Vermont’s economy is growing but not in every county, and its gains have disproportionately benefited higher income Vermonters, according to the 2018 update of “State of Working Vermont” from Public Assets Institute. Poverty is distinctly more prevalent among younger Vermonters and Vermonters of color, the report notes.

The northwestern part of the state accounted for all job growth in Vermont in the last decade, according to the Public Assets Institute report.  While employment grew in Chittenden, Franklin and Washington counties, the remaining counties lost 15,000 workers. 

Earlier this week, VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter was honored by the VHFA Board of Commissioners with a resolution in recognition of her 20 years of service as head of the agency.

L. Randolph Amis, Chair of Board of Directors, praised Carpenter for her “grace, good humor, and dogged resolution” in her leadership of VHFA and her advocacy for affordable housing.

The resolution reads:

“WHEREAS, Sarah Carpenter has served Vermont’s housing community for over three decades as a developer, funder and financier impacting more than 10,000 households; and

WHEREAS, Sarah’s efforts and leadership transformed Vermont’s discussion of how to provide supportive housing for its most vulnerable citizens; and

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce recently named Leo O’Brien Jr. and Daniel J. O’Brien, founder of O’Brien Brothers real estate development, as the 2018 Citizens of the Year. Among their many other accomplishments, the brothers have a long history of investment in affordable housing in Vermont.

Earlier this fall, VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vermont Housing Managers Association (VHMA) for her lifetime of service in affordable housing.

Carpenter has worked in affordable housing management throughout her career. Prior to her role as Executive Director of VHFA, she led Cathedral Square Corporation as its Executive Director for 15 years and worked with the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging on housing issues. Sarah was a founding member of VHMA and has served in a variety of roles, including President and Treasurer.