Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger and Burlington Fire Fighters Association (BFFA) leaders signed a new three-year contract. With the BFFA contract, the Administration completes a twelve-contract run without arbitration over three rounds of bargaining with the City’s four unions; the American Federation of State, County, Municipal, Employees (AFSCME), Burlington Fire Fighters Association (BFFA), Burlington Police Officers’ Association (BPOA), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

The Mayor made the following statement:

“Since first being elected, I have sought to reach agreements with the City’s unions at the negotiating table, instead of through adversarial binding arbitration. Our consistent success proves that through good communication and strong collaboration with our unions, it is possible to build fair contracts that value workers while protecting taxpayers.

In all of our contract negotiations, we have taken on our biggest employment challenges head-on – including rising health care and pension costs – and this was our most challenging bargaining round yet, as it took place during a time of great economic uncertainty and high inflation that is impacting workers, households, and City expenses.  The Administration worked hard to come together with our union leaders to ensure competitive wages, and fair benefits, and to become the first town or city in Vermont to support its employees with paid family leave, all while limiting financial risk to Burlington’s taxpayers and ratepayers and creating the needed recruitment and retention tools for the City to succeed during the current workforce shortage.

I am grateful to serve alongside our hardworking City employees who provide a variety of essential services from emergency response, to running our elections, to maintaining public infrastructure. It is thanks to their skills and commitment that Burlington will have a safer, greener, and more just future.”

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Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger made the following statement:

“During a week when we should all have the opportunity to gather with loved ones and celebrate the uniquely American holiday of Thanksgiving, we are once again confronted with the horror of the uniquely American scourge of mass shootings.

Burlington condemns these killings in the strongest possible terms and offers strength and solidarity to the grieving communities of Colorado Springs, CO, and Chesapeake, VA.

That the Colorado violence once again took place in an LGBTQ+ space, during a period of rising violence against queer and trans people across the country and in Vermont, is a further outrage and tragedy that has shaken many members of our community. I urge all Burlingtonians to do what they can to support the LGBTQ+ community during this painful time and to continue Burlington’s vigilance against hate and bigotry.

As of this morning, the United States has experienced at least 606 mass shootings in 2022, after experiencing 692 in 2021, and routine gun violence has corroded public safety throughout Vermont this year. No other country tolerates this level of gun violence, and we should not either. Since state government has aggressively blocked Burlington and other Vermont cities and towns from taking action to protect its people from gun violence, the Governor and state legislature have a duty to act this session to pass statewide gun safety measures to keep all Vermonters safe and free from fear.”

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Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger and University of Vermont (UVM) President Suresh Garimella announced and celebrated the completion of the University Place street improvements. The City of Burlington and UVM collaborated on the project to make the central location safer for all people including pedestrians, bicyclists, and other active transportation users.

“This project is an example of how the City and our partners can work together to advance common goals for a safer, greener future,” said Mayor Weinberger. “This investment makes important water and sewer modernizations underground while ensuring that students, faculty, and visitors can travel safely whether they walk, bike, drive, or bus to work and school.”

Identified in UVM’s Master Plan and Active Transportation Plan as a high priority, the City’s improvements to University Place create a new multimodal street with a pedestrian crossing plaza, wider sidewalks, buffered bike lanes, and decorative lighting, as well as modernized water and sewer infrastructure. Located between historic campus buildings and the University Green, the one-way street can better accommodate student events and gatherings with long-term parking removed and an improved food truck area with permanent electric utilities to eliminate the need for generators.

“The University Place project has visually transformed this historic heart of UVM’s campus, providing a much-improved and safer connection between our most iconic buildings and the beautiful university green," said UVM President Suresh Garimella. "This project could not have happened without the strong support of our partners in the city of Burlington and we thank them for their commitment to this project.”

