Vermont Futures Project urges ‘abundance’ approach: plan sets housing, workforce targets and 7,200‑unit annual goal

Kevin Chew, executive director of the Vermont Futures Project, presented an economic action plan to the Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee on Feb. 5, describing demographic change, workforce shortfalls and a statewide housing gap that the plan says must be addressed together.

Chew said the plan organizes strategies around two pillars — “people” and “places” — and set long‑term targets informed by an analysis of retirements, labor force flows and housing supply. For the people framework Chew cited a working‑age population target of “802,000 by 2035” tied to a workforce gap analysis; for housing he highlighted a short‑term need of roughly 36,000 new primary homes over five years — about 7,200 homes per year — to meet replacement and demand pressures.

Why it matters: The presentation connects demographic trends (fewer 25‑to‑49‑year‑olds, more 65+ residents, and the nation’s lowest fertility rate) with a changed labor market: a decade…