Next Gen Brattleboro secures $1 million match as leaders set sights on 802 new households by 2032

The announcement came during a townwide gathering at the Latchis Theatre on Oct. 28, where local and state leaders outlined the ambitions behind the project.

Brattleboro’s effort to expand its future now has a major financial boost. The Vermont Community Foundation has arranged a $1 million matching challenge to help establish the Greater Brattleboro Leadership Fund, a new support stream for Next Gen Brattleboro.

The announcement came during a townwide gathering at the Latchis Theatre on Oct. 28, where local and state leaders outlined the ambitions behind the project. Speakers included Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Emma Spett of UVM’s Leahy Center and River & Rye, Kevin Chu of The Vermont Futures Project and several business and community representatives.

Next Gen Brattleboro is being led jointly by the town government, the Brattleboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation and the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance. The partners are working toward a shared goal of adding 802 new households by 2032, a nod to Vermont’s area code and a long-term plan to bring more energy into the community.

Town Manager John Potter said the four organizations discovered they were pursuing similar economic goals and saw an opportunity to work as a single team rather than separately. He said the partnership is designed to connect with additional groups and identify major projects that can help advance housing options, gathering spaces and other community needs.

At the event, Dan Smith, president of the Vermont Community Foundation, said the new fund is meant to support a lasting effort with benefits far beyond the immediate future. The foundation’s match is intended to help build momentum for the initiative over time.

Pieciak, who grew up in Brattleboro, spoke about the challenge of affordability and the importance of approaching it deliberately. He said local efforts like Next Gen can give residents and leaders a stronger sense that they can influence the town’s direction.

Chu presented data on Vermont’s housing and workforce pressures, arguing that the state needs measurable targets rather than broad concerns alone. He noted that Brattleboro’s household goal aligns with The Vermont Futures Project’s effort to raise Vermont’s population to 802,000 by 2035. He also said better retention of high school and college graduates would help, but would not be enough by itself to offset outmigration.

Rachel Shields Ebersole, executive director of the Brattleboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, said growth in households could help widen the tax base and ease pressure on businesses and residents by spreading costs across more people.

Residents who want to learn more, share ideas or volunteer can find details about Next Gen Brattleboro on the town website