Vermont Business Magazine The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) is pleased to announce the next sessions of its Funding Fundamentals program, a series of educational offerings designed to help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs better understand and access capital.
The series begins with an in-person workshop, Funding Fundamentals: Lenders and Finance 101, on Wednesday, June 3 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 76 Cotton Mill Hill Brattleboro, VT 05301. This session will provide participants with a foundational introduction to business finance, including common lending terminology, an overview of financing options, and guidance on how to prepare for meeting with lenders. Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect directly with local and statewide commercial lenders and resource partners.
“Accessing loans and funding remains one of the most significant barriers for small businesses, particularly for those who are just getting started or have not done it before,” said Dani Delaini, Assistant Director and Head of Business Acceleration at the BDCC. “Funding Fundamentals is designed to break down that process and create a more approachable pathway to understand when and if pursuing a business loan is the right next step.The program is intentionally progressive. What that means is that it starts with foundational concepts so newcomers can immediately connect, then building in layers of complexity with more nuanced strategies such as scaling, blended financing, and partnership structures for those ready to go deeper.”
The Vermont Economic Development Authority is participating in Funding Fundamentals to share their commercial lending expertise and help businesses find a path forward.
“We’re grateful to BDCC for inviting us to participate in Funding Fundamentals,” says VEDA CEO Joan Goldstein. “As Vermont’s sole economic development authority, it is VEDA’s mission to help grow the state’s economy. Funding Fundamentals is a great opportunity to inform small businesses in southern Vermont about the lending ecosystem so they can achieve their objectives and contribute to Vermont’s economic vibrancy.”
The series continues with a virtual workshop on Wednesday, June 10 at 5:00 PM titled Understanding Business Credit, presented by Stephen Robert, CEO of Bedrock Credit America. This session will focus specifically on how business owners can build, interpret, and improve their credit profiles, and how credit impacts access to financing. Drawing on Bedrock Credit America’s educational approach, the workshop will provide practical guidance on credit structure, common pitfalls, and strategies for strengthening credit over time.
“Credit plays a critical role in a business owner’s ability to access capital, yet it is often misunderstood,” said Stephen Robert. “Our goal is to help participants better understand how credit works and give them tools they can use immediately to improve their financial position.”
The final offering in the series is a focused mini session on Wednesday, June 17 from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM, Not All Capital is Equal: How to Avoid Financing Traps. This session will walk through an example case study of an existing business and examine the true cost of various financing options, including processor advance loans commonly offered through platforms such as Square. Participants will see a live calculation of repayment structures and gain a clearer understanding of how different loan products impact cash flow and long-term business health.
“These sessions are intentionally designed to be practical and grounded in real scenarios,” Delaini added. “We want participants to leave not only with information, but with the ability to make more informed financial decisions for their businesses and futures.”
Funding Fundamentals is part of BDCC’s broader commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses across Southern Vermont by providing accessible education, technical assistance, and connections to capital.
All sessions are free to attend. Pre-registration is encouraged.
For more information or to register, please visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com/event/funding-fundamentals-spring/ or contact BDCC’s Business Services team.
About BDCC
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) is a private, nonprofit economic development organization with the mission of investing in the drivers of the regional economy so that people, businesses, and communities in Southern Vermont can thrive. In addition to its private nonprofit leadership role in regional business acceleration and expansion programs and projects, economic, workforce, and community development programming, BDCC is also contracted to carry out the work of one of the twelve the State of Vermont’s certified Regional Development Corporations (RDC) for the greater Windham County area (including Windham County and the towns of Readsboro, Searsburg, Winhall, and Weston). BDCC’s activity is made possible in part by a grant from the State of Vermont through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. For more information, visit: https://brattleborodevelopment.com/
About BDCC BizGrowth
BDCC provides expert guidance and resource navigation to businesses of all sizes—from startups to established enterprises—looking to grow or relocate. Whether a business is expanding its workforce, boosting profitability, or increasing its market share, it will find a broad spectrum of support, financing, and location services available through our experienced staff and extensive network of partners. We empower businesses to thrive by providing access to capital and strategic support aligned with the regional economic development plan (CEDS). We can help businesses navigate the complex landscape of public and private programs and services, developing a customized roadmap to achieve specific growth objectives. BDCC has a proven track record of supporting businesses with their growth needs, whether that involves expanding operations, funding new equipment to increase production capacity, relocating to larger facilities to accommodate growing teams, or securing working capital to scale marketing efforts and reach new customers.
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation
Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies
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