Agency of Commerce & Community Development

What Agency of Commerce & Community Development does

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) is a Vermont state government agency operating as a division of the executive branch under the Secretary of Commerce, currently led by Secretary Lindsay Kurrle and Deputy Secretary Tayt Brooks. ACCD is organized into three core departments — Housing and Community Development (Commissioner Alex Farrell), Economic Development (Commissioner Lyle Jepson), and Historic Preservation — plus a Tourism and Marketing division, and administers sub-brands including Think Vermont, Vermont Tourism, Charge Vermont, and the Vermont APEX Accelerator. The agency's operating geography is the State of Vermont exclusively, with headquarters at 1 National Life Drive in the Deane C. Davis Building, Montpelier.

ACCD's product portfolio consists of more than 20 distinct public programs rather than commercial goods or services. Key offerings include the state designation system (Downtown, Village Center, New Town Center, Growth Center, Neighborhood Development Area) covering ~260 municipalities; the HUD Consolidated Plan pass-through program delivering approximately $14M annually in CDBG, HOME, ESG, and National Housing Trust Fund allocations; federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits (20% federal RITC; 10%–50% state Downtown/Village Center credits, potentially combined for up to 70%); disaster recovery administration (notably $67.845M CDBG-DR for the July 2023 floods); the Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair (MHIR) program; the EVSE Grant Program; and advisory bodies such as the Community Investment Board and Housing Funders Roundtable. Distribution is executed through direct state staff, regional planning commissions, online self-serve portals (GEARS, ReFrame), and partnerships with entities including HUD, EPA, Main Street America, the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, and Drive Electric Vermont.

ACCD's revenue model is not commercial. The agency is funded through annual Vermont state appropriations and federal pass-through grants from HUD, EPA, DOE, and the Volkswagen settlement, and it administers tax-credit programs that incentivize private investment rather than generating fees. Most services are provided at no charge to Vermont municipalities, residents, and businesses; the only direct monetization is through third-party funded EVSE vendor awards (e.g., Blink Charging, Norwich Technologies) which are publicly awarded rather than commercially negotiated. Headcount is reported as 10,000+ in the firmographic, which most likely reflects the broader State of Vermont workforce rather than ACCD alone, given that ACCD's named leadership team and division heads number in the low double digits and the agency is organized as a coordinating body across three departments.

Name

Agency of Commerce & Community Development

Legal name

Agency of Commerce and Community Development (State of Vermont)

Website

https://accd.vermont.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Agency of Commerce & Community Development is a Vermont state government agency that administers federal and state housing, economic development, community development, historic preservation, and tourism programs for the state's 260 municipalities, businesses, and residents, including HUD pass-through funding, historic tax credits, and disaster recovery grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpelier

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding: ACCD operates as a Vermont state government agency funded through annual state budgets and appropriations. The agency receives approximately $11 million annually from HUD for Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Solutions Grants, plus $3 million from the National Housing Trust Fund.
2. Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery: The agency received $67,845,000 million in CDBG-DR funds in response to Vermont's July 2023 floods (FEMA Disaster Declaration 4720) for disaster recovery projects.
3. Brownfields Revitalization: EPA Brownfields grants comprising $5.8 million in Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup grants plus $1 million in supplemental funding for Revolving Loan Fund programs supporting cleanup and assessment of contaminated sites across Vermont communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACCD is a Vermont state government agency that administers federal and state funding programs across economic development, housing, community development, historic preservation, and tourism. The agency manages designation programs for municipalities, historic rehabilitation tax credits, HUD Community Development Block Grants, disaster recovery funding, EV charging infrastructure grants, and manufactured home repair programs. Services are delivered to Vermont municipalities, businesses, property owners, and residents through direct agency staff, regional partners, and online application portals.

Product overview

The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) is a state government agency encompassing three major departments that serve the Vermont public by enhancing the business climate, marketing Vermont to tourists, and strengthening communities. Rather than a unified software product, ACCD offers a portfolio of government programs including Economic Development, Housing, Community Development, Historic Preservation, and Tourism & Marketing divisions. Key programs include: Downtown and Village Center designation programs with tax incentives; Historic Preservation tax credits (federal and state); the EVSE Grant Program for electric vehicle charging infrastructure; the Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program (MHIR); HUD Consolidated Plan administration; and the Housing Funders Roundtable. The agency operates web-based application portals and publishes resources including the Vermont Housing Needs Assessment, Housing Budget and Investment Reports, and various planning tools like the Planning Atlas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Think Vermont: Live, work and do business in Vermont initiative
• Vermont Tourism
• Vermont 250th
• Vermont APEX Accelerator
• Charge Vermont