Background

• In February 2018 the City entered into a sustainable infrastructure agreement with UVM with respect to the City's Ten-Year Capital Plan. UVM’s investment, combined with that of Champlain College, allowed the City to bond for General Fund capital work with the two institutions making debt service payments on that bond over a 20 year period.
• In that agreement, the City and UVM agreed to jointly advance significant investments in the hardscape and streetscape of University Place that would improve safety and accessibility for students, faculty, and residents.
• Public outreach and stakeholder engagement began in the fall of 2020, followed by design. Construction on the project began in May of 2022 and was completed in November 2022, about 1-month ahead of scheduled.
• Total investment in the University Place project was $3.2 million, paid for by $1.375 million in City Capital Funds; $225,000 in ARPA funds; $1.6 million in UVM Capital Funds.
• The project reconstructed approximately 1,200 feet of sidewalk on the east side, built approximately 270 feet of new sidewalk on the west side, created 1.25 miles of bike infrastructure, included 1.88 miles of paving, and relined water and sewer infrastructure throughout the project area.

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Mayor Weinberger Announces the Return of the BTV Winter Market

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger announced that tomorrow the BTV Winter Market will return to City Hall Park. A collaboration between Burlington City Arts (BCA) and Love Burlington, the BTV Winter Market is an outdoor market featuring a rotating group of local artists, makers, and food vendors in a festive atmosphere that captures the spirit of the season.

“The BTV Winter Market creates a vibrant and joyful space for our community to celebrate this special time of year while supporting a broad spectrum of local artists and small businesses,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “We’re excited to grow on the success of last year’s season and this year’s summer market, and to welcome even more families, neighbors, and visitors to the downtown this holiday season.”

BCA and Love Burlington launched the first-ever BTV Winter Market in 2021 and have doubled the number of vendor booths and participants for its second year. Each Market day there will be 20 booths, rotating to feature 80 seasoned makers and emerging local vendors over 6 weeks. Local vendors participating include printmakers, painters, jewelers, woodworkers, daycare providers, and photographers. Food options will range from coffee and soup to Thai, Somali, and Mediterranean fare.

"The BTV Winter Market is a tremendous collaboration between artists, small businesses, and the City,” said Executive Director of BCA Doreen Kraft. “We are so proud to continue and expand the legacy of our artists market, and add even more micro-businesses and BIPOC entrepreneurs to our wonderful rotation of vendors."

A 5-person panel of community members selected the vendors from over 100 applications. Of 80 vendors chosen for this BTV Winter Market is 19% BIPOC-owned and 80% women-owned. There will be 13 retailers and 60 artists featured.

“This market, like our summer market, is an important micro-business incubator,” said Burlington’s Director of Business and Workforce Development Kara Alnasrawi. “It allows small entrepreneurs to access a much larger customer base than normal and we hope it is the first step in growing their businesses.” 

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Every year on November 11th at 11:00 am Mayor Weinberger participates in an annual event hosted by the VFW Howard Plant Post 782 at Battery Park to commemorate Veterans Day. The timing of the event originates at the end of World War I when the armistice between the Allies and Germany began at 11:00 am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year.

Below are the Mayor's remarks from this year's event: 
 

Good morning,

I want to thank you all for joining us today and honoring the millions of Americans who have served in our armed forces.

As Mayor, it is always a great privilege to join you to reflect on Vermont’s and Burlington’s proud tradition of military service and the positive impact of that service on our community.

To the veterans here with us and their families, on behalf of the people of Burlington, I say thank you for that service.  Thank you for your sacrifice.  Thank you for all that you have done to keep this city safe.

On Veterans Day, I also remember my grandfather, Teddy, who served in World War II and was part of the successful campaign of the Allied forces to retake France and then push the Nazis back toward Germany.  He was five months into his European deployment on November 11, 1944, when my mother, Ethel, was born. 

Fortunately, Teddy survived the war and returned to America to prosper.  He got to spend many happy years with his grandchildren. However, he never got back that chance to be there for the birth of his first child.

So many Burlingtonians, Vermonters, and Americans have such stories – many stories of far greater sacrifice.

To our Veterans, I share I am moved by your stories, your service, and your commitment to our City, State, and country.  Today, we honor and remember your service.

We gather like this twice a year, on Veterans Day and Memorial Day.  I have been participating in these ceremonies for over a decade now, and I have often found it challenging to fully evoke the connection between the prosperity we enjoy here and America’s military conflicts.  The horrific battles this country has faced in deserts, beaches, and cities around the world can feel very distant from this beautiful place.

