Chris Cochran

The meeting included a presentation on the Vermont Evaluation of Rural Technical Assistance (VERTA) project, aimed at enhancing technical assistance to rural communities. The Village Trust Initiative, a partnership to support revitalization efforts in Vermont villages, was also presented. The board approved Sudbury's village center application and designation, as well as Poultney's request to amend its downtown boundary. The Downtown Transportation Fund grant awards for FY2025 were approved, and adjustments were made to the maximum grant award for FY26. Legislative updates were provided, and plans for a spring bus tour were discussed.

The meeting included a presentation on conflict of interest and the code of ethics for board members. The board reviewed and approved village center designation applications for the Town of Essex and the Town of Whiting. Amendment requests for the Downtown Transportation Fund for the City of Essex Junction and the Town of Williston were also approved. Additionally, there was a presentation on the Vermont Futures Project, focusing on Vermont's Economic Action Plan, and a legislative preview that covered the Administration's omnibus housing bill and updates on DHCD's legislative reports.

The meeting focused on the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, covering funds from Emergency Solutions Grants, Community Development Block Grants, and the National Housing Trust Fund. Discussions included the possibility of increasing the set-aside for scattered-site projects and raising the cap on individual awards. The Scattered Site Program, its funding allocation, eligibility requirements (80% AMI), and the average project costs were reviewed. Other topics included the rental program, the Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP), and the four plan priorities: increasing affordable housing supply and quality, job creation and retention, reducing homelessness, and strengthening communities. Programmatic changes were considered, including increasing the scattered-site project set-aside and individual award caps, and potentially increasing the set-aside for accessibility improvements. The use of CDBG funds with HOME funds for LIHTC projects was also discussed, along with the need for more enforcement of the Fair Housing Act and the Federal Public Housing Authority. Data on household incomes served by the Scattered Site program and the use of deed restrictions to prevent investor purchases of single-family homes were also discussed.

The meeting included board member remarks, with departing members Bill Supple and Paul Maynard sharing their experiences. Legislative updates were provided, covering bills related to short-term rentals, alcohol sales, agritourism liability, and Act 250. Updates were also given on tourism funding, unemployment insurance, and various grant programs (VORAK, recreational stewardship and access trail grants, and relief and recovery grants for businesses). The impact of the Canadian border closure on tourism was discussed, along with the lodging industry's perspective on the current travel climate and staffing challenges.

The strategic plan for the State of Vermont from 2025-2029 focuses on four key priorities: increasing the supply and quality of affordable housing, decreasing homelessness, strengthening communities, and expanding economic opportunities. The plan aims to leverage CDBG, HOME, HTF, and ESG funds with other public and private resources. Key strategies include achieving perpetual affordability of housing investments, promoting development in designated downtown and village centers, and linking homeless assistance with permanent housing solutions.