Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The first round of Working Lands Enterprise Initiative applications for fiscal year (FY) 2023 is launching! The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) is releasing two requests for applications (RFAs) that allow Vermont working lands service provider organizations and producer associations to invest in projects focused on governance, leadership, building workforce development, and executive business skills.
Please read the RFAs to learn about the application process and questions. To allow time for organizations to prepare, the application portal will be open from August 12th through September 23rd.
Producer Association Grants
Award amounts: $10,000 – $20,000
Vermont-based nonprofit producer association groups that represent and promote Vermont agriculture, food, beverage, forest, or fiber products are welcome to apply. To review the Producer Association Development Grant request for applications, click here.
Service Provider Grants
Award amounts: $10,000 – $20,000
Service Provider Grant projects will include the provision of direct and indirect services to support the development of Vermont-based working lands businesses through business assistance such as marketing plans, business and financial planning, and business transitions and succession. To review the Service Provider Grant request for applications, click here.
There will be additional funding opportunities this year for working land businesses across the farm, food, and forest sectors. Please visit our website and Facebook page for updates.
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The Center for Women & Enterprise is accepting applications for their Strategic Growth Planning Accelerator Program. This 10-week course and individual mentoring is open to women-owned food/beverage or service businesses with pre-COVID revenues of $50-400,000.
You must have been in business for a minimum of two years and have at least one employee. The goal of this course is to provide both the opportunity and information necessary to strategically think about your business and what you need to do to successfully move through COVID and into the future.
If your application is accepted, the course and the mentorship are free.
Course: August-October, 2022
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Join University of Vermont Extension and Dr. Dayna Locitzer for an in-person session focusing on preventive care and treatment of common diseases.
It will include a farm tour to observe how the owners raise their calves.
Participants will hear about best practices for raising replacements, colostrum management, milk feeding, housing, scours and calfhood pneumonia.
Vermont grazing consultant and co-presenter Sarah Flack will discuss pasture management for heifers.
This free in-person workshop will be held at Taconic End Farm, 1395 Leicester-Whiting Road, Leicester, Vermont.
Workshop: Aug. 25th from 10-12pm ET
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Join Croatan Institute to hear from a panel of experts on financing the specific needs of regenerative agriculture infrastructure businesses and implementing innovative capital solutions.
Regenerative farms rely on small-to-mid scale, aligned infrastructure to process, transport, and market their products. These middle infrastructure businesses help to improve farm income and bolster regional food economies.
This panel will share their experiences and lessons learned, as well as pathways forward for investors and capital providers to better serve regenerative agriculture infrastructure enterprises.
Register for this free event here.
Panel: August 4th from 12-1:30pm ET
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Join the Environmental Law Center at Vermont Law School (VLS) on August 4th for the final installment of the Hot Topics in Environmental Law Summer Lecture Series.
This free lecture focuses on global best practices to combat food waste and food insecurity. It is led by Emily Broad Leib, the founder of the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic and the VLS’ Summer 2022 Distinguished Scholar in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems.
Lectures are virtual, free, and open to the public. Registration is not required.
Click here to attend the virtual lecture.
Lecture: August 4th from 12-1:00pm ET
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