Much less so this year.

Today we gather at a time when war is once again raging in Europe.  We gather at a moment when once again it is very clear that, at times, all that separates us from a world dominated by tyrants and fascists is the willingness of free people to fight for liberty, justice, and democracy.

Just before coming to the park this morning, I saw a video of the Ukrainian flag flying again in Kherson, the only regional capital that Russia had, before today, been successful in capturing in nine months of fighting. 

The world is so much safer today – we are so much safer here in Burlington – with President Putin humiliated and retreating, than the world we would have been living in had he succeeded at claiming Ukraine by force quickly and easily.

It is the men and women of Ukraine, of course, who are paying the ultimate sacrifice in this war against tyranny. 

However, we are standing with them in aid and in spirit and must continue to do so resolutely. 

I am grateful that we have had a federal delegation that has been committed to this.

And the bravery and sacrifice of the Ukrainians are a fresh reminder of how important it is that so many Americans are willing to wear the uniform and defend the values and safety of this country.

So, in conclusion, I say again, thank you to all our veterans

And to the families of our veterans, we know and honor your sacrifice too.

Thank you all – and Happy Veterans Day.

Mayor Weinberger Celebrates Completion of the Shelburne Street Roundabout Project Ahead of Schedule

$7.7 Million Federal Investment for Safer Streets, Pedestrian, and Stormwater Improvements

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced and celebrated the completion of the Shelburne Street Roundabout Project in Burlington’s south end. The Project redesigned the existing rotary into a modern roundabout, provides designated crossing locations with rapid flashing beacons, new sidewalks, and shared-use paths. It was funded through the State of Vermont’s Highway Safety Improvement Program with $7.7 million in Federal Highway Administration dollars.

“This intersection was one of the worst, most confusing and dangerous intersections in the city. Fixing it has been a priority of the neighbors for decades” said Mayor Weinberger. “Through our partnership with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, the City was able to deliver these dramatic infrastructure improvements to make travel safer and easier for Burlingtonians and visitors whether they walk, bike, or drive through this gateway corridor.”

Where appropriate, roundabouts have been known to reduce crashes by up to 72 percent per the Federal Highway Administration.

“The roundabout we celebrate today is a marvel of modern road architecture. I am excited for the design that requires low speeds and supports continuous traffic flow, improves user sightlines, will reduce crashes, and shorter crosswalks for pedestrians,” said City Council President Karen Paul. “As well, the renewed gateway appeal is a wonderful plus for our city. While there were many twists and turns to get us here, the smooth curves are a delight to the eye and a win for everyone. There may be other roundabouts but this one is uniquely ours. Many thanks to all who played a role in allowing us to arrive at this special day, the VTrans Team, the entire DPW team, SD Ireland, and many others. It was everyone working together, working collaboratively, with excellent management and design, and a grateful community that were the ingredients to a wonderful outcome. May the roundabout serve us for generations to come.”

"The Shelburne Street Roundabout project has created a safer traveling experience for the thousands of Burlington residents and visitors a day who use this corridor," said Public Works Director Chapin Spencer. "This partnership between the City and the State has delivered an innovative multi-modal solution with a one-lane roundabout at a high crash location. Data, community input and perseverance have led us to this important milestone in the evolution of Burlington's transportation system." 

Street reconstruction for the project included portions of Shelburne Street, South Willard Street, Ledge Road, Locust Street, Gove Court, and Adams Court. Furthermore, the project improved drainage, stormwater runoff treatment, upgraded aging infrastructure, and relocated and consolidated utility transmissions underground. Approximately 700 bulbs were planted in the center of the roundabout, and Burlington City Arts will commission a public art installation.

Background

• This intersection has been identified as a high crash location on the State’s High Crash Listings since the completion of the Shelburne Street Rotary Report in 2002.
• In 2007, the intersection entered the State’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), and Resource Systems Group, Inc. was hired to update traffic analysis and create conceptual designs.
• In 2008, the Burlington Public Works Commission and the Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee selected the design of a single-lane roundabout.
• In 2009 the design was approved by the Federal Highway Administration, and the project qualified for 100% federal funding through the State of Vermont’s Highway Safety Improvement Program.
• In May 2021 the project was awarded to S.D. Ireland Brothers for $7.7 million.
• Construction began in August 2021 and was estimated to be completed in the summer of 2023.
• The roundabout first opened to traffic on November 1, 2022, and the installation of the permanent pavement markings this week marks the completion of the Shelburne Street Roundabout Project.

