all worthwhile But it was all about who you knew on the committee and I thought we need to change that and I became chair About three four years later and I worked with representative Alice Emmons my counterpart in the House and she is still chair of that committee and we worked together to try and change that process So there was simpler And more equitable across the state And and I think we succeeded in doing that So I've been pleased to see what's happened as a result this year We had 84 applications Requesting over 1.4 million in funding across these three grant categories 60 projects were funded totaling about six hundred and ten thousand dollars out of that eighty four And this includes 23 recreational facilities grant projects totaling two hundred thousand dollars 11 human services facility grant projects totaling about a hundred and ten thousand 11 educational grants totaling a hundred thousand and then there were 15 regional economic development grant applicants that total 200,000 So in closing I again want to thank first of all legislators I see Warren kids Miller here as well as representative Shaw in the back And but we need their support So if you have an opportunity if you receive a grant today, thank you legislators Thank you local legislators because they make it happen We don't want to go back to the old way We like this new new process But it takes them supporting this in order for it to happen And I want to again thank each and every one of you for stepping up to make a difference in your neighborhoods For enhancing the quality of life in your communities and making Vermont a truly truly great place to live work and raise a family So with that we'll do the important part now if they're giving out the grants at some point So I'm going to Deputy commissioner Jennifer Fitch Who nothing happens at BGS without her involvement. It's going to read off The grant recipients if you would come up at that time when you hear your organization Organization Called come up. We'll get a picture with the governor myself and and your grant and We're going to cycle through this and the first stop are going to be the economic development grants Thank You commissioner Cole and good morning everybody. It's an exciting day So the first recipient is the town of Moncton The organization is the Addison County Economic Development Corporation on behalf of wooden hammer LLC To renovate fit up and equip existing space to extend expand the woodworking cabinetry business You keep that There will be another one that comes in the mail You keep that our second recipient is Middlebury the Addison County Economic Development Corporation. Ooh, this is a tough one to say Agricola agricola meats. Sorry about that and it's to renovate fit up and equip lease space for a meat processing facility The next grant goes to the town of Bristol Addison County Economic Development Corporation Bristol Bakery and Cafe wholesale LLC to invest in new equipment for packing and automated Role-making and to add additional ovens Our next grant goes to the town of Shoreham Addison County Economic Development Corporation on behalf of Champlain Orchard LLC Inventory management system hardware project donut equipment upgrade and employee cafeteria projects The next grant recipient goes to the town of Dorset Bennington County Industrial Corporation HN Williams store for retail expansion and construction of fueling station and canopy Our next grant recipient is the town of Bennington Bennington County Industrial Corporation Polar composite LLC Asbestos remediation and fire sprinkler system upgrades for renovation and fit up That's right The next recipient is the town of Hardwick the north Eastern Vermont Development Association Vermont soy LLC for steam boiler and system buildout project The next grant goes to the town of South Hero Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation Champlain Islands Candy Lab To improve processes storage capacity and display at the chocolate production company That sounds yummy The next recipient is the town of Fairhaven The organization is the town of Fairhaven on behalf of Scotch Hill Brewing Company LLC to purchase a two Fessel brew house to produce beer at the new brewery Also sounds yummy, too Can't go wrong Congratulations The next recipient is the town of Rutland The organization is the Rutland Economic Development Corporation on behalf of true yoga Vermont for construction of a new yoga room at their new location The next recipient is the town of Webster Bell Organization as the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation on behalf of Vermont Creamery to provide solar signage and crosswalk designation for safe pedestrian crossing at Wilson Industrial Park The next recipient is the town of Montpelier Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation on behalf of timber homes Vermont To support the completion of their dust collection system The next recipient is the town of Brattleboro Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation Backroads Food Company LLC their granola Deposter project and the granola tray scraping project The next recipient is the town of Island Pond the organization is the Brighton Community Forum and It's for renovations to the Island Pond Welcome Center The next recipient is the town of Rutland the Rutland Makers, Inc. the Mint Rutland's Makerspace To create dividing walls separating the various functions of the mark Makerspace So that completes the Recreational Economic Development Grants, and we are now moving on to the Human Services Facilities Grants So the next recipient is the town of Goshen the organization is Camp Thor The project description is installation of new accessible doorways and new energy efficient windows and 14 cabins The next recipient is the town of Arlington Bennington County Humane Society Second Chance Animal Center for the installation of rain gutters and a storage shed The next recipient is the town of Burlington Burlington De Maas Dismissed house to improve drainage and to decrease water infiltration to the foundation Next grant recipient is the town of Morrisville United Way of Lemoyle County Renovation to a barn to build community food security The next recipient is the town of Randolph Randolph area community development corporation to purchase move and Rehabilitate an older mobile home So this next grant recipient is Circle, Inc. And its repairs to circles emergency shelter purchase and install heating element for the roof exterior painting mold removal from interior walls And carpet and replacing broken windows The next recipient is the town of Berry Washington County Mental Health Services installation of a handicapped access lift at the well space building Elevators The next recipient is the town of Berry Highgate nonprofit to install a sprinkler system in the community building The next