Funded primarily through USDA Rural Development's Rural Business Enterprise Grant program, the Vermont Community Loan Fund offers modest grant awards that provide in-depth technical assistance at a level beyond what VCLF normally provides its borrowers.

Basic Eligibility

• Eligible applicants are rural, emerging or established micro- or small businesses or cooperatives seeking to develop a new technology, product, or market.
• Must employ 50 or fewer workers and have gross revenues of less than $1 million.
• Must be primarily owned by U.S. citizens.
• Priority is given to projects located in Caledonia , Essex and Orleans counties.
• Must be able to provide at least a 55% contribution to the overall project for which funding is sought.

Acceptable Uses

All projects must utilize independent consultants for the scope of work to be provided. Projects must be aimed at solving a marketing or manufacturing problem or developing a new technology, product, or market.

• Feasibility Studies
• Marketing Plans
• Business Plans
• Counseling & Training
• Internet Based Marketing
• On-site Technical Assistance

Maximum Amount

Each grant award will not exceed $5,000

How to Apply

Requests for funding should consist of a narrative providing an overview of the business, project, expected outcomes, a timetable for the project, and an estimate of costs for the project with the source of matching funds indicated.

Send requests to Sam Buckley, Vermont Community Loan Fund, PO Box 827, Montpelier, VT, 05601 or sam(at)vclf(dot)org

Past Grantees

• Boyea Horse & Sleigh Service, Stowe
• Calculated Technologies, Montpelier
• Champlain Bio-Diesel, Burlington
• Cool Front/Hammerhead Sleds, Ferrisburgh
• Eesa, Waterbury
• Eservices of VT, Brattleboro
• Fermented Ideas, Middlesex
• Henderson's Tree Service, White River Jct
• High Mowing Organic Seeds, Wolcott
• Lampscapes, White River Jct
• LineSync Architecture, Wilmington
• Liquid Glass, Lyndon
• Lucian Avery Blacksmith, Hardwick
• Pete's Greens, Greensboro
• Pride of VT Farms, Westfield
• Progressive Products, Rutland
• Redstart, Corinth
• Vane Innovative Products, Rutland
• VT Boat Company, Vergennes
• VT Compost Co, Montpelier
• VT Mystic Pie Co, Stowe
• VT Natural Coatings, Hardwick
• VT Quality Meats, Rutland
• VT Organic Fiber/O-Wool, Middlebury
• VT Shepherd/VT Cheese Center, Putney
• VT Soy, Hardwick