Agency of Commerce and Community Development seeks $105 million budget, plus $41.6M in one‑time housing and infrastructure requests

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) presented its fiscal year 2026 budget to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Feb. 19, asking for a proposed total budget of about $105,000,000 and $41,600,000 in one‑time requests focused on housing, infrastructure and business development.

ACCD Secretary Lindsay Curley said the $105 million figure includes a mix of federal, state and special funds: roughly $63.4 million in special and federal sources, about $27.0 million in general funds (about 43 percent), a portion identified as roughly $20.0 million in federal funds, and the remainder from special funds and interdepartmental transfers. She told the committee the agency is proposing $6.8 million in new base initiatives and roughly $41.6 million in one‑time investments.

Why it matters: ACCD programs fund housing production and preservation, tourism, economic development, and municipal infrastructure that localities use to site new housing or commercial projects. Many of the one‑time requests are intended to unlock additional private or federal capital and to make long‑running, short‑term programs permanent.

Key components of the request

- Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP): ACCD asked for $4,300,000 in ongoing base funding, described as $4,000,000 for grants plus $300,000 to convert two limited‑service positions into permanent staff to operate the program. Commissioner Alex Farrell said VHIP has funded over 1,000 housing units to date and is used to rehabilitate rental units, convert nonresidential space to housing and preserve units for households exiting homelessness. Farrell said the program offers compliance options tied to statute,…