Vermont State Colleges says Downstreet project wins CDBG funds for McClellan housing; Martinetti application not selected
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Summary
An administrator told trustees Downstreet’s application to convert the McClellan Building into senior housing received CDBG funding and congressional support; the system’s Martinetti Hall grant application was not selected and officials will seek alternative funding and partnerships.
A Vermont State Colleges official briefed the board that Downstreet’s application to convert the McClellan Building on the Johnson campus into senior housing was approved for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and had received congressionally designated support.
The administrator said the approved investment will enable new senior housing on the Johnson campus and described the outcome as a positive step for the campus and surrounding community. The official added that the system had submitted a separate CDBG application for Martinetti Hall (to pull some municipal services from the town, which floods), but that Martinetti’s application was not selected in this funding round. The official described the competitive process and said the Martinetti proposal was well received; the system will explore additional funding pathways and community partnerships and bring concepts forward as they mature.
Trustees were told the projects align with longer-term strategy for the Johnson campus and that preliminary conversations with partners about relocating or colocating services (including health care and other public-facing services) are underway. The board did not take further action on the grants during the meeting; staff said they will pursue next steps and update the board when concepts develop.
