Capstone and partner agencies ask Vermont House committee for larger, steady funding for financial coaching, micro-business and tax-assistance programs

Representatives of Capstone Community Action and other Vermont community action agencies told the Vermont House Committee on Commerce & Economic Development on Feb. 18 that state funding for financial coaching, micro-business development and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is insufficient and unevenly distributed across the state.

Capstone director Liz Sharp urged lawmakers to increase the line-item funding that supports financial coaching and related services, saying current state support is roughly $34,000 per agency and that the statewide network is asking for $1,650,000 for the three programs combined in FY26.

The ask, Sharp said, represents a $593,000 increase over fiscal year 2025, with about $358,000 of the increase earmarked for financial coaching so agencies can hire full-time coaches without relying on fragile philanthropic dollars. "the amount of money that we get from the state for this program is about $34,000 per agency that we're currently getting to fund this program," Sharp said.

Nut graf: The testimony framed the request as an investment in basic financial stability and small-business creation for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Sharp and financial counselor Rosie Manning Gray described one-on-one…