By Chloe Learey, Executive Director
As communities across Vermont grapple with a deepening housing shortage, The Village at Winston Prouty is advancing a workforce housing initiative that also serves as a model for impact investing and integrated capital—bringing together public funding, private investment, and community-driven financing to create lasting change.
At the heart of the project is a capital campaign to raise $4.75 million. This is in addition to the $4 million commitment from the State of Vermont. The remaining funding is being raised through a blended capital approach that integrates traditional philanthropy with investment opportunities designed to generate both financial returns and measurable community benefit.
Chloe Learey, executive director of the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development, underscored the importance of this approach: “The impact investment model benefits everyone. Individuals can support the project financially, earning a return and keeping hard-earned dollars local with a trusted organization. Our community gains dozens of new homes that are desperately needed.”
The project reflects a growing national trend toward impact investing, where capital is deployed not only for profit, but also for positive social outcomes. In this case, the outcome is clear: housing that supports families, strengthens the workforce, expands options for down-sizing and up-sizing, and contributes to long-term economic resilience in southeastern Vermont.
Learey emphasizes that timing is critical. To move forward in the upcoming construction season, the organization must secure approximately half of the remaining capital—about $2 million—in the near term. Meeting this threshold will allow the project to break ground and maintain momentum, while delays could push construction back by a full year.
“This is a pivotal moment,” said Learey. “We have strong state support, a clear plan, and growing investor interest. What we need now is timely participation to ensure we can build this season and begin delivering housing when it’s needed most.”
The development will be located on the Winston Prouty campus and is designed to integrate housing with existing early childhood education and family support services—creating a holistic environment that addresses multiple dimensions of community well-being.
By combining public investment, philanthropy, private capital, and mission-driven financing, The Village at Winston Prouty is positioning itself as both a housing solution and a replicable model for how communities can tackle complex challenges through innovative funding strategies.
For investors, the opportunity represents more than a financial decision—it is a chance to contribute to a project where returns are measured not only in dollars, but in stronger families, a more stable workforce, and a healthier regional economy.
For more information about supporting the workforce housing initiative through donations or investment opportunities, please contact:
Chloe Learey, Executive Director
Phone: 802-257-7852
Email: chloe@winstonprouty.org
