Before a CHIP project can advance into formal application and approval, municipalities need a clear roadmap for the early stage work that sets up a project for success. This webinar will walk you through the full predevelopment workflow - what needs to happen, when, and why - and highlight the tools, templates, and technical assistance available to help your community navigate this phase with confidence.

This session will describe: 

• What pre-development is and why it matters
• How to identify and screen potential CHIP eligible projects
• Key roles and responsibilities for the municipality’s project team
• What data, analyses, and documentation are needed in early stages
• How to evaluate financial feasibility and understand the project’s funding gap
• Requirements for defining a project area and ensuring statutory compliance
• Early community engagement and stakeholder alignment

Pre-development is where municipalities can reduce risk, strengthen project feasibility, and ensure alignment with local goals and CHIP program requirements. This session will help you build a strong foundation before moving into the formal CHIP application process.

Presenters:
Katie Buckley, Director Municipal Operations Support, VLCT
Bonnie Waninger, Project & Funding Specialist, VLCT
Alex Armani-Munn, Executive Director, Addison County Economic Development Corporation

Building Housing, Building Futures: VLCT’s CHIP Webinar Series 
The Vermont Community Housing Infrastructure Program (CHIP) aims to enable housing development by allowing municipalities to finance infrastructure improvements using future tax revenue. This webinar series helps local government officials and staff learn about different aspects of CHIP and manage its requirements. Each topic-oriented event begins with a presentation or panel discussion then transitions to Q&A. Bring your questions, share your challenges, and learn from other communities.