USDA grant recipients will get over $400,000 to assist small businesses

Vermont State Colleges, Community Capital of Vermont, Inc., and Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) representatives celebrated with community leaders and small businesses at the Shops at Millstone Hill in Websterville (Barre Town), VT, today. Rhonda Shippee, Acting State Director for USDA Rural Development along with Congressional Representatives, presented each recipient with a ceremonial check to celebrate the 2009 Rural Business Grant Enterprise and Opportunity Grant awards totaling $422,725.
These grants will spur business growth and strengthen existing businesses throughout most of the state. said Shippee. The business development services these organizations will provide to over 100 small businesses will help create and sustain jobs, which is critical as we strive towards economic recovery.
The $200,000 RBEG awarded to Vermont State Colleges for Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) to provide extensive support to thirty businesses in Barre Town, Barre, and Berlin over the next two years. The participating businesses will benefit from intensive work on strategic, financial, and operation areas with an emphasis on the goal to strengthen and grow each business while creating new jobs in the area.
In announcing the grant, Lenae Quillen-Blume, VtSBDC State Director, said, We are very pleased to have this opportunity to work with a select group of businesses in the Barre and Berlin areas to provide intensive assistance over two years. This program will provide a broad array of services, information, education, and networking opportunities to help strengthen the businesses and enhance their growth potential.
Barre Area Development, Incorporated is a partner in the development and delivery of this grant. Executive Director, Darren Winham commented, This grant couldn t come at a better time. While most of the country is seeing a downturn, the Barre area has several projects that are coming to fruition. This resource will enhance this trend and enable many local companies to reach their expansion goals.
Throughout the counties of Addison, Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange and Washington, the Community Capital of Vermont, Inc. (CCV), with offices in Barre, will use their grant to expand its Management Assistance Program (MAP) to provide small businesses with consulting services and one-on-one intensive assistance on market access, distribution and purchasing.
This grant enables Community Capital to offer its unique Management Assistance Program to businesses that are not Community Capital borrowers. Emily Kaminsky, Director of CCV said. Over 70 micro and small businesses in 8 counties around Vermont will have an opportunity over the next two years to develop market opportunities and skills by working with industry and sector consultants that they would otherwise not be able to afford.
The Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation will use their $123,725 Rural Business Enterprise and Opportunity Grants to initiate, launch and manage CVEDC s Market Vermont e-commerce website that will offer marketing, advertising and shopping cart services for local small businesses. They will also assist an established Central Vermont manufacturer to develop and implement a new product line.
The funding announced today is being provided through USDA Rural Development s Rural Business Enterprise Program (RBEG), which helps finance new and existing businesses as well as employment-related adult education programs. RBEG funds can be used for start-up and working capital loans, building and plant renovations, transportation improvements, project planning and other business needs. Additional information on Rural Development s Business Programs may be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/vt/ or by calling (802)828-6031. More information about USDA Rural Development can be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
Source: USDA. Montpelier, VT, September 29, 2009