Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP) Launched in Vermont

For Immediate Release:                                      January 18, 2022

By: Fred Kenney, Executive Director, Addison County Economic Development Corporation and President of the Regional Development Corporations of Vermont.

The Regional Development Corporations of Vermont have been chosen by the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) to participate in the new Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP). CNPP will deliver technical assistance service contracts to aid Vermont business recovery. This program was launched as part of a national initiative introduced by President Biden and Vice President Harris whereby the VtSBDC was chosen as one of fifty-one (51) grantees nationwide to be part of the Small Business Administration’s CNPP.

The CNPP will use a “hub and spoke” model, with VtSBDC as the central hub, and nine Vermont spoke organizations creating impact on the ground. Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) and Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) have been named as two Vermont “spoke” partners. They will administer their two spokes of the CNPP program on behalf of the twelve Regional Development Corporations of Vermont.

The Regional Development Corporations of Vermont are using this opportunity to “reboot” the highly effective ReVTA pandemic relief program which provides technical assistance grants to help businesses pivot and recover. CNPP is designed to reduce barriers that all small businesses—including those owned by disadvantaged groups such as veterans, women, BIPOC business owners and those from rural communities —often face in accessing critical support.

To learn more about the program visit https://www.vermonteconomicdevelopment.com/.

This work is supported with funding in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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Press Contact:

Fred Kenney, Executive Director

Addison County Economic Development Corporation

1590 Route 7 South, Suite #8

Middlebury, VT 05753

802.388.7953 X 1