Vermont Housing Champions Named for Affordable Work
Developers and contractors on Vermont affordable projects should track federal sourcing rules and state CHIP navigation.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Construction
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Let's Build Homes has named recipients of its inaugural Housing Champion Awards, honoring legislators, developers, municipal partners and advocates working to address Vermont's housing shortage. Awards will be presented at the organization's annual event at Hula in Burlington on Dec. 3.
Why it matters
The honorees span legislation, affordable housing development and municipal partnerships, all aimed at closing the state's housing gap. For construction firms and developers working on affordable projects in Vermont, the recognized efforts point to where policy and project navigation are moving.
The awards recognize work on three specific Vermont housing projects tied to Village Ventures and Jonah Richard, and reference the 2021 federal Build America, Buy America law that requires U.S.-sourced materials in federally funded affordable housing. The source does not provide statewide housing unit counts or shortage figures to measure these efforts against.
The players
Let's Build Homes
A Vermont housing organization that runs annual advocacy events and now presents Housing Champion Awards to developers, policymakers and partners.
Jessica Neubelt
An affordable housing developer at Evernorth who received the Champion Barrier-Breaker award for federal advocacy on construction sourcing rules.
Alex Armani-Munn
Executive director of the Addison County Economic Development Corporation who was named CHIP Champion for guiding Vermont's first CHIP application process.
Village Ventures
A Vermont developer that partnered with the Town of Fairlee on downtown housing and revitalization projects and received the Champion Partnership award.
Jonah Richard
A Vermont developer who has worked with municipal staff on three housing projects: 501 Main Street, the Denison and Bridge + Main.
The details
Recognition went to Reps. and Sens. for legislative work, to Alex Armani-Munn for helping Summit Properties and the Town of Middlebury navigate Vermont's first CHIP application process, and to Jessica Neubelt for advocacy on federal sourcing rules. Build America, Buy America requires materials in federally funded infrastructure, including affordable housing, to be sourced domestically, which can shape material procurement and timelines for affordable projects. Neubelt's 2026 conversations with federal officials are expected by Let's Build Homes to ease construction barriers, though the source does not confirm any resulting rule changes.
Timeline
2021: Federal Build America, Buy America law passed, requiring U.S.-sourced materials in federally funded housing.
2026: Jessica Neubelt held conversations with federal officials about Build America, Buy America rule changes.
Dec. 3: Housing Champion Awards presented at Hula in Burlington.
Market Landscape
The 2021 federal Build America, Buy America law set domestic sourcing requirements that now apply to federally funded affordable housing in Vermont. Recognition of advocates who are pressing federal officials on those rules places Vermont's housing developers at the center of a national debate over sourcing costs and project timelines.
Developers and contractors working on federally funded affordable housing in Vermont should factor Build America, Buy America sourcing requirements into material procurement and bid planning. Municipal partnerships like those honored here are a practical model for shaping project approvals, and operators should review applicable federal sourcing terms with qualified counsel before committing to suppliers.
The takeaway
Affordable housing projects in Vermont are increasingly shaped by federal sourcing rules and by municipal navigation of new state programs, so construction operators should track any revisions to Build America, Buy America requirements. Review the sourcing terms in upcoming federally funded bids, since rule changes could alter material costs and timelines.
What happens next
The Housing Champion Awards will be presented at Let's Build Homes' annual event at Hula in Burlington on Dec. 3.
Further reading
For more on the building projects and sourcing rules behind these honors, explore Construction coverage.
Live Poll
Do you think housing in your Vermont community is getting better or worse?
