Group gives away rifle magazines pg. 7
ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932
Giveaway in anticipation of Vermont ban
Published by New Market Press, Inc.
April 14, 2018
Serving Addison, Rutland & Chittenden Counties
Bank makes $15 million investment in affordable housing in Vermont By Lou Varricchio EAGLE EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY| People’s United Bank in Middlebury announced that it was investing $15 million with Housing Vermont to create affordable apartments in several areas of the state. “People’s United Bank has a long-standing and successful relationship with Housing Vermont, and we are pleased to provide this major commitment of low-income housing equity in support of affordable housing in Vermont,” said Art Casavant, vice president and community reinvestment officer. “The bank is focused on economic development, support for low- and moderate- income communities and the wellbeing of the communities where we do business. This important extension of capital will allow us meet community needs and support an important partner,” Casavant said. The People’s United investment will create a pool of funds to provide equity financing for multiple affordable rental housing projects to be developed by Housing Vermont and its community partners. Federal affordable housing tax credits earned from these investments will be used to offset the Bank’s federal tax liability. “Our commitment to community development and the Community Reinvestment Act begins with our board of directors and is supported by our chief executive, Jack Barnes, our Vermont President Michael Seaver and our bankwide community development program. We are pleased to work with Housing Vermont, the state of Vermont, and our local partners to improve economic well-being,” Casavant added. By most accounts, People’s United has been one of the largest investors in Housing Vermont, a nonprofit housing developer and tax credit syndicator, with total investments of $83 million since Housing Vermont was created in 1988. These investments have been used to finance the creation of 3,020 affordable apartments in more than 115 properties throughout Vermont. “People’s United is a highly valued partner in our work,” HEAVY LIFTING: At the Addison County Transfer Station, on Route 7 in Middlebury, residents and businesses dispose of, or recycle, bulky items and special wastes. District Manager Teri Kuczynski, Program Manager Donald Maglienti, Program Outreach Coordinator Jaclyn Hochreiter, Business Manager Patti Johnson, and Transfer Station Supervisor Hobbs make up the management side of the county’s operation. PICTURED: Heavy machine operator Chad Kimball of Bridport in the cab of a transfer station pay-loader. Photo by Lou Varricchio
said Housing Vermont President Nancy Owens. “The investment of $15 million now is especially critical. It means that we can continue to meet the needs of our growing development pipeline of community housing projects.” Owens also noted that this was the first commitment of tax credit equity to Housing Vermont since the passage of federal tax reform in December.
“While the housing and historic preservation tax credits were retained in the tax bill, the uncertainty around tax reform in general disrupted the national market for federal credits,” Owens said. “The investment by People’s United indicates that they understand both the value of these investments to Vermont communities and the highly successful track record of the housing developments we’ve created with tax credit investments.” ■
The battle over universal pre-K Part 2
By Lou Varricchio EAGLE EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | Conclusion: In Vermont, the pros and cons of universal pre-K fall along party lines. Democrats and Progressives largely support it; Republicans and libertarians mostly oppose it. Yet much to the surprise of Vermont conservatives, Republican Gov. Phil Scott has been supportive of state pre-kindergarten expansion.
The most active and vocal campaign for universal pre-K in Vermont is called Let’s Grow Kids. The campaign’s directors and staff tout U.S. Census Bureau data indicating that more than 70 percent of Vermont children age 6 and under have both parents in the labor force, and therefore need child care. The Vermont Department of Health claims approximately 12,846 infants and toddlers under age 3 need some level of child care. Despite support for pre-kindergarten in Vermont, detractors in the state say the program is expensive for taxpayers and offers no tangible educational benefit. » Pre-K Cont. on pg. 6
$15,660
START AT CCV. SAVE BIG. ccv.edu/save
Prices represented here are averages from colleges and universities around the state and based on published 2017 - 2018 full-time, in-state tuition rates.
179200
Cost Of Two Years Of College In Vermont
“People’s United is a highly valued partner in our work,” said Housing Vermont President Nancy Owens. “The investment of $15 million now is especially critical. It means that we can continue to meet the needs of our growing development pipeline of community housing projects.” PICTURED: The People’s United Community Foundation awarded $20,000 to the Vermont Foodbank for the purchasing and distribution of food. File photo