Part of a $122,000 grant awarded to the Town of Northfield through the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) program has been invested in a variety of equipment that will be free for Northfield residents to borrow this coming winter.

Available equipment includes snowshoes, microspikes, hiking poles, binoculars and headlamps will be available at Northfield’s Brown Public Library, which is located at 93 South Main Street, which is also the access route to the Lybrand Trail that begins at the top of Slate Avenue.

The equipment will be free for residents to borrow.

The Northfield Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative committee (VOREC) has worked together on this grant funding to improve the Northfield Forest Trail system, and the equipment-loan program will provide those who may not otherwise explore our beautiful woods.

Look for more details coming this fall!

The Town of Northfield Economic Development Department is delighted to announce that Mureta’s Meat Processing has been awarded a Vermont Working Lands Enterprise grant that will enable the local butcher to become a certified USDA butcher, allowing them to expand their capacity in an area of great need across the State of Vermont.

Owner Chris Mureta has made substantial investments in his operation and the grant will provide the necessary gap funding to Mureta’s for the construction and installation of equipment required to become USDA certified and take the next essential steps to become a certified slaughterhouse.

Working lands entrepreneurs are at the heart of Vermont’s landscape. They are the backbone of the Vermont economy, a top source for job creation, and an integral part of what makes Vermont a quality place to live. The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) supports innovative entrepreneurs at the forefront of Vermont’s Working Lands economy through technical and financial assistance to help growing businesses thrive. The program is made possible through the support of the state legislature, multiple state organizations, and public/private donors.

Working with Chris and his family on this project and seeing his business grow in a time of great need for meat processing services across Vermont has been a pleasure.

The Town of Northfield is seeking volunteers to serve on a committee to assist in the search for a new Police Chief. The current Northfield Chief is retiring in May, 2023 and the Town anticipates having a replacement selected by June 1, 2023.

The Committee will consist of: the Town Manager, a Select Board member; a member of law enforcement, four Northfield residents and two members from other Northfield interested groups or institutions. The ideal committee person will have a background in human resource recruitment or management, or law enforcement.

The role of the Committee is to develop candidate review criteria, review resumes, interview candidates and recommend two to three candidates for consideration. The estimated time commitment to this process will be a total of 15 to 20 hours over a five week period.

Persons interested in serving on the Committee should submit a letter of interest that includes a brief discussion of background, and their interest in the hiring process to the Town Manager at 51 South Main Street, Northfield, VT 05633, or jschulz@northfield.vt.us by the close of business on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

The Town Manager of Northfield has accepted from the Northfield Police Chief, John Helfant, a letter announcing his retirement effective May 6, 2023.

The Manager will begin a search for a new police chief shortly.

We appreciate the chief and our entire police force for the work they do to protect our community.

Jeff Schulz
Northfield Town Manager

STATEMENT BY THE NORTHFIELD SELECT BOARD

“The Town of Northfield is committed to fostering a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community. We also believe that trust in the Town and its employees is of utmost importance.

News stories from local media outlets this week have recounted that members of the Northfield community feel this trust has been diminished. These news stories have referenced the Northfield Police Chief’s public comments on school locker room policy and, from earlier last year, a school’s decision to fly a Black Lives Matter flag.

The Town recognizes that absent other compelling circumstances, the First Amendment allows Town employees to speak as private citizens on matters of public concern. The Town respects its employees’ desire to stay informed on local, state, and national affairs. However, the views and opinions expressed by Town employees in this regard are their own and are not the views and opinions of the Town.

We want to take this opportunity to reiterate our focus on and dedication to ensuring that all members of our community can live and thrive here, free from discrimination. We are committed to having an unbiased and discrimination-free municipal government. The Town has taken recent steps in furtherance of that commitment, including making our Declaration of Inclusion and preparing to institute Diversity, Equity & Inclusion training for all Town employees.

We acknowledge that trust is earned, and we are committed to earning and keeping the trust of our entire community.”

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a smaller, independent dwelling unit that is located on the same lot as an existing single-family home. Vermont’s law on equal treatment of housing and town bylaws requires municipalities to allow homeowners to add one ADU to their house as a permitted use as long as certain conditions are met.

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are apartments located within or on the same property as a single-family, owner-occupied home. ADUs are often located above a garage, in a basement, or as a backyard cottage, and have been utilized widely in cities across the US as a tool for older adults to remain in their homes as they age, to create housing for an elder or a dependent, and provide homeowners with a way to offset housing costs.

A new Vermont Home Improvement Program called VHIP-ADU program is a low-barrier way for Vermont homeowners to help solve the housing crisis one unit at a time. This program offers grants of up to $50,000 that can be used for expenses related to creating and or remodeling an accessory dwelling unit.
Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP) is now accepting applications. This program offers grants of up to $50,000 per unit for repairs needed to bring vacant rental units up to Vermont Rental Housing Health Code guidelines, add new units to an existing building, or create an accessory dwelling unit on an owner-occupied property. Application review and project oversight is conducted through the regional Homeownership Centers.

