STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

The Abilities Fund
Centerville Office
410 N 18th St
Centerville, IA 52544-1823
Telephone: 641-856-2173
Toll Free: 888-222-8943
Fax: 641-856-3101

Iowa City Office
332 South Linn Street, Suite #17
Iowa City, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-338-2521
Toll Free: 866-720-3863
Fax: 319-338-2528
URL: http://www.abilitiesfund.org/

"This summer The Abilities Fund, together with a national lending partner, will launch a nationwide direct loan program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. In 45 states, loan guarantees will also be available to as a means to secure loans for entrepreneurs. Flexible terms and competitive interest rates for microloans ranging from $500 - $25,000 will be offered.

In support of new microlending services, The Abilities Fund will be expanding its online presence to include training and technical assistance. Soon, people with disabilities nationwide will have 24-hour access to features such as Feasibility First ©, business plan development, and financial planning for business startup -- all of which are resources designed to prepare entrepreneurs with disabilities for self-employment."

BROC
60 Center Street, Rutland, VT 05701
Phone: (802) 775-0878
URL: http://www.broc.org/micro_train.shtml

"BROC is committed to empower, support and educate individuals and families in a manner which fosters personal growth, responsibility and self-sufficiency through Family Stablization and Development; Education, Training and Job Creation; Affordable Housing; and Expanding Community Awareness and Advocacy in a nurturing enviornment of respect and dignity ever mindful of cultural diversity."

Central Vermont Community Action Council, Inc.
(A Community Action Agency)
15 Ayers Street, PO Box 747, Barre, Vermont 05641
Phone: (802) 479-1053
Fax: (802) 865-7024
URL: http://www.cvcac.org/Services/MicroBusiness.htm

"Technical assistance and lending to low-income persons residing in central Vermont. Originated in 1988, the Micro-business Development Program (MBDP) is a partnership between five Community Action Agencies (CAA's) and the State of Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity. Each CAA houses a MBDP staff person or Business Development Specialist who provides technical assistance to income-eligible Vermonters interested in starting or expanding businesses. The State provides access to financing through its Job Start Loan Program. The Business Development Specialists offer both classroom training and one-on-one assistance to program participants. Central Vermont Community Action Council (CVCAC), one of the CAA's, acts as the lead agency and houses the MBDP Director."

Community & Economic Development Office
City of Burlington
Room 32, City Hall, Burlington, Vermont 05461
Phone: (802) 865-7144
Fax: (802) 862-9411
URL: http://www.cedoburlington.org/business/doing_business_in_burlington/dbb_toc.htm

"Technical and financial assistance to low-moderate income people."

Central Vermont Revolving Loan Fund
Central Vermont Community Action Council, Inc.
195 US RT. 302-Berlin, Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (800) 639-1053
Fax: (802) 479-5353
E-mail: helpline@cvcac.org
CVRLF URL: http://www.cvcac.org/Services/revolvingloan.htm

• Vermont Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)
  URL: http://www.cvcac.org/vermontida.org/default.htm
  
  
• CVCAC Loan Fund
  URL: http://www.CVCAC.org
  

"The CVRLF is a joint creation of your town and other towns in the Central Vermont area established to help small and microentrepreneurs start and grow their businesses through loans of up to $50,000. The CVRLF seeks to serve businesses whose owners and/or employees meet HUD guidelines for low to moderate income persons."

Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont, Inc.
155 Lake Street, St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: (802) 524-4546
Fax: (802) 527-1081
URL: http://www.edcnv.org/

"The Economic Development Council was formed in 1975 to act as a catalyst for growth and development in the six northernmost counties of Vermont. Its role is one of activism: identifying market opportunities, establishing their intrinsic value to the region, developing implementation strategies and structuring financial packages for the area businesses."

Micro Business Development Program of the Vermont Community Action Agencies
91 Buck Drive, Westminster, VT 05158
Phone: (800) 464-9951 or (802) 722-4575
Fax: (802) 722-4509
E-mail: bwhitney@sevca.org
URL: http://www.vtmicrobusiness.org/

• Steps to Start-up
  URL: http://www.vtmicrobusiness.org/js_steps_fund.htm

"We help low to moderate income Vermonters use self-employment as a means to achieve economic self-sufficiency. We provide business counseling, technical assistance, classroom training, and loan application packaging."

