VHCB News

Montpelier – The Farm Viability Enhancement Program, a program of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board in collaboration with the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, announces business plan implementation grants to farmers totaling $119,200 and technical assistance awards totaling $84,165. Business Plan Implementation Grants are made for capital projects—for construction costs or equipment, for example, while technical assistance awards provide professional services to advise farmers on topics as varied as website and marketing consulting, facilities design, enterprise analysis, composting, irrigation, cropping, or grain production.

The range of activities funded represent the variety of farm enterprises in Vermont today, from traditional dairy farms, to farmers raising beef, goats, or sheep, to farmers growing grain, vegetables, berries and flowers, to those making all manner of value-added products including cheese, maple syrup, pickles, soups and sauces.

Gus Seelig, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board said, “We are very pleased to be able to provide 46 farmers with grants and awards ranging from $500 to $8,000. These funds and services will give farmers a leg up on creative initiatives to increase profitability and establish new ventures. This is an exciting time in Vermont agriculture and the Viability Program implementation grants and services enable farmers to make infrastructure improvements and act on innovative ideas developed in the business planning process.”

Among the awards announced:
Judith Irving, Calley Hastings and Steve Reid operate Fat Toad Farm, a goat dairy in Brookfield. A technical assistance award of $5,000 will pay for a consultant to advise the farmers regarding manufacturing equipment and processes with a goal of increasing production and quality control. A $4,000 grant will allow them to implement production improvements and increase quality control.

Joe Buley grows vegetables on Screamin’ Ridge Farm in East Montpelier. A technical assistance award of $5,000 will pay business planning and grant writing services, legal assistance and an accountant as Joe develops a new enterprise and markets a line of soups and sauces; with a $4,000 grant he will purchase a used tractor.

In North Ferrisburgh, Cheryl and Jon DeVos operate one of the largest organic dairies in the state. They will use $3,000 in business planning and legal services to help them establish a creamery, adding value to their milk. An $8,000 grant will enable them to construct an on-farm retail store.

Paul and Mark Boivin, on a dairy farm in Addison, will use a $6,000 grant to purchase a guidance system for strip tillage equipment. They are experimenting with the use of this equipment which has the potential to substantially reduce the costs of growing crops in Vermont and reducing environmental impacts due to tilling the soil.

In Swanton, Paul De la Bruere will restore his dairy barn and implement a specialized grazing system on his organic dairy with a $2,000 grant.

Gert & Auda Schut make a yogurt drink on Millborne Farm in Whiting and plan to improve their processing systems with a $6,000 grant.

Neil and Kristin Urie will expand their farm in Craftsbury Common, constructing a new barn and planning for a creamery with a $6,000 grant. A $5,000 technical assistance award will be used for feasibility analysis and facilities design.

On Stony Pond Farm in Irasburg, Tyler Webb will build a walk-in freezer, food preparation and storage area with a $3,500 grant.

Funding for the grants and awards is provided by the John Merck Fund and other private foundations, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, USDA Rural Development and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Program services are provided by UVM Extension, the Intervale Center, NOFA-Vermont and independent consultants.

To read more about the Farm Viability Program, see the website, www.vhcb.org/viability or call 828-2117. Program services are free to farmers after a $75 enrollment fee. Farmers must complete a business plan with the Farm Viability Program to be eligible to apply for Implementation Grants and Technical Assistance Awards, which are awarded in annual cycles.

The next round of awards to be made by the Farm Viability Program will be for slaughter houses, meat, poultry and grain processing facilities. Applications were due in February and awards will be announced in May.

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November 18, 2009

South Burlington Land Trust Gives $7,500 to Support Purchase of Leduc Farm

In 2003, a small group of local community members formed the South Burlington Land Trust (SBLT) out of growing concern about the loss of the City's natural areas and agricultural heritage due to rapidly increasing suburban development. This week, SBLT made their first financial contribution to a local conservation project by committing $7,500 to the Vermont Land Trust’s effort to protect of the Leduc Farm.

“When we founded the South Burlington Land Trust six years ago we made a decision that we don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” said Sarah Dopp, chair of the SBLT Board. “There isn’t a ton of land left to conserve, and we believe in partnering with those already in the conservation business that have the ability to do the important stewardship that land conservation requires. Now we are putting our money where our mouth is and helping the Vermont Land Trust with a fantastic conservation effort.”

Adam Wilson and Corie Pierce, co-owners and operators of Bread and Butter Farm, are bringing their agricultural enterprise to South Burlington this fall. Adam is moving his specialty dairy and bakery—the Essex Creamery and Adam’s Village Bakery—from Essex Junction to the Leduc Farm, where he will join his business with the promising winter greens and summer vegetable operation to be headed by Corie. Together, they will produce fresh milk, grass-fed beef, pastured pork, vegetables, and traditional German breads

Bread and Butter Farm has purchased the 143-acre Leduc Farm from the Vermont Land Trust for $225,000. A conservation easement was placed on the land at the time of sale to help ensure that it will permanently remain productive farmland. The purchase price—far below market value—was made possible with the support of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the City of South Burlington, and the Town of Shelburne, which supported the conservation effort with allocations of $470,500, $500,000 and $250,000, respectively.

The Vermont Land Trust has been working to raise an additional $25,000 this fall. With the $7,500 commitment from the South Burlington Land Trust there is just $7,500 more to be raised to complete this conservation effort. SBLT hopes to meet this goal in part by asking their members to match $2,500 of their commitment.

“We are urging the local community to join the South Burlington Land Trust and make a donation to the Vermont Land Trust by the end of the year,” said Dopp.

Adam and Corie were selected as the new owners of the Leduc Farm after submitting an extensive proposal and business plan to a competitive process conducted by the Vermont Land Trust as part of their Farmland Access Program. This conservation program helps diversified, experienced farmers gain access to productive, affordable farmland. Bread and Butter Farm’s varied, synergistic operations are well matched for the Leduc Farm’s soils, infrastructure, and location.

“Providing enterprising farmers such as Adam and Corie with access to high quality and affordable farmland is critical to agriculture’s future,” said Gil Livingston, President of the Vermont Land Trust. “And because our farming future is dependent on public support, it is also important to connect community members with farmland and farmers. This project presents South Burlington and Shelburne with a marvelous opportunity to have a local, exciting agricultural initiative close to town.”

For many years, Maurice Leduc operated the farm with help from his brother, Norman. Maurice sold his herd in September of 2004 as he approached retirement age. “We are glad that the farm will be conserved with the Vermont Land Trust and will continue to be farmed.” said Jeanne Leduc.

“The towns of South Burlington, Shelburne, the Leducs, and the Vermont Land Trust have come together to protect this farm,” said Corie Pierce. “They have offered us this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a farm that grows both food and community. We are honored to be chosen.”

