Windham County Conservation and Housing Projects Funded

At its March 26, 2026 meeting, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) committed $4,544,575 in state, federal, and philanthropic funding to strengthen both — approving investments to conserve 2,420 acres of Vermont’s most ecologically significant lands and support 27 new affordable homes across the state.

These investments address Vermont’s most urgent needs: expanding affordable homeownership in high-demand areas, innovative financing strategies to preserve housing for extremely low-income households in the face of federal rental assistance reductions, protecting critical wetland systems and water quality corridors linked to Lake Champlain, expanding town forest holdings, and conserving high-priority interior forest blocks connecting major conservation areas across the state.

“From pioneering a creative use of federal housing trust funds to keep homes within reach of our lowest-income neighbors, to protecting more than 2,400 acres of wetlands, working forests, and Lake Champlain shoreline, these investments show what’s possible when we focus on both people and place,” said Gus Seelig, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. “This is VHCB’s dual mission in action—made possible by communities, landowners, nonprofits, and public agencies working together.”

Salisbury and Leicester — Salisbury Swamp Natural Area (The Nature Conservancy)

At the heart of the Otter Creek Swamps Complex — one of the largest contiguous swamp systems in New England — lies the 442-acre Salisbury Swamp Natural Area. VHCB awarded $201,000 to permanently protect this high-priority parcel, where approximately 418 of 442 acres are mapped wetlands or floodplain. The property supports six natural community types, nine rare plant species including five orchid species, and two rare animal species, and serves as a significant wildlife corridor linking the Green Mountains to the Adirondacks. With 1,400 feet of frontage on the Leicester River, it will be secured for hunting, bird-watching, and wildlife observation, with The Nature Conservancy as owner and VHCB holding a sole-held easement.

Panton — Dead Creek Peninsula Addition to Wildlife Management Area (Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department)

Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area is one of Vermont’s most biodiverse landscapes, supporting over 250 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. VHCB awarded $195,400 to add 77 acres to this nearly 3,000-acre WMA — a peninsula that forms the entire western shoreline of Dead Creek, encompassing 3,360 linear feet of frontage. The primary goal is active and passive restoration of degraded agricultural land to native clayplain forest and functioning wetlands, improving water quality and flood storage in the Lake Champlain Basin. The property also harbors state-threatened grassland birds, migratory waterfowl, and an archaeological site of historic significance.

Caledonia County

Hardwick — Buffalo Mountain Town Forest (Trust for Public Land, Town of Hardwick, Northern Rivers Land Trust)

Buffalo Mountain is a backdrop to Hardwick’s village and a defining feature of the community’s identity, ecology, and recreational life. VHCB awarded $465,000 to nearly quadruple Hardwick’s town forest holdings, adding 329 acres that include the summit of Buffalo Mountain, 1.1 miles of Lamoille River frontage, and 15 distinct natural community types. The property is within walking distance of downtown, local schools, and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. It supports rare species including the globally vulnerable Wright’s spike-rush and hosts the largest known population of Grove hawthorn in New England. Located within a Highest Priority Interior Forest Block per Vermont Conservation Design, the land will be owned by the Town of Hardwick with a conservation easement co-held by VHCB and Northern Rivers Land Trust, and open for hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. In addition to VHCB, this project is financially supported by The Nature Conservancy’s Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund, the Town of Hardwick, and individual gifts.

A $335,656 award will help preserve deep affordability of four homes at Riggs Meadow, ensuring they remain accessible to households with the lowest incomes as this new 36-home neighborhood is developed. VHCB has previously provided financing to support the construction of Riggs Meadow, which will provide affordable rental housing as part of the Hinesburg neighborhood development at Windy Ridge.

Benson — Cedar Mountain (The Nature Conservancy, in partnership with Lake Champlain Land Trust)

Cedar Mountain’s 685 acres of productive managed forest, hay meadow, and 11,088 feet of direct Lake Champlain frontage form a key link in the “Greens to Adirondacks” wildlife corridor. VHCB awarded $111,000 to place a permanent working forest conservation easement on the property, which contains 18 rare plant species, four rare animal species, and seven natural community types. A public access zone and overnight camping site on the Lake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail ensure the property remains accessible to the public.

Worcester — Minister Brook Addition (Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation)

$41,500 in VHCB funds will add 40 acres to the 17,503-acre C.C. Putnam State Forest. The property features northern hardwood forest, two vernal pools, and 1,260 feet of frontage on a forested tributary to Minister Brook, supporting black bear habitat, a globally important bird area, and a wildlife linkage corridor.

Windham County

Brattleboro — The Chalet Homeownership (Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, Inc.)

On a 17-acre property that Windham & Windsor Housing Trust (WWHT) purchased during the pandemic to house those experiencing homelessness, a new chapter is taking shape. VHCB awarded $1,200,000 in state and federal funds to build eight new affordable homeownership units— part of a three-phase development that will ultimately bring up to 70 units of housing to the site. Senator Sanders secured federal funding for permanently affordable homeownership investments through VHCB which is a critical resource for this project. With an estimated market value of $380,000 per home and a net sale price of $140,000, the units targeted will be affordable to middle income households and will remain perpetually affordable through WWHT’s shared equity program.

Townshend — Milk Bridge Forest (Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation)

VHCB awarded $116,250 to place a conservation easement on the 110-acre Milk Bridge Forest, owned by the Lars E. Peterson Family Trust. The parcel protects Vermont Conservation Design Highest Priority Interior Forest Blocks and Connectivity Blocks, with important buffers along Simpson Brook and a vernal pool. Together with the adjacent Thisldu Family Forest, Milk Bridge bridges two existing easements to create a growing contiguous block of 642 acres. The conservation easement is co-held by Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and VHCB, with permanent public access for hunting, hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing.

Townshend — Thisldu Family Forest (Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation)

VHCB awarded $141,250 to place a conservation easement on the 199.3-acre Thisldu Family Forest.. The parcel contains a state-significant beaver wetland providing habitat for wood turtle and barbed bulrush, and protects Vermont Conservation Design Highest Priority Interior Forest Blocks and Connectivity Blocks. Together with the adjacent Milk Bridge Forest, Thisldu bridges two existing easements to create a growing contiguous block of 642 acres. The conservation easement is co-held by Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and VHCB, with permanent public access for hunting, hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing.

Marlboro — Winter Wren Nature Preserve (Green Mountain Conservancy, Inc.)
In Marlboro, 538.1 acres of unfragmented forest will be permanently protected through a $589,000 VHCB award to Green Mountain Conservancy, Inc. The property forms part of a 3,254-acre unbroken forest block and includes three miles of frontage on Harrisville Brook, headwaters of the Green River, 16 acres of wetlands, two confirmed vernal pools, and habitat for black bear, moose, bobcat, and wood turtle. It is also home to a documented occurrence of the state and federally endangered northeastern bulrush, and an active beaver colony studied since 2007. The preserve will be open for hiking, snowshoeing, wildlife observation, and hunting.

Fairlee — Bridge & Main (Village Ventures LLC)

In Fairlee’s village center, three historic buildings will be rehabilitated and two new four-unit buildings constructed, creating 19 affordable homes at 26 Bridge Street and 573–579 Main Street. VHCB awarded $1,148,519.42 in federal HOME funds to Village Ventures LLC, led by Jonah Richard, for the mixed rehabilitation and new construction project, which removes blighted and unsafe structures while bringing the existing buildings up to habitability. The 19 units, ranging from a studio to a four-bedroom home, will be affordable to households low-income households helping to prevent homelessness and create housing for households exiting homelessness.

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