September 11 , 2025
Waitsfield offers $8M in wastewater loans and grants
Waitsfield has secured a funding package from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the first phase of its municipal wastewater project – but the package looks different from what town officials expected. The USDA Rural Development package includes a $649,000 grant and a $7.5 million low-interest loan, totaling just over $8 million. The package builds on previous state federal investments in the project, bringing total USDA support to more than $12 million. That funding will help cover the first phase of a $16 million wastewater system that aims to serve Irasville, Fiddlers Green and, eventually, Waitsfield Village and the elementary school.
Select board member Chach Curtis said the USDA’s contribution – while vital – reflects a new and more difficult funding environment under the current presidential administration.
“Big picture, the whole funding landscape has changed since the election,” Curtis said. “Not trying to get all political, but a lot of grant money has been clawed back – money that was either already awarded or in process.”
The town had once envisioned a much more favorable grant-to-loan ratio. At one point, officials hoped that up to 90% of the $16 million project could be funded by grants, particularly from sources like the federal Inflation Reduction Act and Congressional-directed spending. But in recent months, much of that funding has disappeared.
“Congressional earmarks were supposed to cover a significant chunk. That program’s been shut down,” Curtis said. “We had $5 million from the state of Vermont through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for a pollution control grant. We qualified, but the state says that money just isn’t available right now. Maybe later. Not today.”
In total, Curtis said more than $10 million in potential funding has either been permanently lost or temporarily frozen due to shifting federal and state priorities. That has forced the town to reconsider how to move forward while keeping the project affordable for users.
The USDA loan comes with a 4.25% interest rate over a 40-year term. Annual debt service could approach $500,000, Curtis said, raising concerns about how to structure user fees that remain affordable under federal affordability guidelines.
September 25 , 2025
Fire destroys Hogan’s Pub at Sugarbush Golf Course in Warren
A four-alarm fire in late September destroyed Hogan’s Pub and heavily damaged the clubhouse at Sugarbush Resort Golf Club, drawing response from multiple area fire departments. The cause of the fire was not determined due to the extent of the damage from it.
The fire was reported around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 24, by a neighbor, according to Sugarbush communications director John Bleh. Fire crews from Warren, Waitsfield, Moretown, and Waterbury responded to the scene and worked through the night to contain the blaze. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters remained on the scene into the early morning hours, with road closures still in place near the site as of 5 a.m. Bleh said security camera footage showed smoke beginning to appear sometime around 10 p.m., but the origin of the fire remains unknown.
Hogan’s Pub, a dining and event venue at the course, was housed in a building believed to be more than 100 years old. The structure began as a farmhouse and was later converted into a clubhouse with the pub added as an extension.
Sugarbush staff were able to move golf carts and some maintenance equipment to safety during the response, but most of the contents inside the building were lost.
Hogan's Pub and Sugarbush Golf Club fire on September 24, 2025 Photos courtesy John Bleh
September 25 , 2025
'We Are MRV’ weekend unites community over two days
The Mad River Valley’s sense of community and connection came into sharp focus during We Are MRV, a two-day series of events aimed at strengthening civic engagement and volunteerism across the region. Held on September 19 and September 21, the weekend featured screening of the documentary “Join or Die” at the Big Picture Theater, and a Community Connection Fair at the Inn at the Round Barn Farm. Together, the events attracted hundreds of local residents and highlighted more than 40 community organizations.
“This event reconfirmed what I knew to be true – the Mad River Valley is richly blessed with many organizations and passionate individuals who, while representing varying interests and nonprofits, share the same deep appreciation for what makes this place special and want to support that with action and not just words,” said Susan Klein, president of the Mad River Valley Rotary, one of the organizing entities.
You might also like