Secretary of Agriculture Roger Albee, who serves on the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, said, “Conservation of this property is a win-win for the farmers and for South Burlington and Shelburne residents. Bread and Butter Farm will market a wide variety of products and the land will remain in agriculture, with a trail for the public to enjoy. The farm abuts two other conserved farms and the Shelburne Pond Natural Area, creating a small block of protected land in the heart of an area with intense development pressure.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 2, 2009

Rental Housing Preservation Workshop for Vermont Non-profits:
Developers to Focus on Redevelopment Opportunities and Strategies

On Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board will present a rental housing preservation workshop at the Best Western Inn of Waterbury for non-profit housing developers. The workshop is sponsored by the Chittenden Bank and by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Workshop participants will examine affordable housing developments in Vermont with expiring federal and private funding and consider policy, financing and project development strategies for successful redevelopment.

Vincent O'Donnell, V.P. of the national housing group LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) will present at the two-day workshop, along with Amy Wright, Director of Development for Cathedral Square Corporation.

Over the next decade, Vermont faces a potential loss of subsidized rental housing that will affect more than 7,000 households statewide. A $600,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awarded in February 2009 will boost the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board’s efforts to preserve affordable rental housing around the state by offering technical assistance and training workshops to non-profit developers, creating a standardized appraisal guide for subsidized properties, and assisting with the costs of energy efficiency and capital needs assessments for all preservation projects.

The MacArthur Foundation investment in Vermont is aimed at ensuring the preservation of between 50 and 75 percent of that affordable housing which is at risk due to expiring private and federal subsidies. In presenting VHCB with a $600,000 grant award in February, MacArthur Foundation President Jonathan Fanton said,

“Vermont’s creative efforts, including support services for the elderly living in subsidized rental housing and energy retrofitting of assisted properties will not only preserve affordable rental units, but also strengthen local communities and economies.”

Many of Vermont's affordable rental developments were originally funded by federal programs including HUD Section 8 and USDA Rural Development, and with private Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity. These programs guaranteed affordability for a certain time period, often 15-20 years. Anticipating the potential loss of subsidy in these apartments, Vermont’s housing agencies are working together to refinance and convert the units to permanently affordable housing. Given the fact that it generally costs twice as much to build an affordable home as to preserve one, Vermont’s efforts to preserve affordable housing are critically important and serve as a model for other states throughout the country.

Registration is due by November 11. For more information contact Rick DeAngelis at 828-3526 or email: rick@vhcb.org

The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board is a state-funded agency supporting the creation of permanently affordable housing and the conservation of agricultural and recreational land, natural areas and historic properties.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution helping to build a more just and sustainable world. The foundation fosters the development of knowledge, nurtures individual creativity, strengthens institutions, helps improve public policy, and provides information to the public, primarily through support for public interest media.

Chittenden Bank, which has proudly served individuals and businesses statewide since 1906, is a division of People's United Bank, a federally-chartered savings bank with $20 billion in assets. People’s United Bank provides consumer and commercial banking services through a network of more than 300 branches in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and New York. Through additional subsidiaries, People's United Bank provides equipment financing, asset management, brokerage and financial advisory services, and insurance services. For more information please call 800-545-2236 or visit www.chittenden.com.

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For Immediate Release
November 2, 2009

VHCB Recognized in Earning Vermont 5th Place in Worldwide Stewardship Ranking

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont is ranked 5th in the world for "destination stewardship" by the National Geographic Society. Vermont's scenic countryside, lively small towns, historic streetscapes and local businesses helped account for the state's high ranking as a travel destination and led to high marks for "environmental- and social-sustainability practices."

"Vermont, more than any other American state, has worked to preserve those qualities and characteristics that make it unique," commented one panelist. "It is one of only four U.S. states that completely prohibit outdoor advertising (i.e. billboards). It has a very effective statewide land trust and the state-funded Affordable Housing and Land Conservation Trust that rehabilitates historic buildings, like old mills, for low-income housing, and purchases conservation easements on farmland and forests. It has limited the spread of big-box retailing and works to retain locally owned retail, such as village stores. If you want to see New England as you imagine it, go to Vermont."

The sixth annual “Survey of Destination Stewardship,” conducted by National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, is published in the November/December issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine. In ranking destinations, 437 global panelists considered six criteria including environmental and ecological quality, social and cultural integrity, condition of historic buildings and archaeological sites, aesthetic appeal, quality of tourism management and outlook for the future.

“Vermont is ahead of the curve and well positioned for managing tourism growth responsibly,” said Vermont Governor Jim Douglas. “We have protected thousands of acres of our state’s land through conservation efforts and helped revitalize our historic downtowns.”

Vermont Tourism and Marketing Commissioner Bruce Hyde said, “Vermont has worked tremendously hard to preserve its natural resources and scenic beauty.”

Since 1987, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board has worked with Vermont municipalities and non-profit organizations to conserve more than 376,500 acres of farmland, natural areas and recreational lands and to develop more than 9,700 affordable homes, most of which are located in historic buildings in Vermont's town and village centers.

For more information, visit http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com

Vermont River Conservancy, Landowner Offer New
Connecticut River Campsite in Northern Vermont


Landowner Sam Ward, Vermont River Conservancy Staff and Volunteers created a public campsite on the Connecticut River six miles south of Guildhall.

A generous landowner and the Vermont River Conservancy have combined to create a new paddlers’ campsite on a beautiful stretch of the Connecticut River in northern Vermont. The site is just south of Guildhall in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and was made possible through the generosity of Sam and Anne Ward.

Sam Ward is a professor at the University of Arizona in the dry Southwest and loves being able to spend summers along the cool and clear-flowing Connecticut in northern Vermont, so he decided to make part of his land along the river available to paddlers.

“I feel so privileged to be able to be on a river like the Connecticut that I’ve been trying to help in any way I can to make the river accessible,” he said.

Ward contacted the Vermont River Conservancy in Montpelier, and —together with Noah Pollock, a consultant who works with VRC — they selected a site on the Ward’s land. Ward and Pollock then collected wood donated by the Garland lumber mill in Lancaster, NH. Working in Sam Ward’s shop, they and a crew of volunteers built a set of river-bank stairs, a picnic table, paddlers’ register, signs and a box privy. On a weekend in late August, the group floated their work upstream to the site and installed it, creating a welcome, clearly marked and clean stop for paddlers that encourages environmental etiquette.

The new site six miles south of Guildhall fits into the Vermont River Conservancy’s goal or making Vermont’s rivers accessible to more people. It also fits into the concept of an Upper Connecticut River Paddlers’ Trail that would create a series of paddlers’ campsites from the start of the river in northern New Hampshire to Vernon, VT. The project was a collaborative effort with the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, which provided technical assistance with the campsite design, a boat to help shuttle materials and volunteer support.

