Working Lands Program Awards Over $444K to Support Vermont’s Agricultural and Forestry Sector

Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) strategically invests in working lands service provider and producer association organizations

February 19, 2025 | Montpelier, VT - The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) is pleased to announce 9 awards totaling $444,760 to maintain and grow the agricultural and forestry sectors in Vermont. These awards are part of WLEB’s key strategies is to increase working lands businesses knowledge, skills, and profitability by investing in an array of business support services. To reach that goal, WLEB provides grants to service providers who work directly with working lands businesses to support them as they grow, pivot, and adapt to an ever-changing marketplace. WLEB also grants to producer association groups that represent and promote Vermont products and provide key services to working lands businesses across many different sectors.   

“Investing in our working lands is great for Vermont,” said Anson Tebbetts Vermont Secretary of Agriculture.  “We look forward to seeing these projects support our farmers and producers who are making a living off the land. These groups are working directly with Vermonters to grow our economy and make it more affordable.”  

The following Service Provider & Producer Association Grants were made in FY25:   

• Clemmons Family Farm, Inc., Piloting the African Diaspora Foodways Institute of Vermont - $25,000 
• Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance, A Farmer-led Ag Plastics Recycling Pilot - $20,000 
• Northeast Forests, LLC, Vermont Forest Business School Training and Business Coaching Program - $40,000 
• Parish Hill Creamery, Science & Craft of Artisan Cheese Conference - $25,000 
• Paul Frank and Collins P.C., Human Resources & Employment Law Skills for Working Lands Businesses - $18,150 
• Vermont Community Loan Fund, Inc., SPROUT Loan Program - $72,000.00  
• Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, Business Development Services through the Farm & Forest Viability Program - $75,000 
• Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, Vermont Forest Industry Summit - $55,000 
• Vermont Woodlands Association, Merging VT Logger Education to Advance Professionalism (LEAP) to Secure Logger Education - $39,160  

Another $620,000 in WLEB grants direct to working lands businesses will be announced in the spring.  A total of $1 million dollars will be invested this fiscal year under the Working Lands Program. Please visit workinglands.vermont.gov to find out more.    

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) and governing board (WLEB) were created by the Vermont Legislature in 2012 to stimulate economic development in the agricultural and forestry sectors. WLEI is a collaborative effort between the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation, and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.    

For questions, please contact: 

Clare Salerno (she/her) | Program Coordinator, Working Lands Enterprise Initiative

802-917-2637 | Clare.Salerno@vermont.gov