With additional funding up to five businesses will receive $20,000 cash grants
Vermont Business Magazine The Better Middlebury Partnership (BMP) announced today that as a result of generous donations from two community organizations, Kick Start Middlebury has doubled the size of the grants offered in its business recruitment effort, from $10,000 to $20,000 in start-up cash. Now with a total of $110,000 cash at its disposal, plus services donated by area businesses, the Kick Start Middlebury program is poised to change the town’s business and retail landscape.
The increase comes after a donation from Table 21, a non-profit founded by the Congregational Church of Middlebury (UCC). After the church received a generous charitable gift earlier this year, Rev. Andy Nagy-Benson, senior pastor and president of Table 21, assembled a board of directors that issued $280,000 in grants to selected Middlebury restaurants and area farms. Table 21 also provided $20,000 to fund a current program in which Middlebury retailers distribute $20 gift certificates to redeem at local restaurants. The non-profit has recently donated $50,000 to BMP’s Kick Start Middlebury program and will administer another round of grants to assist more small businesses in Middlebury in the coming weeks.
“Table 21 cares deeply about our neighbors and friends in the business community, many of whom have had a terribly challenging year,” said Rev. Nagy-Benson. “So, we are proud to support Better Middlebury Partnership and to be part of the Kick Start Middlebury program. We have been given an opportunity to help increase Middlebury’s economic vitality, and our gift to the Kick Start Middlebury program is a step in that direction.”
Launched in March, the Kick Start Middlebury program is a business recruitment tool that offers cash and business support as an incentive to open or relocate a business in Middlebury, Vermont. The packages will be awarded to three to five businesses chosen by an independent panel of stakeholders comprised of local business owners, community members and economic development organizations based on several criteria such as financial projections, viability, sustainability, diversity and job creation.
“After a $10,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Middlebury last week and now Table 21’s match to the town’s initial $50,000 investment, we are absolutely thrilled to offer interested businesses a sizeable incentive to consider Middlebury,” said Karen Duguay, Better Middlebury Partnership’s Executive Director.
Kick Start Middlebury is possible with funds allocated from the Middlebury Business Development Fund through the Town of Middlebury. The deadline to send in a letter of interest has been extended to April 23, 2021. More information can be found on the website: kickstartmiddlebury.com.
Source: Middlebury, Vermont – April 5, 2021 — MapleRunMarketing.com