PLAINFIELD – The Plainfield Housing Advisory Committee meeting February 25, featured presentations from Hardwick and St. Johnsbury municipal leaders who shared their experiences with community revitalization.
Kristie Farnham from the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development facilitated the discussion with Hardwick Select Board Chair Eric Remick who has served in that position for 14 years, Hardwick Town Manager David “Opie” Upson and St. Johnsbury Assistant Town Manager Joe Kasprzak.
The discussion focused on revitalization strategies following floods and the closure of Goddard College.
Speakers emphasized the need for professional staff, community consensus building and long-term planning on 10 to 20 year timelines for successful revitalization.
Topics included Hardwick’s agricultural economy development through the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE) and Food Venture Center, which supports local farmers with business incubation space; St. Johnsbury’s creative economy quantification showing $7 million in economic impact and a 9.4% employment connection; flood recovery strategies including 20 FEMA buyouts in Hardwick, 10 of which have been completed, and flood mitigation projects; housing development including St. Johnsbury’s $9 million 560 Railroad Street project with nine housing units, at $1,500 to $2,200 rent, and two commercial spaces; rental housing inspection programs in St. Johnsbury covering 1,471 rental units with a $35 annual registration fee and 96% to 99% compliance.
The importance of town manager and administrator positions for grant management (St. Johnsbury managed $45 million in federal/state funds over 10 years); and public-private partnerships like Hardwick’s Yellow Barn project (a $12 million public investment with $4 million in private fit-up by tenants) was expressed as a critical component for managing revitalization efforts.
