We believe in creative, flexible solutions for financing emerging and growing working lands entrepreneurs.
SPROUT helps the Loan Fund reach a little further to provide that extra flexibility and patience that some of our borrowers need to succeed. With start-up support from the State of Vermont’s Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, SPROUT meets the financing needs of working lands entrepreneurs who might not otherwise be eligible for a VCLF loan.
PLEASE NOTE: Not all prospective borrowers will qualify for SPROUT financing. The Vermont Community Loan Fund offers a suite of business financing options to serve borrowers in a variety of situations and circumstances. Our Business Program staff work with prospects on a case-by-case basis; we strongly encourage you to get in touch with us, and we'll help determine which loan program will best meet your needs.
SPROUT helps the Loan Fund reach a little further to provide that extra flexibility and patience that some of our borrowers need to succeed. With start-up support from the State of Vermont’s Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, SPROUT meets the financing needs of working lands entrepreneurs who might not otherwise be eligible for a VCLF loan.
PLEASE NOTE: Not all prospective borrowers will qualify for SPROUT financing. The Vermont Community Loan Fund offers a suite of business financing options to serve borrowers in a variety of situations and circumstances. Our Business Program staff work with prospects on a case-by-case basis; we strongly encourage you to get in touch with us, and we'll help determine which loan program will best meet your needs.
LEARN MORE
Please email our Lending Team at admin@vclf.org, or call us at 802-223-1448.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible businesses include (but are not limited to):
- Farms & other agricultural operations
- Food processors & producers using predominantly local ingedients
- Foresters & forest products businesses
Preference will be given to start-up or early-stage operations with demonstrated or projected growth. The ideal SPROUT applicant will be a business playing a central role in a local or regional supply chain proposing to undertake a significant growth opportunity, such as the development of a new product or expansion into a new market.
ACCEPTABLE USES
Uses may include:
- Real estate/land acquisition
- Facility construction or improvement
- Equipment
- Inventory
- Working capital
RATES AND TERMS
SPROUT offers low-interest loans of up to $60,000. Terms range from two to six years. SPROUT loans will typically feature two years of 1% interest, and a fixed 2% interest rate thereafter.
BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER
Business development & advisory services - consulting, training and counseling - is a key component of our work to foster and support our borrowers’ success. Much of that technical assistance is provided “in-house” by VCLF’s Business Resource Center. We also regularly contract with or provide referrals to third-party sources if we believe their expertise is the best fit for a borrower’s unique operating environment and needs. SPROUT financing will be augmented with business development technical assistance and consulting tailored to meet each borrower’s specific needs, free-of-charge.
WHAT IF MY PROJECT HAS OTHER FINANCING NEEDS?
If your working lands business has a need greater than $60,000 or is otherwise ineligible for SPROUT financing, VCLF offers other flexible, affordable financing options through the Food, Farms & Forests Fund, our Agritourism Loan Program or through our general business loan program.
HOW TO APPLY
We encourage you to speak with us before submitting a loan application. Please email admin@vclf.org or call us at 802-223-1448.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible businesses include (but are not limited to):
- Farms & other agricultural operations
- Food processors & producers using predominantly local ingedients
- Foresters & forest products businesses
Preference will be given to start-up or early-stage operations with demonstrated or projected growth. The ideal SPROUT applicant will be a business playing a central role in a local or regional supply chain proposing to undertake a significant growth opportunity, such as the development of a new product or expansion into a new market.
ACCEPTABLE USES
Uses may include:
- Real estate/land acquisition
- Facility construction or improvement
- Equipment
- Inventory
- Working capital
RATES AND TERMS
SPROUT offers low-interest loans of up to $60,000. Terms range from two to six years. SPROUT loans will typically feature two years of 1% interest, and a fixed 2% interest rate thereafter.
BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER
Business development & advisory services - consulting, training and counseling - is a key component of our work to foster and support our borrowers’ success. Much of that technical assistance is provided “in-house” by VCLF’s Business Resource Center. We also regularly contract with or provide referrals to third-party sources if we believe their expertise is the best fit for a borrower’s unique operating environment and needs. SPROUT financing will be augmented with business development technical assistance and consulting tailored to meet each borrower’s specific needs, free-of-charge.
WHAT IF MY PROJECT HAS OTHER FINANCING NEEDS?
If your working lands business has a need greater than $60,000 or is otherwise ineligible for SPROUT financing, VCLF offers other flexible, affordable financing options through the Food, Farms & Forests Fund, our Agritourism Loan Program or through our general business loan program.
HOW TO APPLY
We encourage you to speak with us before submitting a loan application. Please email admin@vclf.org or call us at 802-223-1448.
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