“We appreciate Sam and Anne’s generosity in allowing us to build this site, said VRC Executive Director Steve Libby. “They realize that having sites spaced every 10 miles or so will make the Connecticut River much more usable by recreationists, and will benefit the local businesses that can provide services to the increased number of people on the river.”

The site is the fourth VRC project on the Upper Connecticut River, and the group hopes to add several more over the next few years

The Vermont River Conservancy is a nonprofit organization based in Montpelier that works to preserve and protect important land along Vermont waters such as waterfalls, gorges, swimming holes, wetlands, river and lake shores and islands. It has preserved water access at 26 sites around the state. For more information contact the VRC at (802) 229-0820 or visit www.vermontriverconservancy.org.

April 29, 2009

Vermont Farm Viability Program Awards $40,000 to Meat Processing Facilities

Montpelier -- The Vermont Farm Viability Program announced today $40,000 in grant awards to meat processing facilities in Troy, Randolph, Barre and Enosburg. The grants are the first round of a new funding opportunity for “agriculture-related businesses,” established to develop and invest in agricultural infrastructure and to improve the viability of agriculture-related businesses. Two subsequent rounds of grant funding will be announced later this year and in 2010. Eleven processors with combined requests of $183,600 applied for $40,000 of available funding. The grant funds are supplied by a private foundation.

Four operators ranging from small custom processors to larger commercial processors will use grant funding to expand facilities and increase efficiency, resulting in greater availability of meat processing services for farmers and others raising livestock. The grant recipients are: Brault’s Market in Troy, The Royal Butcher in Randolph, Vermont Smoke and Cure in South Barre, and the Enosburg Meat Market. Three of the four offer retail sales on site.

“The importance of these funds to meat processing facilities in the state cannot be underestimated. We have seen a tremendous increase in demand in people looking to buy local. I call it a renaissance of the past—knowing where and how your food is grown is again becoming an important aspect to consumers when buying food,” said Secretary of Agriculture Roger Allbee. “These grants will give meat processors in Vermont the ability to expand and improve their facilities to help meet the increased demand for Vermont products. With improved processing facilities, farmers have the potential to increase what they produce and it opens new market options to them.”

Brault’s Market, providing custom and commercial meat processing and a retail market in Troy, will construct an addition, increasing their processing area and retail space. The Royal Butcher, a meat processor, butcher shop, retail store and bottle redemption center in Randolph, will expand and improve their processing area. Vermont Smoke and Cure, a smokehouse and processing facility in South Barre distributing ham, bacon and sausage throughout New England and beyond, will purchase processing equipment to increase their production capacity. The Enosburg Meat Market, a retail meat market and custom cutting shop, will construct an addition, adding processing and cooler space while creating separate processing areas for game and farm animals.

The Vermont Farm Viability Program was established in 2003 by the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board in partnership with the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets. The program uses business advisers from the University of Vermont Extension, the Intervale Center, NOFA-VT and independent consultants to provide business planning services to participating farmers. The business advisors work with farmers to focus on specific business goals such as improving production or financial records, performing financial benchmark analysis, evaluating new farm enterprises and value-added processing ventures, developing estate and farm transfer plans, and increasing profitability. On-farm consultations result in the preparation of a written business plan.

Upcoming Implementation Grant rounds are announced to farmers that have completed business plans with the Viability Program and to agriculture-related businesses. Farmers and ag-related businesses can find out more and apply by visiting www.vhcb.org/viability.html or by calling Program Director Ela Chapin at 828-2117.

2009 Report Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Documents Disparity between Cost of Housing and Wages
Download the Report

Burlington Free Press Editorial: April 30, 2009
Editorial: Housing affordability goes beyond buying

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2009
Contact: Gus Seelig, VHCB Executive Director: 828 3251

Energy Efficiency Funds to Assist Affordable Housing Developments

Montpelier - The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, a funder of affordable housing development statewide, announced today that they will provide $355,400 for energy improvements to 17 organizations around the state. The investments will increase energy efficiency and reduce operating costs in 175 apartment buildings owned by non-profit housing developers. Small grants, ranging from $1,000-$50,000, will assist with the costs of installing solar hot water systems, improving heating system control technology, and installing programmable thermostats in the inventory of affordable housing owned by non-profit developers.

These developers manage more than 9,400 affordable homes across the state. They are committed to providing quality housing at rent levels affordable to low and moderate income Vermonters. The unpredictable costs of heating oil and propane pose a challenge to affordable housing developers because heating costs are generally included in the rent and the affordability restrictions that accompany state and federal funding sources limit the developers’ ability to raise rents.

Christine Hart, VHCB Chair and Director of the Brattleboro Housing Authority said, “Reducing operating costs is critical in the business of affordable housing and these energy investments will provide immediate savings and pay for themselves in the not-too-distant future. Upgrades to be funded with these grants have an estimated payback period between six months to five years and the estimated savings from the improve-ments range from 5-30% in annual fuel usage. These are impressive numbers that will really help housing managers keep a handle on fuel use and heating costs.”

The new grants will assist affordable housing developers to add to energy conservation work already in place in response to last summer’s spike in fuel prices. Developments in Bennington and Brattleboro are sporting new solar hot water systems, while West River Valley Senior Housing in Townsend uses wood pellets to fuel the furnace and heat hot water.

CASE STUDY:
In Brattleboro, the Windham Housing Trust (WHT) has turned to the sun for assistance in maintaining the affordability of its rental apartments, installing its first set of solar panels last fall on the Daly Shoe Building on Birge Street. Funding for the solar energy project came from the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation’s Solar and Small Wind Incentive Program. Solar hot water systems present a promising opportunity for nonprofit developers to improve the energy performance of their housing portfolios.
Daly Shoe’s new solar hot water system acts as a pre-heater for the existing indirect water heaters, which are heated by the building’s oil-fired boilers, and provides an estimated 70% of the hot water needs for the building. WHT expects water heating bills to drop 50%–80% by going solar. And because the sun’s energy is free, WHT will be protected, in part, from fuel shortages and price hikes in the future. In turn, this will help WHT to keep its rents affordable and its tenants comfortable.

The VHCB Energy Fund grants are among one of several energy initiatives under development by the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board:

In February, VHCB announced a $600,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The funds will be used to develop comprehensive energy audit guidelines for multi-family rental housing developments, to assist with the costs of the audits, and to train property managers in efficiency measures.
Jessica Garrett is serving as Energy Conservation Coordinator, a new AmeriCorps position at VHCB. Jessica is establishing a database of alternative heating technologies, working with non-profit housing developers and their residents on strategies to decrease fuel usage, and undertaking a variety of educational efforts.
VHCB plans to work as a partner/subcontractor with Central Vermont Community Action Council which is administering funds from the sale of carbon credits from the Regional Green House Gas Initiative (RGGI). The funds will be used for energy-related improvements to both single family and multi-family housing.

