News
Can Tempeh Change the World?
Entrepreneur, vegan, and self-proclaimed solutionary, Sarah Speare believes that it can. Sarah Speare, cofounder and...
March 22, 2024
Can Plants Replace Plastic Packaging?
Maine’s Tanbark Molded Fiber is rethinking a century-old product for modern times. As consumers better...
March 19, 2024
Through Flood and Pandemic, Entrepreneur Michael Zebrowski is Determined to Up End the Affordable Housing Crisis
Being an entrepreneur takes grit, determination, and vision, all of which Michael Zebrowski, founder of...
January 18, 2024
An Impact Fund Investor’s Musings: Lessons Learned from a Decade of Investing in Rural Communities
By Janice St. Onge, President, Flexible Capital Fund, L3C Since 2011, I’ve been running the...
November 2, 2023
Pioneers of African Cuisine, Global Village Foods Finds Community in Vermont
“If you look online, you can find Chinese food, Italian food, and so many ethnic...
February 6, 2023
Lighting the Way to a Healthier Future
LEDdynamics pushes the boundaries of LED technology from its lab in Vermont. Bill McGrath, president...
July 1, 2022
Farmers To You Finds Silver Lining in Tumultuous Years of Pandemic
“Our mission hasn’t changed,” said Greg Georgaklis, founder of Farmers To You, “but the world...
March 23, 2022
Aegis Founder Lives by His Mission to Have a Net Positive Impact on the Planet
Nils Behn vividly remembers sitting in class at Harwood Union High School and deciding that...
March 7, 2022
Maine Entrepreneurs to Manufacture Insulation Made from Wood
Used for decades in Europe, TimberHP by GO Lab brings wood fiber insulation to the...
December 13, 2021
Bolton Valley at the Heart of the DesLauriers Family
After a 20-year hiatus, the next generation of DesLauriers are at the helm bringing new...
October 29, 2021
Vermont Manufacturer Introduces Low-Embodied Carbon Building Material to U.S.
Made from recycled glass, Glavel will begin manufacturing foam glass gravel at its Essex facility...
September 23, 2021
Innovation in an Aging Industry
Pulmac Systems International Brings the Information Age to Pulp and Paper The pulp and paper...
July 27, 2021
From Brownfields to Brightfields: Encore Renewable Energy Reimagines Sites for Solar
An engineer by training and environmentalist by choice, Chad Farrell founded Encore Redevelopment in 2007...
June 1, 2021
KORE Solutions Inc. is Moving the U.S. Toward Renewables, One Battery at a Time
“Battery storage is what allows renewable energy to be relevant in today’s market,” said Jay...
May 7, 2021
Grow Compost Grows a Business
From homestead to statewide, Lisa Ransom and Scott Baughman close the loop for Vermont’s food...
April 29, 2021
Localvore App Helps Feed Vermonters During Pandemic
Fresh from a year-long stint at Groupon, Dan White moved to Vermont in 2011 with...
April 20, 2021
From Hospice to Good Health, Plant-Based Eating Inspires a Business
MamaSezz enters growing meal delivery niche with whole food, plant-based fare. When Meg Donahue, co-founder...
February 12, 2021
Trust Your Gut: Aqua ViTea Founder Jeff Weaber on Growing an Idea and a Business
At the core of Aqua ViTea founder Jeff Weaber’s business lies a simple idea: that...
December 14, 2020
Pressing Apples and Pressing for Prosperity in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom
Cider pioneer Eleanor Léger on growing a business with intention. Movies have been made about...
December 3, 2020
Getting Started on Your Journey to Invest with Your Values
Take One Step Today By Janice St. Onge, Flexible Capital Fund President Is your money...
April 20, 2020
Why We Need All Kinds of Capital for Recovery
By Janice St. Onge, Flexible Capital Fund President The Flexible Capital Fund, L3C (the “Flex...
April 13, 2020
Flexible Capital Fund Invests $75,000 in Ceres Greens to Grow Production of Local Greens
Eating fresh, local greens during the winter months can be a challenge but Ceres Greens...
