VBSR Member News Round Up – 3/13/24

Up End This, Flexible Capital Fund, and VSJF: In a recent feature from the Flexible Capital Fund, the twists and turns of the Up End This story are revealed. Through COVID, flooding, and more, the sustainable housing and micro-home manufacturer has persevered, learning some crucial business lessons along the way. Fellow VBSR members Flexible Capital Fund and Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) played a part in those lessons, offering support and guidance. Driving it all through the ups and downs? A desire “to make a dent in the innovation that can make housing affordable.” Learn more here.

Hula and Champlain College: Last week, Burlington’s mayor and landowners in Burlington’s South End unveiled their proposed pre-development agreement for the South End Innovation District. Under it, developers would aim to create around 1,100 housing units, 20% of which would be termed affordable. The agreement among the city, Gold Member Champlain College and Ride Your Bike LLC – the developers behind Champion Member Hula’s site – would establish an overarching framework for the eventual development of about 13 acres of land. The agreement shows a commitment of the three parties developing the land with an eye toward walkability and sustainability. Learn more here.

UVM SI-MBA: Couldn’t make it out to February’s UVM SI-MBA/VBSR panel event on the campus of Gold Member UVM? Haven’t read our recap in the February 14 Newsletter? That’s OK! The team at UVM SI-MBA put together their own recap complete with photos. Among other topics, the “2024 Forecast: What Can We Expect for Purpose-Driven Businesses?” panel discussed a broad range of topics including what companies were facing as socially responsibly businesses operating in a very unpredictable social and business environment. Learn more here.

Lawson’s Finest Liquids and The Alchemist: Like so many other VBSR members, Champion Member Lawson’s Finest Liquids is celebrating B Corp Month right now by reflecting on the progress they’ve made – and by recommitting to improvements that can yet be made on their B Corp journey. They are one of only 18 B Corp breweries in the United States – and one of only two in Vermont (the other being fellow VBSR Champion Member The Alchemist)! Learn more here.

DeltaClimeVT and VSJF: The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) has announced the selection of the Energy 2024 cohort of their DeltaClimeVT climate economy business accelerator. Eight early-stage energy companies from across the U.S. and Canada – from California to New York, Quebec to Florida – will work directly with Vermont utilities to contribute to Vermont’s 90% renewable by 2050 and Burlington’s Net Zero by 2030 goals over three months of intensive work sessions. Learn more here.