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For Immediate Release: March 13, 2009
Contact: Gus Seelig, 802 828 3251

Farmers Participating in Business Planning
Implementation Program Increase Profits, Add Jobs

A telephone survey of farmers participating in the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board’s Farm Viability Program showed that program investments are helping farmers to increase profitability and create and sustain jobs on farms by conserving energy, expanding and diversifying operations, and increasing production efficiency.

The survey, conducted in February 2009 by the Vermont Small Business Development Center, analyzed the impact of professional services provided over the past two years to help farmers implement goals identified in the business planning process. Thirty-four out of 44 participating farm businesses were reached for the survey.

Gus Seelig, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, said, “We are thrilled that farmers are able to convert small grants and targeted technical assistance to increase their profits and affect the bottom line. In today’s economy, the services provided by the Viability Program are not just keeping farms in business, but adding jobs in the ag sector.”

The survey found:

One hundred percent of farmers surveyed said the business plan implementation assistance had a positive impact on their farm business.
Twenty-nine farmers (85% of those surveyed) said the business plan implementation assistance helped to increase the profitability of their farm businesses.
Twelve farmers out of 34 respondents saw an increase in jobs on their farm between summer 2006 (prior to assistance) and the time of the survey (post assistance). The farmers attributed this increase (an average of 1.4 full-time jobs per farm) at least in part to the implementation assistance provided.
The total number of jobs combined on the 34 farms increased from 96.5 in summer 2006 to 112.8 in early 2009.

Steve Paddock, Business Advisor at the Vermont Small Business Development Center, who conducted the study, said, “The survey results reaffirm the tremendous success of the Vermont Farm Viability Enhancement Program. People’s lives are being improved as they make real changes to their farm businesses with the assistance of the farm business planners provided by the program. This program enriches lives and builds the economic future of the Vermont farmers who participate.”

Funding for the grants, which ranged from $2,000–$6,000, was provided by a Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) from USDA Rural Development. In 2007 and 2008 the Viability Program assisted more than 40 farms with implementation grants for non-capital projects ranging from completing farm business transfer or retirement plans to designing new barns or on-farm processing facilities, creating marketing plans for new, value-added products, designing websites, developing federal grant applications, evaluating energy conservation opportunities and updating business plans and financial statements.

Developed in 2003 in collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Farm Viability Program uses business advisers to provide technical assistance to fulfill specific business goals such as assisting farmers to keep better production or financial records, perform financial benchmark analysis, analyze new farm enterprises and value-added processing ventures, conduct estate and farm transfer planning, and assist with labor management. The business planning process involves the farmer in an assessment of the farm operation’s strengths and weaknesses and in an exploration of possible management changes that could increase profitability. On-farm consultations result in the preparation of a written business plan. Farmers who have completed business plans with the Viability Program are eligible to apply for implementation grants.

Groups contracting with the Viability Program (the University of Vermont Extension Service, the Intervale Center, NOFA-VT and independent consultants) provide business planning services free of charge to participating farmers. To read more about the program or to apply, visit www.vhcb.org/viability.html or call Program Director Ela Chapin at 828-2117.

For Immediate Release: February 26, 2009
Contact: Gus Seelig, VHCB 802 828 3251
John Fairbanks, VHFA 802 652 3424

MacArthur Foundation Awards $2.6 Million to Vermont Housing Initiatives
for Energy Efficiency and Rental Preservation

Montpelier – Thousand of Vermonters who live in affordable rental housing will be able to keep that housing, thanks to a $2.6 million investment by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Vermont’s longstanding commitment to the preservation of rental housing was recognized by the investment of grants and loans by the foundation, which will be used in conjunction with other private and public investment to preserve thousands of apartments over the next decade.

The demand for affordable rental housing in Vermont already greatly exceeds the supply, which results in Vermont having one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in the nation and makes Vermont the 4th most expensive state in the country for renters. Nearly 72,000 Vermont households are renters.

The MacArthur Foundation investment, announced today, is made up of a $600,000 grant to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) and a $2 million loan to Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA). VHCB and VHFA will use the funding to increase energy efficiency, provide technical assistance, finance predevelopment and bridge loans, and establish a demonstration project using Medicare and Medicaid for supportive services for senior housing.

“Vermont’s creative efforts, including support services for the elderly living in subsidized rental housing and energy retrofitting of assisted properties will not only preserve affordable rental units, but also strengthen local communities and economies,” said MacArthur President Jonathan Fanton.

“This investment by the MacArthur Foundation brings an innovative new funding source for affordable housing preservation to address the issue of expiring rental subsidies while also improving energy efficiency and increasing technical assistance. It will help us focus on preserving our historic downtowns and village centers,” said VHCB Executive Director Gus Seelig.

“The MacArthur Foundation’s award is both a recognition of the creativity and effectiveness of Vermont’s affordable housing network and a prudent investment in a critical need here in Vermont,” said VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter. “This will help us promote long-term affordability, in part by reducing energy costs.”

MacArthur’s support for these projects is a part of the Foundation’s Window of Opportunity initiative, a $150 million, 10-year effort to preserve affordable rental homes across America. By investing in these public-sector efforts, the Foundation hopes to help create a wave of policy reform in cities and states that will make it possible to double the rate of preservation in a decade—to one million units.

VHFA and VHCB competed with 80 applicants to be among the 12 awardees to receive funding from the MacArthur foundation under the initiative. Further information is available at: www.macfound.org/housing/vermont

VHCB will use its $600,000 grant to provide technical assistance and training workshops to nonprofits working on preserving affordable housing. A standardized appraisal guide for subsidized properties will be created, and developers will be assisted with the costs of required energy efficiency and capital needs assessments for all preservation projects.

VHFA will use its $2 million loan to capitalize three loan programs, including an ingenious loan product that will convert energy savings into the primary means of loan repayment. VHFA will offer a new equity bridge loan program, lengthening the period over which investors can contribute equity and allowing for higher contributions, in order to bring more equity to preservation products. A third program will expand an existing pre-development loan product.

Given the fact that it generally costs twice as much to build an affordable home as to preserve one, Vermont’s efforts to preserve affordable housing are critically important and serve as a model for other states throughout the country.

Over the next decade, Vermont faces a potential loss of subsidized rental housing that will affect more than 7,000 households statewide. The MacArthur Foundation investment is aimed at ensuring the preservation of between 50 and 75 percent of that affordable housing which is at risk due to expiring private and federal subsidies.
Many rental housing developments were originally financed with private tax credit equity that guaranteed a 15-20 year period of affordability or with federal Section 8 Certificates that are due to expire within the next several years. Anticipating the potential loss of affordability in these apartments, the agencies are working together to refinance and convert the units to permanently affordable housing.

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The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution helping to build a more just and sustainable world. The foundation fosters the development of knowledge, nurtures individual creativity, strengthens institutions, helps improve public policy, and provides information to the public, primarily through support for public interest media.

