Funding will support Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) in  Fueling Economic Opportunity for Southern Vermont

Brattleboro, VT May 13, 2025 – The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB), today announced that it has awarded $100,000 to SeVEDS for programming to entrepreneurs in southeastern Vermont The grant is part of the third round of giving through the Amplify Fund providing more than $4.9 million to 51 lead nonprofit organizations throughout New England, Long Island, and Rockland County, NY.

Aligned with the goals of the Southeastern Vermont region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, the program strengthens the broader rural business ecosystem while addressing the unique challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs; those who are new to Vermont, New Americans, or new to business ownership. This initiative expands Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation’s (BDCC) established business support programs, including advising, business planning, access to capital, and training. It supports entrepreneurs at all stages of development, from launching new ventures to expanding existing operations and transitioning into or out of business ownership.

“In rural regions like Southern Vermont, every entrepreneur matters,” said Adam Grinold, Executive Director of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation. “Whether someone has lived here for generations or is newly arrived, the challenges of starting and sustaining a business are real and unique. This funding augments our growing ecosystem of small business support. It allows us to add the kind of targeted, direct support that new entrepreneurs need, while strengthening the overall infrastructure of business support for all rural entrepreneurs in our communities.”

“The M&T Charitable Foundation is proud to support the work of nonprofits like SEVEDS/BDCC  that are dedicated to advancing equity and creating positive and lasting change,” said Dominique Goss, Executive Director of the M&T Charitable Foundation. “We look forward to seeing the progress of their work and the collective outcomes of our partnerships in the months and years ahead.”

First announced in May 2022, the Amplify Fund is a $25 million philanthropic investment as part of the merger between People’s United Bank and M&T Bank. Powered by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Amplify Fund is a one-time supplemental charitable program to provide further support in the legacy People’s United communities.

The first round of funding totaled more than $11.8 million to 105 nonprofit organizations and focused on equity and environmental initiatives, mission-driven and capacity-building work, community and tenant organizing, and financial empowerment and education for individuals and small businesses. The second round provided $8.2 million of funding to 68 organizations addressing issues like food security and affordable housing, income and wealth equity, workforce development, and access to quality and affordable healthcare.

Grantees in this third and final round of funding include nonprofit organizations that are centered on advancing financial inclusion and spurring economic growth and prosperity, with a particular focus on creating equitable change through homeownership, small business development and entrepreneurship, career growth, and financial resilience.  

The Amplify Fund is designed to drive sustainable impact that is equitable, accessible, and responsive to local needs. Regional representatives of the bank will continue to meet with local leaders to help inform the strategic direction for the Fund’s third round. 

For more information on the Amplify Fund, including the full list of grant recipients in New England and Metro New York, please visit the Amplify Fund website. 

About M&T Charitable Foundation 

The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1993 and funded by M&T Bank. The M&T Charitable Foundation awards nearly $40 million in grants per year to thousands of nonprofit organizations focused on improving the quality of life in the areas the bank serves. M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.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 also serves as the State of Vermont’s certified Regional Development Corporation (RDC) for the greater Windham County area (including Windham County and the towns of Readsboro, Searsburg, Winhall and Weston). BDCC is one of 12 RDCs throughout Vermont. 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 Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS)

Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS), a nonprofit 501(c)3, is an affiliate of Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) that grew from a 2008 grassroots effort, initiated by BDCC, to understand and create long-term strategies needed to reverse the economic decline of the Windham Region and plan for the economic impacts from the closure of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. In 2014, after multiple years of regional input, education and data gathering, SeVEDS received federal approval for the Windham Region’s federally recognized S.M.A.R.T. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). SeVEDS has subsequently partnered with Bennington’s Regional Economic Development Group to develop the 2019 and 2024 Southern Vermont Zone CEDS. For more information visit: www.seveds.com.

Media Contacts:   

New England 

Kathy Curran 

kcurran1@mtb.com

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