Governor Phil Scott today attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new building at the former Richmond Creamery site. The new development, which has retained the creamery name, is a mixed-use, net zero, multi-phased development in the heart of Richmond’s downtown.
The building sits on the site of the former Saputo cheese factory, which closed in 1999. $1.4 million in public and private funds were used to clean the site and the first building will provide commercial space and 14 new residential units for both existing and new Richmond residents. Three more buildings are planned for construction, offering a total of 75,000 square feet of development.
Through a partnership with state, federal, local and private entities, the site was selected as one of the pilot Brownfield Economic Revitalization Alliance (BERA) projects in 2015. The BERA designation allows for coordination, priority funding and cross-departmental project management necessary to clean up and capitalize on the economic opportunity of brownfield sites.
“This development project is an example of what can get done when state agencies and local downtowns work together with private developers to achieve the common goals to revitalize economic centers and create needed housing in Vermont’s small downtowns, while protecting the environment,” said Governor Scott.
“The BERA designation provided the necessary coordination, collaboration, resources and project management required to clean up such a complicated and expensive project and capitalize on the economic productivity the downtown location warrants,” said Josi Kytle, co-owner and developer of the property.
During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Governor Scott also signed Executive Order No. 08-19. BERA, which came together in 2012, has been working with pilot projects to streamline brownfield remediation and redevelopment. Today’s executive order formalizes the alliance, ensuring federal, state and local agencies along with private entities continue to bring unused or underutilized brownfields back into economic productivity.
Click here for a full list of BERA projects and to learn more about the alliance.
Click here to view the Executive Order.
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Governor Scott signs Executive Order 08-19
Governor Scott, Brendan O'Reilly and Josi Kytle cut ribbon at Richmond Creamery development
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