[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6319168,"mediaKeyId","2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc","parentId",2363443,"title","Housing package: tax‑credit increase, VHIP and manufactured home funding, infrastructure fund and two VHFA middle‑income asks","audioSeconds",1528,"startMs",2087000,"endMs",3615000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc&start=2087&end=3615","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc/thumbnail_2087000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6319168/Vermont/Housing-package-taxcredit-increase-VHIP-and-manufactured-home-funding-infrastructure-fund-and-two-VHFA-middleincome-asks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319168-df1670ffd48efc1f05ace4aaeefc1870/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095260&Signature=O-3NE21jXGG2ZffbjsRJiUHfJ3Pyfw8RWO8l6-a8JZtxyu1fAjehkdFsIJxeRk8-WEY616pFmzsweHxTWU-Nf3-sd9EDprEoPFpjBx8MqqaTgQbQXHWfJBiYhZW-RE4J0~MFPB9kL6UY1Zb9~DyRoCVwADFqRzv-yo2a5WyTEJFK0fZFJN~E1wNAKo1JyShcC87PVe0TucODzkufodqW7JhKkpM6dezugMOkC~QHvwQN4j36L2KPNlOK6jtTZWSS7RnvlcEY6EBnmpXyi6G0aZqneHH8s8b0C5zyqQhQsAMRGsXNDg13a-7vnCpQNzxqbm9QZPdkppLZ8zSUxdnN4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-20T18:01:33Z","article","Commissioner Alex Farrell of the Department of Housing and Community Development outlined multiple budget requests on Feb. 20 that the department said are designed to accelerate housing production and preserve existing units across Vermont.

Key requests and rationale: Farrell told the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee that the department seeks to raise the annual allocation for the downtown and village center tax credit program from $3 million to $5 million as permanent forgone revenue, citing the program’s leverage. “By its very nature, these tax credits require a high level of private investment,” Farrell said, adding the most recent leverage figure the department has seen is “about 17 to 1.”

Permanent programs and staffing: Farrell also asked to convert successful programs from one‑time to base funding. For the Vermont Home Improvement Program (VHIP), a program that rehabilitates and repurposes existing housing stock and rehoused people experiencing homelessness, the department requested $4 million for grants plus $300,000 to fund two permanent positions to administer the program (the department said the $300,000 is budgeted at $150,000 per position). Farrell said VHIP has produced more than 1,000 units in roughly four years and that the average grant award is about $39,000.

Manufactured homes: For the Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program (MRR), which funds repairs, infrastructure improvements and expansion in manufactured home communities, the department requested $2 million in annual grants and $150,000 for one permanent staff position to sustain administration.

Infrastructure gap and VISF: The department proposed a Vermont Infrastructure Sustainability Fund (VISF) — a revolving, low‑interest loan fund run through the Vermont Bond Bank and targeted to projects that directly generate housing units. Farrell described VISF as a gap‑filling source for municipal infrastructure needs that are not easily covered by existing federal or state programs; he cautioned the proposed initial tranche will need to leverage other sources and said “9.1 on its own doesn’t go far,” indicating staff anticipate additional capital over time.

VHFA middle‑income programs: The hearing also covered two VHFA programs that received one‑time funding previously and for which the department asked new one‑time capital: a middle‑income homeownership subsidy ($15,000,000) and a middle‑income rental revolving loan fund ($15,000,000). Both are aimed at “middle income” households (income targets described as roughly 60% to 150% of area median income) and intend to relieve pressure on lower‑income rental housing by creating market‑appropriate alternatives.

Extensions and data work: Farrell closed by requesting $300,000 in one‑time funding to extend limited‑service staff for another year while the department builds capacity for Homes for All training cohorts, pre‑approved design kits for municipal permitting, and housing data dashboards. Farrell said the department’s small staffing — three permanent employees in the housing division plus several limited‑service staff — makes these conversions and extensions important to maintain program delivery.

Committee response: Members asked about program administration, coordination with VHFA and VEDA/VITA, reach to rural towns and how VISF would be structured to be accessible to small municipalities. The department said program designs prioritize low barriers for small towns and that they are coordinating with the bond bank, ANR and regional partners; no formal vote or action was recorded.

