diff --git a/src/VirtualMonoRepo/InitializeVMR.proj b/src/VirtualMonoRepo/InitializeVMR.proj
index 781d32d0e..09ab72b1c 100644
--- a/src/VirtualMonoRepo/InitializeVMR.proj
+++ b/src/VirtualMonoRepo/InitializeVMR.proj
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 
     <Exec WorkingDirectory="$(VmrDir)" Command="git init -b $(VmrDefaultBranch)" />
     <Exec WorkingDirectory="$(VmrDir)" Command="git commit --allow-empty -m 'Initial commit of the VMR%0D%0A%0D%0A[[ commit created by automation ]]'" />
+    <Exec WorkingDirectory="$(VmrDir)" Command="git remote add origin https://github.com/dotnet/dotnet" /> <!-- source link needs this -->
   </Target>
 
   <Target Name="InitializeRepoAndDependentsRecursive">
@@ -56,6 +57,9 @@
       Recursive="true"
       VmrPath="$(VmrDir)"
       TmpPath="$(TmpDir)"
+      InstallerPath="$(RepoRoot)"
+      ReadmeTemplatePath="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)/README.template.md"
+      TpnTemplatePath="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.template.txt"
       SourceMappingsPath="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)/source-mappings.json" />
 
     <Message Text=" -> Done initializing individual repositories recursively" Importance="High" />
diff --git a/src/VirtualMonoRepo/Tasks/VirtualMonoRepo_Initialize.cs b/src/VirtualMonoRepo/Tasks/VirtualMonoRepo_Initialize.cs
index c8c614620..eae76d532 100644
--- a/src/VirtualMonoRepo/Tasks/VirtualMonoRepo_Initialize.cs
+++ b/src/VirtualMonoRepo/Tasks/VirtualMonoRepo_Initialize.cs
@@ -40,6 +40,12 @@ public class VirtualMonoRepo_Initialize : Build.Utilities.Task, ICancelableTask
 
     public string PackageVersion { get; set; }
 
+    public string InstallerPath { get; set; }
+
+    public string ReadmeTemplatePath { get; set; }
+
+    public string TpnTemplatePath { get; set; }
+
     public bool Recursive { get; set; }
 
     public VirtualMonoRepo_Initialize()
@@ -54,6 +60,10 @@ public class VirtualMonoRepo_Initialize : Build.Utilities.Task, ICancelableTask
         VmrPath = Path.GetFullPath(VmrPath);
         TmpPath = Path.GetFullPath(TmpPath);
 
+        var additionalRemotes = InstallerPath == null
+            ? Array.Empty<AdditionalRemote>()
+            : new[] { new AdditionalRemote("installer", InstallerPath) };
+
         var vmrInitializer = _serviceProvider.Value.GetRequiredService<IVmrInitializer>();
         await vmrInitializer.InitializeRepository(
             Repository,
@@ -61,7 +71,9 @@ public class VirtualMonoRepo_Initialize : Build.Utilities.Task, ICancelableTask
             PackageVersion,
             Recursive,
             new NativePath(SourceMappingsPath),
-            Array.Empty<AdditionalRemote>(),
+            additionalRemotes,
+            ReadmeTemplatePath,
+            TpnTemplatePath,
             _cancellationToken.Token);
         return true;
     }