Brattleboro, VT – Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) is excited to announce the return of Launchpad, its cornerstone entrepreneurship course, beginning October 13, 2026. This dynamic 6-week course is designed to help aspiring and early-stage business owners transform their ideas into viable ventures. Offered both in person and virtually, the program is accessible to participants across the county and continues to see strong engagement, with ninety-seven registrants over the past two years. Whatever your business idea is, we will help you figure out the right pathway whether that is starting, improving, or discovering that it isn’t financially feasible. Whatever the goal, there is no wrong reason or business stage to participate.
Organized and facilitated by the BDCC and featuring expert contributions from regional specialists, Launchpad provides a supportive environment where participants gain real-world knowledge, develop practical business tools, and connect with resources to bring their ideas to life, including access to LivePlan, a platform to help small business owners create business plans, build financial forecasts, pitch to lenders and investors, and track ongoing performance. Previous programs showcased presenters from various organizations including Think Dynamic Digital, VtSBDC, SCORE, The Better Business Bureau, and many more.
“Through BDCC’s LaunchPad series, I was able to get a handle on many aspects of my new, growing, business. Each week focused on a new topic that offered incredibly helpful information and resources that I never knew existed,” says Tracy Corriveau from Mama T’s Sweet Spot.
Course Highlights:
Start-to-Finish Business Planning using LivePlan software
Business Entity Deep Dive: Learn the pros and cons of sole proprietorships, LLCs, corporations, and more
Marketing & Branding: Craft your elevator pitch and develop your online presence
Financial Forecasting: Build your first set of real-world financial projections
Legal and Tax Basics: Understand the steps to register and operate legally in Vermont
Launch Strategy: Prepare to fund, open, and grow your business
The course is a prerequisite to BDCC’s Bookkeeping Loan Program where we will pay up to 20% of eligible bookkeeping expenses in business start-ups that fit the qualifications outlined here: brattleborodevelopment.com/BDCC-lending/.
Details:
Start Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Schedule: Weekly Tuesday sessions for 6 weeks
Format: Hybrid (In-person at BDCC offices & virtual via Zoom)
Cost: Free (in part due to funding from the SBA)
Entrepreneurs from Windham County and beyond are encouraged to apply. Whether you’re still shaping your business idea or actively seeking to grow your early-stage venture, Launchpad offers a roadmap to success.
Register for Launchpad Today
Space is limited to 15 participants per session. To sign up or learn more, visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com/what-we-do/business-assistance/launch/ or contact Dani Delaini at ddelaini@brattleborodevelopment.com
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 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/
