Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

09/01/2026

Today we had the privilege of attending the ribbon cutting for Franklin County Cheese in Enosburg Falls! Just a few months ago, this facility faced an uncertain future. Today, under the leadership of longtime plant manager and new owners John and Kathy Ovitt, it is beginning a new chapter as a locally owned business focused on dairy manufacturing, warehousing and other food industry services.

As John shared during the event, "We're open for business. There are a lot of possibilities here. We can reinvent ourselves. We're already exploring opportunities in new product lines, co-manufacturing, warehousing and other services. I'm not saying we're going to be better than we were, but we can be more than we are, and we're going to work to keep this facility operating for another 125 years."

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund was proud to offer business coaching alongside the support of Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development, Community Bank, N.A., Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation, and others to help support a path forward for this facility. The reopening preserves valuable manufacturing capacity, retains decades of industry expertise, and creates opportunities for future growth in Franklin County.

Congratulations to John Ovitt, Kathy Ovitt, Chelsea Ouellette, the Franklin County Cheese team, and all the partners who helped make this day possible.

Read the St. Albans Messenger story: https://www.samessenger.com/news/business/we-can-again-reinvent-ourselves-franklin-county-cheese-officially-takes-over-enosburg-cheese-plant/article_5b3f7e40-c322-4e02-b9e4-136b7b43688c.html

Photo credit: Kelly Nottermann (VSJF).

08/21/2026

Vermont businesses: Your input is needed.

Take the Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VTDEDBUSINESSSURVEY

The Vermont Department of Economic Development is collecting feedback from businesses across the state to better understand awareness of and access to business support services. The survey results will help inform Vermont's Business Resources and Growth Inventory Report for the General Assembly.

If your business has benefited from technical assistance, coaching, mentoring, or other business support programs, please take a few minutes to share your experience. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and is open through September 4.

For current and past VSJF Business Coaching clients: while Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund is not currently listed among the survey options, there is an opportunity to identify additional providers. If our coaching services have supported your business journey, we encourage you to mention VSJF Business Coaching in Question 10.

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

08/18/2026

This year’s Summit is grounded in the newly updated Vermont Community Leadership in Action Guide, which will shape workshops, panels, group discussions, and networking throughout the day. Sessions will explore practical tools and strategies for leadership including facilitation skills, community engagement and volunteerism, local economic vitality, advancing community projects, and more.

Whether you’re a longtime local leader or someone just beginning to get involved, you’ll find space to learn, share, and gather ideas you can bring home to your community. All people who care about their town and the future of our state are encouraged to attend. Register today at vtrural.org/summit Sliding scale ticket prices available

08/05/2026

UPDATE: Session proposal window is now closed. Thank you to all who submitted!!

Breakout session proposals are due this Friday, August 7!

Don't miss the opportunity to contribute to this year's conversation at the 2026 Vermont Farm to Plate Annual Gathering at Burke Mountain Hotel November 19-20, 2026.

Have an idea worth sharing with Vermont's food system community? This year’s theme, “Taking Stock and Quilting the Future: Stitching Land, Farms, and Markets Together for a Stronger Food System,” calls on our community to share practical, experience- and evidence-informed approaches that support stronger decision-making and help advance a food system that is just, environmentally resilient, and economically viable.

08/04/2026

When: Aug 13, 2026, 1 to 5 PM
Where: Fable Farm Fermentory, 1525 Royal Turnpike Road, Barnard
RSVP at https://my.jujubee.us/form/wellbeing-economy-alliance-of-vermont-for-all-of-us-shaping-an-economy-for-wellbeing/

Join the Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont for a free, half-day workshop and dialogue at Fable Farm in Barnard -- For All of Us: Shaping an Economy for Wellbeing.

In the 2026 Vermonter Poll, administered by the Vermont Center for Rural Studies, 67% of respondents strongly agreed that “Vermont’s economic focus should prioritize the health and wellbeing of people, communities, and nature, rather than focusing mainly on maximizing profits and individual wealth accumulation.” We'll explore the assumptions and goals underpinning our current economic system, reimagine what the purpose of our economy really is, and consider what it might look like to cultivate a "wellbeing economy" in Vermont.

This workshop runs from 1:00-5:00pm in and around the big barn. You can anticipate snacks and beverages, facilitated dialogue, and workshop presentations.

This is a free event, and will accommodate up to 60 people. All are welcome.

We invite you to join us after the workshop for Fable Farm's weekly Feast & Field live music and food event, starting at 5:30, which brings neighbors together across the Upper Valley and beyond.

Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont: https://weav.network/
Fable Farm Fermentory: https://lnkd.in/ewMmq3DC
Feast & Field: https://feastandfield.com/

08/03/2026

We're excited to introduce the 2026 Forest Business Accelerator cohort: eight innovative companies developing solutions in mass timber, sustainable building materials, carbon-smart forestry, carbon fiber, biobased packaging, biomass utilization and wood products manufacturing.

Learn more about the 2026 cohort: https://forestaccelerator.com/2026/08/03/forest-business-accelerator-selects-2026-cohort-of-forest-economy-innovators/

This year's cohort includes:
Cast Carbon (NY): Biochar enriched interior wall tiles
CORE Timber (CT): Mass timber construction
Jones Wood Products (NH): Wood products manufacturing
Latis Materials (ME): Forest-derived carbon fiber
Renoster (ME): Forest data and carbon markets
RETRN (NY): Biobased packaging materials
Structmill (WV): Pre-cut lumber automation
Takachar (CA): Biomass conversion and biochar

Hosted by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in partnership with Vermont State University and supported by the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), the Forest Business Accelerator helps startups bring new forest-based innovations to market.

The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) has selected eight startup companies from across the United States to participate in the 2026 Forest Business Accelerator to help entrepreneurs develop innovative products and services that strengthen the forest and wood products economy. Managed by VSJF,

07/01/2026

Meet Jesse Cook, CEO of PK Wood Pellet, a 2025 Forest Business Accelerator company building a regional supply of renewable bulk pellets from Vermont forest byproducts.

By turning low-value sawmill residuals into local thermal energy, PK Wood Pellet is strengthening the forest economy, supporting jobs, and reducing reliance on imported fuels.

Read the full founder story in our Built from the Forest series: https://forestaccelerator.com/2026/07/01/pk-wood-pellet-powering-local-energy-from-vermonts-forest-byproducts/

06/29/2026

The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund has received a $5,000 grant from the M&T Charitable Foundation to support business coaching for companies in partnership with the Flexible Capital Fund.

This work reflects a strong alignment between our organizations. The Flexible Capital Fund provides patient, flexible capital to businesses in food systems, forest products and clean technology, while VSJF delivers the technical assistance and strategic support that helps those businesses grow and succeed. Together, we are combining capital and coaching to strengthen Vermont companies, support innovation and build a more resilient and sustainable economy!

The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the M&T Charitable Foundation to provide business coaching services for companies in the Flexible Capital Fund, L3C’s portfolio. “The M&T Charitable Foundation is proud to support the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

06/18/2026

We’re proud to celebrate the conclusion of the DeltaClimeVT Business Accelerator Energy 2026 cohort and congratulate Magnefy as this year’s peer-selected winner. Full story: https://deltaclimevt.com/magnefy-wins-vermont-based-deltaclimevt-energy-2026-business-accelerator-and-secures-pilot-project-with-burlington-electric-department/

As we mark the program’s tenth cohort and a decade of advancing energy innovation in Vermont, this year’s entrepreneurs worked closely with utilities, mentors, and partners to refine solutions that strengthen grid reliability, resilience, and electrification. Magnefy will receive a $25,000 award and launch a pilot project with Burlington Electric Department to test its AI-driven transformer monitoring technology, continuing DeltaClimeVT’s track record of moving innovation into real-world application.

Congratulations to this year’s cohort: Magnefy, Biospheric AI, Popper Power, and PWRJoule.

Thank you to our mentors, partners, and sponsors for supporting DeltaClimeVT Energy 2026, including Jane’s Trust Foundation, Burlington Electric Department, Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, Efficiency Vermont, Green Mountain Power, Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc., Vermont Gas Systems, Vermont Economic Development Authority, EastRise Credit Union, U.S. Small Business Administration, and M&T Bank.

06/09/2026

Now Open: Breakout session proposals for the 2026 Farm to Plate Annual Gathering. Submissions due by Friday, August 7, 2026.

Vermont Farm to Plate invites those working across Vermont’s food system to submit proposals for the 16th Annual Gathering, November 19 to 20 at Burke Mountain Hotel.

This year’s theme, “Taking Stock and Quilting the Future: Stitching Land, Farms, and Markets Together for a Stronger Food System,” calls on our community to share practical, experience- and evidence-informed approaches that support stronger decision-making and help advance a food system that is just, environmentally resilient, and economically viable.

Learn more at https://www.vtfarmtoplate.com/news/request-proposals-breakout-sessions-2026-farm-plate-annual-gathering-open.