Let's Build Homes Names Inaugural Housing Champions
The nonprofit recognized Vermont lawmakers, developers and municipal partners working to address the state's housing shortage.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Construction
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Let's Build Homes named Rep. Ashley Bartley and Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale as Legislative Champions in its inaugural Housing Champion Awards. Alex Armani-Munn, executive director of the Addison County Economic Development Corporation, was named the CHIP Champion.
Why it matters
The awards recognize people and partnerships working to address Vermont's housing shortage. The honorees span state policy, affordable housing development and local municipal projects across the state.
Village Ventures and developer Jonah Richard have worked with municipal staff on three housing projects: 501 Main Street, the Denison and Bridge + Main. The federal Build America, Buy America law, passed in 2021, requires U.S.-sourced materials in federally funded affordable housing projects.
The players
Let's Build Homes
A Vermont nonprofit focused on housing development and advocacy that sponsors the annual awards event.
Evernorth
A Vermont affordable housing organization whose developer, Jessica Neubelt, received a Champion Barrier-Breaker award.
The details
Awards will be presented at Let's Build Homes' annual event at Hula in Burlington on Dec. 3. Jessica Neubelt, an affordable housing developer at Evernorth, received the Champion Barrier-Breaker award, and the Town of Fairlee and Village Ventures received the Champion Partnership award.
Timeline
2026: Neubelt held federal conversations about changes to Build America, Buy America rules.
Dec. 3: Housing Champion Awards presented at Hula in Burlington.
Construction Context
The awards follow Vermont's use of the federal Build America, Buy America law, enacted in 2021, which requires U.S.-sourced materials in federally funded affordable housing. Neubelt's advocacy seeks changes to that law's construction-material rules to ease barriers for affordable projects in Vermont and beyond.
Changes to Build America, Buy America sourcing rules could affect the cost and timeline of federally funded affordable housing projects. Vermont residents seeking housing may see the results of these advocacy efforts in future construction.
The takeaway
Advocacy by developers and local officials can shape federal rules that determine how affordable housing gets built. Readers following Vermont housing can track how Build America, Buy America changes develop.
Further reading
Explore more Construction coverage on Vermont housing projects and policy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Burlington Free Press.
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