Irene recovery funds available; GMP hosts tours of Lowell wind farm

More Irene recovery funds are available

The Brattleboro Development Credit Corp. and Springfield Regional Development Corp. are accepting new applications for businesses, non-profits and farms that are still recovering from the effects of Tropical Storm Irene. Potential applicants must attend one of the upcoming workshops in either Brattleboro or Springfield. The next mandatory workshop for potential applicants is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 10 at the Howard Dean Education Center, 307 South St. in Springfield.

The organizations have recently been awarded $1.5 million in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development to disburse over the next year. BDCC and SRDC have already assisted 43 businesses and allocated approximately $1.25 million in grants ranging from $1,300 to $75,000 in the first round of funding.

These grants can be used for remaining unmet needs as well as assistance with flood mitigation efforts and rehabilitation of flood affected buildings. The deadline for the first round of applications will be in August. Please check the BDCC or SRDC websites for workshop dates and registration links, or contact April Harkness, grant administrator at BDCC at 802-257-7731 ext. 220 or aharkness@brattleborodevelopment.org in Windham County or Heather Hartford at SRDC, 802-885-3061 hhartford@springfielddevelopment.org in Southern Windsor County.

Lowell wind farm tours offered through August

COLCHESTER

Tours are  under way at Green Mountain Power’s Kingdom Community Wind site in Lowell. So far this summer GMP has brought nearly 400 people to the top of Lowell Mountain to get an up-close view of the 21-turbine project. During the free tour, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the project, touch a blade and experience how the turbines operate and harness the power of wind.

GMP spokeswoman Dorothy Schnure said, “Connecting Vermonters directly to how energy is produced is so important. The tours are a wonderful way to engage with people and show them first hand this exciting wind project.”

The tours last 90 minutes and are free to the public. You can sign up online by visiting greenmountainpower.com/innovative/wind/windtours/ or by calling Gert Tetreault at 802-744-6664.

Dates and times are as follows until full:

• Wednesday, July 9 at 10 a.m.

• Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, July 23 at 10 a.m.

• Wednesday, July 30 at 10 a.m.

• Wednesday, Aug. 6at 10 a.m.

• Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 10 a.m.

• Saturday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and

• Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m.