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VHCB Grants $1.9 Million for Windham County
Projects in Marlboro and Brattleboro to Conserve
Hogback Mountain and Develop New Housing

On Friday, September 26, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) awarded three grants totaling $1,904,590 million towards the acquisition of 593 acres of land surrounding Hogback Mountain and to develop affordable and mixed income housing for 49 households in Brattleboro and West Brattleboro.

Gus Seelig, VHCB Executive Director, said, “These VHCB investments will help the Windham Housing Trust to continue its solid record of restoring and revitalizing Brattleboro’s historic neighborhoods to create permanent community assets. In the village of West Brattleboro, 21 new apartments will be created by a partnership between Housing Vermont and the Brattleboro Housing Authority. In Marlboro, we are pleased to support a grassroots group working to preserve public access and open land surrounding the Hogback Mountain Overlook.”

Brattleboro - For more than 20 years, the Windham Housing Trust has developed affordable housing in and around downtown Brattleboro. With a VHCB grant of $431,000 and $380,000 in federal HOME Program funds, WHT will acquire, rehabilitate and refinance 28 apartments and one commercial space in five buildings in the historic Canal and Elliot Street neighborhoods. WHT will take title to 172 Elliot Street, a severely distressed property that is under the control of the federal government due to past drug activities. The blighted building will be demolished and WHT will construct a 4-apartment building in its place, designed to be compatible with surrounding structures. Six apartments at 12 and 16 Horton Place will rehabilitated and an additional apartment will be created at 16 Horton Place. WHT is in the process of creating an historic district in this neighborhood of former worker housing, which would enable the organization to utilize federal historic tax credit financing. At 10 and 18 Canal Street, where WHT has an ownership interest, the group will refinance an expiring tax credit partnership and create a new limited partnership to own the buildings for the next 15 years. Energy efficiency improvements are planned for the 17 apartments at the Abbott Block (10 Canal) and 18 Canal Street.

West Brattleboro - Housing Vermont and the Brattleboro Housing Authority (BHA) will develop 21 new rental apartments at the Ann Wilder Richards building on Route 9 in the center of the village of West Brattleboro using $525,000 in VHCB funds and $250,000 in federal HOME Program funds awarded by VHCB. The development will convert a commercial building to residential and commercial use. The apartments will be affordable to low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Five of the apartments will receive project-based rental assistance, making them affordable to households earning less than half of median income. The development is adjacent to BHA’s Hayes Court development, where 24 units will be converted to assisted living. Development of the Ann Wilder Richards building will enable the BHA to begin the assisted living conversion three years sooner than originally projected.

Marlboro - The Hogback Mountain Conservation Association, working with The Vermont Land Trust, will use a VHCB grant of $318,590 to support the acquisition and conservation of 593 acres located between the summits of Hogback Mountain and Mount Olga. Included in the property are the peak of Hogback Mountain, the former Hogback Mountain ski area, portions of Mt. Olga, the lands visible directly below the Hogback Mountain Overlook, and land adjacent to Molly Stark State Park. The land falls on both the north and south sides of Route 9 in the vicinity of the Hogback Mountain Overlook, where there is a 100-mile view to the south. Route 9 is a designated Scenic Byway, also known as the Molly Stark Trail, an historic Revolutionary War pathway over the southern Green Mountains. Conservation will ensure permanent public access for recreation, protect wildlife habitat and natural areas. A forest management plan will be developed and an iconic vista over three states will be preserved. Additional fundraising is underway to complete the project budget.
___________________

VHCB GRANTS WILL CONSERVE LAND, BUILD AND
RENOVATE HOUSING AND FIGHT HUNGER IN CENTRAL VERMONT

Montpelier - On Friday, September 26, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) awarded three grants totaling $1.19 million towards the acquisition of approximately 100 acres to create a new public park and plan for the development of housing on Sabin’s Pasture in Montpelier, to conserve a farm in Warren to be purchased by the Vermont Foodbank, and to increase energy efficiency in 45 Montpelier apartments owned by the Central Vermont Community Land Trust.

Gus Seelig, VHCB Executive Director, said, “These are essential community projects. With food costs severely straining family budgets, we are proud to support the Vermont Foodbank’s initiative to grow and distribute local, affordable produce. Creating a new city park and developing mixed income housing in Montpelier is smart growth. These projects illustrate how housing and conservation can complement each other and enhance the quality of life for all the citizens in our communities.”

Sabin’s Pasture - A grant of $212,500 to the City of Montpelier and The Trust for Public Land will assist with acquisition costs of 100 acres, commonly known as “Sabin’s Pasture” with frontage on Barre Street in Montpelier. A new city park will be created on the upper portion of the land. The City will hold title to the land and manage the park. A residential neighborhood including both rental and homeownership would be developed along Barre Street.

The City has committed $188,000 towards land acquisition for the new park. Additional acquisition costs will be raised by the Trust for Public Land and by the sale of approximately 15-20 acres to a housing developer. A separate grant by the board of $43,962, matched by the Trust for Public Lands, will support work related to housing development, such as engineering, permitting, a market study, an updated appraisal and architectural plans.

Mayor Mary Hooper said, “The community of Montpelier is very grateful for VHCB support in the creation of what will be a great new neighborhood in Montpelier and a park within walking distance to the neighborhoods and businesses on the south side of the river. We are delighted at the prospect of new homes and an expanded tax base in the city, as well as continued recreational use of a beloved parcel of land.”

Although privately owned, for years the public has informally enjoyed Sabin’s Pasture for its recreational opportunities and scenic beauty. When a private developer proposed a 600-unit housing development for the site in 2002, many in the community voiced strong opposition, which began a lengthy public dialogue about its future.

In 2007, the Trust for Public Land convened community leaders in both conservation and housing and formed the Sabin’s Pasture Working Group. After numerous meetings, hearings, and further debate, the group developed a comprehensive set of recommendations for the site which has received broad community support and unanimous approval by the City Council.

The new public park will encompass an historic slate quarry and diverse natural habitats including meadows, mixed hardwood forest, wetlands, and riparian areas. Sabin’s Pasture and adjacent properties comprise a nearly continuous block of 500 acres of wildlife habitat within the city limits.

Kingsbury Farm, Warren and Waitsfield – Using $168,000 in VHCB funding, the Vermont Foodbank, a statewide non-profit dedicated to addressing hunger in Vermont, will work with the Vermont Land Trust to purchase and conserve 20 acres at the Kingsbury Farm on Route 100. The Foodbank will grow food for distribution to Mad River Valley and Central Vermont food shelves, pantries and partner agencies and will use the farm as an educational resource, establishing a community meeting space and community gardens.
The town of Warren will contribute to the acquisition from its conservation reserve fund. Over the next several months the Vermont Land Trust will lead a local fundraising campaign necessary in order to purchase the conservation easement and complete the sale to the Foodbank.

