Regional Development Corporations of Vermont
Vermont's twelve Regional Development Corporations (RDCs) serve as satellites of the Department of Economic Development, provide local knowledge, and facilitate assistance in their communities across the state. Your RDC can help you start a business, grow your business, or relocate a business to the area.
Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC)
VtSBDC provides assistance and planning during all stages of a business's life cycle–from pre-venture to mature. Services include classes and workshops, one-on-one sessions, and a variety of resources such as templates for business plans and cash flow.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Starting a business involves planning, making key financial decisions, and completing a series of legal activities. Learn about each step in 10 steps to start your business.
USDA New Farmers
Access the support and resources you need to begin farming, including opportunities for women to grow, learn from one another, and lead within their industries; for veterans looking to start farming; and for youth to discover new innovation at work in agriculture, support ag in schools, and get connected. Personalize your search with the Discovery Tool.
USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coordinators
New to farming or ranching? USDA can help you get started or grow your farm operation through programs and services including loans, crop insurance, conservation programs, and disaster assistance. Contact your state Beginning Farmers and Rancher Coordinator to learn more.
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)
Farmer Services: NOFA-VT offers services and programs that help farmers at all levels of development to reach their business and quality of life goals. Certified organic, transitioning to organic, and non-certified farmers using sustainable practices can access services for aspiring farmers, early stage farmers, and established farmers.
Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program
The Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program, a program of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, offers business advising and grants to enhance the economic viability of Vermont farms and forestry enterprises.
Business Advising: Business planning and technical assistance for farm businesses of all sizes and sectors; food businesses that process, store, market, or distribute local agricultural products; and forest products businesses such as maple producers, consulting forestry firms, loggers. The Viability Program also offers ownership succession planning for these business types as well as and forestland ownership succession planning assistance to families who own forestland in Vermont.
University of Vermont Agricultural Business Management
Engages with farm, forest and maple enterprises using planning and educational resources and delivers one-to-one, small group and online learning opportunities that enhance decision-making and viability.
Intervale Center
The Intervale Center (IC) provides business planning support services statewide. IC Farm Business Specialists work with all farm types on business planning, farm succession, and short-term planning needs. The IC also provides services around land access including Vermont Land Link, structuring land searches, and assistance with accessing capital. Interested farmers can contact the Intervale Center using the enrollment questionnaire at the link above.
Vermont Land Trust
The Vermont Land Trust conserves farmland, forestland, and land important to communities, matches farmers with affordable farmland, and works with owners of conserved land to make sure that land remains healthy and productive.
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) accelerates sustainable economic development by providing business assistance, value chain facilitation, network development, and strategic planning in agriculture and food systems, forest products, waste management, renewable energy, and environmental technology.
Business Coaching: VSJF provides tailored business coaching and entrepreneurial support to position Vermont businesses–including value-added food and agricultural, forest related, renewable energy, waste management, and environmental/clean technology enterprises–for growth and long-term success. Coaches work intensively with clients over 12–18 months to help businesses their effectiveness and prepare for the right match of growth capital for their scale and stage of business.
Windham Grows
Windham Grows, a project of Strolling of the Heifers, is a socially responsible, sustainability-minded business accelerator that connects socially conscious startup and early-stage businesses with critical services, resources, financing, and like-minded socially conscious business mentors. The project is free to New England based food and agriculture entrepreneurs.
USDA Farmers.gov
Farmers.gov provides farmers, ranchers, private foresters, and agricultural producers with online self-service applications, educational materials, engagement opportunities, and business tools to increase efficiency and productivity while preserving and fostering long-held traditional relationships between local USDA offices and producers.
USDA Small and Mid-Sized Farmer Resources
Small and midsize producers provide new opportunities for American agriculture across the country. This page provides small and midsize producers valuable resources and program information about access to capital, land management and conservation practices, managing risk, finding local markets, and other educational resources.
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
NSAC helps producers and organizations navigate federal funding opportunities and technical assistance programs with publications including the Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs.
The Carrot Project
The Carrot Project works with farm and food businesses in New England and the Hudson Valley, helping them build the financial management skills necessary for their businesses to thrive. The Project offers technical assistance for farm, forestry and fishery businesses as well as food system enterprises such as those in production, processing, storage, distribution and sales.
Efficiency Vermont
Efficiency Vermont advances sustainable energy solutions for Vermont homeowners and businesses through technical assistance, standard rebates, custom incentives, and financing specifically for agricultural energy efficiency projects. To learn more about how Efficiency Vermont can help with your ag energy projects—including agricultural equipment, dairy equipment, and maple sugaring equipment—visit the Agricultural Equipment page.
Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT)
FACT offers welfare-oriented livestock and poultry farmers a suite of services designed to support, empower, and expand humane farming practices including grants, scholarships, free webinars, and an online community to connect with other farmers.
Green Thumbs at Work
Green Thumbs at Work, a program of the Vermont Community Garden Network, offers garden start-up services for any business that wants to establish a workplace food garden for their employees.