News & Ideas

Nothing illustrates the importance — and impact — of affordable housing and community development better than stories about the community itself. Learn about the people who develop and build the housing and the people who are built up because of it.

Community, Development, Press Releases |

Evernorth Rural Ventures Awarded $60 Million in New Markets Tax Credits from U.S. Treasury Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2023

On Friday, September 22, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) announced Evernorth Rural Ventures, a subsidiary of Evernorth, was awarded a $60 million allocation of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to continue its successful economic and community development work in low-income areas. This is Evernorth Rural Ventures’ 7th award.

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Community, Development, Press Releases |

$11.4 Million in New Markets Tax Credit Allocation Secured for the Redevelopment of the Iconic “Yellow Barn” in Hardwick, VT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2023

[Hardwick, VT] – Evernorth Rural Ventures and Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC) are pleased to announce the closing of $11.4 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation for the redevelopment of the iconic “Yellow Barn” in Hardwick, Vermont. The NMTC funding supports the construction of a new 25,137 square foot food business accelerator building and the adaptive reuse of the vacant, historic 4,762 square foot yellow dairy barn for use as a retail shop, collectively called the Yellow Barn Business Accelerator.

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Community, Development, Press Releases |

Vermont Supreme Court Rules in Latest Challenge to Proposed Housing Community in Putney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2023

[Purney, VT] The Vermont Supreme Court has rejected the latest appeal by opponents of a proposed affordable housing community on Alice Holway Drive in Putney. The ruling by the state’s highest court affirms the Environmental Court’s decision earlier this year rejecting an appeal to the project’s zoning permit.

It marks the latest chapter of a 16-month legal process that began in March 2022 when an appeal was filed contesting the permit and delaying progress of the 25-unit mixed income development.

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Community, Development, Press Releases |

Evernorth Rural Ventures Closes $7.1 million New Markets Tax Credit Investment to Expand Hundred Nights Emergency Shelter and Resource Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2023

[Keene, NH] Evernorth Rural Ventures, a subsidiary of Evernorth, is pleased to announce the closing of a $7.1 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) investment to construct a 15,180 square foot, modern, 48-bed emergency shelter and resource center in Keene, New Hampshire. The new facility, is nearing completion and will allow the nonprofit Hundred Nights, Inc. (HN) to centralize, consolidate, and increase their shelter and resource center to better serve low-income individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

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Articles, Community |

Evernorth Welcomes Executive Vice President & Chief Program Officer

We are happy to announce that Cynthia (Cindee) Lacasse has accepted Evernorth’s newly created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer. Ms. Lacasse will be joining us beginning May 29th. Cindee is an affordable housing industry leader with deep transactional knowledge and a commitment to Evernorth’s mission. She will be based in Portland and serve a key, externally-facing role with Evernorth’s investors, developers, and funders.

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Community, Opinion |

Opinion: Nancy Owens: Vermont needs more housing for everyone. Here’s how to make progress

This commentary was written by Nancy Owens and originally published by VT Digger on March 28, 2023.

Today’s housing market is broken. A lack of housing limits people’s mobility. Seniors who are overhoused cannot move to a more appropriate home; workers who want to secure better jobs cannot find a home in strong employment centers; people who are ready to purchase homes cannot find one they can afford. 

While reduced mobility is true for everyone, it really impacts people with less financial resources. 

Why is there not enough housing here? Economists and others provide data and analysis about demographic and economic trends that impact housing supply and begin to explain some of the issues.

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Community, Opinion |

Opinion: Nancy Owens: Lack of affordable housing is an issue of equity — and we need to fix it

This commentary was written by Nancy Owens and originally published by VT Digger on May 19, 2022.

Almost 35 years ago, Vermont made a commitment to sustainability, equity and justice when it formed the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. 

The idea that we could balance housing and conservation by uniting environmentalists and developers in one organization was a radical bet.  The bet was that, together, we could decide where housing belongs and which lands to preserve for farms, woodlands, wildlife and clean waters.

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Community, Development, Press Releases |

Building Homes Together Campaign Announces Bold Five Year Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 14, 2021

Burlington, Vermont – This morning the Building Homes Together campaign launched its second five year targets for making Chittenden County’s housing market healthier, more equitable, and more affordable. Supported by over 125 local leaders, the campaign’s goals include creating 5,000 new homes, with 1,250 permanently affordable, over the next five years. The new homes would include a combination of new rental and homeownership development.

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