“The Vermont Foodbank’s purchase of the Kingsbury Farm, and the conservation of additional farmland in the valley, will directly increase the amount of locally grown food that is available and affordable to area residents,” said Liza Walker, Mad River Valley Director for the Vermont Land Trust. “To respond to the community’s call for greater self-sufficiency in the Valley, VLT will need the generous support of the entire community. The long-term protection of agricultural land will make a difference for this generation and generations to come.”

A protective buffer will be established along the Mad River and permanent public access will be ensured along a new section of the Mad River Path system there, connecting to an existing trail on town-owned land to the south. The property includes nearly 2,400 feet of frontage on the Mad River, including a swimming hole.

In November 2007, the Vermont Land Trust became interim owner of the Kingsbury Farm as part of a community-driven effort to conserve the property and find a new farm owner. VLT solicited proposals from prospective farm buyers, and after reviewing them with a local advisory group, chose the proposal from the Vermont Food Bank.

In 2006, the Vermont Foodbank distributed nearly 6.5 million pounds of food to its Network Partners around the state from its 26,000 square foot warehouse in Barre.

Central Vermont Community Land Trust Rehabilitation and Refinancing:
The Central Vermont Community Land Trust will use $420,000 in VHCB funds and $350,000 in federal HOME Program funds awarded by VHCB to rehabilitate and refinance 45 apartments in downtown Montpelier. The 39-unit North Branch Apartments on Elm Street, developed in 1992, will get a sprinkler system, a new fire alarm system, solar hot water, new boilers, improved insulation and weatherization, new doors, windows, thermostats, energy efficient lighting and repairs to the foundation walls into the riverbed. Overall, the rehabilitation will increase energy efficiency in these homes by more than 50%. Apartments at 47 Barre Street and 6 Monsignor Crosby Avenue will be similarly rehabilitated.

CVCLT Director Eileen Peliter said, “At today’s fuel costs, addressing energy efficiency in our housing portfolio is crucial to our bottom line. In 2009 our fuel budget for these properties will increase by more than $15,000—a 40% rise in cost. While improving the technology of the building systems is necessary, efficiency improvements are only part of the solution. CVCLT is meeting with our tenants to develop ideas for changing how we live and work in order to further reduce energy demands."

- end -

Housing grant to assist people with HIV/AIDS

by Tim Johnson
Burlington Free Press
August 21, 2008

In a state beset by high housing costs, an infusion of federal money will provide a critical cushion for one of Vermont's most vulnerable populations: low-income people living with HIV/AIDS.

Vermont will receive its fifth three-year grant -- $1,430,000 -- under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced.

Especially welcome, said Willa Darley Chapin, federal housing program manager for the state's recipient agency, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, is a boost in the number of people who will receive rental housing assistance -- from 28 under the last grant, to 40.

"A huge benefit," agreed Peter Jacobsen, executive director of Vermont CARES, one of four organizations around the state that will collaborate with the board in providing services.

The grant is part of $19,354,450 for housing assistance and support services awarded to 15 states and the Virgin Islands, according to HUD. "These grants are quite literally a lifeline for those struggling to find a decent home while trying to manage complex drug therapies," said Steve Preston, HUD secretary, in a news release.

To be eligible for the assistance, Vermonters must be connected to one of the four support organizations and have incomes less than 80 percent of the area median, Darley Chapin said.

Besides Vermont CARES, based in Burlington, the organizations are AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, IMAMI Health Institute, and ACORN.

In addition to rental assistance for 40 tenants, according to HUD, the grant will provide 171 households with short-term rent, mortgage and utility assistance; and supportive services to 259 people with HIV/AIDS.

The most recent tally by the Vermont Department of Health showed 460 people in Vermont with HIV or AIDS, Jacobsen said. The state is also believed to have about 150 more people who have not reported their condition.

Jacobsen said his organization faces the constant challenge of reaching out to people with HIV or AIDS who might be eligible for free services but who have not made contact with Vermont CARES because they're worried about the stigma.

To find out about free services for people living with HIV/AIDS, call Vermont CARES at 800-649-2437.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2008
Contact: Gus Seelig 828-3251

Christine Hart and Thomas Weaver Elected as Chair
and Vice-Chair of Vermont Housing & Conservation Board

The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board has elected Christine H. Hart of Brattleboro to serve as chair and Thomas G. Weaver of Essex Junction as vice chair. The board is an independent, state-supported agency established in 1987 to provide funding to create affordable housing and to conserve agricultural land, natural areas, recreational land and historic properties.

Christine Hart is Executive Director of the Brattleboro Housing Authority, a post she has held since 1995. Prior to joining the Housing Authority, Chris was the assistant town manager and town planner for the town of Brattleboro, and project manager for the $8 million construction and renovation project for the Holstein Association in downtown Brattleboro. She served on the Vermont Human Rights Commission from 1998 to 2004. She was appointed to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board by Governor Douglas in 2004. She is active in town government and involved in a number of local organizations. Chris holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Kansas and received her B.A. in History and Politics from Ithaca College. She lives in Brattleboro with her husband and son, who is attending UVM.

Tom Weaver, a builder and real estate developer, is a partner in Bartlett-Weaver Associates in Essex Junction. His professional affiliations include the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors, the Vermont Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors, the Homebuilders Association of Northern Vermont and the National Association of Homebuilders. He is Chair of the Essex Junction Zoning Board and previously served as a trustee and as selectman for the towns of Essex Junction and Essex. He is member of Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. Tom is married to Susan Faye Morse. They have two daughters, Katherine Martin and Elizabeth Weaver, and a grandchild, Sullivan Martin.

Outgoing Chair Ken Perine, President of the National Bank of Middlebury who has served as the board chair since 2006, said, “Chris and Tom are well-positioned to lead the board in committing funds for community development and conservation projects to increase and improve our supply of affordable housing while maintaining Vermont’s open land and investing in our historic public buildings.”

Since 1987, VHCB has committed more than $200 million in loans and grants to nonprofit groups, municipalities and state agencies to create 8,000 affordable homes and conserve 350,000 acres of Vermont’s agricultural land, natural areas, recreational land and historic properties.

Thursday, May 15, 2008
CONTACT: Gus Seelig 828-3251
Joan Misek 828-3249

VERMONT HOUSING AND CONSERVATION BOARD TO RECEIVE FEDERAL AMERICORPS GRANT

Montpelier – The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board announced today that they will receive a 3-year, $1,134,000 grant to continue the Vermont Community Stewardship Program, an AmeriCorps program now in its 11^th year. An initial installment of $378,000 in federal funds from the Corporation for National Service will provide for 34 AmeriCorps members addressing housing and environmental needs across the state for a one-year service period commencing September 24, 2008.

Program Director Joan Misek said, “This grant will allow us to make a real difference in our communities, providing critical services to low- and moderate-income Vermonters and protecting our environmental resources while mobilizing volunteers to multiply our effectiveness.”

