House Appropriations hears ACCD FY26 budget requests focused on housing, infrastructure and business recruitment

Summary

Agency of Commerce and Community Development officials told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 19 that their proposed FY26 budget would move several housing programs to base funding, add one-time housing and infrastructure investments, and make an international business recruitment program permanent.

Montpelier — The Vermont House Appropriations Committee heard Feb. 19 from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development on its proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which officials said aims to sustain tourism marketing, expand housing programs, support municipal infrastructure tied to housing development and make international business recruitment a permanent activity.

"ACCD consists of 3 departments, all actively engaged in generating revenue for the state's general fund," Secretary Lindsay Curley told the committee as she outlined the agency's request. ACCD presented a $105,000,000 total package that the agency said is composed of $63.4 million in base funding, $6.8 million in new base initiatives and $41.65 million in one-time requests.

Why it matters: The request centers on housing and related infrastructure as the agency seeks both predictable, ongoing funding for programs it has run on one-time money and discrete capital to spur production. ACCD officials tied the proposals to preserving affordable housing, supporting mobile-home communities and reducing infrastructure barriers that keep projects from moving forward.

Most prominent budget items

- Base initiatives: ACCD asked for $6.8 million in new base funding, including $4.3 million for the Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP), $2.15 million for a Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair program, and $350,000 to make the agency's…

House Appropriations hears ACCD FY26 budget requests focused on housing, infrastructure and business recruitment

Summary

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