grant recipient is the town of Montpelier Montpelier senior activity center a division of the community services Department of the city of Montpelier for the installation of water fountains and Acoustical panels to make the space more accommodating and supportive of wellness for members and the public The next grant recipient is the town of Brattleboro United Way of Wyndham County to purchase and install led Operatory lights at the Wyndham County Dental Center The next recipient is the town of Townshend Townsend Townsend Carlos G. Otis health care center Grace Cottage Hospital HVAC replacement project The next recipient is the town of Starksboro Starksboro Village Meeting House restoration of the Starksboro Village Meeting House The next grant goes to Bennington Sunrise Family Resource Center to make safety enhancements and improvements to early childhood playground The next grant recipient is the town of South Euro Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corp Turned to joy early care and learning to renovate existing building for a newly created child care facility Next grant recipient is South Burlington Okay Lund Family Center safety improvements to their kitchen The next grant recipient is the town of St. Albans for the Northwest Access TV to purchase media equipment The next grant recipient is the town of Forestville River Arts of Morrisville, Inc. to purchase and install a commercial dishwasher The next grant recipient is the town of Rutland the Rutland County parent child center replacement of the heating cooling and ventilation system the next grant recipient is the town of Ferry for Resource to upgrade windows doors and a new exterior vinyl vinyl siding The next grant recipient is the town of Brattleboro or the Winston Prowdy Center for child of family development to replace an inefficient hot water heater The next grant recipient is the town of Proctorsville Stepping stones preschool renovating expanding the attached garage space including a new heating system and handicapped accessibility ramp The next grant recipient is the town of Woodstock Woodstock community play school the schools relocation project The next recipient goes to the town of Middlebury Friends of the Middlebury hockey to complete the Memorial Sports Center second floor including indoor restrooms a heated viewing area upgraded concessions a community meeting room and to add an elevator The next grant recipient goes to the town of Bristol Bristol recreational club recreation club to hire a Vycc crew for one week for the hardened sections of their three-plus mile trail Next grant recipient goes to the town of Ripton Vermont elix charities Silver towers camp for people with disabilities replacement of the camp kitchen floor bottom cabinets and countertops The next grant recipient is the town of Woodford For a prospect mountain association to replace their septic system The next recipient is st. Johnsbury the town of st. Johnsbury the three rivers path extension and trailhead project The next grant recipient is the town of Bolton smile Memorial School for a new playground equipment The next grant recipient is the town of Essex Junction Village of Essex Junction to convert two tennis courts into six pickleball courts at Cascade Park That sounds fun to a little pickleball Next recipient is the town of St. Albans Collins pearly campus Maple Run United School District for a new playground The next grant recipient is the town of St. Albans for the Franklin County senior center to repair the heating system The next grant recipient goes to the town of Montgomery Montgomery recreational department to construct additional mileage of the multi-use path I was waiting for this little cutie pie to get up The next grant recipient is Isle Lamont Isle Lamont Preservation Trust upgrades to the educational recreational trail signs The next grant recipient goes to the town of Cambridge for the Cambridge Recreation Board to purchase multi-use storage shed concession stand The next grant recipient goes to the town of Morris town town of Morris town to add a swing set in Mulch to Oxbow Riverfront Park The next grant recipient is the town of Greensboro Greensboro Community Child Care Center Four seasons of early learning to purchase new playground equipment and resurface the back playground area The next grant recipient goes to the town of Wells town of Wells to build a pavilion at Lakeside Park The next grant recipient goes to the town of Brandon town of Brandon recreation department Removal and replacement of border fencing and creation of a parking area The next grant recipient goes to the town of East Montpelier East Montpelier recreational board town of East Montpelier select board To purchase additional aluminum bleachers replacement of soccer nets and replacement of fencing The next grant recipient is the town of Vernon For the town of Vernon improvements to recreation area bathrooms including replacement of a double door and to Construct privacy access to the public bathrooms facility in the pavilion The next grant recipient is the town of Brattleboro the Brattleboro outing club Purchase move and finish a 15 foot by 36 foot building to serve as a ski hut The next grant recipient is the town of Guilford The town of Guilford Guilford recreational Commission to complete the play scape enhancement projects The next grant recipient is the town of Brattleboro the retreat farm to complete a trail sign and wayfinding project The next grant recipient is the town of Saxton's River Saxton's River recreation area to replace the roof on the pavilion The next grant recipient is the town of Chester for the creation of phase one of a walking hiking trail And we're going to go backwards for a minute Yep Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation on behalf of the Champlain Islands Candyland. This is an economic development corporation That concludes our program want to thank each and every one of you for coming out and receiving your check we have coffee and cookies I see in the the back so feel free to to stick around and chat with your fellow grant recipients We really appreciate all the work that you do in your communities Communities are the fabric that fits Vermont together. It's what makes us an authentic state And thank you for being leaders in your community and supporting Of this grant program which supports your efforts to rebuild your communities. Thank you very much For miss if I did not think the exceptional Job of the customer service and helping each and every one of you that calls out to ask her for advice should we do this? Should we do that? What does this mean? And she really enjoys That work She's an extremely valuable member of our team and I want to thank jennifer as well for taking the duty of Reading the names. We have to get you out more often And that concludes today's ceremony. Thank you