ESSEX CENTER, Vt. (WCAX) – The state has awarded a village center designation to the Town of Essex’s historic Essex Center.
The boundaries of this village center encompass everything between Route 15, Towers Road and Browns River Road. It includes Memorial Hall, the Essex Free Library, Grange Hall, and other historic buildings.
Town officials say the push for the designation came after Essex Junction split from Essex in 2022, leaving the town without a downtown or village center. This designation program supports revitalization efforts through planning assistance, tax credits, and priority for certain grants from Vermont agencies. Officials say they’re excited for the chance to better invest in a community hub.
“I think making it a place where people are really excited about it. This is our center. Let’s invest in it, let’s spend time here, so figuring out ways to bring the community there to celebrate it,” said Katherine Sonnick, Town of Essex Community Development Director.
The town hopes that with grants they’ll be able to install wayfinding signs as well as make improvements to parks and sidewalks. This designation is effective immediately and never expires.