Funding Resources - Resources for Businesses

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The New Farmer Network provides a guide to starting a business, including accessing capital. Their latest guide is available online at: http://www.uvm.edu/wagn/resourceguide71107.pdf

Some additional resources not listed in the New Farmer guide:

Business Assistance Directory – a joint project of the Vermont Department of Economic Development, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, and Vermont Small Business Development Center http://economicdevelopment.vermont.gov/Services/BusinessAssistanceDirectory/tabid/296/Default.aspx
Community Capital of Vermont -provides flexible loans and technical assistance grants for small businesses http://www.cvcapital.org/home.html
Farm Viability Program (Vermont Housing and Conservation Board) - provides funding for business planning and implementation: http://www.vhcb.org/viability.html
Energy Grants – The Vermont Agency of Agriculture offers a list of funds for farm-based energy projects http://www.vermontagriculture.com/energy/grants.html
NOFA-VT - has updated its website since the printing of the New Farmer Guide and now offers links to a variety of business services for organic growers: www.nofavt.org
Regional Development Corporations - sometimes provide revolving loan funds. Check with your local development group for what is available.
USDA Rural Development - offers Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) and Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG) for business development, and USDA 9006 grants for energy projects. The VT/NH office contact information is online at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/VT/
Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development:

Department of Economic Development: http://economicdevelopment.vermont.gov
Vermont Community Development Program links to both direct and indirect business assistance porgrams http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/VCDP/

• Vermont Farm Women’s Fund - provides scholarship and stipends to help Vermont’s farm women improve their business and / or become leaders in agricultural policy http://www.uvm.edu/wagn/VermontFarmWomen'sFundHome.html
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund - provides grants in the areas of biofuels, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable forestry: http://www.vsjf.org

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has created a tips sheet for how to approach lenders with your business concept. This guide is based on interviews with both traditional and alternative lenders. Click here for a copy.

Do you see a source of business assistance in Vermont that is not listed here or in the New Farmer guide? Please contact Helen Labun Jordan at Helen.jordan@state.vt.us to add it to the list.

Please Note: This information was last updated June 19th, 2008