Need Business Support?
Are you a business owner in the Northeast Kingdom or an entrepreneur looking for business startup assistance?
Whether you are looking for financing, training, market research or business advising, there are a number of resources located right here in the NEK that can help.
The Northeast Kingdom Collaborative has created a Leadership Development Resource Directory to help you access the support you need to successfully launch and sustain your business.
Support in the NEK
Center for an Agricultural Economy: A nonprofit organization that offers business startup and management workshops and one-on-one advising to farms and food businesses. The organization offers business planning assistance to help farmers find new wholesale markets, improve cash flow and refine their production systems.
The Vermont Food Venture Center is a shared use processing facility and business incubator that provides advising services for food entrepreneurs including:
Branding/Marketing
Production Scale Up
Sourcing, Packaging, and Distribution
Food Safety Regulations
Food Safety Training
Client Resource Guide
Incubator without Walls (iWOW) Housed at Northern Vermont University, iWOW engages faculty and students with small area businesses to offer technical assistance, training and business advising. Students work to assess business needs, define business performance steps, and implement solutions to fully develop the business’ potential.
Northeast Kingdom Community Action: NEKCA’s Micro Business Development Program offers free one-on-one technical assistance as well as ongoing seminars, workshops and classes for entrepreneurs and small businesses in the region. Technical Assistance includes:
Business idea assessment, business plan and marketing plan development
Financial literacy and management
Budgeting and credit repair
Assistance with business loan applications
Assistance with marketing materials
North Country Investment Corporation: NCIC provides capital and expertise to strengthen businesses, communities and employment opportunities across VT and NH. Services include assistance with community development projects and financing such:
Project development
Financial structure
Grant writing,
Project management
Grant management
Northeastern Vermont Development Association: As VT’s only combined Regional Planning Commission and Development Corporation serving the Northeast Kingdom, NVDA provides planning and economic development services, including site selection, permitting assistance, business financing, technical assistance, training and education, grants, brownfields assessment, foreign trade, and other support to businesses in the region.
Vermont Small Business Development Center: In partnership with Northeastern Vermont Development Association, VtSBDC provides no-cost technical assistance, one-to-one advising and training programs to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Assistance includes:
Startup planning
Financing
Sales & marketing
Growth strategies
Financial management
Operations
Resources Outside of the NEK
Center for Rural Entrepreneurship: Online only source of research, success stories and models of building entrepreneurial communities.
Common Good Vermont: An organization dedicated to uniting and strengthening mission-oriented organizations in Vermont.
Community Practitioners Network, A Leadership Program for the North Country: An 18-month local leadership program and project of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Tillotson Fund.
Community Workshop: Vermont-based consultants offer online resources for community building projects.
Developmental Disabilities Council: Vermont Leadership Series: A series of trainings to support developing leaders and enhance their advocacy and organizing skills.
Front Porch Forum: A free geography-keyed message board which has allowed greater networking and communication within towns across Vermont.
Green Mountain United Way: K.E.E.P. Financial Coach Training: a low-cost “train-the-trainer” program for professionals who want to incorporate financial coaching into their work. Working Bridges Program: Green Mountain United Way seeks to partner with public-private, multi-sector employers to develop business-based solutions for job retention and decreased absenteeism.
Let’s Grow Kids: A state-wide early childhood education advocacy-oriented non-profit offering training workshops for parents, childcare professionals, educators and community members.
Marlboro College, Center for New Leadership: The center supports leadership and professional development opportunities for the “mission-driven sector”.
SCORE Vermont: A national organization that connects volunteer mentors to small business owners in need of advice and coaching, as well as workshops and trainings within the state and online.
UP for Learning: A non-profit organization that provides support and training to schools and school districts across the country in how to engage students as leaders within their school community and beyond.
Vermont Changemakers Table: A professional networking program that involves meeting quarterly for dinner, conversation and inspiration with Vermont thought leaders.
Vermont Department of Labor: Maintains and updates a list of Vermont Registered Apprenticeships and the Vermont JobLink, a job search and training resource.
Vermont Housing and Conservation Board - Farm & Forest Viability Program: This program funds a network of business advisors for farm, food and forestry businesses and succession planning for forestland owners.
Vermont Leadership Institute: A 10-month program that provides training around self-discovery, skill-building and policy analysis.
Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center: Provides consulting, coaching, hands-on implementation assistance, and executive and workforce training on a fee for service basis.
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund: A non-profit organization that provides one-on-one coaching and entrepreneurial support as well as peer-to-peer advising to businesses and organizations with a focus on the food, agricultural, forestry, renewable energy, waste management and environmental and clean technology sectors.
Women Rural Entrepreneur Network (WREN): Provides support for individual entrepreneurs and woman-owned businesses.
Looking for classes and networking opportunities in the NEK? Check out the full resource directory here: https://www.nekcollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/NEKC_Directory-2.pdf
Are there other resources that you have been searching for that are not included on this list? Please let us know the training opportunities and technical assistance you are seeking by emailing katherine@nekcollaborative.org
