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Barre - The Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) was presented with two grants from the USDA Rural Development office on September 29th at a press conference held at the Shops at Millstone Hills in Websterville.

Executive Vice President, Sam Matthews, and President Steve Gurin attended and accepted the grant awards from USDA Rural Development Acting Director, Rhonda Shippee, on behalf of the organization.

“CVEDC is pleased to have written and been awarded these two grants on behalf of Central Vermont businesses. Our mission is to maintain and grow the economic vitality of our region and we believe that these two initiatives will contribute to that vitality”, said Executive Vice President, Sam Matthews.

The two grants awarded to CVEDC, a non-profit regional development corporation will directly assist one Northfield business and one e-commerce business initiative with over 50 local artisans participating. Job retention, creation and expansion are at the forefront of the grant awards.

Partnering with John Wall of Wall Goldfinger a Northfield furniture maker, a $50,000.00 RBOG (Rural Business Opportunity Grant) will assist the business with a feasibility and design study to develop and implement a new line of value-added wood products. CVEDC was one of four organizations in the State that received an RBOG. Nationally, $2.2 million was awarded to help 35 rural businesses, Native American tribes and economic development groups create and retain jobs.

Wall Goldfinger will use 100% of this grant to design, develop, market and implement a new standardized product line of furniture, including new conference table lines that will incorporate the special custom solutions they have engineered and designed for their custom clients over the last 30 years.

An RBEG (Rural Business Enterprise Grant) in the amount of $73,725.00 was awarded to CVEDC to partner with Greg Banse of 7th Pixel in Montpelier to create a Market Vermont website for artisan manufacturers. 7th Pixel is a web strategies, website design and development / consulting firm owned and operated by Greg Banse.

The Market Vermont concept was the result of several e-commerce forums held by CVEDC and the VTSBDC this past year. Market Vermont will be an e-commerce engine for Central Vermont artisans to display products made in Vermont. 7th Pixel will manage the site and shopping cart as well as market the website.

For more information on CVEDC or either of these projects, please contact the CVEDC office at 802-223-4654 or e-mail cvedc@sover.net

The following websites offer great workshops and events

SBE, Inc. is currently constructing a 52,800 square foot bulding in the Wilson Industrial Park in Barre Town. Photos and more information to come soon. Congrats to SBE, Inc.!