BDCC workshops and programs continue to be a key entry point for new and growing businesses. The recent two-part Funding 101 series brought together thirty participants and provided tools for accessing capital through both traditional and alternative avenues. Our spring LaunchPad program welcomed twenty-two participants, backed by regular drop-in lab hours and tailored advising. This format helped Mama T’s Sweet Spot to find cost-effective methods to reach her audience and showed her a method for looking at the perceived value of her products.
We welcomed more guest speakers this year, expanding the network of experts available to our entrepreneurs and deepening the range of insights and perspectives shared through our programs. Our roster of guest speakers this year contains seasoned advisors, such as Bob Stanley, Gene Calvano and Dick VerEcke from SCORE; as well as market specific entrepreneurs such as, Andrea Bacchi from Think Dynamic, Stephen Melanson from Sentinel Solutions and Bryan Santiago from LookerLab.
Our funding initiatives are making it possible for the businesses we serve to grow and thrive. The Windham County Economic Development Program (WCEDP) and Windham Investment Fund (WIF) successfully closed approximately $900,000 loan to HumanCo ATG LLC, doing business as Against the Grain Gourmet Foods, marking a significant investment milestone in support of advanced manufacturing and job retention in Brattleboro. This loan supports the purchase of new equipment to expand production capacity and improve operational efficiency. The project aligns directly with regional CEDS goals to foster resilient business growth, workforce development, and sustainable local manufacturing. This investment was made possible through strategic negotiations, including a new lease agreement, a pledge-controlled account, and collateral terms placing BDCC in a secured position. This financing structure enables ATG to grow its product offerings, reduce waste, and maintain a competitive and equitable workplace while anchoring its operations in Southern Vermont.
Finally, BizConnect meetups continue to be an essential part of our small business support ecosystem. These events consistently bring together business owners, entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share insights, and connect to resources. They are happening regularly in town halls, co-working spaces, and community centers across the region, ensuring that even the most rural entrepreneurs have access to strong support and collaboration across the region and not in isolation amongst only their neighbors.
This steady rhythm of connection builds trust, strengthens local ecosystems, and supports ongoing collaboration. Each relationship formed and each insight shared at BizConnect meetups adds to the foundation we are building for the future. As we look ahead, BizConnect remains a cornerstone of our strategy to foster a resilient and inclusive rural economy rooted in community and driven by entrepreneurial spirit.
—
About BDCC BizConnect
BDCC presents a monthly meetup series that brings together rural businesspeople to share solutions – offering a platform to foster connections, build community, and access peer support to solve commonly faced problems. Events are held in communities across the region and feature networking and educational business opportunities for all. https://brattleborodevelopment.com/bizconnect/
About BDCC Launch
BDCC presents a suite of services, programs, and ecosystem development activities focused on small and emerging businesses. Previously referred to as our INSTIG8 program, BDCC Launch is the region’s center for quality entrepreneurship training, scale-up services, and innovation. Our entrepreneurially focused programming strategically fosters a safe environment for creative entrepreneurs to try, fail, learn, build, explore, and connect to other like-minded individuals while developing their business concepts and models. We offer a series of workshops, events, and spaces for intentional co-working. BDCC is a catalyst for an engaging, business-minded, creative community of entrepreneurs, innovators, and instigators as they start and grow. https://brattleborodevelopment.com/businessassistanceservices/startup-and-growth/
About Windham County Economic Development Program (WCEDP)
The WCEDP promotes economic development in Windham County. WCEDP provides loans to stimulate job creation through business start-up, expansion, or relocation. It encourages entrepreneurial activity, and invests in initiatives to strengthen the economic development infrastructure in order to ensure a strong foundation for transformational economic activity. WCEDP funds were secured through an agreement between the State of Vermont and Entergy Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant upon the plant closure announcement. The funds were intended to mitigate the negative economic impacts of the plant’s closure as outlined in the 2012 Vermont Yankee Task Force Report and the 2014 Windham Region S.M.A.R.T. CEDS. For more information please visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com/windham-co-economic-development-program/
