Grants Administration Committee

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]

WHO ARE THE 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

 

WHAT ARE THE 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

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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

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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])

HOW DO I FIND THE MEETING NOTES FROM MEETINGS?
Click Here for links to meeting notes.
Mar 11, 2025
Feb 25, 2025
Feb 18, 2025, spreadsheet
Feb 4, 2025
Jan 28, 2025
Jan 21, 2025
Jan 14, 2025
Jan 7, 2025​
Dec 17, 2024
Aug 17, 2024
Sep 3, 2024
Sep 10, 2024
Sep 24, 2024
Oct 1, 2024
Oct 8, 2024
Oct 15, 2024
Oct 22, 2024
Nov 4, 2024
Nov 12, 2024
Dec 3, 2024
Dec 10, 2024

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WHERE CAN I FIND RELEVANT GRANT/CONTRACT DOCUMENTS?
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​