The Vermont Community Stewardship Program (VCSP) is an AmeriCorps project of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board operating in collaboration with 25 sponsoring nonprofit organizations around the state. Members serving with conservation organizations organize and lead environmental education and service learning opportunities and perform conservation-related duties. Hundreds of young people and their families enjoy out-of-school-time programming provided by members serving at affordable housing sites. At Vermont’s NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Centers, members provide education on the home buying process for first-time homeowners as well as foreclosure prevention activities. Other members will provide services to Vermont’s homeless and marginally-housed population.

Senator Bernie Sanders said, “At a time when so many families are facing huge obstacles to home ownership and our environmental challenges have never been greater, this grant supports the efforts of AmeriCorps members to address these challenges. I look forward to their continued success serving Vermonters in need.”

Gretchen Berger-Wabuti, Executive Director of the Vermont Commission on National and Community Service, said, “We are proud of the track record of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board’s AmeriCorps program. This is a highly competitive application process and the 3-year grant award from the Corporation for National Service is a strong vote of confidence for this very effective program.”

VCSP is now accepting applications for its 2009-2010 program year. Full-time members receive a $13,056 living stipend, a $4,725 education award, and health insurance. At several trainings over the course of the service year, members are able to increase skills in many areas. For more information, or to apply, call 828-3253 or see the website, www.vhcb.org/vcsp.html

-- 30 --

Press Release: May 5, 2008

Contact: Gus Seelig, VHCB 802 828 5075
Sarah Carpenter, VHFA 802 864 5743

Vermont Named Finalist in Expansion of MacArthur Foundation Housing Initiative;
New Report Details Effects of Foreclosure Crisis on Rental Market

Montpelier - May 1, 2008 – The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has selected a proposal by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency to compete for up to $5 million in new funding to support state rental housing preservation efforts. The Vermont agencies would use the funding to restructure financing, increase energy efficiency, and provide support services to frail elders and formerly homeless individuals. The funds would be targeted to preserve more than 8,000 private and non-profit owned rental apartments in 123 towns over the next ten years.

Many of these developments were originally financed with low income housing or historic preservation tax credit equity that guaranteed a 15-20 year period of affordability or with Section 8 Certificates that are due to expire within the next several years. Anticipating the potential loss of affordability in these apartments, the agencies are working together to refinance and convert the units to permanently affordable housing. With a nationally recognized network of nonprofit housing development organizations serving all corners of the rural state, Vermont has a strong track record in developing affordable housing.

Gus Seelig, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, said, “The affordability of 12,000 apartments is threatened in the next five years. It is critical that we take action to preserve our rental housing assets in smart growth locations around the state. Increasing energy efficiency in our rental housing stock will also be critical to maintaining affordability in the long run.”

A new report released today by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies details the devastating effect the mortgage crisis is having on the rental market and proposes the development of a new and more balanced set of housing policy initiatives that would expand opportunities for renters and homeowners alike. [http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/rental/rh08_americas_rental_housing/]

While Vermont had fewer sub-prime mortgages and consequently has suffered fewer foreclosures than other states, 29.4 percent of the state’s households are renters (nearly 72,000 households). In 2007 Vermont’s rental vacancy rate was the second-lowest in the country.

“This new report underscores that the demand for affordable rental housing is increasing at the same time that the supply of low-cost rental is declining,” said Jonathan Fanton, President of the MacArthur Foundation. “The debate on national housing policy must not exclude the more than 35 million renter households. We clearly need policies that honor the role of rental housing as well as homeownership. The diverse cities, counties, and states selected as finalists for MacArthur funding share a commitment to preserving and improving affordable rental housing and have offered ideas that we believe are creative and potentially very effective.”

Sarah Carpenter, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, said, “Vermonters who rent are already under serious pressure as costs rise and would take a serious hit if we are unable to refinance thousands of affordable apartments that are due to lose federal subsidies or tax credit income restrictions. The MacArthur Foundation’s support would help us leverage other private and public funds in anticipation of refinancing and creating permanent affordability in units that would otherwise be lost as affordable housing resources.”

This year, affordability was preserved at the 336-unit Northgate Apartments in Burlington when ownership was transferred to the Northgate Residents’ Ownership Corporation, a non-profit consisting of a majority of Northgate residents along with community representatives. The cost to acquire and rehabilitate Northgate in 1989 was $21.67 million, comprised of state and federal funding and low income housing tax credit equity. In 2006, upon expiration of the tax credit compliance period, an additional $365,000 created permanent affordability. The replacement cost of a development this size today would be $80 million. Instead of being faced with displacement, residents who have lived here for decades are celebrating. According to board member Amy Wright, “It’s a little miracle that this is a $21 million resident-owned community and that Vermont has been able to make that happen.”

The MacArthur Foundation will provide a total of $35 million in multi-year grants and program-related investments (low-interest loans) to up to ten state and local governments that are demonstrating outstanding leadership through promising, high impact approaches to preserving and improving affordable rental housing. Individual awards, which will be announced in early 2009, will range from $250,000 to $5 million and must be used to design, demonstrate or scale up a significant preservation initiative. The 21 finalists announced today were selected from over 80 jurisdictions that applied. These grants and low-interest loans are part of MacArthur’s $150-million Window of Opportunity initiative, which seeks to preserve 300,000 affordable rental homes across the country. The Foundation also aims to stimulate policy reforms that reverse the loss of existing, affordable rental homes, enabling communities and rental housing owners to preserve at least one million units over the decade ahead.

___________________________________

The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board is a state-funded agency making loans and grants for the creation of permanently affordable housing and the conservation of agricultural and recreational land, natural areas and historic properties.

The Vermont Housing Finance Agency VHFA was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1974 to finance and promote affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, the Agency has helped approximately 26,000 Vermont households with affordable mortgages and financed the development of 7,400 affordable rental units.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution helping to build a more just and sustainable world. Through the support it provides, the Foundation fosters the development of knowledge, nurtures individual creativity, strengthens institutions, helps improve public policy, and provides information to the public, primarily through support for public interest media. With assets of more than $6.8 billion, the Foundation makes approximately $260 million in grants annually. More information is available at www.macfound.org.

March 17, 2008

WINDHAM HOUSING TRUST WINS NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Windham Housing Trust was awarded the James Leach National Achievement Award as the most outstanding rural non-profit for 2008 by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). Connie Snow, Windham Housing Trust Executive Director, received the award in Washington D.C. on behalf of the organization on March 14^th.

A Brattleboro, Vermont nonprofit organization, Windham Housing Trust (WHT) was honored for its commitment to rural community and economic development through the production of affordable housing solutions.

“We are very proud to present this award to Windham Housing Trust. Their work on behalf of residents in southern Vermont is an example for other groups to follow. Only by working together can we make affordable housing possible and create living, breathing communities where people can work and live. We applaud WHT for their efforts and wish Windham Housing Trust much continued success”, said NCRC President John Taylor.

