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The Department of Housing and Community Development manages the state designation programs – Downtowns, Village Centers, New Town Centers, Growth Centers and Neighborhood Development Areas. These programs work together to provide incentives, align policies and give communities the technical assistance needed to encourage new development and redevelopment in our compact, designated areas.
May 8, 2024 · Vermont state, county, RPC, town, and village codes are given in the following tables. The origins of geographic name fields are given below. Geographic code fields are populated according to the geographic code standards elaborated above. GNIS NAME: Official geographic name according to the Board of Geographic Names.
Purpose. This standard defines codes for various incorporated and widely-used geographic areas in Vermont. Existing federal standards are leveraged by this standard to ensure maximum compatibility with state and federal data. A primary use of these standard codes is to store and link data related to these geographies.
- Vermont Downtown Program
- Downtown Designation
- Village Center Designation
The Vermont Downtown Program was established in 1994 to provide technical assistance and training to communities and help them develop skills and strategies for their downtown revitalization efforts. It is part of the Vermont Department of Historic Preservation.
The 1998 Downtown Development Act provides substantial support for downtown revitalization. Towns that receive downtown designation under the Act are eligible for a number of benefits, including tax credits, loans and grants from various state agencies. To qualify, towns must develop a comprehensive revitalization strategy for the downtown district...
The Second Downtown Development Act (2002) created a new level of designation for Village Centers. Village centers are eligible for benefits including tax credits and priority consideration from other state programs and agencies. The Following Towns have Village Designation status in our region: For more information on the Vermont Downtown and Vill...
Village centers are generally mixed-use areas that serve the surrounding population with goods and services, civic and religious functions, jobs and residences. Village centers must be the traditional historic center with at least one civic or commercial building. Vermont law defines a village center as “the core of a traditional settlement,
For a history of incorporated villages, see former Deputy Secretary of State Paul Gillies' article on "Villages" in Opinions: A Monthly Publication of Information and Advice on Elections and Other Public Matters; Office of the Secretary of State James H. Douglas; Vol. 7, Number 10; May 1, 1988.
Designation 2050: Design the Future of Vermont. Nearly 260 municipalities are designated by the State of Vermont as Downtowns, Village Centers, New Town Centers, Growth Centers and Neighborhood Development Areas. Participants in the program receive benefits such as tax incentives, grant funding, technical assistance and regulatory relief.
