Grants Administration

Grants Administration Committee

An update from Grants Administrator, Karen Hatcher,
regarding the priorities and organization of the Plainfield Grants Work Group effective August 2025.
Link to update: Grants Group Update

WHAT IS THE PLAINFIELD FLOOD RECOVERY GRANTS WORK GROUP?
We are a group of volunteers who responded to a call for administrative/grants assistance following the July 2024 floods. Our first official meeting was in August 2024, and we have been meeting weekly since then to address ways to meet the financial and technical challenges involved in securing federal, state and local support to benefit the Town of Plainfield as we recover from the severe effects of the floods.

CONTACT US
Do you have a question or a suggestion?
Contact us at [email protected]

CDBG-DR grant application documents
CDBG-DR Grant application presentation
CDBG-DR Grant Application with Attachments
Plainfield CDBG-DR budget

MEMBERS OF THE GROUP

Karen Hatcher, Town Grants Administrator
Michael Zahner, Asst. Town Grants Administrator
Gary Smith, Public Assistance Coordinator
Josh Pitts, WWW and Town Road Commissioner, Town Treasurer
Arion Thiboumery, Buyout Coordinator and Village Expansion Lead
Michael Billingsley, Emergency Management Director
Karl Bissex, Select Board Representative
Denise Wheeler, Administrative Support

GOALS OF THE GROUP
Our Primary Goal
To identify, explore and secure all funding and technical resources to benefit the Town of Plainfield.

Short-term (first 3-6 months):

Track all expenses for damage inventory for FEMA PA application
Track all expenses for making roads and infrastructure ready for winter, repairs for emergency access and safety for FEMA PA application
Hire a Disaster Recovery Consultant to ensure we get as much reimbursement from FEMA as we are eligible for
Submit a number of FEMA projects for reimbursement
Identify and apply for any relevant grants that are made available from the State of Vermont
Share grant information with the public, i.e. BEGAP, EWP, others that become available
Investigate housing solutions for future and explore funding possibilities
Hold community information sessions on a regular basis and set up a webpage posted with current information on the town’s website.

Mid-term (6 months - one year):

Complete repairs on Brook Road to ensure safety and access in line with FHWA grant funding process
Begin longer term planning for study and decision process for the Great Brook Watershed
Explore community engagement strategies to support decisions related to future of the village
Continue to work with Federal and State agencies to identify and secure funding for all projects
Work with new owner of Goddard Campus to coordinate housing options and secure any appropriate public/private funds
Continue to update the community with regular information sessions

Long-term (more than one year):

To be determined

May 5, 2025 Flood Recovery Community Update Meeting
Plainfield Flood Recovery Community Update Summary
Plainfield Flood Recovery Community Update presentation
Meeting video

WHAT HAS THE GROUP ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR?

Attended meetings with Federal, State and Community organizations to identify resources and begin the process of long term recovery planning
Submitted a robust Hazard Mitigation Grant pre-application on 8/30 for the Great Brook Watershed Project. Eligible for funds from $90 Million new allocation
Submitted an application for 30 homes to the FEMA Buyout program

Submitted our Request for Public Assistance to FEMA, have made solid progress on our Disaster Inventory ahead of meetings with FEMA representatives to occur in November 2024
Sent out an RFP, interviewed and hired The Integrity Group, a Disaster Recovery Consultant out of Tallahassee, FL to support our FEMA PA application process
Raised $30K from Vermont Community Foundation to help fund disaster recovery efforts

Met with FEMA and FHWA regarding Brook Road status where it was determined that the entirety of Brook Road should be made serviceable for the near term and funded under the FHWA funding program at 100%, and are in the process of hiring an engineering firm
Submitted a "swing for the fences" proposal to the Regional Priority Project list totalling $50 Million to fund housing, infrastructure and community development
Explored the possibility of initiating a Master Recovery Planning process
Engaged the University of Penn Design Studio students, who are providing input related to the Village Expansion project

IS THE GROUP OPEN TO NEW MEMBERS?
Yes, if you have relevant experience and are interested in helping out, please reach out to Karen Hatcher for a conversation. ([email protected])

RELEVANT GRANT/CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
Plainfield CDBG-DR Grant Application and Process Q&A, updated 9-18-25
Recovery Grants Update, Apr 14, 2025
Recovery Grants Update, March 11, 2025
Recovery Grants Update, Feb 24, 2025
Grants Update, Jan 27, 2025
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Pre-Application - August 30, 2024
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Supplemental Filing - September 4, 2024
Central Vermont Regional Priority Project List Submission- October 15, 2024
The Integrity Group (Disaster Recovery Consultant) Contract for Services- October 21, 2024

Link to Village Expansion website