Vermont Business Magazine Want to help create the housing Vermont urgently needs? In response to the state’s housing crisis, the Land Access and Opportunity Board (LAOB) is excited to announce the launch of its Small-Scale Developer Community of Practice and No-Cost Technical Assistance program for new Vermont housing developers.
Through a partnership with HELM Construction Solutions, LAOB provides technical support, peer connections, and networking to empower beginning developers to carry their ideas from concept to completion. The Small-Scale Developer Community of Practice brings developers together through online and in-person discussions, expert-led workshops, and opportunities to exchange practical insights.
LAOB operates from a foundational belief: when those who are most marginalized do better, we all do better. Established by the Legislature in 2022, LAOB brings community voices into system-wide conversations. Its work focuses on improving access and equity in Vermont’s housing market for Vermonters facing the greatest barriers.
HELM Construction Solutions was launched in Vermont in 2016 to support contractors and design-build firms in building strong financial foundations, fostering positive workplace cultures, and reducing their environmental impact. Every project is unique and faces different challenges. HELM’s technical assistance includes help navigating permitting, fine-tuning financial projections, finding qualified contractors, and complying with lenders’ underwriting requirements.
The Small-Scale Community of Practice and one-on-one Technical Assistance support developers by meeting them where they are—helping them fine-tune their ideas, identify resources, and access the support they need. These efforts are part of the State of Vermont’s Homes for All Initiative, which also includes the Design & Do Toolkit, Small-Scale Developer Training, and the 802 Homes Catalog.
Shaun Gilpin of the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development speaks to the importance of this need:
“We’ve engaged over 200 established and prospective developers through the Homes for All Developer Training Program, and we hear repeatedly that knowing how and where to start with a project is the biggest barrier to advancing it. To support our communities and address our need for housing in Vermont, we must support new developers in bringing their best housing ideas from vision to reality. Through more educational opportunities and collaborative workshops, and a thriving network of mutual support throughout the housing landscape, we are seeing that reality take shape sooner than later.”
Solving the housing crisis doesn’t happen all at once. By working together, one home at a time, we move closer to a Vermont where everyone has a place to live.
For more information, and to sign up for technical assistance and the community of practice, visit https://www.landaccessvt.org/
About the Land Access and Opportunity Board (LAOB):
Established in 2022, the Land Access and Opportunity Board is a nonpartisan body that works in partnership with Vermont organizations to strengthen the state’s housing and land systems. By elevating community voices, the Board advances equitable access to housing, land, farmland, and woodlands for Vermonters from historically marginalized communities who continue to face barriers to ownership.
About HELM Construction Solutions:
HELM Construction Solutions is a Vermont-based consulting firm that partners with non-profits, mission-aligned small businesses, and emerging developers to provide technical expertise, project management support, and hands-on guidance for building projects of all sizes.
Montpelier, VT – April 9, 2026 – Land Access and Opportunity Board
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Vermont Business Magazine