The Town of Hartford has won state-designated growth center designation. That make it easier to bring jobs and businesses to the community.
The Vermont Downtown Development Board approved Hartford’s growth center plan at its meeting on Wednesday.
The Hartford growth center includes White River Junction as well as the historic villages of Wilder to the north and Hartford Village to the west, and the Sykes Mountain Avenue area.
Hartford Planning Director Lori Hirshfield says development in the town has historically been in its five villages while the rest of the community retains much of its rural character.
Designated communities receive benefits under Vermont’s land-use planning law Act 250 and get to keep more of the property tax revenue generated by development instead of sending those funds to the state.