VBSR Member News Round Up 10-2-24

Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Jasper Hill Farm: A new Cabot Creamery Store (from Gold Member Cabot Creamery Cooperative) in the refurbished historic “Hardwick Yellow Barn” held its grand opening on September 14 and the shell of the accelerator space next door is close to completion. “Yellow Barn 2.0” involves both rehabilitating the iconic barn and building the shell of an adjacent 22,000-square-foot “accelerator” space meant to serve as a critical piece of the local food system (and job creator). Jasper Hill Farm is a tenant in the accelerator space and plans to consolidate its inventory from scattered locations across the state and expand its e-commerce fulfillment out of the solar-powered, net-zero Food Hub. Learn more here.

Barr Hill Gin & Caledonia Spirits: Barr Hill Gin recently announced the winner of its second annual Royal Jelly Cocktail Competition, Chef Shintaro Eleazar Tozzo of Bar Moga (New York, NY). Competitors were tasked with creating the best Bees' Knees-inspired cocktail using Barr Hill Gin, lemon, and honey, while highlighting the importance of sustainability in the spirits industry. The fun is all part of a serious effort: Bee's Knees Week, held September 20-29 this year, helps plant nearly a million square feet of pollinator habitat. Learn more here.

Black River Innovation Campus, Do North Coworking: The 2024 NEK Pitch Competition, Rumble in The Kingdom, has returned thanks to Do North Coworking and the Black River Innovation Campus. Pitch submissions are closed, but now it is time to support the region's most promising entrepreneurs by showing up to hear their pitches on October 24. Attendees will hear pitches from 12 businesses and have the opportunity to connect with others passionate about supporting entrepreneurship in the NEK and throughout Vermont. Learn more here.

Brattleboro Savings & Loan, Retreat Farm, The Landmark Trust USA: Tom Martyn of B Corp Brattleboro Savings & Loan has received the prestigious 2024 Vermont Outstanding Community Service Banker of the Year award by the Vermont Bankers Association. The award recognizes leaders who exemplify the best of community banking through an exceptional commitment to the communities that their bank serves. Tom’s leadership, long-term history of volunteering and service on boards of local organizations, such as fellow VBSR members the Retreat Farm and The Landmark Trust USA, have significantly improved the Brattleboro area community. Learn more here.

Casella Waste Systems: Champion Member Casella Waste Systems recently published its 2024 Sustainability Report, outlining its progress toward five key sustainability metrics, while highlighting significant achievements in several areas since its last report was issued in 2022. The investments they have made in their people, infrastructure, and logistics have had a positive impact on the sustainability and strength of their business, while also benefiting Casella customers and the communities where they serve – this report reflects that. Learn more here.

CATMA: The 3rd Annual CATMA Transportation Summit (October 15) is "Adapting to Change" – are you? Vermont is changing, and we need to modify our transportation network to the way people move around and connect to other cities, towns and through our State now. Gather with other organizations who want to understand and address the transportation challenges in today’s changing and changed environment. Learn more here.

Flexible Capital Fund, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund: Investment community pioneer, Janice St. Onge of Flexible Capital Fund, has been working quietly to improve the economy for several decades. She created the for-profit Flex Fund, as it is called, in 2011, at the request of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF). Its specialty: providing flexible risk capital, including revenue-based financing, for young companies in Vermont's food system, forestry and clean technology spaces. VTBiz’s cover story profile on St. Onge reveals the impact she and the organization have had on Vermont businesses for nearly 15 years. Learn more here.

Lawson's Finest Liquids: Champion Member Lawson’s Finest Liquids released Deaf Glow IPA in September, Deaf Awareness Month, a time to advocate for inclusion, accessibility, and promoting the rights of Deaf people. Part of the brewery’s Good Brews for a Cause program, Deaf Glow was celebrated on September 21 with a party at Lawson’s Finest’s destination brewery and taproom in Waitsfield. The beer benefits two local organizations, the Vermont Association of the Deaf and the Yolande Henry Community Foundation. Learn more here.

New Chapter: Gold Member New Chapter has released its first-ever Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) product. New Chapter Organic Holy Basil Booster Powder is produced using the pinnacle of organic agricultural standards and reflects the company's dedication to advancing regenerative practices. Regenerative Organic Certification® (ROC) builds upon USDA Organic certification by incorporating holistic practices that prioritize soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. The release helps fulfill a key objective of their Climate Action Plan, advancing the Regenerative Agriculture movement by 2025. Learn more here.

OnLogic: South Burlington-based OnLogic builds the industrial computers most of us never see, but not the artificial intelligence software that helps those computers guide decision-making. Until now. OnLogic recently launched an AI consulting business that will allow the company to provide both hardware and AI software to customers in the future – software expected to, for instance, protect birds from wind turbines. Learn more here. The company was also just recognized at the 2024 Vermont Legacy and Family Enterprise Awards by the UVM Grossman School of Business for its commitment to social responsibility, sustainability, and the State of Vermont. Learn more here.

Outright Vermont: A large crowd turned out this past Saturday in downtown Burlington to show support for LGBTQ+ youth. The 21st annual fire truck pull to benefit Outright Vermont saw nearly 20 teams pulling a Burlington Fire Department fire truck a short distance up the Church Street Marketplace. The groups collected donations for the nonprofit organization before testing their strength in a fun way. The event is about the community coming together, showing up, reclaiming the streets with queer joy, and making sure young people know that they've got so many folks that are pulling for them. Supporters exceeded the event's $200,000 fundraising goal. Learn more here.

Vermont Arts Council: The Vermont Art Council recently announced the 22 recipients of its most competitive grant funding program, the Creation Grant, which supports Vermont artists in creating new work. Among this year’s winning proposals are works that span visual arts, literary arts, music, film, and multidisciplinary fields, including a Vermont-set rock opera; a podcast exploring themes of religion and belief; and a multi-disciplinary sculptural installation exploring our relationship with technology. Learn more here.

Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP): Registration is now open for VEEP's Youth Climate Leaders Academy. The Academy is designed to support VT and NH high school youth in planning and implementing projects to make a difference on climate change. The Kick-Off Retreat is December 6-7, 2024 in Fairlee – interested parties are encouraged to mark their calendars and sign up now. There will be skills workshops, team planning time, consultation time with VEEP staff and other experts, and a supportive community of passionate and like-minded folks. Learn more here.

Vermont Student Assistance Corp. (VSAC): Every September, VSAC celebrates National GEAR UP Week to make more Vermont families aware of the resources offered through the GEAR UP program – which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. This federally funded program, which VSAC has administered in Vermont for the last 25 years, helps students from modest-income backgrounds find interest in, and prepare for, post-secondary education and training. GEAR UP week just concluded last week. Learn more here.