March 9, 2020
Connecting People to the Farmers That Feed Them
Farmers To You is changing the food system to change our relationship with food On...
February 3, 2020
Op Ed: Dan White, co-founder, Localvore.co and Localvore Passport App
Let your tastebuds do the buying this holiday season Eating Local Means Eating Better I...
December 10, 2019
Paying it Forward with Capital
RSF Integrated Capital Institute Reflections I have mixed feelings. I’m feeling sad and a little...
July 9, 2019
Flexible Capital Fund invests $150,000 in MamaSezz to provide food that heals and a livable wage for all workers
Conscious consumers are demanding products and services from environmentally and socially responsible companies in all...
June 5, 2019
Encore Renewable Energy receives $1 million from impact investment funds to expand solar projects in New England
Three capital providers in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine come together to support renewable energy...
February 26, 2019
Op Ed: Learning through failure in business
I recently read a post from a colleague at Goodworks Ventures, an impact investment fund...
February 7, 2019
Op Ed: How much is enough?
How much money is enough? Do you really know what your money is doing? What...
December 3, 2018
Op Ed: Let’s change the face of our investment community
In October, 38 women and four men from Vermont and New England gathered to participate...
November 12, 2018
Op Ed: Jay Bellows, CEO, Northern Reliability, Inc.
Ask any rural business owner what the hardest part about starting and growing a company...
May 24, 2018
Flexible Capital Fund Invests $300,000 in Vermont Kombucha company, Aqua ViTea
The Flexible Capital Fund (Flex Fund) announced a $300,000 investment in Aqua ViTea, LLC, to...
May 14, 2018
Expansion of Localvore is growth model for job creation in Vermont
Flexible Capital Fund investment accelerates market expansion for Localvore’s digital marketing platform Conscious consumers are...
January 5, 2018
New Deal: Burlington-Based Localvore Aims to Be the Anti-Yelp
Excerpt from Seven Days: The creators of Localvore Today started their company five years ago with a...
October 21, 2017
Localvore Reinvents How to Discover Local Food & Drink
New Localvore Platform Connects Farms, Restaurants and Producers with Conscious Consumers to Promote Sustainability and...
October 8, 2017
Diverting waste from landfills is economic opportunity for Grow Compost
Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law creates market for organics hauling and management services; Flexible Capital Fund...
December 6, 2016
Community development organizations get $4.45 million from US CDFI fund
Excerpt from Vermont Business Magazine: Four Vermont economic development organizations received grant awards totaling $4.45 million...
October 5, 2016
Socially responsible investment made in Burlington, VT clean energy development company
For Immediate Release July 14, 2016 The Flexible Capital Fund announces the addition of Encore...
July 14, 2016
Eden Specialty Ciders ready to grow with working capital from the Flexible Capital Fund
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2016 Eden Specialty Ciders (formerly Eden Ice Cider) is poised...
May 11, 2016
$600,000 invested in VT green businesses
Excerpt from Burlington Free Press Two growing Vermont companies specializing in renewable power and natural-resource...
November 9, 2015
Two Vermont companies responsible for design, manufacturing and installation of first large-scale wind turbine in New York City
Excerpt from vermontbiz.com Aegis Renewable Energy, a Vermont based renewable energy company, designed and installed...
February 9, 2015
The Benefits of “Slowing Your Money Down”: Crowdfunding Small & Local
Excerpt from nonprofitquarterly.org Earlier this month state, regulators in Oregon created a crowdfunding investment program...
January 29, 2015
Slow Money formalizes Vermont-style investment
Ruah Swennerfelt lives in Charlotte with her husband, Louis Cox. The retired couple have inherited...
January 25, 2015
Common Good Vermont: Opportunities and Challenges in Capitalization & Growth
Common Good Vermont interviews Janice St. Onge, the Deputy Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, Inc....
January 23, 2015
Flex Fund borrower, Aegis Renewable Energy installs largest VT rooftop solar array at Ayers Brook Goat Dairy
Aegis Renewable Energy installed the largest single rooftop solar array in the state at Ayers...
December 14, 2014