Driver Safety

• Yield to traffic inside the roundabout at each entry point
• Do not stop or yield once inside the roundabout
• In instances in which emergency vehicles enter the roundabout – drivers should exit the roundabout before pulling over
• Be aware of and yield to pedestrians and cyclists at the designated crossing locations

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Mayor Weinberger Celebrates Opening of The Moran FRAME

Friends of the FRAME Announces Plan to Activate the Site

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the opening of The Moran FRAME, a new iconic Burlington landmark and public space on the Burlington waterfront featuring the revived steel superstructure of the former J. Edward Moran Municipal Generating Station.

“Today we’re celebrating the rebirth of the post-industrial northern waterfront, and the reclamation of this site on the shores of Lake Champlain as a treasure for Burlingtonians and visitors alike to know and enjoy,” said Mayor Weinberger. “The Moran FRAME will stand as a proud symbol of the innovative spirit of this community for generations to come, and will serve as a centerpiece for all the outdoor recreation, community programming, local commerce, food, and art happening in Waterworks Park.”

Following 30 years of stalled efforts to reimagine the site of the long-abandoned former coal plant, the Moran FRAME represents significant transformation of the northern waterfront and a testament of the City’s long-held commitment to the conservation of public spaces, as well as to energy transformation. The building was first commissioned in 1952 by then Mayor Moran as a coal fired plant, converted to wood chips in 1977, and ultimately decommissioned in 1986. In 2014, the City of Burlington became the first in the nation to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, and in 2019 Mayor Weinberger announce a plan to achieve Net Zero by 2030.

As the first phase of redevelopment at this site wraps up a new, independent, non-profit organization, Friends of the FRAME, has been established to support the sustained use of this site as an ever-evolving, four-season, public space focused on facilitating high-quality, inclusive public programming and support ongoing stewardship of this place. The City and Friends of the FRAME are currently piloting a partnership that will bring a series of initial activations to the site, the first one being the two swing benches facing the lake developed in partnership with Generator.

"Our ultimate hope for The FRAME is that it never loses that intangible sense of possibility and promise that eventually led us to this moment,” said Zach Campbell, founder and Director of Friends of the FRAME. “And that for decades captured the hearts and imaginations of countless dreamers – inspiring bold ideas, and bringing people together in substantive, meaningful ways. That is the true energy future of this power plant, and when that energy can be harnessed into action there is almost no limit to its potential."

"BCA is committed to the idea that public art contributes to a city’s well-being in countless ways,” said Burlington City Arts Executive Director Doreen Kraft. “From inspiring ideas and reflection and beautifying public spaces to supporting local artists financially and helping to draw creative businesses to a community that values culture and the arts. We look forward to working with local artists and businesses to bring this wonderful, unique, and lasting work of art to life."

Background

• Past efforts to revive or redevelop the former coal-fired plant were pursued from 1986 to 2017 and spanned everything from a full adaptive reuse of the building to complete demolition.
• Within his first 100-days in office, Mayor Weinberger announced a “NoGo” Decision on the prior administration’s plans for commercial development of the building.
• In early 2014, Mayor Weinberger announced a slate of projects for the Waterfront Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, ultimately approved by the City Council and Burlington voters, bringing $9.6 million in TIF funds to leverage additional investment.
• Following the public vote in March 2014, the City signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with New Moran, Inc. in August 2014, giving the nonprofit company the exclusive opportunity to redevelop the Moran Plant.
• In 2017, the City and New Moran Inc. ceased redevelopment efforts. The Mayor cited feasibility concerns, saying, “it is time to turn the page on this effort and find a reuse of the site that expands and complements the major progress on the northern waterfront that we have enjoyed over the past five years.”
• In February 2020, the City Council approved the administration’s proposed Phase 1 investments.
• In August 2020, the City broke ground on the Moran FRAME.

