resilientmontpelier

Mayfest - Montpelier moves outside!

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Lighting Up Montpelier!

Thanks to extraordinary community effort, Downtown Montpelier has largely recovered from

the devastating flood this summer. Its commercial center remains fragile, however, and needs

your help.

To attract residents and tourists downtown, make walking in the city safer during the winter

months, and to celebrate the resilience and recovery of the capital city, Montpelier Alive is

working to illuminate up to seven historic bridges along the Winooski River and its North

Branch.

In the winter of 2023, as part of a pilot project, Montpelier Alive, Montpelier’s downtown

revitalization non-profit organization, lit up the Langdon Street bridge. Twinkling lights wrapped

around the steel trusses illuminated the center of town and reflected off the river. What was

once a dark side street became a magnet for holiday shoppers, evening dining and a vibrant

music scene. The sparkling bridge declared that Montpelier was open for business and

welcomed all to the party!

Montpelier Alive is collaborating with local historians and naturalists to use Montpelier’s unique

history to inform each bridge’s illumination design. For instance, the Rialto bridge will be

underlit to highlight the North Branch River that runs beneath two lanes of traffic, two

sidewalks and an entire building on State Street! The trusses of the Granite Street bridge will be

lined with large white bulbs, to highlight the engineering of the structure and mimic the rivets

holding the steel beams together. The impact of seven bridges, each uniquely lit, will transfer

Montpelier’s cityscape this winter.

Katie Trautz, Executive Director of Montpelier Alive, believes "Illuminating Montpelier's Bridges

will not only be impactful for our downtown economy as visitors from near and far come to

witness the lights, but the project will act as a metaphor for community resiliency, bringing our

town together for a better future."

This initiative will not require Montpelier tax dollars. Donations and grants will provide the

funds necessary for building the electric infrastructure, the services of the New England Holiday

Lighting Company, the professionals responsible for the magnificent Shelburne Museum Winter

Lights display, and the modest amount of electricity required for the energy efficient LED lights.

Lighting will be limited to times when downtown restaurants and theaters are open to allow

dark skies for sleeping and enjoying the night stars.

Help Montpelier Alive light up the capital city this winter! If the campaign reaches its $13,350

goal by May 31, 2024 the Montpelier Bridge Illumination Project will receive a matching grant of

$26,650 from DHCD’s Better Places program. Click HERE for project details and to DONATE.

The focus of the Better Places grant is on the three bridges that illuminate downtown: the

Rialto, Langdon and School Street bridges. Any remaining funds will help build the

infrastructure to also light the Bailey Avenue, Taylor Street, and Main Street bridges that cross

the Winooski River. Montpelier Alive plans to continue raising funds for all seven bridges over

the next year. For more information on the Bridge project, visit Montpelier Alive’s webpage:

montpelieralive.com/bridges

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Discover Montpelier

Planning for a resilient Montpelier

On July 10th the North Branch of the Winooski crested over 20 feet, filling business basements and retail spaces with floodwaters. Over 4,000 volunteers came to town to help businesses clean up and recover, helping restaurants and retail stores to reopen as quickly as they can. The community came together to organize benefit concerts, festivals and other fundraisers to support our downtown and bring back a more resilient Montpelier!

Follow our progress here:

Montpelier Strong helps to coordinate The Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience, a group whose purpose is to serve as a partner for the city and to coordinate the many working groups advancing flood recovery and resilience projects.

Check out their monthly updates to learn about the Commission's work to date!

Funding Opportunity:

Montpelier Alive Grant Round 3 is closed. Stay tuned for other flood recovery grant opportunities.

Visit these links to find information about Montpelier during the recovery and rebuilding period.

City of Montpelier Flood Disaster Recovery Assistance
What homeowners and small businesses can do:
- Guide to Stormwater Management for Homeowner and small business
- Vermont Rivers Conservancy's recording on actions to take
Contribute to Montpelier's recovery - Ways to Give.
Experience Montpelier's Arts Scene: 'The Renewal Project' brings vibrancy to downtown, while telling our story of the flood. Look for art in buildings and storefronts across town!
Downtown Bathrooms are located at the Montpelier Police Department at 1 Pitkin Court and Montpelier City Hall at 39 Main Street
Montpelier Post Office is closed for now, post offices can be found in neighboring towns including Barre, East Montpelier, and Waterbury

Vermont Arts Council Resiliency Resources:

From the impacts of climate change to violent threats and more, arts and culture organizations are facing unprecedented challenges. We have gathered resources to help you navigate these challenges. We are always looking for more! Please contact us at [email protected] if you have something to share.