ACEDC Wins $34,447 in Economic Development Grants for Three Addison County Businesses

MIDDLEBURY, VT – Governor Scott and Jennifer M.V. Fitch, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS), have notified the Addison County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC) that they were awarded $34,447 for three Addison County businesses through the Building Communities Grant Program for projects in Leicester, Middlebury, and Vergennes. 

Thanks to annual appropriations by the Vermont General Assembly, the Building Communities program annually awards $900,000 in matching grants statewide to municipalities and nonprofit organizations for capital costs associated with capital investments in the following categories: human services, health care and education, recreation, and economic development. Organizations in Addison County were awarded a total of $87,081 for eight projects in all four categories for the fiscal year 2025 funding round. 

ACEDC applied for, was awarded, and will administer the grants in the economic development category in Addison County. The grant program requires that the funds be essential to the project’s success, that projects be “shovel ready,” demonstrate job creation or retention potential, and the business must provide a dollar-for-dollar match to the project. 

For the Fiscal Year 2025 economic development funding round, ACEDC was awarded $34,447 that will leverage $208,000 in capital investments by three Addison County businesses through the following projects: 

• $15,000 for Mountainside Flooring, Leicester, for the purchase of an end-matching machine. 
• $10,884 for Mountain Mac Cider Company, Middlebury, to replace machinery lost during the 2023 flooding event. 
• $8,563 for LuLu! Ice Cream, Vergennes, for expanded production space fit-up. 

“We are so appreciative to ACEDC in supporting our application for the Building Communities Grant,” stated Scott Quenneville, owner of Mountainside Flooring. “The funds will allow us to purchase a new end-matching machine which is essential in hardwood flooring production. It also helps ensure that we can continue to employ three local craftsmen with an addition of another employee very soon.” 

“We are absolutely thrilled and so grateful to ACEDC and the Building Communities Grant Program for supporting lu•lu Ice Cream!,” said owner Laura Mack. “This grant is a game-changer for us, allowing us to grow our production space and bring even more of our delicious, from scratch, farm-to-spoon ice cream to our amazing community. It’s a sweet step forward for creating opportunities, supporting local jobs, and spreading joy one scoop at a time!” 

Contact information: 

• Addison County Economic Development Corporation: Fred Kenney, Executive Director, (802) 388-7953 fkenney@addisoncountyedc.org 
• LuLu! Ice Cream, Laura Mack. Owner, (802) 318-0883, laura@luluvt.com
• Mountain Mac Cider, Conor McManus, Owner, (802) 431-5979, mountainmaccider@gmail.com 
• Mountainside Flooring, Scott Quenneville, Owner, (802) 558-7543, mountainsideflooringvt@gmail.com

About Addison County Economic Development Corporation 

The Addison County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC) is dedicated to helping businesses of all backgrounds, size, sectors, and stage of growth, to retain and create good-paying jobs in Addison County. Organized to promote the common business and economic interests of commercial enterprises in Addison County, ACEDC strives to create an entrepreneurial and innovative environment that nurtures businesses to launch, grow, and thrive. For more information on ACEDC visit: www.addisoncountyedc.org 

ACEDC activities are made possible, in part, by a grant from the State of Vermont through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Loan programs are made possible by USDA/Rural Development. 

ACEDC is an equal opportunity service provider and lender, with all services and funds available on a non-discriminatory basis. 

##END##