ACEDC Wins $59,322 in Economic Development Grants for Seven 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 $59,322 for seven Addison County businesses through the Building Communities Grant Program for projects in Bristol, Goshen, Middlebury, Ripton, 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 $99,213 in all four categories for the fiscal year 2024 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.
For the Fiscal Year 2024 economic development funding round, ACEDC was awarded $59,322 that will leverage $523,000 in capital investments by seven Addison County businesses through the following projects:
- $10,000 for the Blueberry Hill Inn, Goshen, for repair of the inn’s roof.
- $10,000 for Danforth Pewterers, Inc., Middlebury, for building renovations, and acquisition and installation of pottery equipment for the integration of the Pizzazz Pottery line.
- $10,000 for Friendspitality Holdings, LLC dba The Chipman Inn, Ripton, for a new kitchen ventilation system and refrigeration.
- $4,222 for Lost Lantern Spirits, LLC, Vergennes, to purchase an automated labeling machine for their whiskey bottling operation.
- $2,100 for Magnolia’s Nail Boutique, Bristol, to purchase equipment for a one-chair setup for a new nail salon.
- $13,000 for Shacksbury Holdings, Inc., Vergennes, to purchase a second canning line.
- $10,000 for The Tillerman, Bristol, to improve the current outdoor food prep area and expand their parking lot.
"The money that we were awarded was vital in the successful opening of my new nail salon in Bristol,” says Isabella Bluteau of Magnolia's Nail Boutique in Bristol. “Now I’ll be able to provide more services to the community and continue to employ a second nail technician, and perhaps a third in the future. My dream of becoming a small business owner has come true largely due to this grant."
Shari Brown of the Blueberry Hill Inn says, “Thanks to the grant, and support and guidance from ACEDC, we’ve secured the essential funding for the new roof at the Inn. This investment preserves our historic building AND empowers us to allocate resources towards sustaining our business, while supporting employees with livable wages and maintaining our relationships with local vendors.”
“Without ACEDC we would never have known to apply for the BGS grant!” says Nora Ganley-Roper of Lost Lantern Spirits, LLC. “With the awarded funds, we will be able to make additional whiskeys and accelerate our growth through the next year. It's a huge boost for our business.”
Elizabeth Gilbeau, new owner of the Chipman Inn, says, "We deeply appreciate the Building Communities Grant for enabling us to modernize our inn's commercial kitchen, paving the way for our upcoming coffee bar and showcasing our commitment to serving our patrons and the Ripton community with a cozy, up-to-date gathering space."
Contact information:
Addison County Economic Development Corporation: Fred Kenney, Executive Director
802-388-7953 fkenney@addisoncountyedc.org
Blueberry Hill Inn, Shari Brown, owner, 802-247-6735 shari@blueberryhillinn.com
Danforth Pewterers, Bram Kleppner, CEO, 802-734-2427 bkleppner@danforthpewter.com
The Chipman Inn, Elizabeth Gilbeau, Proprietor, 802-388-2390 elizabeth.guilbeau@protonmail.com
Lost Lantern Spirits, Nora Ganley-Roper, Co-founder and General Manager, 917-374-3516 nora@lostlanternwhiskey.com
Magnolia’s Nail Boutique, Isabella Bluteau, Owner, 802-349-7023 magnoliasnailboutique@gmail.com
Shacksbury Holdings, Colin Davis, Co-founder & President, 802-458-0530 colin@shacksbury.com
The Tillerman, Kate Baron, Co-owner, 802-643-2237 kate@thetillermanvt.com
About Addison County Economic Development Corporation
The Addison County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC) is dedicated to helping all businesses, regardless of background, size, sector, or 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.
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