The State of Vermont Working Lands Initiative Board announced over $400,000 in awards to Grantees representing sectors across agriculture, forestry, and forest products
Chris Brooks and Katie Adams, Mike Snyder, Chuck Ross
Vermont Wood Pellet Company, LLC received a $38,160 to fund new equipment to increase efficiencies in their manufacturing and wood pellet production volume. This round of grants is the first initiative of its kind that was approved in Vermont’s 2013 budget.
Vt Wood Pellet CO, Working Lands Grant recipient. Photo by Mary Claire Carroll Photography
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative is administered by the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and is in partnership with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, as well as the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
Vermont Wood Pellet grant was designated through The Capital and
Infrastructure Investment Area, which received 112 Letters of Intent (LOI) for a total of $6.7 million in LOIs. Of the applicants invited to submit a full application, 22 applications were received.
CEO Chris Brooks said upon using the new grant funds: ‘The equipment changes proved to increase production by 10%. This is significant, as we are the only pellet mill in Vermont producing wood pellets. We’ve operated our small scale mill which produces 16,000 tons per year for use for heat throughout New England.’
Vermont Wood Pellets heat approximately 5000 homes annually throughout New England.
More information on the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative can be found at
www.workinglands.vermont.gov/