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Vermont grantees say Working Lands grants funded equipment, marketing and trellising that expanded production and sales
Summary
Four 2025 Working Lands Enterprise Initiatives grantees told program officials their awards enabled purchases and projects — from marketing and trade shows to a herb harvester, a timber-drying shed and vineyard trellising — that increased sales, improved efficiency and created or preserved jobs across Vermont's farm and value-added sectors.
Four recipients of fiscal-year 2025 Working Lands Enterprise Initiatives grants told program staff and board members that modest state investments and technical assistance helped them scale operations, stabilize supply chains and unlock private investment.
"Butterfly Bakery Vermont is a farm to fork food manufacturer," said Claire George, owner of Butterfly Bakery of Vermont, describing a business that sources "100% of our milk, produce, and maple" within 200 miles of its kitchen. George told the board that a $45,000 business enhancement grant and a $5,000 trade-show grant funded photography, paid advertising, SEO work and a trade-show appearance that together helped boost branded sales "27% compared to the same period of 2024," with November–December growth near 50%.
The marketing and technical help, George said, did more than buy advertising: it provided signaling that helped secure outside investment. "If…
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