Products and services

• Growth Centers Designation Program A state designation program that aligns public infrastructure and private building investments with local policy frameworks to enhance designated commercial centers while protecting farms, forest, and natural areas outside the growth center. Available to Vermont municipalities.
• Neighborhood Development Areas Designation A designation program that provides special permit and tax incentives for communities and developers committing to build mixed-income housing within and adjacent to designated downtowns, village centers, new town centers, and growth centers. Available to Vermont municipalities and developers.
• New Town Centers Designation A designation option for municipalities lacking a historic downtown, focusing on planning, capital expenditures, and regulatory tools that promote pedestrian-oriented development patterns similar to historic downtowns. Available to Vermont municipalities.
• Downtowns Designation Program A Main Street America coordinating program that supports community revitalization while preserving historic character and enhancing the future of medium to large-sized historic centers through financial incentives, training, and technical assistance. Available to Vermont municipalities.
• Village Centers Designation Program A designation supporting the revitalization efforts of small and medium-sized historic centers through financial incentives, training, and technical assistance needed to attract new business and vitality to Vermont's smaller communities. Available to Vermont municipalities.
• Downtown and Village Center Tax Credits State and federal tax credits (10% to 50% of eligible expenses, up to $3 million available for FY2027) that stimulate private investment and create jobs by supporting the creation and improvement of rental housing and restoring buildings to jumpstart revitalization in Vermont communities. Available to property owners and developers.
• Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credits (RITC) A 20% federal income tax credit for rehabilitation of income-producing historic buildings, administered by the National Park Service through its Technical Preservation Services division. Available to property owners of eligible historic commercial buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
• Downtown Transportation Fund A financing tool that assists municipalities in paying for transportation-related capital improvements within or serving a Designated Downtown, with over $17 million invested since 1999. Available to Vermont municipalities.
• HUD Consolidated Plan Programs Vermont's application to HUD for approximately $11 million annually provided through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and $3 million from the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF). Available to municipalities, developers, and housing organizations.
• Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program (MHIR) A program offering assistance to income-eligible mobile home parks and homeowners through three areas: Park Improvements for Small-Scale Capital Infill (up to $20,000 per lot), Home Repair Awards (up to $5,000+), and Manufactured Home Foundation Awards (up to $15,000). Available to income-eligible mobile home park residents and homeowners.
• Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Grant Program A grant program investing over $3.5M in public EV charging stations across all 14 Vermont counties, including 41 fast charging stations and 89 Level 2 charging stations, positioning Vermont as #1 in the nation for EV charging stations per capita. Available to property owners, businesses, and municipalities.
• Multiunit Dwelling Electric Vehicle Charging Grant A pilot program (up to $80,000 per site, $300,000 per applicant) incentivizing installation of charging stations at multi-unit dwelling affordable housing units, with 13 projects resulting in 84 new Level 2 charging ports at 37 locations. Available to affordable and non-profit multiunit housing providers.
• Charitable Housing Investment Tax Credit A Vermont income tax credit program allowing individuals and corporations to receive credits for investing funds with eligible affordable housing organizations, with credit amounts based on the difference between actual income earned and the charitable threshold rate capped at 3%. Available to individuals and corporations.
• Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP) An innovative program adding much-needed housing units to Vermont's stock while helping formerly homeless households secure stable housing. Available to formerly homeless individuals and housing providers.
• Downtown Sales Tax Reallocation A program allowing municipalities and developers of qualified projects to jointly apply for reallocation of sales taxes on construction materials for projects located within designated downtown districts. Available to municipalities and developers.
• Bylaw Modernization Grants Grants to municipalities for land use, development, and zoning bylaw updates supporting pedestrian-oriented development patterns that increase housing choice, affordability, and opportunity. Available to Vermont municipalities.
• Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) $67,845,000 in Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery funds administered in response to Vermont's July 2023 floods (FEMA Disaster Declaration 4720) for disaster recovery projects. Available to Vermont municipalities and communities affected by the floods.
• Brownfields Revitalization Fund - State Program State-administered brownfields program comprising $5.8 million in EPA Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup grants plus $1 million in supplemental funding for Revolving Loan Fund programs supporting cleanup and assessment of contaminated sites across Vermont communities. Available to municipalities and developers.
• Vermont Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI) An economic incentive program that encourages job creation and business growth by providing cash payments to businesses that create qualifying jobs and make qualifying investments in Vermont. Available to Vermont businesses.
• Tax Increment Financing (TIF) A municipal financing tool that uses future incremental property tax revenues generated by a development project to pay for current public infrastructure costs. Available to Vermont municipalities.
• Vermont Training Program (VTP) A workforce development grant program providing funding for employee training and skill development to Vermont employers. Available to Vermont businesses.
• Rural Industry Development Program (RIDP) A program supporting industrial development and growth in rural Vermont communities through infrastructure investment, site development, and business financing assistance. Available to rural Vermont municipalities and businesses.
• State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) A program supporting Vermont small businesses in expanding into international markets through export development activities, trade show participation, and foreign market entry assistance. Available to Vermont small businesses.
• Community and Housing Infrastructure Program (CHIP) A program supporting community and housing infrastructure development, providing critical public infrastructure investments to enable housing production and economic development. Available to Vermont municipalities and developers.
