115 / Getting policy to actually build / with Amy Tomasso

<p><strong>Amy Tomasso </strong>— Policy + Partnerships at Ivory Innovations — is in good traffic this week from Salt Lake City for a walkthrough of the Ivory Prize: a $1.5 million annual award celebrating housing innovation across policy, finance, construction, and design. Ivory Innovations operates as a nonprofit foundation connected to Utah&#39;s largest homebuilder, meaning that their awards fund housing solutions that scale tangibly.</p><p><br></p><p>We also touch on: Amy&#39;s leadership in Vermont&#39;s Homes for All toolkit and pre-approved plan sets. Why off-site construction keeps failing (and how to fix it). The gap between policy wins and housing starts. Salt Lake City&#39;s missing middle zoning reforms. Philanthropic capital as an alternative to traditional grants. Why developer-public sector collaboration happens in some places and not others. The 2026 Ivory Prize Summit in Tempe, Arizona.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Timeline:</strong></p><p>00:00 Intro.</p><p>02:16 Amy Tomasso and the Ivory Prize.</p><p>04:35 Founded 2018 by Clark Ivory and his daughter Abby.</p><p>05:29 Nonprofit foundation rooted in a homebuilder&#39;s perspective.</p><p>06:34 200+ innovators in the portfolio, $1.5 million dispersed.</p><p>07:14 Early winners: Portland&#39;s Residential Infill Project, Villa Homes.</p><p>08:47 Boston Acquisition Fund and Philadelphia housing programs.</p><p>10:16 Why the East Coast and West Coast show different innovation patterns.</p><p>11:33 Colorado&#39;s state-level support for off-site manufacturing.</p><p>12:43 Amy&#39;s path from urbanism to housing work in Vermont.</p><p>16:54 Homes for All toolkit: design guide, infill case studies.</p><p>21:10 Pre-approved plan sets for statewide housing production.</p><p>25:31 Vermont&#39;s collaborative approach with developers and regulators.</p><p>28:27 Applying policy in Utah: Salt Lake City&#39;s missing middle districts.</p><p>31:15 The gap between policy and actual housing starts.</p><p>34:12 Philanthropic Capital Playbook launching in November.</p><p>37:00 Operating foundation model as an alternative financing tool.</p><p>40:15 Patient capital and subordinated debt approaches.</p><p>43:03 2026 Ivory Prize Summit in Tempe, Arizona at ASU.</p><p>46:33 Off-site construction manufacturers: why they fail and how to succeed.</p><p>49:21 Production homebuilder convening around policy innovation.</p><p>52:39 Why venture capital may not be the best source for housing.</p><p>55:12 Liberty Wells: affordable housing infill in Salt Lake City.</p><p>57:37 Proactive lot splitting for future homeownership conversion.</p><p>59:35 The Philanthropic Capital Playbook goes public November.</p><p>1:01:23 Salt Lake City&#39;s expansion housing options vote in October.</p><p>1:03:02 Oversupply in multifamily rentals, still need for homeownership opportunities.</p><p>1:05:26 The favorite commute: The Avenues to University of Utah.</p><p>1:07:38 Wrapping up and part two teaser.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Further context:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.ivoryinnovations.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Ivory Innovations.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.ivoryinnovations.org/events" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">The 2026 Ivory Prize Summit in Tempe, Arizona.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amytomasso/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Follow Amy&#39;s work.</a></p>