National Community Reinvestment Coalition is an association of more than 600 community-based organizations that promote access to basic banking services including credit and savings, to create and sustain affordable housing, job development, and vibrant communities for America’s working families.

Windham Housing Trust was nominated for the award by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund (VHCB). In his nomination letter, VHCB executive director Gus Seeling wrote this about WHT: “Markers for success in Vermont include an ability to meet the needs of diverse rural communities, to serve the most vulnerable citizens, to restore historic buildings, and to support the revitalization of our town and village centers. WHT has been a consistent leader in building bridges of community support with local businesses, social service agencies, banks and funding agencies to create more inclusive communities across its service area.”

The nomination noted that Windham Housing Trust has taken on the revitalization of neighborhoods and rural village centers with great success, including historic buildings in small towns and villages such as Whitingham and Algiers. WHT’s work in Brattleboro has saved and revitalized historic neighborhoods adjacent to the downtown core. This powerful community development work has eliminated blight, revitalized neighborhoods, and acted as a catalyst for private investment.

In 2006 alone, more than $18 million dollars of WHT housing rehabilitation and construction work took place in Windham County, contributing to overall economic health. The local purchase of materials and supplies related to housing construction has a long lasting ripple effect, generating additional income, jobs and opportunities throughout the local economy.

“WHT has been among the pioneers nationally in utilizing shared equity homeownership, with 49 permanently affordable singe family homes in their portfolio. As administrators of low-income housing tax credits, WHT has been a reliable, consistent and creative partner at the forefront of Vermont’s success. A recent study of Vermont nonprofit housing developers showed WHT’s diverse portfolio to be extraordinarily well-managed, placing the organization first among Vermont non-profits in attending to and planning for its stewardship obligations to maintain its affordable housing portfolio,” wrote Seelig.

The James Leach National Achievement Award is named after Republican Jim Leach, who represented the 2^nd district in Iowa for 30 years. Congressman Leach’s bipartisan leadership and ability to persuade and compromise contributed enormously to progressive legislation, including environmental protection, campaign reform, and debt relief for the world’s poorest countries.

Other NCRC award recipients at the March 14th award ceremony included James Rokakis, Treasurer of Cuyahoga County, Ohio who won the Henry B. Gonzalez Award. The NCRC 2008 Senator William H. Proxmire Award was awarded posthumously to Gale Cincotta, former Chairperson, National People`s Action Committee. The NCRC 2008 James Rouse Award went to The Miami Valley Fair Housing Center in Dayton, Ohio. The NCRC 2008 Color of Money Award was a tie between Gretchen Morgenson Reporter, New York Times and Kitty Pilgrim Anchor, CNN Money. And the 2008 National Community Reinvestment Award was presented to William Tisdale, President and CEO, Milwaukee Fair Housing Council.

A member-based nonprofit organization, the Windham Housing Trust creates a full spectrum of renter and owner-occupied housing opportunities for the residents of Windham County who are least served by the prevailing market. Since its founding in 1987, WHT has created more than 450 safe and affordable homes and apartments. Its work has helped to revitalize neighborhoods, preserve historic properties, and enhance economic vitality throughout the region. For more information about the Trust or its programs, please visit www.windhamhousingtrust.org or call director Connie Snow at 802-254-4604 extension 113.

EPA Honors Housing Group
for Promoting Conservation

By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN, Reformer Staff

BRATTLEBORO REFORMER
Saturday, December 1, 2007

Award ceremony at the National Building Museum, Washington D.C.

Winners of the 2007 National Awards for Smart Growth Achievement include the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, the Housing Authorities of Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, the town of Barnstable, Mass., and the borough of Harlem in Manhattan, N.Y.

BRATTLEBORO -- A Vermont conservation group has been recognized by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency for its work in promoting environmentally sensitive development.

The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board was one of five organizations across the country that were presented with the awards at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14.

The other four winners represented housing and conservation groups in cities and VHCB was the only group this year to win for its state wide work in promoting compact housing development as well as preserving farm land, natural areas and historic buildings.

"This is recognition from the EPA for the smart growth policies of VHCB," said Gus Seelig, the group's executive director. "It was also an acknowledgment to the state of Vermont for its long term policies and 30 year commitment to preserving the working landscape. The EPA recognized the state's willingness to invest in smart growth by making grants and loans available."

VHCB was started in 1987 when the Legislature earmarked $3 million to help the state contend with the rapid development that the group's supporters thought was threatening the state's landscape.

Working with nonprofit organizations across the state, VHCB provides funding for both housing developments and conservation initiatives that protect farmland and forests.

VHCB has partially financed the Latchis Theater, projects with the Windham Housing Trust and land acquisitions with the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association.

Seelig said VHCB won the EPA award for its unique approach of funding both growth and conservation. The group makes investments in the state's future while preserving the quality of life that makes Vermont appealing in the first place.

"We view the issues of growth and preservation as complementary rather than competitive," Seelig said. "A lot of people think housing and conservation are at odds but the EPA recognized our success and they are saying that other states ought to look at this model and see how it can be applied to their efforts."

The other winners of the 2007 National Awards for Smart Growth Achievement include the Housing Authority of Portland, Ore., the Seattle Housing Authority, the town of Barnstable, Mass., and Manhattan, N.Y.

Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association secretary Bev Major said VHCB has been the most important funder of the group's work to preserve the ridgeline in Westminster West.

The group has acquired about 1,500 acres and developed 14 miles of trail along the area of the Pinnacle, the highest point on Windmill Hill. "They have provided the major funding for our purchases," Major said. "We never would have been able to do this without their help."

Major said the group's move to link conservation and development should be replicated across the country. By bringing the two together, she said, the two movements can work together and not compete for funding and recognition.

"It has been great for the state of Vermont," Major said. "It has absolutely worked."

"We have to continue to make our communities special places where people want to live and do it in a way that keeps what is special about Vermont, special," said Seelig. "That's what this acknowledgment is all about."

Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 279.

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Details on each of the winners: epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards/sg_awards_publication_2007.htm

Policies and Regulations: The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB), an independent, state-supported agency, promotes compact settlements surrounded by countryside. VHCB pursues affordable housing, land conservation, and historic preservation initiatives under a single program that balances competing priorities. Since 2002, VHCB investments of $84 million have supported the development of more than 3,000 affordable homes, the preservation of 44 historic buildings, and the conservation of more than 37,000 acres of farmland, natural areas, and recreation lands.

The awards were presented by Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, on behalf of EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI). OPEI is home to the Agency’s smart growth program which, in addition to presenting the annual awards, conducts research and policy analysis on growth issues, provides direct technical assistance to state and local governments, delivers outreach and public education, and collaborates with partners in the Smart Growth Network (www.smartgrowth.org), a coalition of more than 30 state and national organizations focused on development issues.