• Elevate Vermont A program designed to support Vermont-based businesses in scaling operations, accessing new markets, and driving economic growth through targeted assistance and resources. Available to Vermont businesses.
• BIPOC Business and Career Assistance Program A program providing targeted business assistance and career support to BIPOC-owned businesses and professionals in Vermont, including technical assistance, training, and resource connections. Available to BIPOC business owners and professionals.
• Vermont Tourism Marketing A tourism marketing initiative that promotes Vermont as a travel destination through campaigns like Make Yourself At Home, highlighting the state's travel, recreation, cultural, and historic attractions. Available to visitors and tourism-related businesses.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Drive Electric VermontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Drive Electric Vermont to identify property and business owners interested in supporting plug-in electric vehicle charging or providing services for EV charging installation and management. Drive Electric Vermont also provides public information on EV incentives and charging options at www.driveelectricvt.com.
• Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVHFA contracted to develop the 2025-2029 and 2020-2024 Statewide Housing Needs Assessments. VHFA also hosts and updates housing and demographic data at www.housingdata.org and provides robust housing and demographic indicators.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUD provides approximately $11 million annually to Vermont through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and $3 million from the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) for housing and community development.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA announced $6.8 million in Brownfields grants for Vermont comprising $5.8 million in Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup grants plus $1 million in supplemental funding for Revolving Loan Fund programs supporting cleanup and assessment of contaminated sites.
• Vermont Tenants (CVOEO)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStatewide tenant advocacy program run by Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). Co-creates landlord-tenant education materials with Vermont Landlord Association including comprehensive guidebook, brochures, video on eviction process, and classroom modules.
• Vermont Department of Environmental ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-administrator of EVSE grant program with initial $200,000 investment in 2014. Also part of $2.8 million VW settlement funding coordination along with Agency of Transportation, Public Service Department, and Department of Health.
• Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVHCB partnered with VHFA and DHCD to conduct the 2019 affordable rental housing cost study examining factors affecting affordable rental housing costs and providing recommendations.
• Main Street AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont Downtown Program is a Main Street America Coordinating Program leading a powerful grassroots network of over 40 Coordinating Programs and over 2,000 neighborhoods and communities committed to preservation-based economic development.
• Blink ChargingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner$1.7 million in VW funding awarded to Blink Charging in 2020 to support installation of DC fast charge stations and Level 2 stations at 11 priority locations on highway corridors.
• Norwich TechnologiesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSelected through competitive bid in 2021 to install EV charging stations at six priority locations in Alburgh, Bradford, Brighton, Hardwick, Vergennes and Waterbury using $1 million in legislative appropriations.
• Smart Growth AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit contracted with DHCD to prepare designation program evaluation and recommendations for 2024 legislative session as part of Designation 2050 project.
• Vermont Landlord AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide trade association for Vermont landlords based in Shelburene. Co-creates landlord-tenant education materials with Vermont Tenants including comprehensive guidebook and training modules.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rhode Island Department of Housing: State housing agency administering HTF, HOME, CDBG, and affordable housing programs. Most directly comparable housing-program peer given Vermont ACCD's large housing portfolio.
• Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development: Name-match peer at the state level, administering housing, economic development, brownfields, and downtown revitalization programs. Comparable mandate and HUD pass-through role to Vermont ACCD, though operating in a denser, more urban state.
• Maine Department of Economic and Community Development: Maine's analogous state-level economic and community development agency administers CDBG, housing, business development, and downtown programs for a similarly rural population. Directly comparable in mission, funding sources, and program portfolio to Vermont ACCD.
• New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs: New Hampshire's state-level business and economic development counterpart, administering tax credit and community development programs for a neighboring rural state. Directly comparable in scope and funding model.
• Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development: State cabinet-level housing and economic development secretariat overseeing similar portfolio including MassHousing, MassDevelopment, and downtown programs. Closest functionally comparable Northeast state peer.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Federal upstream source of CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HTF funding that ACCD administers. Comparable in mission (housing and community development) but a higher-tier government incumbent, not a competitor.
• Empire State Development (New York): New York's much larger state economic development organization administering tax credits, brownfields, and downtown programs. A broader incumbent in the same space operating at materially larger scale.
• U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA): Federal agency funding EDA grants that complement ACCD's economic development programs. Federal incumbent covering parts of ACCD's mandate (workforce, planning, infrastructure) at higher tier.

Emerging players

• Smart Growth America: National nonprofit contracted by ACCD for the Designation 2050 reform effort. Overlaps in urban planning, downtown revitalization, and designation policy adjacent to ACCD's programs.
• Main Street America: National nonprofit whose Vermont Downtown Program ACCD coordinates. Mission-aligned on downtown and historic preservation-based economic development, serving as a peer/partner in ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ACCDVermont
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_XuJ0xbrWx0rRk-MhxpQMQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACCDVermont
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vermont-department-of-economic-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments19 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Agency of Commerce & Community Development