Charitable "Vermont License" plates are back, and with more purchase options
"Vermont Strong" license plates, which debuted in 2012 as a fundraiser for residents heavily impacted by Tropical Storm Irene, are back.
The license plate's pithy catchphrase "I am Vermont Strong" -- recently changed to "We are Vermont Strong" to better emphasize unity -- has come to represent the Green Mountain state's resilience and the devotion of its residents to their community. Over a decade later, many Vermonters still proudly display the original plates on the front of their vehicles.
Although the spirit of the license plates remains, the reason for the fundraiser has changed. This year, proceeds from the "Vermont Strong" plates will benefit locals whose homes, businesses and farms were devastated in the June flooding. Each plate costs $35.
But that's not all. Customers will also have the option to purchase a new "Tough Too" version of the license plate. Both plates can be purchased through the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles website and, as of Sept. 1, in all DMV offices.
On top of that, Vermont's Department of Motor Vehicles has partnered with local business Darn Tough Socks to create a limited edition bundle containing a pair of "Vermont Strong" socks and the "Tough Too" license plate. The bundles, limited to three per customer, cost $70 each and can be purchased via an online forum on the State of Vermont's website.
The money raised will go directly to the Vermont Community Foundation, which will donate the funds to individual flooding victims, and Agency of Commerce and Community Development's Business Emergency Gap Assistance program, which will distribute proceeds to business owners and farmers.
After Irene, over 40,000 residents purchased "Vermont Strong" license plates. According to an article in the Brattleboro Reformer, the state even achieved its goal of raising $1 million for Irene victims.
This time around, Vermonters won't have to fret about how long they will be allowed to display the specialty plates on their vehicles.
Originally, residents could only exhibit the plates for two years. That rule was later extended to June 2016. Right before the summer deadline, then-Gov. Peter Shumlin signed an executive order permitting residents to display the "Vermont Strong" plates indefinitely. Act 71 was passed the following year, further cementing this freedom into Vermont law.
Retailers interested in selling "Vermont Strong" plates at their businesses can email VTSTrong@vermont.gov.
People who wish to donate directly to flood victims can do so online through the DMV's website.
Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Iconic "Vermont Strong" license plate proceeds to benefit flood victims
