Press Release

Welch Secures Nearly $60 Million in Federal Funds for Vermont

Feb 6, 2026

Welch secured funding for 27 Vermont projects, totaling nearly $31 million 

Welch partnered with Vermont Congressional Delegation to secure funding for 11 additional Vermont projects, totaling more than $28 million 

BURLINGTON, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, today announced that he has secured $58.68 million in federal funds to support 38 Vermont projects, following the passage of eleven annual appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026. The projects will improve local infrastructure, boost economic development, build more affordable housing, and boost access to vital health care services across Vermont’s rural communities. Sen. Welch nominated project recipients through the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) process. 

“I fought to secure nearly $60 million in federal funding for Vermont through the Congressionally Directed Spending process—I’m proud this money will be invested right back into Vermont communities. These funds will support projects that will make a huge difference in every corner of our State—from building more affordable housing to expanding access to vital health care services, and implementing important public safety and infrastructure upgrades. These funds will also help jump-start projects that support flood-impacted and rural communities,” said Senator Welch. “Federal funding is crucial to supporting local projects that make Vermonters’ lives better, but President Trump’s backwards priorities have jeopardized the success of these projects. I’ll keep up the fight to protect Vermonters’ taxpayer dollars and bring money back to the Green Mountain State.” 

The Congressionally Directed Spending was included in a bipartisan funding agreement that included 11 of the 12 annual appropriation bills, including Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. 

Senator Welch secured the following federal investments to support Vermont communities:   

  • $12,000,000 for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board** (VHCB) to support the creation of permanently affordable rental housing and the development of shelters in Vermont. 
  • $5,250,000 for Ascend Housing Allies Incorporated to help construct a 21-unit, fully affordable, rental apartment building in Middlebury. 
  • $4,600,000 for the University of Detroit Mercy and the Vermont State Dental Society** to establish and support clinical dental training in Vermont for up to 64 dental students from the University of Detroit Mercy School. 
  • $3,250,000 for Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation to create a new industrial park in Brattleboro that will spur economic development and add up to 350 new jobs in the next seven years. 
  • $2,700,000 for the University of Vermont (UVM) to create a Wet Lab Technician Certificate Program to foster a local and regional skilled workforce and expand UVM’s research enterprise. 
  • $2,500,000 for Vermont State University in Montpelier to develop a comprehensive certification program for composite technicians to meet industry demands and train the next generation of Vermont workers. 
  • $2,000,000 for the Vermont Army National Guard** to construct a readiness center in Northeast Vermont. 
  • $2,000,000 for the Vermont Army National Guard** to complete construction of a general-purpose administration building on Ethan Allen Force Base. 
  • $2,000,000 for the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity for home repair and remediation. This is expected to support 120 homes over a five-year period. 
  • $1,700,000 for the City of Montpelier** to accelerate drinking water system upgrades. 
  • $1,458,000 for the City of Montpelier** to update Elm Street housing to elevate above flood level. 
  • $1,400,000 for Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital to construct new pharmacies in Caledonia County to address the recent loss of pharmacies in Caledonia towns. 
  • $1,350,000 for the Town of Richmond** to upgrade the 50-year-old Richmond Wastewater Treatment Facility. 
  • $1,200,000 for Addison County Community Trust** to address the aging and failing water systems infrastructure in Hillside Manor, a 29-unit affordable housing community in Starksboro. 
  • $1,187,000 for the Vermont Department of Corrections for peer recovery coaches at six correctional facilities and 12 probation and parole offices across Vermont. 
  • $1,000,000 for the Bolton Valley Water and Community Development Company to replace an existing wastewater treatment facility in Bolton at risk of contaminating drinking water sources. 
  • $1,000,000 for Craftsbury Saplings to expand available childcare slots to meet the needs of the community and add nine new full-time jobs. 
  • $1,000,000 for the City of Burlington* for new infrastructure upgrades for the South End Wastewater Storage. 
  • $1,000,000 for the City of Burlington** to improve drinking water quality and increase the usable volume of the emergency back-up water supply of drinking water. 
  • $1,000,000 for the Town of Woodstock to upgrade the 40-year-old Woodstock Main Wastewater Treatment Facility to optimize treatment and energy use. 
  • $996,000 for UVM to expand and sustain its Bridges to Health Community Health Worker program across all rural Vermont communities. 
  • $850,000 for Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTRANS)* to help fill the state’s funding gap for the ongoing $49.5 million Winooski River Bridge replacement project. 
  • $814,000 for Vermont Youth Conservation Corp (VYCC) in Richmond to help families struggling with food insecurity. 
  • $774,000 for the Town of Hartford Police Department for public safety upgrades to enhance Hartford’s emergency communications infrastructure, modernize its emergency response capabilities, and improve dispatch capacity. 
  • $750,000 for VHCB to expand the Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program’s capacity to serve working lands businesses, with a focus on beginning farmers and businesses. 
  • $694,000 for UVM Health Network for hospital safety improvements. 
  • $664,000 for the Lamoille County Regional Planning Commission to add ten streamgages and two precipitation sensors in the Lamoille River basin. 
  • $600,000 for the Town of Berlin to improve the town’s drinking water system and expand service along the Water Main System Loop. 
  • $598,000 for the Rockingham Municipal Fire Department SR Station to build a new fire station with expanded emergency services. 
  • $591,000 for the City of Barre** to mitigate future flood risk through floodplain restoration. 
  • $557,000 for Norwich University’s School of Nursing Teaching and Simulation Center to enhance the center with additional equipment and medical infrastructure. 
  • $500,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers** for a new flood control study of the Winooski River watershed in Montpelier and Barre following the 2023 and 2024 floods. 
  • $500,000 for Bennington First Congregational Church to upgrade the historic church building to improve accessibility and protect the historic structure. 
  • $500,000 for the Intervale Center’s Conservation Nursery in Burlington to expand the statewide riparian restoration and land conservation projects. 
  • $500,000 for the Town of South Hero to restore and upgrade the Old White Meeting House, the oldest municipal building in Grand Isle County. 
  • $375,000 for the American Association of State Climatologists to prepare Vermont’s first comprehensive drought plan, create an inundation flooding platform to better predict flood risks, and more. 
  • $373,000 for Turning Point of Springfield to reduce substance misuse and increase recovery in rural, high-risk communities by expanding Peer Recovery Coaching and Community Coalition engagement. 
  • $250,000 for Spectrum Youth to expand school-based mental health services for middle and high school students in Chittenden and Franklin counties. 
  • $250,000 for the Vermont Department of Economic Development to provide technical assistance to small- and medium-sized enterprises in responding to an increase in costs associated with tariffs. 
  • $100,000 for the Center for Agricultural Economy for farm-to-school education and local food school nutrition. 

* denotes funds were secured in partnership with the Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Becca Balint (VT-At-Large) 

** denotes funds were secured in partnership with Senator Sanders 

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