In partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (LILP), Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) has been studying statewide, smart growth programs that support legacy city revitalization. The State of Vermont’s Better Connections Initiative (BC) is an example of how states can support municipalities in conducting planning processes to enhance their existing infrastructure to provide multi-modal transportation options and an improved lifestyle for residents.

BC provides grants for municipal planning projects that expand transportation options and make Vermont’s community centers more sustainable. It strives to:

1. Provide safe, multi-modal, and resilient transportation to support the state’s economy;

2. Support downtown and village economic development and revitalization efforts; and

3. Lead directly to project implementation.

(State of Vermont Agency of Transportation, 2020)

The program is administered by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD). Any unit of local government (i.e., town, city, or village), outside of Chittenden County, with a confirmed local planning process, is eligible to apply for BC grants. Both the state and federal governments fund the BC Initiative.

Before 2019, BC grants consisted of $160,000 in Federal Highway Administration State Planning and Research Funds and $20,000 in ACCD resources. (State of Vermont Agency of Transportation, 2018) In 2019, BC expanded its annual grant pool to $280,000 through the addition of Clean Water Fund Grants and Vermont Department of Health Quick Build Grants. (Vermont Agency of Transportation, 2019) It awards projects on a competitive basis, and grants range from $35,000 to $67,500. (State of Vermont Agency of Transportation, 2018) From 2015 to 2019, the program funded three projects per grant cycle. It has awarded a total of $1.1 million in grants to 15 municipalities. (State of Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, 2020).

BC demonstrates how to strategically leverage state policy to address sustainability, infrastructure, mobility, and public health and safety in communities that have traditionally lacked planning resources—making it a noteworthy best practice for states with legacy cities across the country.

For more information about Vermont’s Better Connections Program, visit the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation: www.vtrans.vermont.gov/planning/projects-programs/better-connections

Image Source: Better Connections, 2020