Investments Completed in Phase 1 of the Moran FRAME Project

• Removal of the brick and concrete exterior of the Moran Plant, avoiding the significant expense of stabilizing the bricks, and revealing the steel frame beneath;
• Stabilized the steel frame;
• Abated and remediated hazardous building materials, including asbestos, lead paint, and PCB paint, in order to make the site stable and safe for the public;
• Completed remediation of the soils at the Moran site and, in so doing, finished remediation of soils throughout the Waterfront Access North area;
• Created an at-grade, level grassy area at the site and accessible paths through and around the FRAME making connections to Waterworks Park and the Burlington Greenway;
• Introduced sub-grade utilities to provide lighting and support future, additional investment at the Moran FRAME, and
• Painted the steel superstructure, restored the iconic “City of Burlington” letters added new interpretive signage, installed dramatic LED lighting for nighttime use;  
• The project budget was $6.55 million, funded by $3.559 million from the Waterfront TIF district, a $2 million redevelopment loan from the federal Agency of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and $950,000 from the Burlington Electric Department for environmental remediation.

Transformation of the Northern Waterfront

The Moran FRAME is the final of six projects approved by voters in 2014 to strengthen and revive the northern waterfront. These projects were recommended by a public committee through the Public Investment Action Plan (PIAP) process, and funded through the Waterfront TIF district, leveraging federal and private funds, without any impact on current property taxes. The six project are:

• The Moran FRAME;
• The new home for the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center;
• The new Water Works Park which increased access to the water’s edge through a wooden boardwalk, benches, fishing pier, and many native shrubs, grasses, and trees;
• Improved landscaping, environmental remediation, and utility relocations in the Waterfront Park and the entire northern waterfront;
• New parking amenity, solar canopy, rain gardens, and public art at ECHO; and
• Expansions to the Burlington Harbor Marina along with publicly accessible amenities like bathrooms and parking.

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Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the appointment of Kimberly Carson as the City’s new Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Kim most recently served as the Director of Education and Human Capital Development for the Iowa Judicial Branch Leading Judicial Education and Professional Development for nearly two thousand judicial branch employees and providing strategic leadership for diversity and equity initiatives across the agency.

“Since creating this position within the Administration in the fall of 2019, the REIB Department has gone through tremendous growth and taken on numerous critical initiatives to advance equity within our local government and throughout the Burlington community,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Kim’s appointment to this critical role on our leadership team comes after a nationwide search. Kim comes to us with extensive experience in government and has the right skills, energy, and vision to take the REIB Department forward and to continue the urgent work of ending racial disparities and fostering a sense of belonging in Burlington for all.” 

“The opportunity to call Burlington home and to continue the critical work entrusted to the REIB Department is a great honor and responsibility that I do not take lightly," said Carson. To build upon the previous efforts of the community, and leadership, with the ongoing support of the Mayor and the City Council, together we will continue our efforts to be at the forefront of equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts in Burlington and beyond through strategic leadership focused on measurable and sustained outcomes. I look forward to listening and learning from my new neighbors and friends and making Burlington our new home.”

Carson’s Background

Kim has served in multiple roles in the Iowa Judicial Branch, starting as a Juvenile Court Officer and ultimately serving as the Director of Education of Human and Capital Development. She brings extensive experience to the role in training, social justice advocacy, and organizational cultural change. She holds a Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies from Louisiana State University, and is pursuing a Masters in Organizational Leadership and Learning from George Washington University.

Prior to 2007, Kim worked as a collegiate track and field coach in Iowa and for USA Track and Field. Kim has been inducted into the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame and competed at the 1996 US Olympic trials.

Kim plans to relocate with her family to Burlington in December.

