The latest from Vermont's economic development finance organization.
Message from the CEO
Spring is finally here and I am excited for the warmer weather.
In April I was honored to be interviewed by VermontBiz’s Tim McQuiston for his article “Construction: Pressure, possibility, and the race to build a future” to discuss how VEDA supports Vermont businesses and farms, and how we would like to participate in multi-unit housing projects with the passage of S.328. As Vermont’s economic development authority, I believe we can help get more homes built.
In addition to S.328, I’m also keeping an eye on S.323 which folds the Vermont Agricultural Credit Union into VEDA, and S.138 which would pave the way for a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) policy.
I am extremely grateful for the support of lawmakers as we work to invest in and improve the state’s economy. We are fortunate to have such dedicated public servants who support economic development.
Best,
Joan Goldstein
VEDA CEO
Borrower Spotlight
Danielle Rabidou is an entrepreneur on a mission to provide healthier snack options to people on the go.
Her company, The Better Box, launched July 2025. Today she has 17 machines in Burlington, South Burlington, and Stowe and is looking to expand outside Vermont.
Learn more about The Better Box and how VEDA helped this founder and CEO take her business to the next level.
Danielle Rabidou of The Better Box
Seeking inspiration for your business? Visit the Borrower Stories page on the VEDA website.
Borrowers in the News
WCAX showcases Northwood Gallery in Stowe where every item is Made in Vermont.
In VTDigger, how PurposeEnergy turns wastewater into fuel in Middlebury.
VEDA supports regional development corporations as they work to create opportunities for economic growth in their areas. Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation’s Executive Director Tim Smith talks about that relationship in the St. Albans Messenger.
Meet the Northfield man behind Homecoming Seeds featured on WCAX’s Made in Vermont.
In The Community
Top: Director of Agricultural Business Development Sarah Isham at The Loggers' Expo.
Bottom left: Ellen Kahler speaks at the Food Funders Forum.
Bottom right: Cairn Cross at the Lake Champlain Chamber Gala.
We kicked off the month of May at the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo (also called The Loggers’ Expo) at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. It was well-attended and we enjoyed letting people know about our low rates for environmentally friendly, low-impact equipment.
In April, we attended the NEK Chamber Annual Meeting in East Burke, the Vermont Community Development Association Spring Conference in Montpelier, the Food Funders Forum in Randolph Center, and the Lake Champlain Chamber Gala in Burlington where our partner Cairn Cross of FreshTracks Capital was named Leader of the Year.
We also celebrated Vermont’s sweetest season by sponsoring the 2026 Vermont Maple Festival and meeting sugarers at the CDL Open House.
Upcoming Events
- May 4 – Vermont Specialty Food Association Producer Expo at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Montpelier which VEDA is sponsoring.
- May 12 – Southern Vermont Economy Summit at Mount Snow in West Dover which VEDA is also sponsoring.
- May 19 – CEO Joan Goldstein is speaking at the Vermont Chapter of the Risk Management Association’s Annual Meeting at the Delta Hotel by Marriott in South Burlington.
- May 21 – Joan speaks at the Shelburne Soiree at Shelburne Vineyard.
- May 27 – the grand opening of the expansion at Weidmann Electrical Technology in St. Johnsbury which VEDA helped finance.
Business Support
UVM Extension has updated its Funding Opportunities for Dairy & Crop Operations guide. It features grants, business support, and other services.
The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board’s Viability Program offers business planning, succession planning, and technical assistance to farms, food businesses, markets, distributors, forest products businesses, and wood manufacturers. Enrollment costs $75.
The American Bird Conservancy's Untreated Seed Pilot Program is accepting applications from New England farmers. The program pays growers currently using seeds without neonicotinoids coatings, or who are interested in switching away from neonicotinoid coatings. Learn more by filling out this form.
Meet the Board
Steve Voigt
VEDA Board Member
Steve Voigt may have retired in 2014, but he certainly hasn’t slowed down. The former President and CEO of King Arthur Baking Company in Norwich is a devoted board member at several organizations, including VEDA.
Steve is a past VEDA Board Chair and has served eight years on the Board to date. He enjoys the work and enthusiastically embraces VEDA's role in supporting Vermont's economy.
“It’s a great mission to grow companies that are already in the state. I hope we can help companies like that.”
He’s quick to offer that he has no commercial banking experience but understands what it takes for a business to succeed.
“My background is appreciating what operators have to deal with day in and day out. They're wearing 50 different hats and don't have time for cumbersome, laborious, long processes,” explains Steve. “I say yes to a lot of the opportunities the VEDA Board has offered me to offer the operator perspective.”
Steve is proud of VEDA’s work behind the scenes to constantly improve as it supports economic development across the state.
“Internal efficiency, productivity, all the steps that Renée (Grzankowski, COO) and team have taken to streamline operations, which makes VEDA more responsive. Keeping interest rates lower and thinking about how Thad (Richardson, CFO), Cassie (Polhemus, former CEO), and Joan (Goldstein, CEO) and their teams have dramatically enhanced the financial strength of the organization.”
His advice to Vermont businesses and farms? Call VEDA.
“Tell them more about your operations, so VEDA can tell you about options and alternatives you might not know about. It's a good use of your time to start or build on that relationship and it will help the state, too.”
Created by the Legislature in 1974, VEDA is Vermont's economic development finance organization helping create jobs and advance the state's public policy goals.
Learn more about what VEDA has to offer:
Vermont Economic Development Authority | 58 East State St | Montpelier, VT 05602 US
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