Twin Valley Students Tour the Cotton Mill!
Students from Twin Valley, along with their instructor Erin Lovett-Sherman, toured the Cotton Mill in early March as part of Twin Valley’s career education program with support from “Wings” and BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program (P3).
The theme for the day was small business and entrepreneurship. The Cotton Mill is a repurposed historic industrial building owned and operated by the non-profit Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) to provide affordable space for small businesses to start and grow. Many well-known organizations started at the Cotton Mill including Chroma Technologies and NECCA circus arts. P3 Program Manager Christy Betit organized the tour of the Cotton Mill, which is also where the BDCC’s offices are located.
With guidance from BDCC’s property team members, Dan Floyd and Owen Perry, students visited with four small business owners who have space in the Cotton Mill: Will Alderfer from W.R. Metalarts, Patrick Branstetter from Old Timey Piano Craft, David Eichelberger from Two One Ceramics, and Franklin Chrisco from True North Granola.
After the tour, students came to the BDCC office to learn more about how BDCC supports the regional economy through programs like small business lending, in addition to the real estate operations (BDCC owns and operates the Cotton Mill as well as the Business Park on Putney Road) which are home to over 80 commercial tenants and 400 employees. Students left with valuable knowledge about running a small business, the challenges and opportunities that come with being a small business owner, and how to seek help if their future plans include entrepreneurship.
About Pipelines & Pathways
BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program (P3) provides career education within the five southeastern Vermont public high schools. P3 helps students develop their personalized learning plans (PLP) through learning experiences to develop knowledge about career opportunities, and achieve their goals after graduation. Students develop soft skills, financial literacy, knowledge about economic sectors and skills in-demand through hands-on activities, work-based learning, and mentorships. Pipelines & Pathways is a BDCC Workforce Center of Excellence program based on SeVEDS strategies to increase the size and quality of the region’s workforce. For more information please visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com/engaging-with-high-school-students/
P3 was launched as a five year pilot, thanks to historic investment from the Vermont Community Foundation and McClure Foundation, the Vermont Training Program, WCEDP Vermont Yankee closure funds, and municipal contributions to SeVEDS. In 2023 P3 reached a major program milestone by commitments from the private sector. M&T Bank, whose support was matched by local employers G.S. Precision and C&S Wholesale Grocers joins funding partners McClure Foundation, the George W. Mergens Foundation, the Windham Regional Career Center and the West River Education District in supporting P3 across southeastern Vermont.
