VERNON — For our county's sake, I am glad the deadline for the Windham County Revolving Loan Fund was extended, even by just a week.
Clearly, the state wants the county to get the biggest local bang for the buck. With $2 million per year for five years ($10 million total) ready to be unleashed, the bang could - and should - be pretty big.
It is clear from comments made by Vernon and Brattleboro residents at a June 3 public hearing in Townshend that many interested individuals from their respective towns were unaware of the hearing held 40 miles away in the northern end of the county. Extending the deadline is a positive step toward addressing this problem.
Vermont Yankee has been a “public good” for more than 40 years because its payroll, local- and state-government revenue, and volunteerism have powered southeastern Vermont's quality-of-life engine. The transparent, prudent distribution of this generous economic redevelopment “severance package” will help the county get back on its feet.
At peak operation, Vermont Yankee pays about $89 million in payroll and $15 million in state and local revenue. The pending closing has already been felt by the elimination of the Vernon Police Department.
Let's hope this loan fund can help counteract other, looming losses.