Program participants are required to provide a 20% match for VHIP project grants and maintain HUD Fair Market Rent prices.

You can learn more through the Central Vermont Homeownership Center, Downstreet, LLC, by going to https://downstreet.org/vhip.

You can also reach out to the Northfield Economic Development Office at 802-485-9835 or tdavis@northfield.vt.us.

Norwich University was announced to receive over $16 million in federal funding in support of the University’s commitment to creating the best cybersecurity educational program in the country.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, cast his final vote in the Senate on a bill that will fund over 30 projects across Vermont including two for Norwich.

Leahy secured $16.4 million in Congressional Directed Spending for the Norwich University Multi-disciplinary Cyber Fusion Research and Development Center to create educational and workforce training opportunities in areas such as cybersecurity, information operations and dominance, computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and real-time decision-making practices.

“Innovations in cybersecurity and the importance of cyber education and workforce development is critical to our state and our nation,” said President Mark Anarumo. “Norwich is honored to receive this federal funding, which demonstrates the value placed on our institution as critical to building the leaders needed in critical fields. I share my very personal gratitude for Senator Patrick Leahy who continues to champion the abilities and efforts of Norwich University and our dedication to securing the future of this great country.”

Norwich has a long history of being an educational leader in the cyber domain. In 1999, the University created a degree in Computer Security & Information Assurance, one of the first cybersecurity-based programs in the country.

The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) is providing a second round of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support low- and moderate-income Vermont homeowners in repairing or replacing their failed or inadequate on-site water or wastewater systems – often referred to as wells or septic systems.

Eligible homeowners may apply for this round of ARPA On-Site funding (bit.ly/VT-On-Site) by January 31, 2023. The application process (https://bit.ly/OS-Process) includes submitting an online pre-qualification application. For assistance filling out the pre-qualification application, please contact by email: ANR.HealthyHomes@vermont.gov or by phone: 802-828-0141 or 877-344-0354 (toll-free).

“ANR’s mission is to protect both human health and the environment,” said Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner John Beling. “This funding helps us carry out this mission and help Vermonters gain equitable access to clean drinking water and sanitation.”

With limited funding, ANR will select approximately 150-200 priority projects to receive funding based on income, environmental impact, household demographics, and severity of system failure. ANR anticipates contacting applicants with their award status by May 1, 2023. Awardees must complete their projects and spend the funding by the end of 2026.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

Have a failed or inadequate on-site drinking water and/or wastewater system (also known as wells, springs, septic systems or tanks, leach fields, drywells, or cesspools)
Own and live on a residential property with either a single-family home or an owner-occupied, multi-family home with up to four units
Earn a household income of less than $80,835 per year
Community groups cannot directly receive awards but can help homeowners apply or learn about the funding. For those with accessibility needs, ANR has a dedicated staff member to help fill out the pre-qualification application over the phone at no cost. To learn more and apply, visit the funding webpage (bit.ly/VT-On-Site).

“Wells and septic systems can be costly to repair,” said DEC Director of Environmental Compliance Adam Miller. “This funding will help many low- and moderate-income Vermonters to be able to afford these critical fixes that ensure safe, reliable systems and healthier living.”

ANR first announced this funding in 2021, and received an overwhelming response, revealing a true underlying need for lower income Vermonters to access support for basic water and sanitation at their homes. Previous applicants do not need to submit a new application as ANR will automatically consider their first application in the second round.

The $5 million in first round funding is currently being distributed to over 180 homeowners across the state.

If you need help, you can contact the Northfield Economic Development Department at 802-485-9835 or tdavis@northfield.vt.us.

On Sunday, September 11, 2022, the Northfield Conservation Commission hosted a symposium entitled "The Dog River: Now and in the Future." The symposium included the three presentations listed below. You can view the PowerPoint slides for each by clicking links below.

"River Dynamics: Understanding the Science of River Processes and Flooding,"
Gretchen Alexander, River Scientist, Vermont Rivers Program
https://www.northfield-vt.gov/_files/ugd/13fb68_99a83ed669a544b38e558778591cde11.pdf

"Dog River: Big trout to no trout* (*A rough estimate)"
Will Eldridge, Aquatic Habitat Biologist, Vermont Fish & Wildlife
https://www.northfield-vt.gov/_files/ugd/13fb68_ebb46a4c272e464b8055cbcdb8f11d59.pdf

"Winooski River Tactical Basin Planning Process: Dog River"
Vermont Water Investment Division
https://www.northfield-vt.gov/_files/ugd/13fb68_8085861a49dc4ecd90215768ce579129.pdf

Gov. Phil Scott announced in May of 2022 that $4,549,313 in grants from the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) had been awarded to 24 municipalities and nonprofit organizations around the state for projects to enhance outdoor recreation and foster economic growth. One of the towns was Northfield, thanks to the hard work of our local VOREC Steering Committee.