Program Locations and Contact Information

• Central Vermont Community Action Council, Inc. (CVCAC)
  (Orange, Washington and Lamoille Counties)
  195 Route 302 Berlin Barre, VT 05641
  Phone: (800) 639-1053 or (802) 479-1053
  Fax: (802) 479-5353
  E-mail: cflint@cvcac.org
• Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO)
  (Addison, Chittenden, Grand Isle and Franklin Counties)
  431 Pine St. Burlington, VT 05401
  Phone: (800) 287-7971 or (802) 860-1417
  Fax: (802) 860-1387
  E-mail: mbdp@cvoeo.org
• Community Action in Southwestern Vermont (BROC)
  (Rutland and Bennington Counties)
  60 Center St. Rutland, VT 05701
  Phone: (800) 717-2762 or (802) 775-0878
  Fax: (802) 775-9949
  E-mail: microbiz@broc.org
• Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA)
  (Caledonia, Orleans and Essex Counties)
  108 Cherry Street St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
  Phone: (800) 639-4065 or (802) 748-6048
  Fax: (802) 748-0732
  E-mail: mbdpstj@together.net
• Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA)
  (Windsor and Windham Counties)
  213 Gage Street Bellows Falls, VT 05101
  Phone: (877) 963-2568 or (802) 463-2568
  Fax: (802) 722-4509
  E-mail: microbiz@sover.net

Vermont Community Loan Fund
7 Court Street, Post Office Box 827, Montpelier, Vermont 05601-0827
Phone: (802) 223-1448
Fax: (802) 223-1455
URL: http://www.vclf.org/

"VCLF has finances a wide variety of businesses. Some examples of our loans include production agriculture, specialty foods, wood products, child care,and retail stores and restaurants in downtowns. Our loans are aimed at those businesses providing benefits to low income Vermonters through liveable wage jobs and revitalized communities."

Vermont Department of Economic Development
Government Marketing Assistance Center
National Life Building, Drawer 20, Montpelier, Vermont 05620-0501
Phone: (802) 828-3211
E-mail: sgray@gate.dca.state.vt.us
URL: http://www.thinkvermont.com/

"The most comprehensive source of information and resources on doing business in Vermont. It's the official website of the Department of Economic Development and includes Bid Opportunities, economic data, telecommunications information, training programs, permitting assistance, and where to go to find venture capital in Vermont."

Vermont Development Credit Union
18 Pearl Street, Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 865-3404 or (800) 865-8328
Fax: (802) 862-8971
URL: http://www.vdcu.org/

"Vermont Development Credit Union was founded in 1989 by Burlington Ecumenical Action Ministry (BEAM) to bring capital and financial services to low-income Vermonters. We make direct loans to individuals and families, turning hope into opportunity, and creating wealth. Our loans, ranging from $50 to over $80,000, enable Vermonters to attain home-ownership and better jobs, acquire education, and build small business."

Vermont Economic Development Authority
58 East State Street, Suite 5, Montpelier, Vermont 05602
Phone: (802) 828-5627
Fax: (802) 828-5474
E-mail: info@veda.state.vt.us
URL: http://www.state.vt.us/veda/

"The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) was created by statute in 1974 to promote economic prosperity and increase employment through the operation of a variety of financing programs, including those offering direct loans, industrial revenue bonds and the issuance of mortgage loan insurance."

Vermont Small Business Development Center
P.O. Box 188
Randolph Center, Vermont 05061-0188
Phone: (802) 728-9101 or in VT (800) 464-SBDC
Fax: (802)728-3026
URL: http://www.vtsbdc.org/

“The SBDC mission is to strengthen existing business entities, and assist start-ups through high quality, no cost counseling, and high quality, affordable training programs.”

Vermont Women's Business Center
Trinity College of Vermont/McAuley Hall
208 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 846-7338 or toll-free @ (877) 770-VWBC
TDD: (802) 860-1428
Fax: 802-846-7002
E-mail: vwbc@charity.trinityvt.edu
URL: http://www.vwbc.org/

"The Vermont Women's Business Center's (VWBC) mission is to empower women to make informed choices for their economic well-being. The center allows women to explore business as a means to economic self-sufficiency in the company of other women."

Women's Agricultural Network
617 Comstock Road, Suite 5, Berlin, VT 05602
Phone: (802) 223-2389
Fax: (802) 223-6500
E-mail: wagn@zoo.uvm.edu
URL: http://www.uvm.edu/~wagn/

"WAgN, along with some of our collaborators, offers several educational and assistance opportunities that help individuals develop and/or further expand an ag-based enterprise. These program components follow a continuum that addresses the needs of individuals at all stages of business development."