“Why we invest is deeply personal because our customers are our neighbors, our business owners, our families, and our communities. At Passumpsic Bank, there’s no separation between the success of the bank and the well-being of the places we call home. When local businesses thrive and families can build stable lives here, we all move forward together.”  — Jim Kisch, President of Passumpsic Bank

Values-Driven Approach 

For Passumpsic Bank, investing is never just about a building or a transaction. It’s about strengthening the communities people choose to build their lives in. That values-driven approach is what makes Passumpsic Bank such a natural partner to the Northern Forest Center.  

Both Passumpsic Bank and the Center are focused on strengthening the foundations of rural prosperity, including housing, quality jobs, and vibrant downtowns. This shared approach aligned naturally when the Center stepped in to redevelop the historic 1909 armory at 560 Railroad Street in downtown St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The project transformed an underutilized building into nine new homes and two commercial spaces, meeting urgent housing needs while investing in the heart of the community. 

When Jim and his team looked at the project, they didn’t just see a financing opportunity. They saw the possibility of bringing renewed life into a historic building and creating the kind of housing, energy, and opportunity that helps a downtown feel alive again. They imagined families moving into healthy, well-built homes and artists and entrepreneurs opening their doors along a downtown stretch that had been quiet for far too long. The Center’s commitment to restoring a historic property, prioritizing wood use and carbon storage, and creating high-quality, livable spaces sent a clear signal: people matter here, and this is a place where lives—not just units—are built. 

The project’s mix of uses was equally compelling. With tenants like Tunnel Books and the Catamount Arts 560 Community Artists residency program, the building brings artists, entrepreneurs, and small business owners into the center of St. Johnsbury. For Passumpsic Bank, success stories like this represent the building blocks of a stronger downtown and a healthier regional economy. 

Shared Commitment to Community

That long-view commitment is central to how Passumpsic Bank approaches community investment. The bank understands that rural prosperity is built over generations, not quarters. Projects like 560 Railroad Street matter because they create momentum that extends far beyond a single property—supporting small businesses, attracting residents, strengthening downtown identity, and reinforcing confidence in the future of the region. 

Passumpsic Bank’s support for 560 Railroad Street reflects a shared commitment to strengthening rural communities. By purchasing available tax credits through Vermont’s Downtown and Village Center Tax Credit program and providing a leadership grant through the Passumpsic Bank Charitable Fund, the bank invested not only in St. Johnsbury, but in the Center’s broader approach to helping rural places thrive. 

Projects like 560 Railroad Street create a ripple effect throughout the community, according to Jim Kisch. “One successful project leads to visible activity, increased foot traffic, new investment, and growing pride. That ripple effect is what builds confidence and positions the communities we serve to thrive for the long term.” 

For Passumpsic Bank, 560 Railroad Street represents more than a successful redevelopment project. It reflects a belief that investing locally, thoughtfully, and consistently helps communities remain vibrant places where people can live, work, create, and build their future. That belief continues to guide the bank’s partnership with the Center and its enduring commitment to the rural communities it has proudly called home for generations.

Learn how you can join Passumpsic Bank in investing in Northern Forest Communities now, through an investment or donation, and later with a legacy gift, like a bequest or beneficiary designation.