Following possibly the biggest disaster in over a century in central Vermont, and after three flood recovery forums this summer in which over 1,000 people participated, a “Commission for Recovery and Resilience” has been formed by the three bodies that convened the forums: the city of Montpelier, Montpelier Alive, and the Montpelier Foundation.

MONTPELIER — In the wake of severe flooding that devastated their downtown, hundreds of Montpelier residents gathered Thursday to discuss how to rebuild the state’s capital — and how to prepare it for the next extreme weather event.

Montpelier Strong, a partnership of the Montpelier Foundation and Montpelier Alive, has announced they will convene in conjunction with the City of Montpelier three major public forums on flood recovery and the future of Montpelier. The first will be held Thursday, August 10, in Alumni Hall (the former gym) at Vermont College of Fine Arts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome.

The Montpelier Foundation and Montpelier Alive held a press conference Monday to officially announce they have combined forces to create a recovery fund to help downtown businesses impacted by the great flood of 2023. Both organizations have links on their websites where donations can be made.

Two organizations partnering to create the fund have already raised $250,000 for grants to businesses affected by the recent disaster.

Read the full article published in the Montpelier Bridge here: https://montpelierbridge.org/2021/06/a-quiet-foundation-supporting-montpelier/

The Montpelier Foundation recently announced a grant award that will enable the Montpelier Parks Department to construct a new multi-use trail that would span the perimeter of Hubbard Park and link downtown Montpelier to the Parks Connector trail at the North Branch Nature Center. The proposed trail will allow for multiple uses including biking, walking, running and skiing and will make use of 1 mile of existing trail and create 3 miles of new trail. “This project is a key part of the city’s broader vision of a network of interconnected trails and highlights the increasingly vital role during this time we are in of access to the outdoors for people’s physical and mental health”, said Montpelier Parks Director Alec Ellsworth.

The Montpelier Foundation recently announced its first three grant awards since becoming an independent nonprofit. Ed Flanagan, Chair of the Board, noted the many valuable projects happening in Montpelier and named the three selected to receive grants: the Montpelier Tree Fund efforts to manage its Ash Tree project; the Montpelier Area Mountain Biking Association’s project to complete its trails at the North Branch Park; and the Montpelier ArtSynergy art installation at the transit center.

Ed Flanagan, Chair of the Montpelier Foundation, is pleased to announce the creation of a special fund to protect and expand the City’s vital tree population. The launching of the Montpelier Tree Fund comes a time when an insect known as the Emerald Ash Borer is threatening to kill all of the ash trees in the City.