Better Places: Empowering Vermonters to Create Vibrant Public Places
Better Places supported community-led projects that created, revitalized, or activated public spaces, bringing people together to build welcoming and thriving communities across Vermont.
Better Places supported community-led projects that created, revitalized, or activated public spaces, bringing people together to build welcoming and thriving communities across Vermont.
Better Places was a community matching grant program empowering Vermonters to create inclusive and vibrant public places serving Vermont's designated downtowns, village centers, new town centers, and neighborhood development areas. The program was led by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation and Patronicity.
How Better Places Worked
Better Places crowdfunding campaigns were eligible for a 2:1 matching grant ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 to advance community-led placemaking efforts to create, revitalize, or activate public spaces. Municipalities, local community groups, and nonprofit entities with municipal support could apply.
Better Places used a method of grantmaking called “crowdgranting.” Crowdgranting combines crowdfunding–the practice of funding a project with small donations from a large number of people–paired with a matching grant from the State. Crowdgranting builds local awareness, excitement, and shared investment in community-led placemaking projects.
The Better Places program provided one-on-one project coaching and local fundraising support to community leaders to help them develop and run successful crowdfunding campaigns that the State matched with a 2:1 grant.
The International Economic Development Council honored Better Places with Gold for Public-Private Partnership at the 2025 Excellence in Economic Development Awards. The program also received the prestigious Best in Show award.
“The Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development has raised the standard for excellence with its Better Places program. This program is an incredible example of how economic development can empower a community through active support and connection, and it serves as a testament of the partnership’s commitment to its residents and employees.” – Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO.