What to watch: The requests appear in the governor’s recommended budget and will move through appropriations and committee review. Staff said they will supply one‑page summaries and more detailed program guidance to the committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Commerce - 2025-02-20 - 1:00PM","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioner Alex Farrell of the Department of Housing and Community Development presented a multi‑part housing package to the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee asking for permanent and one‑time funding to boost production and preserve existing housing.","taxTitle","Commerce & Economic Development, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",36720,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6319158,"Regional development corporations ask for $1.25 million to continue small‑business technical assistance exchange",541,4822000,5363000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc&start=4822&end=5363","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc/thumbnail_4822000.jpg","/articles/6319158/Vermont/Regional-development-corporations-ask-for-125-million-to-continue-smallbusiness-technical-assistance-exchange","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319158-e0c14cbcbe1df55f26c6213b52be8208/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095260&Signature=cw8GgiBcw~NH2JZ4nEnDi3CPCoTtjtEMV--Nfwe3yhX-kdplBCUBY3ZbJpyoOcHd367idY-CcL-Zjok42B1lREtxsWpxrmvAK~eGDZ4GsdRfgaVgBtrRXz-tHLhbsBHa3tYvR2zA3R6~z3XEGzdKak~XQA0fA8FxrQLiOjsS6N-X~NtbXG9ikYN2kv3YIzUA65YKIJR4n6BfFx9aO3UW2HJkEXqWzufUfPWc-hcI4uZHcXdRrrgWn7uMJn7joSkDVgUCx6WLE3Oh~5HZI3Zuv96GTVLvDibgKlwvelANbQhqIr~Q05Xj8rXYyW2bTVy~twJIIasSiVEun14bg9AIww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Melissa Bounty, executive director of Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (an RDC), and other regional commissioners appeared before the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee to request renewal of the Small Business Technical Assistance Exchange. The RDCs said the program helps small businesses buy modest professional services — accounting, marketing, legal, websites — that the businesses often cannot afford or do not know how to procure.

Program performance: Bounty told the committee the most recent RDC deployment used $1,250,000 to support 209 projects and more than 500 participating vendor and recipient businesses. “The average is $3,400,” she said of grant size; the program also ran six workshops and assembled a vetted vendor list of more than 200 in‑state service providers. Bounty said the program was oversubscribed (about 700 applications for 183 spots in an earlier round), demonstrating demand.

How it works: RDC navigators coach business owners on appropriate uses of small grants and help them form lasting vendor relationships. The program includes outreach partners to reach underserved business communities and was adapted across three prior rounds — from rapid COVID response, to a Community Navigator pilot with CDBG funding, to the FY24 general‑fund model the RDCs say worked best.

Why the request: RDCs argued the exchange is cost‑effective, creates capacity for small businesses to scale, and supports in‑state professional services. The renewal request is for $1,250,000 to replicate the FY24 model that funded 209 projects and produced training workshops and vendor relationships.

Committee response and next steps: Members asked about program tweaks and partner rotation; RDCs said they would continue to refine outreach to under‑served areas and keep successful elements such as workshops and outreach partners. No formal action was recorded during the hearing.

What to watch: If funded, the RDCs plan to use navigators to expand outreach and build more durable relationships between small businesses and service providers in regions that were under‑represented in prior rounds.","Regional development corporations asked the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee for $1.25 million to continue a technical assistance exchange that connects small businesses with vetted local vendors and RDC navigators.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6319164,"Vermont Professionals of Color Network seeks $150,000 in additional support to continue business assistance",3133,1508000,4641000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc&start=1508&end=4641","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc/thumbnail_1508000.jpg","/articles/6319164/Vermont/Vermont-Professionals-of-Color-Network-seeks-150000-in-additional-support-to-continue-business-assistance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319164-2999d221970cc8c649611f4f1d3330d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095260&Signature=Id5aE0Wgc5zKs1voP0Ingk87Hb7mJn2q4R8G8NEudIgtOpn~--pCjEX5ni1YIvCz8cJypHuSVogQbPdprRDr9dJTOyvp0FvQeGxQ632iThMyCQ0MFMzQK5YSkmWlx6cUfdguUkbt5wbgMySmlwPCJDW52RrlR9DJMW0qCjUETkbX8nDw06s7AWNP2UCObKNLwWl6MkSP2Jbk8DYhfBQpkzwPJ-NDem5MufkJ00HUEUT0jgIaGN-ZAYvNtkri1Nz4kGsycmXJHQoJCncOW7jkFyALLCBqDvkn8SKKgoU8ZM5Fh3xu1NLRoN9msxTsJ28yqCH4vojt7JWT9DyEht4-bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Weiwei Wong, co‑executive director of the Vermont Professionals of Color Network, told the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee that the group has delivered technical assistance, outreach and workforce development under a two‑year, $250,000 contract with the Agency of Commerce and Community Development but needs additional funding to maintain the work.

