Partner organizations

The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation wants to know your thoughts on, well, historic preservation.

The division's working to revise its 10-year plan, and is soliciting the opinions of Vermonter through an online survey.

Take the survey now.

The deadline for Champlain Housing Trust's "What Home Means to Me" photo contest is approaching.

As part of CHT's 25th anniversary celebration they're giving away an Olympus 1020 camera, memory and camera bag to one 1st Prize winner.

Two 2nd Prize winners will receive photo books.

As planners for the town of Wilmington consider the next scheduled revision to their town plan, our friends at Smart Growth Vermont are encouraging a plan for growth that preserves the character of the town.

Our friends at NeighborWorks of Western Vermont will receive $2 million in federal economic stimulus funds to help first-time homebuyers.

The funding comes from the Community Development Financial Institutions Program, part of the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The $2 million is part of $6 million being split among three Vermont non-profit organizations: NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, Vermont Community Loan Fund and Opportunities Credit Union.

Some photos here from Champlain Housing Trust's block party last Friday, celebrating their new digs at 88 King Street, Burlington.

Thanks to Jon Shenton, Marketing and Communications Coordinator over at CHT.

The Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN) and the Vermont Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIAVT) is presenting "Deep Energy Retrofits," a workshop for builders, architects and others, June 19 in Montpelier.

As a follow up to the "Toward Net-Zero Energy Homes" series, this workshop will focus on the deep energy retrofits of homes and other building types.

Cathleen Gent will wrap up her tenure as administrator for Vermont Resident Service Coordinators (VRSC) at the end of this month.

Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) is throwing an old fashioned neighborhood block party Friday, June 12 from 4 to 6 p.m.

It's in celebration of NeighborWorks Week and as a "thank you" to their neighbors along King Street, between Saint Paul and Pine streets, who were so patient during construction of CHT's new headquarters at 88 King Street.

Our friends at the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Rural Development (USDA/RD) have made changes to their Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program so more Vermonters may be eligible.

USDA/RD has increased its income limits for the program, which help determine who might be eligible for a home loan. At the same time, they've moved to a two-tiered system — for families of one to four people and five to eight people — to simplify the process.

A group of statewide housing organizations, including VHFA, have formed the Vermont Green Home Alliance.

The alliance, announced at a press conference at the Champlain Valley Expo this afternoon, promotes and encourages "green" building practices in Vermont.