Business View Civil and Municipal | May 2021

35 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL MAY 2021 ST . ALBANS , VERMONT great assets that we were bringing to the table in terms of quality of life, commitment to the community – some of the intangibles – but we weren’t putting our best face forward in terms of our Main Street, our curb appeal, our economic development initiatives.” Cloud says these shortcomings incentivised them to “get really serious” about a public/ private partnership model. “The cornerstone of that is the philosophy that if we invest in ourselves on the public side, the private sector will follow,” he explains. “We’ve set out on a strategy of helping our existing businesses “I’ve said for a long time that the bank thrives when our community thrives and vice versa.” This quote comes from Thomas Gallagher, President/CEO of the Peoples Trust Company. The community bank with five branches throughout Franklin County has been supporting individuals, businesses and municipalities located in Northwest Vermont since 1886. About 10 years ago, Peoples was one of the initial key partners and financiers of the St. Albans City’s downtown revitalization - with a shared vision of a thriving downtown area. “This is where we all live, work, and play and we have a vested interest to ensure it remains strong and vibrant for generations to come,” said Gallagher. The partnership and the ability for Peoples Trust Company to provide fast, frictionless financing to support the City projects and the businesses in St. Albans has been key to the health of the downtown area. The connectivity Peoples Trust Company has to the local community is unsurpassed in the area, from the President himself occupying a desk in the front lobby of the main office to the bank’s support, sponsorships, and participation in seemingly every community event in the area. Peoples Trust Company is proud to state, “It has been our pleasure to help build a better community.” ...... For more information, please visit our website www.ptcvt.com Partnering with the City of St. Albans for Over 135 Years. Saint Albans has such a l ng and proud heritage, and w ’re happy to have played such an important and enduring role in its development, from supporting the city’s municipal bonds, to providing funds for agricultural development and commercial expansion. Here’s to the next 135 years! Commercial Lending Agricultural Loans Downtown Revitalization Financial E Mortgage Lending VA Lo NMLS#: 442104