Search Process and Next Steps

The national search for a REIB Director was led by Kerin Durfee. The Search Committee reviewed applications from many qualified candidates from across the country and advanced three finalists to the Mayor for consideration. The committee included:

• Kerin Durfee, HR Director
• Vanessa Santos Eugenio, Human Resources, Talent, Development & Diversity Manager
• Ali Dieng, Ward 7 City Councilor
• Kara Alnasrawi, Director of Business Support and Workforce Development
• Thea Heck, REIB Digital Content Manager
• Mohamad Jafar, REIB Racial Equity Trainer
• Jabulani Gamache, Police Commissioner
• Patrick Brown, Director of the Greater Burlington Multicultural Resource Center
• Marlon Fisher, Community Member
• Luis Calderin, Community Member

The Mayor will bring forward the appointment for approval by the City Council at their regular meeting on Monday, November 7. If confirmed, Kim will begin work on November 8.

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Burlington, VT – The Burlington Electric Department (BED) today, joined by Mayor Miro Weinberger, ARC Industries Founder and CEO Robert Monteith, and leaders from Burlington International Airport (BTV) and the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, announced a partnership with ARC Industries to pioneer ARC’s new, leading-edge wind turbine – The Orb – at BTV in pursuit of Burlington’s goal of becoming a Net Zero Energy City by 2030. The Orb, tagged with model number ORB-A-001, will be ARC’s first-ever deployment of its new energy technology and will provide BED with the opportunity to pilot a potential means of further diversifying its renewable energy offerings in Burlington’s urban environment.

“As Burlington boldly pursues the nation’s most ambitious climate goal, we continue to look for new tools to provide community members to help them on the path to Net Zero Energy,” stated Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Burlington already generates the most solar energy per person of any City in the Northeast, and rooftop wind is an exciting new frontier in renewable energy. We are excited to pilot this innovative, new technology with ARC Industries right here at the Burlington International Airport.”

“Burlington Electric Department is proud to partner with ARC Industries to demonstrate this new wind energy technology that offers the promise of adding a new rooftop renewable energy option for our customers in the future,” stated Darren Springer, General Manager, Burlington Electric Department. “Burlington Electric has a long history of supporting wind power, including through long-term contracts with multiple wind energy projects. This project today is a great example of the success of Burlington Electric’s participation in the DeltaClimeVT business accelerator program and highlights a welcome opportunity for collaboration between our 100 percent renewable public power utility and a seed-stage renewable energy business.”

“The Orb offers a fresh, new take on renewable energy,” stated Robert Monteith, ARC Industries Founder and CEO. “With The Orb – our rooftop wind turbine – we deliver wind power that is affordable and accessible to everyone, requiring little to no maintenance. We are thrilled to be partnering with Burlington Electric Department and the City of Burlington to deploy our very first product, The Orb, and look forward to expanding upon this exciting pilot program.”

ARC Industries, headquartered in Bridgewater, MA, earned a top award during the 2021 DeltaClimeVT business accelerator program that serves startup and seed-stage ventures focusing on energy and climate economy innovation across multiple industries. Through that award, BED is partnering with ARC on a pilot program for the purpose of exploring expanded deployment of newer rooftop wind generation technologies. After one year of electricity production, BED has the option to extend the term of the contract, purchase The Orb, or have ARC remove The Orb.

The ARC Industries Orb, a vertical access wind turbine, produces 3.0 kilowatts of power and is ideal for commercial, industrial, and residential rooftops. The eight-foot tall and six-foot in diameter Orb was installed last week in the southeastern-most corner of the BTV parking garage rooftop. Key features of The Orb include: ability to deploy in compact spaces; built to last in all climates and weather conditions; generates power in even the lightest breeze; requires virtually no maintenance; projected 25+ year lifespan; projected to pay for itself with electricity savings in five to 10 years.

“At the Airport, we’re elated and grateful to have the opportunity to be the first airport in the country to host The Orb,” stated Nic Longo, Aviation Director, Burlington International Airport. “The Orb is a great complement to the existing 500-kilowatt solar array and aids BTV in our goal of becoming the nation’s greenest airport. This renewable energy source expansion is one of the first steps in what is to come at BTV.”

“ARC’s innovative approach to wind energy is a great fit for Vermont, where solar may not be a viable option at all locations” stated Geoff Robertson, Managing Director, DeltaClimeVT. “Within the bigger goal of accelerating the best ideas available to address climate change, it’s exciting to find companies that are the right fit for Vermont.”

