Chelsie Brown Wee Bird Bagel Cafe Interview

We interviewed Chelsie Brown of Weebird Bagel Cafe, click the link to read more.

Hedding Drive Construction Management RFP

Randolph Area Community Development Corporation (RACDC) is seeking proposals for construction management services for a project at Hedding Drive in Randolph, VT, involving the rehab of 16 existing units in two buildings at 3 & 5 Hedding Drive, construction of 20-30 new units on land adjacent to the Hedding Drive units, and rehabilitation of 9 units in two nearby buildings. Responses are due by Noon on November 10, 2022.

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Safe & Seen Halloween 2022

Heading Drive - Request for Architects

Randolph Area Community Development Corporation (RACDC) is seeking proposals for architectural services for a project at Hedding Drive in Randolph, VT, involving the rehab of 16 existing units in two buildings at 3 & 5 Hedding Drive, and the development of 20-30 new units on land adjacent to and south of the existing units.

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Join our Team

RACDC seeks a full-time Communications & Downtown Program Coordinator to join its team!  Located in Randolph, VT, the Randolph Area Community Development Corporation (RACDC) is a registered 501(C)3 nonprofit that provides affordable housing, supportive wellness services, and economic development to the Greater Randolph Area. Our dynamic team seeks a full-time Communications & Downtown Program Coordinator to drive the organization’s communication and fundraising strategies, as defined in the organization’s Strategic Plan, and manage Randolph’s Downtown Program, an ongoing economic development initiative affiliated with the State of Vermont’s Designated Downtown Program.

Part time cooking/services for senior residents: RACDC is looking for a staff person to join our Joslyn House team.  Joslyn House provides shared independent senior housing, and support to make life easier, such as three meals a day on site.  The work shift is every other Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am – 6:30pm.  Responsibilities may include meal preparation, service and clean-up; inventory, cleaning, or other duties as assigned.

Learn more about these positions, including instructions for applications, here: https://racdc.com/join-our-team

Renovations at Randolph House Begin

On January 3, 2022, construction of a year’s long rehabilitation project began at Randolph House located on 65 North Main St in Downtown Randolph. Owned and operated by the Randolph Area Community Development Corporation (RACDC) and its subsidiaries for nearly 30 years, Randolph House is one of the oldest and largest senior housing facilities in the region and receives subsidies through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ensure that all eligible low-income seniors can afford to live there. The building contains 48 HUD-subsidized apartments that serve low-income seniors, as well as a handful of younger disabled individuals, and provides ease of access to local businesses and services, such as the Support and Services at Home (SASH) wellness program that RACDC also administers for our region. In addition to providing much needed affordable housing to area seniors, and jobs for local tradespeople in the care and upkeep of the property, Randolph House pays approximately $55k per year in local property taxes to the Town of Randolph. Since RACDC’s management began, the 7-story steel frame, brick building underwent some modest renovations upon acquisition in 1992, and renovation funded through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act in 2012, which consisted primarily of weatherization and energy efficiency updates such as insulation and new heating and solar hot water systems. The current rehabilitation project is intended to bring the entire building’s life safety systems up to current codes, extend the building’s lifespan, increase energy efficiency, and create a comfortable, safe, and supportive environment for residents.

The project scope was developed in partnership with Steve Schenker of S2 Architecture, Naylor & Breen Construction Management, Pride Consulting, and Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), with the thoughtful feedback of residents, property managers and supportive services staff. The rehabilitation work involves the addition of a new elevator tower serving all 7 floors, complete renovations of the building’s five ADA units, new potable water piping and life safety updates, and a new 1-story addition with basement that will provide office space for management and services, expand common area spaces for residents, and add a kitchen and bathrooms. The building’s parking lots and service entrances are also planned to be updated to provide an at-grade entrance from Prince Street to improve access to transportation, safety and functionality of these areas. The new elevator tower, which will complement the existing elevator, will allow residents to access an elevator without interruption during upgrades to the old elevator and periods of regular maintenance. Consistent with the Uniform Relocation Act, residents of Randolph House will be briefly relocated into local, accommodations off-site when rehabilitation activities in resident units are taking place. RACDC’s staff and SASH Coordinator are overseeing the brief relocation of residents and will to continue to ensure all individuals have access to the services and amenities they need.

The project cost, which includes $6 million in construction costs, is made possible through a mixture of federal and state tax credits, loans, and energy incentives that were secured with the support of state agencies and local financial institutions. Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) is providing both federal Low Income Housing Credits and State Tax Credits for the project, with Bar Harbor Bank & Trust acting as the equity partner that purchases those credits. Northfield Savings Bank is RACDC’s lending partner in the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program, and will be providing the long-term subsidized mortgage on the property upon project completion. Additional funding was provided by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) through its state trust funds and awards from federal Housing Trust Funds and HOME Program funds. The HOME Program is administered by HUD and seeks to provide grants to state agencies to implement affordable housing opportunities for low to very-low income Americans. Downtown Tax Credits and energy efficiency incentives were also secured for the project with the support of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and Efficiency Vermont, respectively.

RACDC is grateful to have partnered with an experienced and dedicated team of development professionals and financial lenders to pursue the Randolph House rehabilitations, which would not be possible without their support. We look forward to seeing the project through its completion and ensuring our residents have a safe, comfortable, and deeply enjoyable place to call “home” for many years to come.

Season of Giving Fundraiser

We're kicking off our Season of Giving fundraiser and need your support! We have an ambitious goal to raise $10,000 by the end of the year, but we know we can make it together.  When you make a tax-deductible donation to RACDC, you're supporting:

> Vital affordable housing services that create safety and stability for hundreds of individuals and families

> Wellness support services for seniors in our community 

> Economic development opportunities, including small business loans and tax credit support, for independently owned retailers and service providers

> Community connections and solidarity through partnerships like the Randolph Area Mutual Aid Network (RAMAN)

All donors of RACDC are welcomed as members to the organization, meaning you have a say in the direction of the organization and our ongoing programming. 

Make your donation to our Annual Campaign today, and please share widely! Donate: www.racdc.com/donate

2021 Downtown Randolph Holiday Gift Guide

Located just three miles from I-89, Downtown Randolph has so much to offer for the holiday and winter seasons. Shop for unique holiday gifts, enjoy delicious local food and drink, and so much more! We're proud to present the 2021 Downtown Randolph Holiday Gift Guide featuring Randolph's independently own retailers, restaurants, and experiences for the whole family. Explore the guide here: https://racdc.com/holidays-downtown-randolph

Our 2021 Annual Report

Our 2021 Annual Report is hot off the press! 

To view online visit: https://racdc.com/annualreport2021

Watch the 2021 Annual Meeting!

In case you missed our 2021 Annual Meeting and the highly engaging speakers, you can now view the entire program at your leisure! Watch now at: https://vimeopro.com/user6641730/racdc

To learn more about the event, including our speakers, please visit: www.racdc.com/annualmeeting