Wilmington

A Vermont industrial redevelopment combines environmental assessment, liability protections, and state financing to support accessible housing manufacturing.

The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation won a gold award for real estate development and reuse from the International Economic Development Council for buying and redeveloping the Wilmington, Vermont property where Wheelpad builds wheelchair-accessible modular homes, according to an October 26 announcement.

The deal started small.

In 2022, Wheelpad founder and chief executive Julie Lindberger asked owner Ed Druk whether she could rent space at the 3.41-acre former machine shop at 211 Route 9 West to build the company's first units.

Wheelpad pays rent covering taxes, insurance, maintenance, and debt service with no markup, and Leinberger said the added space lets the company serve more people who need accessible housing.

The loan amortizes over 20 years on a seven-year term, and Wheelpad holds an option to buy.

The town of Wilmington added a tax stabilization award.

Michigan uses a different lever and ties brownfield incentives to project performance.

Yeah.

And then there's one in Wilmington that we like the coffee shop.

It was like Wilmington coffee.

Yeah.

I don't even think we talked about it in the podcast yet, but it was kind of like we were leaving Wilmington to drive down to cross country ski.

And we're like, we need a cup of coffee.

Found this spot.

If you're listening on KDawn out in Vegas, hot damn, you guys bought a lot of tickets yesterday.

February 13th up in Wilmington, Vermont.

Yo.

Sure know how to make a girl feel special.