“DeltaClimeVT has generated 20 pilot programs in Vermont, giving promising climate economy companies like ARC a launching pad to address global issues,” stated Ellen Kahler, Executive Director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund. “Vermont's size and the fact that we can access leaders from the energy industry to mentor startups like ARC mean we can help move companies faster toward implementable solutions."

Over the course of one year, The Orb is expected to produce an amount of electricity equivalent to power 1.5 residential homes. For comparison purposes, approximately 25 of the 1,840 panels that make up BTV’s 500-kilowatt solar array would produce the same amount of electricity as The Orb.

Burlington was recognized in 2014 as the first city in the nation to source 100 percent of its power from renewable generation and has continued to do so. BED not only sources 100 percent of its power from renewable generation, but also is 100 percent renewable after accounting for renewable energy certificate (REC) sales and purchases.

In 2019, Mayor Miro Weinberger and BED released the Net Zero Energy Roadmap to guide efforts to strategically electrify in the thermal and ground transportation sectors and to make other efforts to reduce emissions in service of the City’s 2030 climate goal.   

For further information about ARC Industries and The Orb, please visit www.arcindustries.co or email info@arcindustries.co.

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HUD Officials Join Mayor Weinberger to Celebrate Burlington House America Commitment and Discuss Goals to Address Homelessness and Increase Affordable Housing

House America leverages American Rescue Plan and other federal resources to immediately re-house and build additional housing for people experiencing homelessness

Burlington, VT - Today, HUD New England Regional Administrator Juana Matias joined Mayor Weinberger at the site of Elmwood Emergency Shelter Community to discuss Burlington’s success in reaching their 2022 House America goals and talk about the city’s future goals to address homelessness and increase affordable housing supply.

House America is a national partnership in which HUD and USICH invited mayors, county leaders, Tribal nation leaders, and governors to use the historic investments provided through the American Rescue Plan to address the crisis of homelessness through a Housing First approach by immediately re-housing and building additional housing for people experiencing homelessness.

“House America began with a call to our local leaders to address the nation’s homelessness crisis with the historic ARP investments and other federal, state, and local resources,” said HUD Regional Administrator Juana Matias. “And Mayor Weinberger and Burlington answered that call. So today we are reaffirming that commitment and celebrating the progress we’ve made in re-housing homeless individuals and creating more affordable housing for the community.”

“We have set forth a goal to effectively end homelessness in the City of Burlington by 2025,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Nearly one year into that work, the achievement of meeting our more immediate commitments to House America is an early, important indicator of progress toward that goal. With such strong alignment between our City and State and Federal governments I am confident we can do what is required to in the months and years ahead to fulfill the promise of housing as a human right in Burlington.”

In December 2021 Mayor Weinberger announced 10-point Action Plan to Fulfill the Promise of Housing as a Human Right in Burlington, each initiative of the plan supports two overarching goals: to double the rate of housing production and to end chronic homeless. In February, Mayor Weinberger also signed on to House America and committed Burlington to produce 8 new units dedicated to the formerly homeless and to re-house 66 homeless households in 2022. Between May and September, 108 households were placed in permanent housing in Chittenden County, and 7 new homeless dedicated units have been created. The City expects another 20 units to become available by February 2023 through the Vermont Housing Improvement Program, managed by the State of Vermont Housing and Community Development department, which provides direct financial support for private landlords to improve existing rental properties.

Another 39 homeless dedicated units are anticipated to come online between now and 2025 as part of planned private housing developments. The City and Champlain Housing Trust continue to work toward the late November opening of the ARP-funded Elmwood Emergency Shelter Community which will host 30-35 emergency beds.

House America is the federal government’s direct response to the crisis of homelessness, which was rising even before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March of last year, HUD released its 2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report Part 1 to Congress, which found that more than 580,000 people experienced homelessness in the United States on a single night in January 2020, prior to the pandemic. COVID-19 has created greater urgency to address homelessness, given the heightened risks faced by people experiencing homelessness. At the same time, COVID-19 has slowed re-housing activities due to capacity issues and impacts on rental market vacancies.

To learn more about House America, visit: www.hud.gov/house_america.

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