Vermont Housing and Conservation Board/Farm & Forest Viability Program

Established in 1987, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board remains the forerunner in the nation in pioneering a comprehensive approach to affordable housing and community development linked with land conservation and historic preservation. The results have been impressive. With a cadre of nonprofit organizations working at the local level to identify and develop important projects in each community, the effects of 35 years of investment are discernible in every part of the state. VHCB has supported reinvestment in older housing in town and village centers, revitalizing downtown neighborhoods where residents can walk to services, and rebuilding a sense of community while spurring other private investment. The conservation of Vermont’s open and wild lands preserves the landscape that is such an integral part of the state’s identity, supports the agricultural and forest economies, protects wildlife habitat, and provides public access to the state’s waterways and woodlands.