August 13, 2021 / Montpelier, VT - The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) and governing board (WLEB) were created by the legislature in 2012 to stimulate economic development in the agricultural and forestry sectors. WLEI is a collaborative effort between the Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation, and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
“Working with the Legislature, the Working Lands Enterprise Program budget grew to an unprecedented $5.94 million in 2021-2022,” said Vermont Governor Phil Scott. “These funds are used to support the farmers, producers, markets and co-ops, that make up our food system. It also supports the loggers, foresters and forest products businesses, helping them strengthen our supply chain.”
This initiative supports Vermont entrepreneurs by providing financial assistance to help innovate and grow their business while also creating jobs, building infrastructure, and promoting growth in economies and communities of Vermont’s working landscape. ‘WLEB, which finalizes all funding decisions, achieves this goal by making investments across businesses and service providers in critical leverage points which will have the highest return on investment, in all 14 counties,” said Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets Deputy Secretary Alyson Eastman.
For the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the Working Lands Enterprise Board deployed over $520,000 around the State. Part of the strategic plan for 2021 was the emphasis on continued supply chain impacts to a diverse range of agriculture and forestry businesses, including funding to the emerging grain sector possibilities.
A list of the FY20-21 grantees is below:
|
Supply Chain Impact Business Grants |
Project |
Award |
Sector |
County |
|
Jasper Hill Creamery |
Jasper Hill Creamery Supply Chain Impact Project |
$75,000 |
Dairy |
Orleans |
|
Naga Bakehouse |
Regional Grainshed Mill project |
$75,000 |
Grains |
Windham County |
|
Tony Dwyer Logging |
Low Grade Wood Equipment- Firewood Kiln |
$75,000 |
Forest: Low Grade-Wood |
Caledonia |
|
Environmental Mediation Center, Inc. |
Intra-Family Mediation and Counseling For Dairy Farms Facing Financial Challenges |
$20,000 |
Dairy |
Statewide |
|
Vermont Community Loan Fund |
SPROUT Program |
$90,000 |
Agriculture and Forest |
Statewide |
|
Vital Communities |
The BIPOC Land Access Every Town Handbook |
$14,801 |
Agriculture and Forest |
Statewide |
|
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund |
3rd Annual Forestry Summit |
$55,475 |
Forest |
Statewide |
|
Northeast Forests LLC |
Forest Business School |
$55,000 |
Forest |
Statewide |
|
Vermont Housing and Conservation Board |
Business Succession Planning |
$60,000 |
Agriculture and Forest |
Statewide |
The next funding opportunity round for businesses to apply opens on September 10th, 2021. Please visit https://workinglands.vermont.gov/ to find out more.
For questions please contact:
Lynn Ellen Schimoler
VAAFM Senior Agricultural Business Development | Working Lands Enterprise Initiative
LynnEllenSchimoler@vermont.gov | 802-622-4477
The mission of the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative is to grow the economies, cultures, and communities of Vermont's working landscape. The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) achieves this by making essential, catalytic investments in critical leverage points of the Vermont farm and forest economy and facilitating policy development to optimize the agricultural and forest use of Vermont lands.