What they asked for: Wong said the network is seeking a one‑time $100,000 for business technical assistance and an additional $50,000 to support resource navigation for another year. Her testimony said the organization has supported roughly 71 businesses since May 2023 and is seeing three to four new requests per month. “For every dollar that we put into resource navigation, one of our businesses received $5 back,” Wong told the committee, describing an estimated $200,000 in loans or grants accessed with the help of $35,000 previously allocated to resource navigation.

Program activity and results: Wong described outreach, listening sessions and a community survey funded by the current contract, and supplementary philanthropic funding used for flood recovery work. The network said it currently serves about 35 businesses per year (an estimate) and that demand would exceed capacity if additional funds are not provided.

Discussion: Committee members asked for data and accepted the offer to receive the network’s survey results and additional figures in writing to inform appropriations deliberations. No formal decision was taken at the hearing.

What’s next: The network offered to provide the committee with more detailed data and one‑page materials to support the appropriation request during the committee’s upcoming budget recommendations to appropriations.","The Vermont Professionals of Color Network told the commerce committee it needs an additional $100,000 (technical assistance) plus $50,000 for resource navigation to sustain services after its existing two‑year, $250,000 ACCD contract runs out.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6319172,"State officials ask for $2 million for Brownfields cleanup as federal funds face uncertainty",461,1584000,2045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc&start=1584&end=2045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc/thumbnail_1584000.jpg","/articles/6319172/Vermont/State-officials-ask-for-2-million-for-Brownfields-cleanup-as-federal-funds-face-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319172-453b8e1d36715d9da801118b9dd064fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095260&Signature=aUlyhg-qqqZHs0rThZgPxmohSXJCMUgo1e4aKOgDCyr4IRZ2IDw0LN4KuSCUH6Z72QNvo5KbbxZ0dx6C~M4v1GWRftOVNKtnjhtbyXAVgLScJSr6TxmVVoPyBYtXBT5dNEuqfPLuAi6DN4S4zmGV55nOgm8pIjC-atNhO1f86f2RoN9ma~tdAiv92a92-BY2o-GMzlhKWJTVvQrxEix3eK2XRgqAhCqHyK-YlbmWAD-wQ4wt6sd4abZTwxlITzKEe7nbfU5pUSfpimLpQS~KbgG~9CtLYk9kgR~raW-bvxYcrup31B~iAs~aSPK0hN~rmxAC5qxpTdLBmz309GBg9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Joan Goldstein, commissioner of the Department of Economic Development, told the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee that Vermont’s brownfields program has turned state dollars into large private investments but needs an additional $2 million in one‑time funds to keep projects moving.

What officials told the committee: Goldstein said the program has awarded approximately $21.8 million in state brownfield funds since 2021 and that those awards have leveraged roughly $380 million in other public and private investment to redevelop contaminated sites. She said the DED prioritizes housing and job creation as redevelopment outcomes and that the program has supported about 706 housing units and 831 jobs to date.

Federal funding uncertainty: Committee members raised concerns about whether federal grants and EPA assessment funds would continue to flow. Goldstein said the state has requisitioned federal dollars and expected to receive another grant payment of about $1.2 million but acknowledged “every day, you hear something different” about federal availability. Tom Kennedy and other regional planning commission representatives later told the committee that EPA assessment awards are currently on hold, which could slow or stop projects that depend on federal match funding.

Program pipeline and scale: Goldstein and regional planning commission staff said multiple projects are enrolled in the state’s limited liability (\"Brella\") program and that remediation costs have risen — in one case from roughly $600,000 to $5 million after PFAS were discovered. The state’s brownfield pipeline includes dozens of sites in various stages of assessment and cleanup; Goldstein said there have been 42 projects in the immediate pipeline she was discussing and that hundreds more appear in DEC databases.

Why the request: Goldstein said an additional $2 million one‑time appropriation would support projects currently in the pipeline and help maintain the momentum of redevelopment that, so far, has delivered housing units and jobs. Regional planning commission representatives told the committee they consider the governor’s current recommendation insufficient for the scale of known needs.

Discussion, not decision: Committee members asked for additional reporting on specific site counts and potential duplication with federal programs. No vote or formal direction was recorded during the hearing.

