Are you a property owner in Downtown Poultney or East Poultney Village Center?
Your historic building could qualify for significant financial incentives through Vermont’s Downtown and Village Center Tax Credit Program. These credits help cover the costs of improving, restoring, or rehabilitating your property, enhancing our community and preserving local heritage.
Is Your Project Eligible?
- Building must be at least 30 years old
- Commercial, rental housing, or nonprofit-owned buildings qualify (single-family residences do not)
- Minimum project cost: $5,000
- Located in Poultney’s Designated Downtown or East Poultney Village Center
- Project may be underway (but not completed) when you apply
Poultney’s Designated Downtown
East Poultney Village Center
What Tax Credits Are Available for Your Project?
Historic Rehabilitation (10% Tax Credit)
- For substantial rehabilitation of certified historic buildings.
- Meets Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
- Applies to the first $500,000 in project costs and half of additional costs beyond that amount.
2025 Awardee Example:
45 Kingman Street, St. Albans – The former U.S. Customs House and Post Office sat mostly vacant since the late 1990s. Supported by both state and federal historic tax credits, the architecturally and historically significant building will now be rehabilitated for mixed commercial use and provide eight new units of housing for the downtown.
Total Project Cost: $649,500; Tax Credits Awarded: $81,250
Façade Improvements (25% Tax Credit)
- Exterior repairs and/or improvements to the front (public) façade of a qualified building
- Up to $100,000 in eligible costs for a maximum of $25,000 in credits is available
- Projects eligible for the 10% historic credit above are ineligible for façade credits
2025 Awardee Example:
60 Gates Street, White River Junction – Historically a hotel and rooming house, the Greenough Block will be rehabilitated to provide 12 apartments with a ground-floor commercial space. The work will ensure the preservation of the building’s historic character. State tax credits will support required code upgrades and façade restoration.
Total Project Cost: $820,000; Tax Credits Awarded: $125,188
Code Improvements (50% Tax Credit)
- Brings buildings up to modern safety and accessibility codes
- Covers elevators (up to $75,000), sprinkler systems (up to $50,000), LULA elevators (up to $60,000), lifts (up to $12,000), and other code compliance measures (up to $50,000)
2025 Awardee Example:
12-14 Elliot Street, Brattleboro – The vacant Leonard Block, a mixed-use commercial/residential building will be rehabilitated to provide 10 apartments and street-level commercial space. Tax credits will support mandated code upgrades as well as restoration of historic features, while improving the building’s energy efficiency.
Total Project Cost: $4,487,634; Tax Credits Awarded: $338,325
Flood Mitigation (50% Tax Credit)
- For improvements aimed at reducing flood risk
- Up to $75,000
2025 Awardee Example:
650 Main Street, Bennington – The former Bennington High School will be redeveloped to provide 39 units of housing, with both affordable and market rate units, along with a childcare facility and public meeting space. A state tax credit award will support flood mitigation measures and the building’s sensitive historic rehabilitation.
Total Project Cost: $48,448,401; Tax Credits Awarded: $1,255,830
Are You Ready To Apply?
Steps to Apply
- Contact Us: We will help determine if your project is eligible and schedule a visit with Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development staff
- Plan Your Project: Pull together budget information, “before” photographs
- Submit Application: Work with our team to submit your completed application to the State ahead of the deadline (not yet announced)