At its Dec. 18 meeting, the VHFA Board of Commissioners decided to suspend new activity under VHFA's multifamily and single-family Ventures pre-development loan program.

We hope to resume this program, which has helped fund start-up development costs for non-profit organizations, as soon as market conditions allow.

To learn more about the factors that lead to the suspension, and for suggestions of other sources for pre-development funding, read Director of Development Joe Erdelyi's letter to housing colleagues (124 KB; PDF).

Michelle Kennedy's keynote address from last month's Vermont Statewide Housing Conference will air again on CCTV Channel 17 in Chittenden County:

• Jan. 2, 11:05 a.m.
• Jan. 3, 4:05 a.m.
• Jan. 3, 10:05 a.m.
• Jan. 3, 4:05 p.m.

Learn more at our previous post.

Village Haven, a 24-unit development in Essex Junction, has been named the first "Vermont neighborhood" by the state's Downtown Board.

The designation's the result of the Vermont Neighborhoods bill, which was passed this spring to stimulate housing development in downtowns and villages.

Read more in this morning's Burlington Free Press.

Some photos from last week's VHFA holiday party and "Yankee swap."