This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In light of the many accomplishments and challenges that remain since the passage of the Act, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and partners sponsored a forum in February. Participants with expertise from a variety of areas discussed how to leverage the resources of different sectors to bring more people with disabilities into the financial mainstream.

A book titled, "Opportunities in Community Development Finance in the Disability Market," brings together the many provocative papers presented at the forum.

Vermont Energy Investment Corp. (VEIC), in partnership with Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) and Champlain Housing Trust (CHT), has received a $350,000 grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

The two-year grant will be used to demonstrate how deep energy efficiency retrofits in single- and multi-family residences can make housing permanently and comprehensively affordable by reducing energy usage and costs.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), the City of Burlington and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) were joined by representatives from Vermont's congressional delegation and others in announcing nearly $290,000 in grants for Burlington.

The Sustainable Community Challenge Grant will help stimulate sustainable and livable communities in Burlington — connecting housing, employment and economic development with transportation and other infrastructure improvements.

Canal Street Veterans Housing, a new $5.6 million building that will provide 16 units of transitional housing for veterans in Winooski, is nearing completion.

Becky Holt, Director of Development & Communications for the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), says people will likely start moving in in January.

Housing Vermont developed the project with COTS. VHFA allocated $384,300 in federal Housing Credits.