Mark Boutwell, Executive Director
Mark Boutwell, Executive Director
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has injected money into states, municipalities, and agencies such as Senior Solutions across the nation. Last fall, Senior Solutions was notified by the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) that we would receive some of this ARPA funding. In concert with the four other agencies on aging in Vermont, we have set up a granting process through which our community partners may submit funding proposals for projects benefitting our mutual clients. We will be opening the request for proposal process in mid-February.
This ARPA funding program awards grants to community-based service organizations such as senior centers, community centers, Meals on Wheels programs, congregate meal sites, and aging-in-place organizations, among others. Senior Solutions will consider proposals from organizations that are either located in, or who directly serve residents throughout our service area. Preference will be given to organizations that have 501(c)3 status or have an established fiscal agent. Most importantly, we will be looking for proposals that align with our mission of promoting the well-being and dignity of older Vermonters. Over the coming three years of funding, we look forward to partnering with our community partners on new ways to support older Vermonters. We will open our application process as of March 1. Check back here, on our website, for more details as they become available.
This month we celebrate the one-year anniversary of Sue Dana joining Senior Solutions as our Finance Director. Sue’s depth of knowledge of accounting practices, her “can-do” attitude and her infectious laugh have elevated the finance department, is solidifying best practices, and is setting us on a positive trajectory for the coming years.
And looking ahead to March, we will be saying farewell to our longest serving employee and much respected case management supervisor, Gary Hilliard. Gary has served Senior Solutions as a case manager and case manager supervisor since the early 1990s. He has worked under seven executive directors and mentored countless case managers. He has seen the agency grow from when we were under the umbrella of the Windham Regional Commission in Brattleboro, to our present identity as Senior Solutions headquartered in Springfield. We wish Gary all the best as he packs up his travel trailer and heads out for weekend adventures across the Northeast.