Highlighted in an article in Vermont Sports, here is what the article had to say about Northfield.

Given that Norwich University and Darn Tough, the sock company, are both headquartered in Northfield, it is surprising that this area hasn’t yet been ‘discovered’ as a center for outdoor recreation.
That could change soon. Many years ago, a ski area stood in Northfield. Now, those trails are being revived by the Shaw Outdoor Center at Norwich University. In winter, strap on snowshoes or climbing skins and head up the old trails.
If motorized sports are your thing, Northfield is connected to the VAST trail network, which can take you all the way to Berlin. In summer, hike or bike up Paine Mountain among the wildflowers. The Dog River, with headwaters in Roxbury, flows north to meet the Winooski. Here, you will find Vermont fishing at its finest and several legendary swimming holes along Route 12 provide a chance to cool off. Visit the Dog River Park, for inspiring mountain views, and walk the paths that wind through the natural grasses ending at the river.
The Northfield Town Forest and adjoining Shaw Outdoor Center are hidden gems for hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, skiing and snowshoeing that even many Vermonters are not aware of.
What the VOREC Grant Will Do:
A VOREC grant of $122,965 will help the town create a wayfinding masterplan. Future maps will include both town forest and Shaw Outdoor Center trails and be available at welcome kiosks and at downtown businesses. The grant will also help restore the Lybrand/Slate Avenue trail and repair damage from storms, including Tropical Storm Irene, that washed out the trail.
The iconic “Hawk Watch” lean-to on the ridgeline was repaired this past year. The VOREC funding will continue the improvement of this area by removing invasive species and restoring a magnificent view to the west. It will also help augment the lending stock of winter recreation equipment at the Brown Public Library.
Eat/Play/Stay/Shop: The Falls General Store located in Northfield Falls offers everything from prepared meals and sandwiches to fine wines. Visit Carrier Roasting on a weekend morning and you may see a flock of bikes and riders lingering over freshly roasted coffee. East Street really comes alive when adjoining business Good Measure Pub and Brewery opens their doors. Outside tables provide views of the surrounding hills and the downtown area. The Common in Northfield is now a welcoming outdoor space thanks to a Better Places grant award. Visit the pizzeria or one of two cafes. The Margaret Holland Inn’s new owners have recently updated this historic inn on Main Street.

Local hikers gathered to celebrate the improvements made to the Lybrand Trail thanks to state funding! A ribbon-cutting ceremony preceded hikes to the pond on Slate Avenue (.75 mile) and the Cheney Field (2.0 miles).

The Lybrand Trail restoration project was made possible by a grant from the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) program. This program is designed to improve outdoor recreation infrastructure and promote economic development in Vermont communities. The project was a collaboration between the town of Northfield and Norwich University.

The Lybrand Trail is a popular destination for hikers, birders, and nature lovers of all ages. The trail winds through woods and meadows, offering views of the Green Mountains and the Connecticut River Valley. The restored trail will be easier to hike and more enjoyable for all users.

This project would not have been possible without the support of VOREC, the town of Northfield, and Norwich University. We are grateful for their investment in our community and our outdoor recreation resources.

Thank you for taking the Amtrak Stop Survey. Results will be published soon.

The Vermont Legislature passed a bill in June 2022 to invest in Vermont’s workforce shortage.

VSAC, in partnership with other Vermont agencies, will offer grants and interest-free forgivable loans that will help eligible students afford the degree or training they need to pursue the career they want, such as skilled trades, early childhood education, nursing, mental health care, and more.

Here are the areas where funding is available.

Early Childhood Education Forgivable Loan Program https://www.vsac.org/become-early-childhood-educator-vermont-tuition-free

Vermont Nursing Forgivable Loan Program https://www.vsac.org/pursue-career-nursing-tuition-free

Vermont Trades Forgivable LoanProgram
https://www.vsac.org/pursue-career-skilled-trades-tuition-free

Vermont National Guard Tuition Benefit Program
Link coming soon


Vermont Dentist Forgivable Loan Program
Link coming soon


QUESTIONS:
See all programs at https://www.vsac.org/workforce-development-funding.
Contact VSAC at https://www.vsac.org/contact or call 888-253-4819.

Welcome to the official news sites for the Town of Northfield. Official news from the town will be posted in the News section of our town home page, along with notices on our Facebook page and Front Porch Forum. If you have non-commercial and non-promotional information that is relevant to the residents of Northfield, you are welcome to share it with Economic Development Director, Tom Davis, at tdavis@northfield.vt.us. Please note that submissions are not guaranteed to be posted.
You will find our news at https://www.northfield-vt.gov/news.
Our Facebook page is located at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084154886359