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Windham County officials outline $1.1 million lead-hazard program and free contractor training
Summary
Windham County officials told the Jamaica Select Board the county received $1,100,000 in HUD lead-hazard capacity-building funds to train contractors, expand abatement capacity statewide, and finance lead hazard reductions for low-income households; application rules require households to be under 80% area median income.
Windham County outreach coordinator Emily Gibbs and program manager Alicia Underwood told the Jamaica Select Board that the county was awarded $1,100,000 in HUD lead-hazard reduction capacity-building funds and plans to use the grant to expand local abatement capacity and outreach.
"Our goal is to increase capacity for abatement work in Vermont statewide through free training," Emily Gibbs said, describing free RRP (renovation, repair, painting, and maintenance) courses and abatement worker and supervisor certifications the program will offer. Gibbs said the county will also build an application waitlist for qualifying homes and connect with local contractors and property owners to promote the trainings.
Alicia Underwood said HUD rules limit eligibility to households under 80% of area median income and that the three-year grant ends in December 2027. Underwood summarized expected per-unit support: up to $3,500 for LIRA inspections and up to $24,366 per unit for lead hazard reduction work. "We will be continuing to train contractors until the money has been spent," Underwood said, and the county expects environmental review to be complete by next fall and application intake to begin thereafter.
Board members discussed local outreach channels. Chair suggested posting a direct registration link on the town website; Gibbs said the county would be willing to share materials for the town's web and social channels. The county requested a town official to join their quarterly steering committee and encouraged residents and contractors to sign up for classes held monthly around the region.