What to watch: The committee and regional partners said they will monitor federal EPA and other agency decisions closely; if federal funds are reduced or revoked, state appropriations will be the key tool to keep some projects moving.","The Department of Economic Development asked the committee for a $2 million one‑time appropriation for brownfields remediation, saying the state program has leveraged significant private investment but faces risk if anticipated federal funds are reduced or delayed.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6319177,"Vermont seeks $350,000 in permanent funding to expand in‑market international business outreach",1227,113000,1340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc&start=113&end=1340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363443-055007990bbee19a0723b808319a6abc/thumbnail_113000.jpg","/articles/6319177/Vermont/Vermont-seeks-350000-in-permanent-funding-to-expand-inmarket-international-business-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319177-0e7cb61898a746ad1b03bc13ee84257d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095260&Signature=NxN1~MTh8Mv92lde2AQjVjmfhDDlXoHDD49dkEoscp1YDmK5L7mk2beQuu3h9ON~46Y1C0DKVE6i02oawb~vNtJpQeP0~Ol8vqagq3uZN~fKEEW3OJ5wDQ6pOma2ufZ~aXgpyKM96TbjytfJKhIJHGY5qKT~PnxRvfKnAujw6pJ-LgLeq~uNgYTwdGiTzQ8DypJ2aqP9ajBGKasnxc4ujTbhx1srtb0BXWwsnqReqwnnuVUmNizv-rXEXIWfE-vbwFKudSbyg4DS5Pf78zN7daJaSXIeY-2qouy2v~CKw~gKYOb9J2C0KM5K6MPghS93uU~Cz5fZPuL3RSo8E4qZXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lindsay Curley, secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and Joan Goldstein, commissioner of the Department of Economic Development, told the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on Feb. 20 that they are seeking a $350,000 increase in base funding to expand international business development work.

The request would institutionalize in‑market representation and outreach that the state has financed with one‑time money in recent years, Goldstein said. “Our first budget request is an increase in base funding of $350,000 for international business development,” she told the committee.

Why it matters: Committee members heard that the state’s short, project‑by‑project approach limits the agency’s ability to convert cold leads into actual expansions. Goldstein said Vermont’s recent Canadian in‑market representative produced hundreds of leads that turned into “warmer leads” and then several companies that expanded into Vermont. “You can’t catch fish unless you get yourself in the water,” she said, arguing for continued on‑the‑ground capacity.

How the program works: Tim (who heads the agency’s international business group) described the stepwise pipeline used for lead generation: outreach and market research, engagement at trade shows, and local representation in target markets. He said contracted in‑market representatives contact dozens of companies monthly; from roughly 400 initial leads the team typically narrows outreach to a handful of seriously interested firms and ultimately fewer that look for property in Vermont.

Targets and uses: The lawmakers were told the $350,000 base increase would incorporate the existing Canadian contract (about $75,000 per year) while allowing project‑based in‑market work in Europe and Asia at selected trade shows and events. Goldstein listed target geographies and events referenced in testimony: Northern Europe (including Germany trade shows), the U.K. and Ireland, and markets in Southeast and East Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam. She said a 10x10 booth at a major international airshow can cost about $35,000, noting that “you gotta pay to play.”

Site readiness and tools: Committee members pressed on Vermont’s ability to host firms that decide to expand here. Officials said a recurring bottleneck is lack of suitable industrial or food‑grade buildings and inconsistent property listings statewide. Goldstein said the agency plans to purchase a property‑listing platform to centralize available commercial real estate and connect incoming companies with local partners, and that the request would support that type of upfront work.

Related supports: Joan Goldstein and agency staff also described complementary programs such as the $5 million rural industrial development grant program that the legislature appropriated to help RDCs with predevelopment and redevelopment of industrial space. Goldstein said roughly half of the initial $5 million has been awarded to projects so far.

Discussion, not decision: Committee members signaled interest and offered suggestions — for example, that the agency coordinate commercial listing data with Vermont Association of Realtors and local MLS feeds — but no formal vote or final direction was recorded.

What’s next: Agency staff said the $350,000 request appears in the governor’s recommended budget and asked the committee to consider moving the base increase to avoid repeated one‑time requests that constrain timely outreach and trade activity.","Agency of Commerce and Community Development asked the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee to add $350,000 in base funding to sustain and expand in‑market representation that helped bring multiple Canadian companies to Vermont and generate business leads in Europe and Asia.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Housing package: tax‑credit increase, VHIP and manufactured home funding, infrastructure fund and two VHFA middle‑income asks

Regional development corporations ask for $1.25 million to continue small‑business technical assistance exchange

Vermont Professionals of Color Network seeks $150,000 in additional support to continue business assistance

State officials ask for $2 million for Brownfields cleanup as federal funds face uncertainty

Vermont seeks $350,000 in permanent funding to expand in‑market international business outreach