The Citizens' Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) has issued a request for proposals to rural communities interested in applying for funding to host a community design workshop in 2016 or 2017.

CIRD offers annual competitive funding to six small towns or rural communities to host a two-and-ahalf day community development and design workshop. With assistance from a wide range of design, planning, and creative place making professionals, the workshops are intended to bring together local leaders from non-profits, community organizations, and government agencies to develop actionable solutions to the communities’ pressing development challenges.

There is no better way to learn about Burlington's land-mark affordable housing preservation efforts of the early 1980s than to take a walk around VHFA's offices. More than 200 apartments in the King Street area were renovated and preserved as affordable housing through partnerships between VHFA, HUD, the City of Burlington and local housing providers.

VHFA's Multifamily Management Director Sam Falzone realized he could show staff first-hand the benefits of this initiative by leading small-group lunch time tours of the neighborhood. All but six of the apartments renovated through this initiative 33 years ago remain critical components of Burlington's affordable rental housing stock today.

A recent report from Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) concludes that HFA financial profiles demonstrated solid improvement in FY 2014. The report predicts that national wage growth and lower unemployment, which have caused an increase in household formations, will enable HFAs to retain their strong financial positions in the future.  Read more.

With 40+ years of experience lending to home buyers and developers of affordable rental housing, VHFA looks forward to 40 more years serving Vermonters through economic up and down swings. 

Steve Davis, owner of the Wilder-based VerMod company is becoming recognized not just for his company's high quality modular homes but for the employment opportunities he has created for residents of the Hartford Dismas House. Dismas provides group-setting affordable housing to people recently released from prison.  Read more in Sunday's Valley News.