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USDA Announces Business Development Grants To Bolster Vermont’s Food Systems and Rural Entrepreneurs

Name
Pollaidh Major
City
Montpelier
Release Date

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Tuesday that seven Vermont non-profits received a total of $204,000 in grants through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program to support the start-up or expansion of rural Vermont businesses.

“Emerging and developing businesses are the backbone of Vermont’s economy and our rural communities,” said USDA Rural Development Vermont State Director Ted Brady, “These seven Rural Business Development Grants will invest in our state’s local food systems, our tourism economy and create new opportunities for rural entrepreneurs.”

The 2015 Vermont USDA Rural Development Rural Business Development Grant recipients include:

  • Barre 2000 and Beyond Inc.: $35,000 to hire a manager to guide operations for a business incubator space in the Wheelock Office Building in downtown Barre.
  • Central Vermont Community Television:  $33,000 for the purchase of a broadcast server to allow for efficient and cost-effective means to produce and share media content.
  • Food Connects, Inc.: $38,000 to purchase a refrigerated delivery truck.
  • Paramount Center, Inc.: $12,500 to upgrade the cultural center’s website and ticketing system.
  • Vermont Software Developers’ Alliance: $50,000 to develop a recruitment and marketing plan to promote tech job openings and opportunities in Vermont.
  • Vermont Trail and Greenways Council: $20,000 to perform an economic impact study to raise awareness around the financial impact of trail based recreation across the state.
  • Vital Communities: $15,500 to provide technical and marketing assistance to regional farmers.

Recognizing the central role which food and agriculture play in Vermont’s economy, the USDA awarded a $38,000 grant to Food Connects, Inc., a Windham County based food hub.  Food Connects, which works to connect food producers with both retail and institutional markets, will use the grant to purchase a refrigerated delivery truck. Executive Director Richard Berkfield explained that the new truck will allow delivery to expand from three days a week to five. This increase will allow producers to connect more readily to new markets such as schools, including the Bellows Falls Union High School, and will create or save an estimated eight jobs in the area. 

The RBDG program is devoted to funding non-profits or public entities that provide technical assistance to area businesses, business training and bolster rural job-creation. An estimated 36 Vermont jobs will be created or saved as a result of these grants. Grant funding is available for both the planning and implementation of business development projects. Nationally the USDA provided $18.3 million in Rural Business Development Grants this year. 

USDA, through its RD mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $210 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural areas. For more information on Rural Development visit the Vermont Rural Development website (rd.usda.gov/vt) or contact USDA RD at (802) 828-6000.