The most recent stop of Governor Phil Scott’s “Capital for a Day” initiative brought the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) team to Lamoille County. Events on February 28 were an opportunity for business and community leaders to speak directly with members of the Governor's Administration.
The perennial issue of housing was the common thread throughout the day. Lamoille is the county closest to reaching its 2030 home construction target. However, cost and regulatory pressures continue to hinder growth in the region. Despite leading the state in bringing new homes online, the communities are on pace to build 1,066 new units, which is just short of the 1,959 goal.
Community meeting on housing.
Hyde Park: PATH for Vermont Presentation and Community Meeting
The Governor kicked off the day by convening a community meeting to discuss housing solutions and hear directly from community members on pressing issues. The event, held at the Green Mountain Technology & Career Center, featured a presentation on the Governor’s housing policy proposal package, Pathway to Accelerating and Transforming Housing for Vermont (PATH for Vermont).
Housing and Community Development Commissioner Alex Farrell and Deputy Commissioner Nate Formalarie emphasized PATH for Vermont’s vision of a healthy housing market and methods to get there. These solutions include investing public funds, leveraging private capital, and implementing regulatory reforms to lower costs, streamline processes, and expand housing opportunities for a resilient and growing population. Economic Development Deputy Commissioner Brett Long and Executive Director of the Vermont Economic Progress Council Jessica Hartleben also presented the Governor’s new proposed municipal financing tool (“Strategic Projects for Advancing Rural Communities”) to help communities fund infrastructure, housing, and economic development projects. The presentation slides are available online.
Morristown: Business Visits
Deputy Commissioner Brett Long and Department of Labor team members also met with local businesses to see their work in action and share potential state resources to help them achieve their goals. The tours, alongside the Lamoille Economic Development Corporation, demonstrated the impressive work of Manufactured Solutions, Inc. and Butternut Mountain Farm. The companies’ leadership teams shared the ongoing concerns on workforce recruitment, housing, and affordability (particularly rising healthcare costs), and how the cyclical nature of these issues hinders growth. Anticipating potential tariffs and how they could impact local operations was also top of mind for businesses.
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Orange County was the sixth stop on this year's "Capital for a Day" tour. You can read more about recent stops in Chittenden, Orleans, Caledonia, Washington, and Orange Counties.